The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaimen

The Firefly book club is full of moms of boys.  We all have children ranging in ages 3 to 16!  It is nice sometimes to read a Young Adult or Children's book for a meeting.  Especially one that the kids or kids friends have already read.  This book was OK and gave us a little discussion.  We mostly used this book has a Halloween theme to make sure we got in the annual book club costume bash!  Yes, I am aware we are usually in costume but we invited the whole family for this one!  We had Superhero squads, Ghost Hunters, Dawg the bounty hunter and his wife, The Simpsons and a Cowboy & Angel right from the country song!  We suggest every member planning an activity or game to share and play with the kids or whole group.  It takes pressure off the host and brings lots of creativity and FUN to the party.  A favorite this year was trying to eat the doughnut off the string the fastest.  HAppY HaLLoWeeN!!! 

These is My Words by Nancy Turner

This is the perfect fall book club book!  We all really enjoyed this book and most will continue to read the whole series.  The host decided on a shabby chic feel for decorations.  It felt like we were back in the old days with Sarah.  The host has a little one room summer kitchen on her property that was decorated perfectly.  We went with a boots and hat cowgirl type dress.  We even had a little coyote scare!

Everyone got an up cycled chair as a parting gift.  Sarah almost had a matching set by the end of the book.  The goodie bags were amazing with homemade soap, warm socks, country picture frame, seeds for planting, lace koozies for the Mason jars and a cool covered photo box.  We also got soup mix to make later. 

We enjoyed Mexican food for dinner thanks to the neighbors in the book.  The Fajitas were grilled outside and so yummy!  We also had tortillas, homemade bread, pecan pie and Texas trash dip.  Book clubs make for the best eating.  The whole night ended up being one of my most favorite book clubs.  That is a hard title because we really know how to throw a meeting!

It was hard for everyone back then especially children so the host picked The Ronald Mcdonald house for the charity this month. 

 http://www.rmhc-centralohio.org/wish_list.php

This is a wish list for Columbus, Ohio.  They have many other locations though if you want to give but don't live near The Firefly book club. 

Gone Girl

A crazy book club meeting for a crazy book!  The host created a crime scene just like the book in her house.  She also had crazy drinks, rummy worms and casseroles like those boring housewives make.  We all came in disguise like we were on the run.  The goodie bag was a jar with Punch & Judy pasted on the front.  They each were made out to the Amazing Member.  Don't worry they were filled with gifts not blackmail vomit!  They had upcycled cuff bracelets for restraints, a pair of panties from the scavenger hunt, alcohol test swabs to stay alert, and smarties because Amy was smart.  Blackmail photos were framed around the room of members with famous people.  It was lots of fun watching each member discover the pictures! 

We definitely recommend this book for you and your friends.  Enjoy talking about all the crazy characters and have a crazy good time.  Read up on the history of Punch & Judy before the meeting.  That was strange and interesting to learn and talk about.

We donated used cell phones to victims of domestic violence.  Check out the link if you are interested in helping with this cause.  http://www.actionohio.org/cellphone_collection.htm

The Shoemaker's Wife

This book has so much theme potential it is worth reading with a club.  The outfits and amazing food choices made for a fun evening!  The book was enjoyable also.  It is a BIG book so be prepared.  We picked it up in large print at the library to get it sooner and that one is huge.  Don't let that keep your group from picking it.  The straw hats and long dresses were the direction we went.  The Italian food will have your mouth watering while reading.  A few key dishes in the book just had to be included like the escargot, gnocchi, and baked custard.  This book club was my absolute favorite because of all the yummy food choices! 

We donated gently used shoes for the charity this month.  What a great charity to go with a book about a Shoemaker.  Check out this site and look for a local drop off if you want to make a difference in your book club.  It is amazing how many extra shoes we were able to give. 
http://www.soles4souls.org/get_involved/

One member made paper shoes to hold the little wine bottles.  Another made biscotti that was amazing!  Talented friends make the best goodie bags!  It is such a treat after every meeting to see the thought and creativity that goes into these projects. 

