The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

Thank you to all that attended: Jamie, Lauren, Maria, Cortney, Moana, Keri and Joy

We met at Joy's home. We all enjoyed this book and found the correspondence of letters as a writing style very intriguing. Some of us had watched the adaptation on Netflix and found the movie to be every bit enjoyable as the book. I personally even liked the movie more. I really like the group of actors.  ~ Joy


From Goodreads.com
Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.

“I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.” 

January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb…. 

As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all. 

Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever. 

Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

From Goodreads.com

Prentisstown isn't like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts in an overwhelming, never-ending stream of Noise. Just a month away from the birthday that will make him a man, Todd and his dog, Manchee -- whose thoughts Todd can hear too, whether he wants to or not -- stumble upon an area of complete silence. They find that in a town where privacy is impossible, something terrible has been hidden -- a secret so awful that Todd and Manchee must run for their lives.

But how do you escape when your pursuers can hear your every thought?

Movie: Chaos Walking coming out March 2019

The Mistletoe Inn by Richard Paul Evans and Cookie Exchange

December: The Misteltoe Inn by Richard Paul Evans 300 pages

At thirty-two Kimberly Rossetti, a finance officer at a Lexus car dealership, has had her heart broken more times than she wants to remember. With two failed engagements, a divorce and again alone with no prospects, she hardly seems the type to dream of being a published romance author. Dreading another holiday alone, she signs up for The Mistletoe Retreat, a nine-day writing retreat in Savannah, Georgia. Deep inside Kimberly knows she's at a junction in her life and it's time to either fulfill her dream or let it go. The other reason she decides to attend the conference is because famed romance writer, H.T. Cowell, once the best selling romance writer in America, and the author whose books instilled in her the desire to be a writer, will be speaking in public for the first time in more than a decade.

In one of her breakout sessions Kimberly meets another aspiring writer, and one of the few men at the conference, Zeke, an intelligent man with a wry wit who seems as interested in Kimberly as he is in the retreat. As Kimberly begins to open up to him about her stories and dreams, she inadvertently reveals her own troubled past. As Zeke helps her to discover why her books fail to live up to their potential she begins to wonder if he's really talking more about her life than her literature. But as she grows closer to him, she realizes that Zeke has his own darkness, a past he's unwilling to talk about.

The theme of The Mistletoe Inn is that like literature, relationships must be lived with passion and vulnerability to succeed.

review from goodreads.com

A movie was recently released on the Hallmark Channel.

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

October: Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie 315 pages
Just after midnight, the famous Orient Express is stopped in its tracks by a snowdrift. By morning, the millionaire Samuel Edward Ratchett lies dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside. One of his fellow passengers must be the murderer.

Isolated by the storm, detective Hercule Poirot must find the killer among a dozen of the dead man's enemies, before the murderer decides to strike again . . .


review from goodreads.com

Movie Release 11/10/2017 staring Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfieffer Penelope Cruz

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

This month's book club pick was the classic children's book Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery.
Some members of the book club were reading this book for the first time, some had read it many times and some compared it to the movie adaptations.

In attendance:
Joy
Cortney
Jamie
Lauren (don't call her Carrots *wink*wink*)


First published in 1908, Anne of Green Gables is a timeless story of hope, desire for family and a place in this world.

A few of  so many favorite quotes....

I've made up my mind to enjoy this drive. It's been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will. Of course, you must make it up FIRMLY.

 Oh, I know I'm a great trial to you, Marilla," said Anne repentantly. "I make so many mistakes. But then just think of all the mistakes I don't make, although I might.

 Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.

Friends, do you have any favorite quotes to add? 

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Our September Selection:
 The Maze Runner by James Dashner​
​
"If you ain't scared, you ain't human."

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He's surrounded by strangers--boys whose memories are also gone.

Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It's the only way out--and no one's ever made it through alive.

Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying​.

Movie Night!!! September 23, 2014 at the Kapolei Theaters' 7:15PM showing. What fun!!

We had great time! Krystal, and her friend Peggy, Kanoe, Jamie, Cortney, and Val.

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Thank you Monica for hosting at your home and suggesting this month's book club pick.
The Giver by Lois Lowry

In Attendance: Monica, Joy, Cortney and Kristin

Up Next: Planning Meeting for book suggestions and what to read over the Summer of 2014

UnEnchanted by Chanda Hahn

It was nice to see everyone that made it out to Book Club.
Thank you Cortney for hosting.

