When I arrived Michelle was sitting on the couch hurrying to finish reading the book. This is not unusual for someone to be sitting there trying to finish.
Jenn's husband gave her a notebook on a lanyard so that she'll always have a pen and paper handy in the midst of her busy life. It's a great idea and so sweet that he did that for her.
Here is our successful self-portrait of the night (taken at the beginning of the evening while our lipstick was still in tact). It took us four tries to get it right.
We had a great dinner (as usual) of Amy's beef stew, Jenn's spinach salad, and Jana's homemade crescent rolls. It was fabulous!
Later in the evening Collette gave us all a framed copy of this photo I took in Paris. We had visited this chocolate shop 3 times while we were there and it was never open! It was both sad and funny. Collette also gave us fudge to go with it. So sweet.
Jenn gave us all one of these darling little Easter bags with plastic Easter eggs full of funky Easter candies like Wild Cherry M&Ms and Strawberries and Cream dark chocolate 3 musketeers.
Here is the cake I made (yes, I baked!) for Michelle. It's nothing pretty, but it was really tasty. I used Michelle's recipe for Denver Sheet cake and loaded the frosting and the top with toasted pecans.
We had a good discussion of this book, though the group was torn on what we thought about it. Amy, Michelle and I all really liked it, Collette was iffy, about 50/50 on it, and both Jenn & Jana really didn't like it. This was rather baffling to me, but we were able to talk through the differences and and discuss our reasons for feeling that way.
I find it funny that I get so defensive when there are differences--my fight or flight response kicks in and surprisingly I want to take flight. I don't know why this is, because I'd think my inclination would be to fight (in a good way) but instead I have a mini panic attack and feel threatened. It's weird, but definitely made me push myself to talk things out more, rather than shut down and get quiet.
**Do you fight or take flight?
Do you need a notebook on a lanyard?
Do you like our dinner menu?
Have you made Denver/Texas sheet cake?**
Do you need a notebook on a lanyard?
Do you like our dinner menu?
Have you made Denver/Texas sheet cake?**
29 comments:
Funny, we were both posting about this at the same time! (I swiped a photo from your smugmug)
I love the outtakes on self-portraits, so funny.
I guess I don't really have the urge to take flight when we disagree at book club, more bewilderment. Why do I expect us all to feel the same way? It's silly, really.
Thanks for making the cake, it was so delicious -- better than mine!
Yes, Jill, I noticed your talkativeness last night, and I really enjoyed hearing your thoughts. I hope you can conquer the flight instinct, because you added so much to the discussion!
I defend my opinions like crazy on a book or movie. When I don't like a book and someone I know loves it, it drives me crazy when they won't defend their opinion because I seriously want to be swayed a little.
The lanyard notebook is hilarious! I could so use one of those. Seriously.
Love your menu and great job on the sheet cake! I love that stuff.
If I had a notebook on a lanyard, I'd just misplace the lanyard. Don't ask me how. But it would happen. I'd have to glue it to my hand.
I love reading about your book club!! Maybe because I love my own so much. But I do get a little defensive when a book I loved isn't loved by others. I get quiet. But then if others love a book and I don't I get quiet too and then I post a scathing book review on my blog...hmmm...I'm sensing some passive aggression here. I love your idea of talking things out about WHY someone didn't love a book. Very timely as I'm hosting book club at my house next week and I picked Thirteenth Tale. How can anyone not love that book? ;)
Dinner sounds delicious and I definitely fight as opposed to flight.
For the record- not my best picture, the one with my notebook.
You were concerned about me being quiet last night but it meant that YOU talked- I always worry that I talk over you and now I know, if I just shut my mouth- you will say really interesting things! I liked that.
Do we even question if it will be a great night anymore?!!
best bookclub ever.
Sometimes I might have the flight urge, at least more often than the fight urge. I bet y'all have really interesting discussions.
I wish I could be a fly on the wall during your book club discussions. Well, a fly that could eat too.
I have made a Texas sheet cake (hello, I'm in Texas) and hands down the frosting is the best! Dee-lish.
I guess I'm like you when it comes to my response about books. Even now I am hesitating to comment. I feel extremely passionate about books (about most things really) but I don't like 1) to be criticized or 2) to feel like I am hurting someone else's feelings.
With that said, I have found to my deep sadness that I can't do book clubs (especially as the bishop's wife). I am a stickler for standards and so many popular books just don't meet them--I can totally appreciate a fabulous writing style and compelling story but I can't get past things like constant taking of the Lord's name in vain (Book Thief is a great example here--so sad!). One of the young men in our ward phrased it just right--"It's just a piece of dog poop in the brownie mix!".
Unfortunately, like I said, this often gets me labeled as self-righteous and hurts people's feelings when that is never my intention. I would never think to tell another adult what they can or cannot read--just what I personally will or will not read.
Whew! Guess you hit a nerve with your question about books and opinions! Sorry for my little soapbox there...I often wish I could find a bookclub that I fit into ('cause the ward book club that only reads non-fiction spiritual books isn't a perfect fit either!).
By the way, Texas sheetcake is one of my all time favorites--yummy!
Your last paragrah caught me off gaurd because I would have thought you would be the stay and "fight" type. I think I am more the "flight" girl in all areas EXCEPT for books. I will fight to the death to make someone see my point about why I loved a book and I can't stand hearing that someone didn't like or get out of a book the same things I did. Too funny! Sometimes I embarrass by talking very loud and forcefully (I like to call it passionatly) about the books that I love!
