Pope Joan 10/20/05

At Jane Gorton's home.

Pope Joan by Donna Cross

I thought this book was really interesting. Very tragic but historically interesting.

There was a movie called Pope Joan in 1972.
AND Summit Entertainment is releasing Pope Joan in 2009. (They are the same studio that is releasing Twilight December 12, 2008.)

update 1/22/08
Pope Joan is now on DVD
update 7/26/2011

Sahara 9/21/05

At Jane Gorton's home.

SAHARA by Clive Cussler

In attendance:
Molly Koch
Sarah Ohki
Keri Magaoay
Joy Paet
Jane Gorton
Caddie Welling

For those that enjoyed the book, check out the movie Sahara.

Book Suggestions:
A Woman of Independent Means by Elizabeth Hailey
Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

Sheri McEntire Farewell 8/10/05

Thank you Molly for opening your beautiful home to the largest Book Club turnout since Sheri's baby shower!


Angela Mueller, Ann Toilolo, Sheri McEntire, Jane Gorton, Heather Bernal, Rhona Slingerland, Molly Koch, Sarah Ohki, De Dotson, Joy Paet, Sally Holstein, Moana Piena, Dawn

It was so wonderful to see everyone there! AND 4 new babies.
Congrats to the new mothers and welcome back to Book Club.
WE'VE MISSED YOU!!!

Sarah Ohki & Max (Makoto) June 9th
Molly & Braden Kai - June 20th
Angela Muller & Jessica - July 3rd
Moana Piena & Makoa - July 8th

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling
The movie is set to be released November 21, 2008
~*~*~*~*~SEPTEMBER'S BOOK~*~*~*~*~*~
SAHARA by Clive Cussler

Here is a list of other books, in no particular order, that were made mention at August's Book Club. . . possibly up for vote in future meetings. I gathered a 0-5 star rating from Amazon.com to give you an idea what 'mainstream' people think of these books.
The books are listed in no particular order:

Alas Babylon by Pat Frank (4 1/2 Stars)
Pope Joan by Donna Cross (4 1/2 Stars)
Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik (4 Stars)
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis (4 1/2 Stars)
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom (4 1/2 Stars)
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (4 1/2 Stars)
The Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (4 1/2 Stars)
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (4 stars)

Here are some resources on the Net that may be of interest:
Welcome to Chinaberry
Online Literature Library - Classics at the Online Literature Library
The Official Web Site of Bestselling Author Dan Brown
Questia - The Online Library of Books and Journals
Free eBooks by Globusz Publishing

The Secret Life of Bees 7/20/2005 SECOND ANNIVERSARY

At Rhona Slingerland's home.

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

In attendance and book rating 1-10 around the room:
Sarah Ohki - 9 ~Congratulations! New Mom to Max
De Dotson - 9
Rhona Slingerland - 9 1/2
Joy Paet - 8
Molly Koch - 9 1/2 ~Congratulations! New Mom to Braden
Sheri McEntire
Caddie Welling - (1st time!)

Another great book choice. Thanks Molly Koch for the suggestion.
Anyone not surprised a movie is expected for release in 2009?

In my notes I wrote down my favorite epitaph from Rhona's wall:

Today's Menu:
Two Things
1) Take it
2) Leave it

Timeline 6/22/05

At Joy Paet's home.

Timeline by Michael Crichton

In attendance and book rating 1-10:
Joy Paet - 8 1/2
Tina Gamez
Rhona Slingerland
Heather Bernal - 9
Moana Piena
(Molly Koch - 7 1/2 review by email)
(De Dotson - 8 review by email)

It was finally my turn to host!! Hooray! I have a house!!!
This book was very imaginative and in depth. Also, Timeline was made into a movie which was okay. Though, in my opinion, the book was better. =)

Tisha 5/18/05

At De Dotson's home.

Tisha by Robert Specht

In attendance and book rating 1-10 around the room:

Sheri McEntire - 7 1/2
De Dotson - n/a
Tami Sorensen - 8
Molly Koch - n/a (1st time!)
Rhona Slingerland - 7
Sarah Ohki - 9
Keri Magaoay - 10
Tina Gamez - n/a (1st time!)
Joy Paet - 9

What a fascinating book! This was an amazing story of hardship, sacrifice and survival. Most definitely a book that made us grateful for the comforts we have.

Sadly, the May Book Club Meeting was the last in Hawaii for Tami Sorensen, however we sure hope to keep her posted with the books we are reading so that she will comment on them from Tennessee! ;-)

Book Suggestions:
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd **July 2005**
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J.K. Rolling

Deception Point 4/20/05

At De Dotson's home.

Deception Point by Dan Brown

Attendance and book rating between 1-10 around the room:
Sarah Ohki - 8 1/2
Keri Magaoay - 8
Heather Bernal - 8
Rhona Slingerland - 9
Joy Paet - 9
Frances Ammon - 9
De Dotson - 8 1/2
Tami Sorensen - 9
Sheri McEntire - 8 1/2
(Moana Piena - 9 review by email)

The Poetry Moment was given by Heather Bernal. She chose Shel Silverstein. Heather gave us an amazing reading from a few of his poems.

Deception Point is our 2nd Dan Brown book, officially. Though, many of us read The Da Vinci Code shortly after Angels and Demons the previous summer.
This was a really fun evening. We had some in depth discussion about Deception Point. I, for one, was truly amazed how Dan Brown can instruct the reader without the reader realizing they are receiving a lesson in higher learning.

Book Suggestions:
September by Rosamunde Pilcher

Under the Tuscan Sun 3/16/05

Dinner at Bravos! Yum!
I can still smell the garlic balls. ha.

Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes

In attendance, (Around the Table):
Sarah Ohki
Frances Ammon
Joy Paet
Angela Mueller
Sheri McEntire
Rhona Slingerland
???
??? Help, that's all I can remember.

This book was made to a movie in 2003.

Some books suggested that evening:
Valhalla Rising by Clive Cuslier
Ladder of years by Anne Tyler
Timeline, State of Fear by Micheal Crichton

The Simple Truth 1/20/05

At De Dotson's Home.

The Simple Truth by David Baldacci

In attendance:
De Dotson
Tami Sorensen
Sheri McEntire
Joy Paet
Sarah Ohki

We gave David Baldacci another try. He wrote our first book club pick: Wish You Well. For the most part, we gave The Simple Truth an 8 out of 10. Not bad, Not Magnificent.

Skipping Christmas 12/14/04 *Movie Night*

Skipping Christmas by John Grisham

Ah, a movie night! What a great idea!

Next Book: The Simple Truth by David Baldacci

Summer Light 11/23/04

At Sheri McEntire's home.

Summer Light by Luane Rice

Our Poetry Moment given by Sarah Ohki

Next book: Skipping Christmas by John Grisham

Sacred Clowns 10/19/04

Scheduled at Angela Muller's home, but she wasn't there so we headed to. . . De's Home.

Sacred Clowns by Tony Hillerman

Attendance:
Moana Piena
Joy Paet
Sarah Ohki
Frances Ammon
De Dotson
???
??? more, but I that's all I remember.

The Poetry Moment spotlight was Oscar Wilde. The suggestion from his work that was read that evening was to compliment others more. It must have been moving because it was the only thing I wrote down. We must have had so much fun I was too distracted to do anything else! =)

Also, I was wondering where I might get the opportunity to mention Frances Ammon. She was a wonderful, unique and special member of our book club. Sacred Clowns was her book pick for us to read. I'm so grateful to Sarah and others who introduced her to the book club. She is missed.

Next Book: Skipping Christmas by John Grisham