In Attendance:
Cortney, Joy, Jamie, Krystal, Maggie

We had a fun time talking about this enchanted book UnEnchanted by Chanda Hahn:
 
Mina Grime is unlucky, unpopular and uncoordinated; that is until she saves her crush's life on a field trip, changing her High School status from loser to hero overnight. But with her new found fame brings misfortune in the form of an old family curse come to light. For Mina is a descendant from the Brothers Grimm and has inherited all of their unfinished fairy tale business which includes trying to outwit a powerful Story from making her its' next fairy-tale victim.
To break the fairy tale curse on her family and make these deadly occurrences stop, Mina must finish the tales until the very Grimm end.


Currently, UnEnchanted by Chanda Hahn is available for free download at Amazon.com

 Also, it was fun to see those that made it to see Divergent in the theater on March 22nd. Following the movie some of us were able to make it to lunch at PhoOne across the street.

Moana, Kanoe&Moroni, Jamie, Joy, Krystal, Cortney, Ashley, Virginia

As it so happens, one of the movie previews before Divergent was The Giver.
This is also our book selection for April, The Giver by Lois Lowry.

179 pages, published in 1993
Jonas' world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community. When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.

​The Giver is available at the Kapolei Public Library: to request the book ​

​click on the link to the Hawaii State Library web site, enter your library card number and pin(pin is the last four digits of the phone# you used to enroll)​

​Also, for you ebook lovers The Giver is available on Amazon.com for $4.99​

​ or googleplay for $4.99 or Nook for $5.99 ​

​Book Club for April will be at Monica McBride's home,

 Tuesday, April 22 at 7 PM.

​Also, from our March discussion, book selections on deck to read:
Inferno by Dan Brown
 In his international blockbusters The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons, and The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown masterfully fused history, art, codes, and symbols. In this riveting new thriller, Brown returns to his element and has crafted his highest-stakes novel to date.

In the heart of Italy, Harvard professor of symbology Robert Langdon is drawn into a harrowing world centered on one of history’s most enduring and mysterious literary masterpieces . . . Dante’s Inferno.

Against this backdrop, Langdon battles a chilling adversary and grapples with an ingenious riddle that pulls him into a landscape of classic art, secret passageways, and futuristic science. Drawing from Dante’s dark epic poem, Langdon races to find answers and decide whom to trust . . . before the world is irrevocably altered.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner​

​
"If you ain't scared, you ain't human."

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He's surrounded by strangers--boys whose memories are also gone.

Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It's the only way out--and no one's ever made it through alive.

Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying​.

​

This book was also in a movie preview prior to Divergent. The Maze Runner is set for release September 19, 2014.

Austenland by Shannon Hale

Aloha Everyone!! It's a new month! The Book Club meeting time and date are still in the works however, this is our August Book Club Book:
Austenland by Shannon Hale.


It is a very cute book and at 209 pages, a quick read. Perfect for light, fluffy, summer reading.

from the PROLOGUE:
    It is a truth universally acknowledged that a thirty-something woman in possession of a satisfying career and fabulous hairdo must be in want of very little, and Jane Hayes, pretty enough, was certainly thought to have little to distress her.


There are minimum copies available at the Hawaii State Public Library. (Maybe 3 copies)
I also have a paperback of Austenland I'm willing to loan, but it's still on it's way in the mail.

For ebook purchase:
available on Kindle for $8.57
available on NOOK for $9.99
available to listen iTunes for $12.99

Austenland has been made into a movie! We are awaiting the release date for Oahu. And then we'll plan to attend the Movie Matinee!
-- LA and New York release date is August 16. Please, let me know if you hear any updates.

Heads up for September. Our Book of the Month is The Sweetest Spell by Suzanne Selfors
There are currently 6 copies available at the Hawaii State Library
also available:
kindle: $6.15
NOOK: $6.99

Book Jacket Summary:
Emmeline Thistle, a dirt-scratcher's daughter, has escaped death twice-first, on the night she was born, and second, on the day her entire village was swept away by flood. Left with nothing and no one, Emmeline discovers her rare and mysterious ability-she can churn milk into chocolate, a delicacy more precious than gold.

Suddenly, the most unwanted girl in Anglund finds herself desired by all. But Emmeline only wants one-Owen Oak, a dairyman's son, whose slow smiles and lingering glances once tempted her to believe she might someday be loved for herself. But others will stop at nothing to use her gift for their own gains-no matter what the cost to Emmeline.

Magic and romance entwine in this fantastical world where true love and chocolate conquer all.


I love that last line!!
Aloha and happy reading!

AnguiSH by Lila Felix 7/24/2013

This was my July book club pick and I'm grateful to Cortney for hosting and for reading the book! Her sister Kelly, too! And glad you were able to make it Krystal. This was a funny discussion. There were many quirky quotes and cheesy lines. Angish was an underlying sweet story with a lovely happily-ever-after.

Now for the future we have a game plan! There are a couple of fun books and a movie involved!

