Book Club / W(h)ine Club

One of my favorite outings each month is Book Club.  I’ve been going to book club since moving to Scituate four years ago and it is so much fun to get together with the girls once a month.  It is one night that I look forward to each month and it really got me back into reading after having my first child.

Yes, we talk about the book eventually.  Sometimes only for a few minutes, sometimes for an hour or more depending on the book.  Most of the conversation revolves around our lives.  Some women have grown up kids, some women work full time, some have new babies and some girls don’t have kids.  Everyone is welcome and there is no right or wrong.  There is a core group of us that have been going for a while and we are always welcoming new members as my book club is part of the SCNC – Scituate Cohasset Newcomers Club.

Sometimes the discussion is around our kids – potty training, sleep issues, tantrums – are all topics up for debate.  They may sound trivial, but when you are going through the terrible twos or are in the trenches of a sleepless child then you, too, would hold firmly to the advice of others.  We also talk about decorating, electricians, painters and carpenters for our homes.

Each month we take turns meeting in each-other’s homes for a spread of wine, apps and desserts.  In June, we get dolled up and go to a local restaurant for dinner and a book discussion.  Much wine is consumed while we whine about our kids, our kitchens we want to remodel (me) and just about the day we had.

Me at Riva’s in Scituate Harbor, discussing a book with friends.

Here are my top ten favorite book club books (in no particular order):

1. Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother (we debated and debated – great heated discussion)
2. One Day (Just read for last meeting, real tear jerker)
3. The 13th Tale (for those who like mysteries)
4. The Glass Castle (great memoir)
5. Sarah’s Key (set in France – depicts a part of history that I didn’t know about)
6. A Thousand Splendid Suns (great story about the relationship between two women)
7. The Thorn Birds (a classic)
8. The Help (well-crafted, funny book from the help’s perspective in the South)
9. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (mystery / thriller set in Sweden, quite a page turner)
10. The Namesake (loved the imagery)

One of my most favorite book clubs was when we discussed The Help.  The host made a Southern spread complete with cheese grits served with shrimp, tossed salad and the caramel cake that is in the book.  I hosted one when we discussed the Swedish-set, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and I served Daim Bar Cake and Swedish Meatballs from Ikea.  The girls love to nosh on chips and dips, the more the merrier.  One favorite for book club is Skinny Girl margaritas with Chips & Guac.  Or I also like Lite House Margaritas (a local Scituate resident created the mix).  My favorite Guacamole recipe is below:

Liz’s Guacamole (so much better than Wholly Guacamole)

3 Avocados
1/2 yellow onion
1 garlic clove
1/2 cup cilantro with stems (roughly chop)
Salt
1/2 lime


Cube avocado and mash.  Stir in the remaining ingredients.  Keep it chunky!

*Liz doesn’t like tomatoes but sometimes I like to throw them in when I’m making it at home.  I deseed the tomatoes and chunk them up.

I also love to serve Stacy’s pita chips (or make my own) with Giada’s white bean dip and Cupcake Vineyard’s Pinot Noir – delicious and very satisfying while discussing the current novel.

You may also want to plan movie nights with your book club.  We’ve gone to see several movies and also hosted some at members’ homes.  We’ve found the movie never lives up to the book.  We are going to see Sarah’s Key this week and I still need to see The Help.

Do you attend a book club?  If so, do you have any book club recommendations?  If not, you should join our’s, if you are local, or you should find one in your area.  It really is a great way to make some new friends and to also find some great books!