I hosted neighborhood Book Club last Thursday. The book was The Friend by Sigrid Nunez and a dog was an important character in the novel. I baked gingerbread bone biscuits. I haven’t rolled out cookies to bake in a dog’s age.
“The Friend is a novel by the American writer Sigrid Nunez published by Riverhead Books in 2018. The book concerns an unnamed novelist who adopts a Great Dane that belonged to a deceased friend and mentor.”
Book Club Meeting was held Thursday evening. Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner is a memoir that will “push the reader to explore Korean food if it is unfamiliar, and share the poignancy of memories intertwined with love and meals past”.
H Mart started in 1982 and has 97 locations in the US. “The H Mart is a supermarket chain that specializes in Asian food. The “H” stands for han ah reum, a Korean phrase that roughly translates to “one arm full of groceries.”
Hostess Sarah outdid herself, procuring Korean foods,drinks and treats for members to try while we discussed the book. Author Michelle Zauner is Korean-American Musician of Indie Pop Band Japanese Breakfast
The Jubilee vinyl album was playing on the stereo when we arrived.
Here’s a link to Goodreads with more info on the book. Book Club coordinator Nancy asked for a show of hands…Who thought reading the book was worth their time investment reading it? Six out of seven said YES!
Karen Hough’s first novel Ground Control has been released and my copy arrived in the mail today!
I am looking forward to diving in and devouring it tonight.
Remember the post where Canadian author Karen Hough was introduced? Her Aunt Joanne is my good friend whom you’ve met on the blog before.
Canadian Author Karen Hough residing in LondonHere are links for Book Club discussion guide and the link to purchase a copy. too.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56594348-ground-control
Last Thursday I hosted book club. It starts at 7 so most people eat dinner before they arrive. The dark chocolate, the red grapes, the raspberry rugalach and roasted almonds were the preferred snacks. I ate a few pieces of the vegetable tray with some hummus but threw them all in a pot today with an onion (chopped) and a couple of garlic cloves. I debated chopping them up first but did it the lazy way. Added a can of tomatoes and a rind from the Parmegiano-Reggiano. Salt, pepper and a bottle of water. (The portable dishwasher was hooked up to the faucet) After it simmered awhile, the carrots cooked, I got out the immersion blender and then added canellini beans. A tasty soup on a snowy day.
Walking to book club (to discuss The Madonnas of Leningrad), I came across this single blossom which had poked through the slats of my neighbor’s fence. The setting sun illuminated the new green leaves. Unretouched Photo.
The book club on the next block meets the second Thursday of the month and takes the summer months off.
Who knows what the choice will be for September.
Tonight we discussed a memoir Olive Witch by Abeer Y. Hoque
Our hostess N served this lovely parfait/ sundae 
the walk home at sunset offered this gorgeous sky
They’ve been open since Halloween. Today was my first visit.
You know how I zip across the Allegheny River to get my framing done at Panza Gallery, sip a brew and eat a dinner special at Grant Bar or load up on Brioche and macarons at Jean-Marc Chatteliers Bakery?
Millvale PA posts frequent the blog.
This afternoon I stopped in the Tupelo Honey Teas Cafe and had a delicious ginger tea.
There’s a monthly calendar of activities and events-
January 19th it’s Third Thursday Theater- Steel City Shakespeare- Edgar Allen Poe 7-9 ,
Knitting on Tuesdays at 6:30-9
Book Club(s) local author and mystery,
Brunch and Bluegrass (Devin Moses) on Jan 29th 10-2
There is a connecting door to the Community Library
Good things to eat 
It was all candles. Candles on the mantel, the table, the desk in the hall. It was very dark. I thought all of us looked great by candlelight. We discussed The Help and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. The power was off for about two hours. Fortunately the night before I baked a Gateau di Sirop (recipe)with a bottle of Steen’s Cane Syrup. Baked Split Second Cookies with Bon Maman Fig Jam. Extra sharp cheddar and Honeycrisp apple slices. And Tess and Chris brought me a box of St. Moritz truffles from Oxford Centre downtown. Lovely. A gold box with an oval window in the middle. There’s a spider and a tiny dancer one and a pumpkin one and each one is delicately embellished. Just before everyone arrived, Laura had sent a picture on my phone of a lovely ring on a finger. Then she called. James Weaver asked her to marry him and she said YES. It was a happy night!
The people, of course but you have to check out this spread! You read a book. Or two. Discuss. Some people just hate the books chosen, and others love them. Tonight it was James Joyce Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. You read things you might not have picked. We didn’t meet all summer. Tonight it was at Joan’s- everything from her garden. Heirloom tomatoes on homemade focaccia crust and a spinach golden raisin pine nut one. Oatmeal Crispies and a flavorful small watermelon. Oh yes, the books. Sergio by Samantha Power and everyone had thumbs down for Little Bee by Chris Cleave.