 For August we will be reading Austenland by Shannon Hale

from goodreads.com:
Jane Hayes is a seemingly normal young New Yorker, but she has a secret. Her obsession with Mr. Darcy, as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, is ruining her love life: no real man can compare. But when a wealthy relative bequeaths her a trip to an English resort catering to Austen-crazed women, Jane's fantasies of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman suddenly become realer than she ever could have imagined.

Decked out in empire-waist gowns, Jane struggles to master Regency etiquette and flirts with gardeners and gentlemen;or maybe even, she suspects, with the actors who are playing them. It's all a game, Jane knows. And yet the longer she stays, the more her insecurities seem to fall away, and the more she wonders: Is she about to kick the Austen obsession for good, or could all her dreams actually culminate in a Mr. Darcy of her own?
 

From Shannon Hale's Blog:
This book was made into a movie! This super cute movie comes out either on the NY/LA release date of August 16th or wide release on September 27, 2013. And we as a book club are attending! Stay tuned for further information

For the month of September our Book Club pick is The Sweetest Spell by Suzanne Selfors

from goodreads.com
Emmeline Thistle, a dirt-scratcher's daughter, has escaped death twice-first, on the night she was born, and second, on the day her entire village was swept away by flood. Left with nothing and no one, Emmeline discovers her rare and mysterious ability-she can churn milk into chocolate, a delicacy more precious than gold.

Suddenly, the most unwanted girl in Anglund finds herself desired by all. But Emmeline only wants one-Owen Oak, a dairyman's son, whose slow smiles and lingering glances once tempted her to believe she might someday be loved for herself. But others will stop at nothing to use her gift for their own gains-no matter what the cost to Emmeline.

Magic and romance entwine in this fantastical world where true love and chocolate conquer all.

Safe Haven 2/16/2013 *MOVIE*

Our February Book Club was a fun meeting to be sure!

We had a great read this month. 

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks.

On Saturday, February 16, we saw a matinee showing of Safe Haven at Kapolei Consolidated Theaters. After the movie we had dinner at Pho One across the street. Yum!

In attendance:
Cortney Nadig, Krystal Ava, Ashley Mafi, Ann Toilolo, DeAnna Dotson (welcome back!), Virginia Afoa (welcome to book club!!), Pamela Swenson, Jamie Dugay, Kanoe Aken and Joy Paet.

As always we are looking for book suggestions and hope ideas will pour in!

Upcoming
For March:

Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson (I LOVED THIS BOOK)


We'll meet at my home March 27, 2013, 7 PM.






~Joy

The Hunger Games in Theaters March 23, 2012

Our January 2011 Book Club pick was the trilogy:

The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay

by Suzanne Collins.

The first of the three movies comes out March 23, 2012.

Let the countdown begin!

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

***Ender's Game will be made into a movie was set to be released March 13, 2012 but is now pushed back to November 1, 2012! ***waiting***waiting***

Happy November Palehua Book Club!

11/08/11 I just finished our book for the month, Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. If you only have the opportunity to read one sci-fi book, this is the one to choose. It's so different from nearly anything I've ever read, however, there is so much to talk about.
If you are finding it challenging, please stick it out, finish the book, there is so much for us to discuss!

 

 ***Update***

On Tuesday, November 29th at 7 PM we met at Sarah Ohki's home.

Thanks Sarah!

also in attendance:

Me!

Jennifer Aiton - Thank you for the book recommendation!!

Cortney

Jamie

Sally

Tori

Dee
Wendi Phillips - We wish you safe travels! Have a wonderful adventure for you and family!!

There were so many wonderful refreshments. They were all delicious! Sarah even made Molly Koch's famous mint brownies.

Cortney, Tori, Sarah, Dee, Jamie, Wendi, Joy, Jennifer

Some of our favorite quotes were those in the introduction of Ender's Game given by the author, Orson Scott Card, and readers' reaction to Ender's Game:

The highest praise I ever received for a book of mine was when the school librarian at Farrer Junior High in Provo, Utah told me, "You know, Ender's Game is our most-lost book." (intro. pg. xx)

Why else do we read fiction, anyway? Not to be impressed by somebody's dazzling language -- or at least I hope that's not our reason. I think that most of us, anyway, read these stories that we know are not "true" because we are hungry for another kind of truth:  The mystic truth about human nature in general, the particular truth about those life-communities that define our own identity, and the most specific truth of all: our own self-story. Fiction because it is not about somebody who actually lived in the real world, always has the possibility of being about ourself. (intro. pg. xxiv-xxv)

The story of Ender's Game is not this book, though it has the title emblazoned on it. The story is one that you and I will construct together in your memory. If the story means anything to you at all, then when you remember it afterward, think of it, not as something I created, but rather as something that we made together. (intro. pg. xxv-xxvi)

And the favorite quote of the night pointed out by Cortney:

(Peter says to Val - he, Locke and she, Demosthenes) This is what historians usually do, quibble about cause and effect when the point is, there are times when the world is in flux and the right voice in the right place can move the world. (Chapter nine pg. 128)

 

Also, Saturday, November, 19th at 6:30PM The Relief Society will be shown the 3rd movie in the Love Comes Softly series, "Love's Long Journey".