The Knees of Gullah Island by Dwight Fryer

We went looking for this book so we could learn more about the Gullah culture. When searching for this topic it was very hard to find Fiction books that focused on Gullah culture.  Overall the group liked this book. 

Try to schedule a trip or vacation to Charleston, SC close to this meeting.  Charleston, SC has Gullah museums, festivals, history and present day Gullah knowledge. Make sure to stop by a basket weaving station on the side of the road.  They are amazing. I wish I could have brought everyone back a sweetgrass basket but settled on Shrimp and Grits for everyone with cooking directions written in Gullah.  We also had sweetgrass roses, a bible translated in Gullah, Frogmore Stew and spanish moss dripping from the trees.  Different members brought something to contribute to the Frogmore Stew.  Here is the recipe if you want to create a stone soup like theme for your meeting. 

Frogmore Stew
Big pot of boiling water seasoned with Old Bay to taste 
Potatoes, Corn, Onion, Sausage and Shrimp


Put in the pot with slow cooking things first.  Shrimp last till cooked.  Dump outside on a table with newspaper and eat! 

Wear something beachy because most of this book club should take place outside in the summer heat.  The south is HOT.  It was a Gullah good time!

The give back project this month was a donation to an organization that helps combat human trafficking.  This seemed like a good connection to a book around the time of the end of the civil war since Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery. We found one not far from our town that we could easily drop off donations.  Here is a link if you live near or around Columbus. http://centralohiorescueandrestore.org/ If not just google your local area and you should find something.  We had FIVE in Columbus.  I was saddened to learn that human trafficking is on the rise.  Help out if you can!

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey

We went straight to the loony bin for this one.  We mixed in another classic this year with One flew over the Cuckoo's nest.  The host planned a movie night for the meeting so we could watch after we read.  Great book and message that would be perfect for a book club discussion.  We spent most of the time visiting, eating and watching movie but would still recommend this title!  One member made a huge bottle of "cough syrup" with a Firefly Book Club label.  The ingredients that were listed in the book for cough syrup were attached to the back of the bottle.  She found the bottle at a local hardward store.  It was perfect to go with the "meds" we had rationed out for each ward.  The meds were labeled like the wards in the book.  We had the Acute and the Chronic.  Don't worry medication time only consisted of tic tacs and altoids.  The medication containers were little ketchup things from a fast food place.  If you read this one with your group this is a perfect treat. 

We wore "greens" to match the patients in the book.  Scrubs were easily found at the thrift store.  A favorite spot for collecting book club wardrobes.  You could also have a nurse Ratchet or Candy the hooker.  We had the hooker but no nurse.  The majority of us were mental patients.  We are all moms and I think feel a little crazy most of the time. 

The host Emily picked a local nursing/rehab center to take donations.  They were gladly accepting books and magazines for patients and visitors.  Such an easy way to help the community.  We always have lots of extra books to share!  Call around if you want to help.  You will be surprised the places that would welcome similar donations. 

Breaking Silence by Linda Castillo

Breaking Silence is a quick easy read.  A bit of a mystery and great Amish theme.  The setting of the book was in Ohio which is the home state of the Firefly Book Club ladies.  It was fun to read about the local newspaper The Columbus Dispatch in the pick of the month.  We had a great time dressing, baking and crafting like the Amish.  The member that lived on the most farm like setting hosted this one.  We had wonderful goodie bags that were perfect with the theme.  The host made hand towels with initials of members sewn on that were wrapped around Amish friendship bread.  We also got a starter for future loaves.  We also had homemade wine with special Firefly book club labels, clothespin holders and stamped hand towel. 

Jenny the host picked the charity this month.  We donated canned goods to the local food pantry.  Here is a link http://www.cwhumanservices.org/Pantry.html  Check out your local pantry for the most needed items if you are interested in serving your community.