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| YUM!!!!! |
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
Into Thin Air - Discussion
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| Melissa's educational poster board! |
Meeting Place: PF Changs - Orland Park
Ratings:
Kathy - 2.5
Michaelene - 1.25
Kim - 2.5
Tracy - 2
Joyce - 2
Sherry - 2
Barbara - 2
Melissa - 2
Average Rating: 2.0625
Discussion: "When one is standing on the summit of Mt. Everest, not only is one standing on a cold stone......but, one foot is in China and the other is in Nepal." (Email written by Melissa) This explains why we met at P.F. Changs in Orland. The meeting began with Melissa displaying a homemade poster board containing facts and photos of Mt. Everest. Very creative and educational! Regarding our discussion, we felt that on a positive note, the book was educational and we all learned some interesting facts about Mt. Everest. Before reading the book, we all had this image of Mt. Everest being this beautiful, pristine mountain. Boy were we surprised when we learned about all the garbage, body parts, etc. We all felt we could never look at Mt. Everest the same! Mt. Everest, we soon discovered, wasn't exactly very economical. $65,000 a pop to climb this mountain. Ouch! We were also surprised at the lack of regulation. It was interesting to hear how Kathy's - friend's- husband climbed Mt. Everest!
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| Barbara, with her BCDP, poster, and costume! |
On the negative side, we weren't too thrilled with Krakauer's writing style. It was disappointing in the number of names he used throughout the book. Sometimes naming people by first name, and other times by last name. It got very confusing. The author failed to "grab" most of us who were not interested in the topic. In the past, we read Shadow Diver's, a book in which most had no interest, but the author "grabbed" us and the book remains at the top of our ratings. We did have one member, Kim, our newest member I may add, rate the book a 5. She claimed to be very interested in geography type books and felt it deserved a high rating. Unfortunately, she was unable to attend the discussion.
BCDP: Everyone was given a small piece of paper with a smiley. Whoever matched the color of Melissa's, won the BCDP. The lucky winner, Barbara, received a nice package of "mountain" related gifts.
Recommendation: All (except one) would not recommend this book. I guess if you are a "geography buff" like Kim, go to the library immediately and check it out!
Side Note: We had some "themer's" at the meeting! Kathy wore icicle earrings and Barbara wore a sign that read "I Climbed Mt. Everest". Melissa created a nice poster with facts and photos.
We all received a fortune cookie at the restaurant and ironically, Tracy's said "Your creativity takes you to great heights"!
Thursday, April 4, 2013
April Book Selection - Melissa
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
Below is a description of the book (taken from the book cover) we will be reading in April. We will discuss this book on Monday, April 29th.
When Jon Krakauer reached the summit of Mt. Everest in the early afternoon of May 10, 1996, he hadn't slept in 57 hours and was reeling from the brain-altering effects of oxygen depletion. As he turned to begin his long, dangerous descent from 29,028 feet, twenty other climbers were still pushing doggedly toward the top. No one had noticed that the sky had begun to fill with clouds. Six hours later and 3,000 feet lower, in 70- knot winds and blinding snow, Krakauer collapsed in his tent, freezing, hallucinating from exhaustion and hypoxia, but safe. The following morning he learned that six of his fellow climbers hadn't made it back to their camp and were in a desperate struggle for their lives. When the storm finally passed, five of them would be dead, and the sixth so horribly frostbitten that his right hand would have to be amputated.
Krakauer examines what it is about Everest that has compelled so many people -- including himself -- to throw caution to the wind, ignore the concerns of loved ones, and willingly subject themselves to such risk, hardship, and expense. Written with emotional clarity and supported by his unimpeachable reporting, Krakauer's eyewitness account of what happened on the roof of the world is a singular achievement.
Below is a description of the book (taken from the book cover) we will be reading in April. We will discuss this book on Monday, April 29th.
When Jon Krakauer reached the summit of Mt. Everest in the early afternoon of May 10, 1996, he hadn't slept in 57 hours and was reeling from the brain-altering effects of oxygen depletion. As he turned to begin his long, dangerous descent from 29,028 feet, twenty other climbers were still pushing doggedly toward the top. No one had noticed that the sky had begun to fill with clouds. Six hours later and 3,000 feet lower, in 70- knot winds and blinding snow, Krakauer collapsed in his tent, freezing, hallucinating from exhaustion and hypoxia, but safe. The following morning he learned that six of his fellow climbers hadn't made it back to their camp and were in a desperate struggle for their lives. When the storm finally passed, five of them would be dead, and the sixth so horribly frostbitten that his right hand would have to be amputated.
Krakauer examines what it is about Everest that has compelled so many people -- including himself -- to throw caution to the wind, ignore the concerns of loved ones, and willingly subject themselves to such risk, hardship, and expense. Written with emotional clarity and supported by his unimpeachable reporting, Krakauer's eyewitness account of what happened on the roof of the world is a singular achievement.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Me Before You - Discussion
Book: Me Before You by Jojo Mayes
Meeting Place: Rock Bottom, Orland Park, IL
Ratings on a 5 point scale:
Sherry - 3
Melissa - 3.75
Barbara - 5
Kathy - 2.75
Michaelene - 3.25
Tracy - 4
Joyce - 5
Average Rating: 3.8
Discussion: We first discussed the significance of the title. We all agreed there were many characters who supported the "me before you" mentality. Next discussion was whether the legalized suicide was murder or mercy. We had various answers. All members with one exception would not want to live as a quadriplegic and understood Will's feelings. It was a great discussion about a controversial topic, and everyone offered insightful comments.
On the education side, Joyce did some research on the Dignitas. It is a real facility Switzerland, and costs $5300 to be "put down".
BCDP: Joyce had each of us pick a number out of a hat, and Tracy was the winner again! She won a beautiful box with assorted teas, just like the tea in the book. Each member also received Lavender Citrus Tea bags and a Ruby Tuesday original recipe for a Lavender Infused Pear Martini.
Recommendation: There were 2 perfect "5" ratings and an average rating of 3.8, so highly recommended! Very thought provoking!
Side note: Happy birthday Sherry! We brought cake in honor of Sherry aging another year!
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| Kathy theming the "bee tatoo and tights" |
Ratings on a 5 point scale:
Sherry - 3
Melissa - 3.75
Barbara - 5
Kathy - 2.75
Michaelene - 3.25
Tracy - 4
Joyce - 5
Average Rating: 3.8
Discussion: We first discussed the significance of the title. We all agreed there were many characters who supported the "me before you" mentality. Next discussion was whether the legalized suicide was murder or mercy. We had various answers. All members with one exception would not want to live as a quadriplegic and understood Will's feelings. It was a great discussion about a controversial topic, and everyone offered insightful comments.
On the education side, Joyce did some research on the Dignitas. It is a real facility Switzerland, and costs $5300 to be "put down".
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| Happy Birthday Sher! |
BCDP: Joyce had each of us pick a number out of a hat, and Tracy was the winner again! She won a beautiful box with assorted teas, just like the tea in the book. Each member also received Lavender Citrus Tea bags and a Ruby Tuesday original recipe for a Lavender Infused Pear Martini.
Recommendation: There were 2 perfect "5" ratings and an average rating of 3.8, so highly recommended! Very thought provoking!
Side note: Happy birthday Sherry! We brought cake in honor of Sherry aging another year!
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