And the wait is over!!!
  Nov. 19th, Saturday at 11AM we saw the matinee for The Twilight Saga: BREAKING DAWN at REGAL THEATERS Pearl Highlands.
~*~*~AWESOME~*~*~

**12/11/11**UPDATE****
Our December Book Club pick is The Christmas Train by David Baldacci. We will be meeting at Joy Paet's home Tuesday, December 27th at 7PM.

Wishing you and your family

a very Merry Christmas

and Happy New Year!!

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt - 8/30/2011

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman came highly recommended by Molly Koch and Sarah Ohki!

~ from goodreads.com:

Steel Magnolias meets The Help in this Southern debut novel

sparkling with humor, heart, and feminine wisdom.

Our August meeting was at Joy's home where we had a fun time going through reading group discussion questions.

In attendance:

Lety, Sarah, Cortney, Jamie, Sally, Joy, Rachel and a BIG WELCOME to Jennifer Aiton!
There was such a wonderful spread of delicious foods. I made my great-grandmother, MaMaw's Peach Cobbler and my grandmother, Nannie's Summer Slaw. We also had mini chicken salad sandwiches, a seafood dip from Lety, Sarah made Chocolate Chip Cookie Pecan Pie and a savory dip to spread on sour dough bread and Cortney made Mint Julips for us all to drink! It was all so yummy!

~*~*~*~some favorite quotes~*~*~*~

“That's what friends should do. cherish the good and pretend not to notice the harmless rest.”

“Don't grow up too fast, Darling. Age is inevitable, but if you nurture a childlike heart, you'll never, ever grow old.”

  “But if you have so much fun, then why don't you get together more than once a month?'
She looked at me like a wise old owl and winked. 'Do something too often and it stops being special.”

 wouldn't be complete for discussion without post-it-notes


It turned out to be a really fun month, too! On Friday, August 12, 2011, nine of us attended a 7:30pm showing of "The Help".
The Help by Kathryn Stockett was our April 2010 pick.

 

 Tori, Rachel, Jamie, Sarah, Joy, Cortney, Barbie, Kainui, 

and not pictured - Sally(made a quick get-away!)

We also have a list of our books for the remainder of the year!

 
September & October:

The House at Riverton by Kate Morton

Meeting: October 25
Where: Cortney Nadig's Home

November:

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Meeting: November 29
Where: Sarah Ohki's home

December:

The Christmas Train by David Baldacci
Meeting: December 27
Where: Joy Paet's home











January: 
Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine

Meeting:

Where: to be announced

If you are interested in hosting please let me know.

Much love and aloha! ~Joy

Happy 8th Anniversary!!!

We have a book for August!

 

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman comes highly recommended by Molly Koch and Sarah Ohki!

~ from goodreads.com:

Steel Magnolias meets The Help in this Southern debut novel

sparkling with humor, heart, and feminine wisdom.

This will be a book with much opportunity for discussion.

**8/16**Update****

Our August meeting will be

Tuesday, August 30, 2011.

7:30 PM at Joy's home

It will be an excellent opportunity to share book titles and suggestions for the rest of the year.
We will meet at 7:30PM at my home. Email me for directions! joyfulpie@aol.com

For example:

Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back by Todd Burpo

I'm reading this now, it was passed on to me by Sally Holstein. It's astounding and very special.

**update 8/6/2011** Really sweet book and a quick read.

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosna 

This suggestion is from our very own Sarah Ohki. I've had this on my 'to read' shelf for a couple years and think this will be a captivating read. *On a side note, this book was recently made into a movie and is in select theaters now.

Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine certainly looks intriguing and is a suggestion from Rachel McGovern. It's also been on my 'to read' list and one I think would garner some fascinating discussion at book club.

It would be wonderful to have the remainder of 2011's book choices mapped out. I am especially interested in what anyone would have us read as an October(Halloween) book or December(Christmas) book.

The possibilities are truly endless! I am so excited to get together with everyone again!

Happy Reading!!

 ~Joy

Water for Elephants - 4/26/2011

Palehua Book Club Movie Night!
Our book for April was Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

We met at Kapolei Theaters for the 8 PM showing of:


Upcoming for May: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
We'll meet at Rachel McGovern's home May 24 at 7PM ...Thank's Rachel!