Looks like a great night...I am so impressed with what great cooks everyone is!
It it always amamzes me how you can read or watch the same thing then have such differing opinions. This book has been one that is sitting on my book list of books to read.
Love Jenn's Lanyard. Think it is a great idea to have.
The cake looked yummy. Never made one like it before either.
SOmetimes I fight and sometimes I take flight, it just depends.
I think it is interesting when there are a mix of likes and dislikes of books...it makes for a better discussion I think.
The meal looks tasty, and that cake looks good!!
i have that recipe and am thrilled that michelle gave it to me last year for my birthday. i made it a few weeks ago.
i used to always fight, but now take more flight.
my sister in law used to always tell me to wear a notebook around my neck, funny
what i would give to be invisable at your book club. seriously you could make money to put your book club discussion on you tube, i would pay to just watch the maturity of your discussions. not many women could do what you do.
that meal looks soooo good!
At my book club I find myself being swayed much too easily. I pretty much like most things, I'm not very critical, then I hear other's opinions & think - I guess I hate it... no wait- I guess I love it. Back & forth. I think it's because I have only been in a book club for a year. I'm just happy to be reading anything.
I am reading this book right now- I'm still in Italy.
That menu looks delicious! I have made that sheet cake recipe before and it's fabulous- easy, no fail chocolate cake. Yum. You guys always have good food.
That is such a funny thing- the notebook on the lanyard, but I can see why Jenn would need it! I don't know how she gets it all done.
I have been curious about that book. I guess I will just have to read myself and see.
i definitely take flight...totally shut down and stuff feelings that are hard to talk about. it's something that i don't like about myself and have to make quite an effort to do otherwise.
the menu looks delicious. haven't made the sheet cake before but my sis made one on sunday and it was sooo good!
It was a fun night (as always). I think my classic "3rd child" syndrome comes out when someone disagrees with me. I immediately think, "hmmm, I must have missed something." I am just happy that we can have a good discussion and not all agree - that wouldn't be any fun if that were always the case.
i guess FLIGHT means to stay quiet? I don't know how it is, because I have never belonged to a book club, but I am usually opinionated and don't mind hearing other people's points of view...although if I like something I probably push towards that at least to see my point of view....maybe? That looks really really good. Esther already beat me on the book and you obviously finished it already. WOW
I love Texas or Denver Sheet Cake. It's so yummy and so easy and the pecans make a great addition to the frosting. I would have loved to have been at your discussion of this book. I am hoping my bookgroup will read it soon and I know we will be divided as well. I'm one who doesn't like the book and I think a little disagreement always makes for a good discussion.
I read about 1/2 of this book and really did not like it.. I am glad to hear there is someone else that did not like it.. even though you enjoyed it!
Dinner sounded YUMMY!!
I think I could use more of a 'flight' responce. I'm all a fighter. And that isn't good, since I am a nice girl. But when I get riled I just have to prove that I am right, Darn it!
wild cherry m & m's I have to get those!! Sorry Jill, did not like Eat, Pray, Love...I love book clubs just for that reason, hearing why someone loves a book!!
kelly a
Classic photo of Michelle finishing the book. That's funny that it's not an uncommon thing. Probably a great time to finish...
I usually flee from uncomfortable situations. I'm not a fighter.
A notebook on a lanyard is actually quite a good idea. So many thoughts slip right on out since I can't always document them.
I keep seeing this 'Eat, Pray, Love' cover on different blogs, so I scanned Waterstones for it yesterday (in store) but to no avail. Is it just a US release at the moment?
Our church book club is at a total standstill (and no-one seems bothered, except me!!) and I've just found out it's because the leader got a new job and moved to Lancaster. Grrrr. Why did I know that? Now I feel a weight of duty to take on the mantle of book club leader. I really should, with you and your girls as 'guides' *grins*
Notebook on a lanyard. You know, I'm sure Victorian/Edwardian ladies used to wear tiny notebooks threaded around their waists. I'm sure I saw one on 'Antiques Roadshow' once. It was a very thin, silver case with notepaper inside and a teeeeeny pencil that slid inside. But Jenn's is a cool 21st Cent version!!
Fight or flight. I inwardly panic when I feel my opinion on a subject is being challenged, but I feel I need to outwardly fight to 'survive'. It's all a big bottle-brush tail act. Really, I'm having a mini-heart attack!
I fight. I need a notebook, but a voice recorder would be even better-- does that make me a huge nerd? Love your dinner menu, and Texas sheet cake.
But I will say that I didn't like Eat, Pray, Love at all. It wasn't so much the book itself, She is free to make all the stupid/selfish decisions she wants. But what really bugs me is the reception it has gotten. This shouldn't be anyones bible, If the whole world acted even half as selfish as Gilbert is, we would be in a sad place. We read it for our book club in December, and it was funny how heated our discussion got.
I just got my birthday present from you. 6 months late. Very funny/weird story. THANK YOU-- it made my day.
I love that picture of all of you standing in front of the chocolat shop. So sad it was closed.
I think we all get a bit defensive about what we like because we don't understand why someone would think any different. I guess for me it makes me wonder if there is something wrong with, but like Michelle said, it's silly...we are all different. I'm glad you were able to talk it through.
that would be "wrong with me"
maybe one day I'll get it right.
I love your book club recaps. Again, impressive.
I like to hear what others think even when I disagree with them. I am not sure that I am always a good listener though... I am working on it.
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