Many Thanks and Not Really Goodbye

Instead of emailing our lovely bunch, I am going to post a debrief and a heartfelt thanks on our beloved yet sometimes lonely blog.

Last night you delightful ladies gathered at my house to talk about the graphic novel Tamara Drew and screen the film version that came out recently. Laura generously gave us a short but generously detailed synopsis and character sketch of the Thomas Hardy book, Far From the Madding Crowd upon which Tamara Drew is based. How she managed to pass on so much detail about the novel in such a short amount of time is beyond me...but she was good, real good.

And we are glad she did because the people who made the movie version of Tamara Drew decided to lace it with even more references Thomas Hardy and the novel....adding details not found in the graphic novel version. Drum scene/sword play anyone?

Long story short, it was a brilliant evening! Although watching the film consumed a great deal of time we normally spend chatting. But it was fun and different and relevant.

Late as it was, I was incredibly thrilled to receive a custom-made brussels sprout-omium shirt as a parting gift from the group. Laura also got a custom-made grand-place-as-lawn shirt. Both beautiful and creative reminders of our short time in Brussels. Tragically short when you think about what a wonderful, diverse and intelligent group of women who make up this group and manage to gather month in and month out to read, read, share and read some more .

Thank you for the shirt and thank you for the sisterhood and this is not goodbye, this is see you soon. Bisous!!!

PS I am reading Skippy Dies too...and so far I keep falling asleep....what is wrong with me?

And now for something completely different...

This is definitely not for Book Club but I most warmly recommend it to anyone who's ever ridden a bicycle or watched the Tour de France or the Giro, or enjoyed practicing or watching any sort of sport, actually: The Rider by Tim Krabbé. It was written in 1978 in Dutch and never translated into English until 2002, go figure. It's a little gem, a joy to read, short and punchy (148 delightful, quirky pages).

Cheers, ladies!

Mr Stink

Mr Stink is the funniest book I have ever read. You must all read this page turner.
This book is about a tramp, so he is know, but you never know what his story is in till you read the book. this book is about a little girl named chloe and Mr Stink together the have the best time of there life.

My favorite part of the book is the beginning: Mr Stink stinks he also stunk and if it is correct english to say he stinked. Mr stink was the stinkiest stinker in the world.

So if you like reading you must read this book.

Have you all seen this list?

I am so sick of reading Percy Jackson to my kids.....here is a list of books for inspiration...

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/the-50-books-every-child-should-read-2250138.html#

Holes by Louis Sachar

I bought this book at the book fair and finished it the next morning.It was a page turner and I couldn't put it down! In this book Stanley Yelnat is sent to a camp for boys because apparently he stole Clyde Livingston's shoes. At this camp the boys have to dig a hole of 5 feet deep and 5 feet across. The Warden claims the labour is character building,but it is a lie. Stanley finds out that the Warden is digging for treasure. Before he finds the treasure he goes to find his friend, Zero who had ran away. When he finds Zero, Zero does not want to go back to the camp. So Stanley tells him about his great-grand father and how he survived. After their week on Big Thumb they decided to dig for the treasure and then run away.
I wish I could tell you the end of the story but it would not be a surprise if I did. Any way I can tell you it's wonderful.

Camille

The Great Glamping

Nothing to do with books or Brussels, possibly more to do with body hair and sandals (hopefully only in small doses), we've just booked a week's "glamping" in a couple of yurts above the Ardeche Gorges in France and I can't wait. I think it looks like a wonderful combination of the great outdoors and home comforts, in particular a king-size bed. Anyway take a look at their website and see what you think...

http://www.canvaschic.com/

My favourite book of 2010

I'm afraid my favourite book wasn't fiction, it was 'How to be Free' by Tom Hodgkinson. This is not exactly a self-help book, though apparently many miserable wage slaves pack their jobs in when they've finished it! It's really food for thought about our mixed up priorities that make us feel that it's better to spend 10 hours a day doing jobs we don't enjoy, so that we can spend the weekends in shopping centres buying a load of stuff. Not to mention the absurdity of the giant debts we all saddle ourselves with. If any of this rings true, read the book! And if you're ridden with angst about not having a job, read the book! I promise you'll feel all smug and pleased with yourself at the end!