Nov 2021 – Strangers at the Feast by Jennifer Vanderbes

Happy post Thanksgiving and welcome holidays!!!! The past two years have been a weird blur with covid etc. It truly feels as if we are getting back to a normal life routine – thankfully. Book club is one of those very important norms for me! Screw the zoom meetings – give me in person face to face!

The November book Strangers at the Feast is also an Oprah Book Club suggestion. This was also suggested by a dear friend who thought it a page turner.

Our November meeting was held in my home (Kimy) located in a petite historic district called Frog Hollow in East Point Ga, about 15 minutes SW of the city (Atlanta Ga). I adore historic homes and old neighborhoods. There’s just a charm you can’t get with new homes. My three wee scottish terriers Pip, Cricket and Bumble were VERY excited to have company. Sorry to Laura for all the licks!!

For author bio click HERE

For book club questions click HERE

Thanks for everyone who came out for book club on this chilly evening in Atlanta! I managed to decorate a wee bit for a more festive feel. We had a great core group. Plus a few of the guys for the food of course! We delved into the book club questions with the main line of talk being what a mother would do for her children and how different parenting styles affect the children. We all understand the complex nature of blight in neighborhoods and gentifrication and how that also is a complicated issue. We felt horrible for Kijo who was a good kid – just taken down a wrong path for breaking and entering which is NEVER a good idea. Without giving spoilers – read the book!

From our book club to yours – We hope your holidays are the bomb!

xo Historic College Park Book Club – Atlanta GA

#kimykennedy #atlantabookclubs #historicollegeparkbookclub #strangersatthefeast #oprahbookclub #bookclubrocks #jennifervanderbes

March 2020 – The Kid Stays in the Picture by Robert Evans

** We are in the middle of the pandemic Covid 19- We have been asked to ‘shelter in place’ so no book club! We are using ZOOM to hold our meetings – thankfully we can still talk and see one another! Waiting for the madness to end!! **

Our March meeting was held by ZOOM – thank GOD FOR ZOOM!  For an extravert like myself (Kimy) this sheltering in place has been maddening.   So happy to have Eileen, Julie A, Julie S aka Jules, the wee one Jenny, Steph who is the host of a fab cocktail party when we aren’t in the middle of a pandemic outbreak,  Patricia and our Sherry from Chattanooga! Did I leave anyone out?  I chose my favorite striped cotton beach slacks, my favorite navy sweater for our meeting.  When you can’t go out of the house choosing your attire for a ZOOM meeting becomes VERY IMPORTANT.

Our March book is also a movie – The Kid Stays in the Picture by Robert Evans.

What a life!! I had no idea who Robert Evans was but knew all the movies he produced.  I found his obituary was quite interesting. Click HERE to read. 

For video of his life click HERE 

His lovely home Woodland is featured HERE 

Great seeing everyone and catching up via ZOOM.  Hopefully by end of April or May we will be done with this ‘shelter in place’ event.  Love to you all!

**Make sure you follow the ladies of Atlanta by following our book blog! See you next month!

P.S.  Note the red cut across the bridge of my nose! Hazards of an ipad in bed! Holy snap!

Feb 2020 Echoes of the Fall by Hank Early

Wonderful meeting ladies and gents!  Happy Leap Day! Feb 29!

We were honored to have Southern Author Hank Early and his wife and friend join us from Birmigham Ala!  A special thanks to Christine for welcoming our book club into her lovely home!  Christine is also my neighbor – we are across the street from one another in Frog Hollow, East Point Ga!

I was please to meet the author and his entorage for a pre-book club dinner at my favorite haunt in Atlanta Volare Bistro is Historic Hapeville Ga.  We then meandered over to Christine’s lovely home for our meeting.

We were able to tape our meeting which you can see HERE  The video is about a 40 min question and answer session.  I really enjoyed it everyone!

Here is the clip of the snake handling church in Sand Mt near Lake Guntersville Ala.   Theres also the ‘midget wrestling’ in that area as well.   If we were all the same it would be very boring is all I’m going to say on these topics.   Bless their hearts.  Ahem.

We completely enjoyed having Hank Early with us.  This is his second visit with our book club with the first being 2 years ago with the first book of this 3 part series.    I just downloaded his short stories written under his true name of John Mantooth called Shoebox Train Wreck on Audible .  A southern gothic themed short stories.  Can’t wait!

We ended the evening at Arches Brewery – a local haunt in Hapeville Ga.

Thanks everyone for making our book club the best!!

**Make sure you follow our book club blog so that you don’t miss a meeting!

Nov 2019 – The Woman in the Window by AJ Finn

*Make sure you follow our book blog so that you don’t miss a meeting! Squee! 

What a FANTASTIC meeting ladies!!!  I came home with a huge smile on my face recalling the evening.   When friends new and old come together to discuss books, life and libations are involved wonderful things happen.  :::::beaming:::::::

Thank you Steph for having us in your loving home! We had ‘planned’ to be on the front porch covered in quilts thinking it would be chilly (I’m laughing…it is the SOUTH, yes it’s November…. which is exactly the point – you start out with boots in the morning and end up in flip flops most days it seems – sigh) however muggy and humid (think sweaty) came to pass last night in Atlanta.   Thus we ended up in the wonderful front parlor at Stephs – Oh DARN!!!! I never got to see the kitten lounge with the new feline bebes!!! Wah!

We had so many new members — WELCOME!  I hope you could feel the connections we share in this club.    All book clubs are not created equal  – I’m pretty darn proud of ours.  I shared our story of beginning in 2007 with most of our initial group present last night.   How many stories we’ve shared, how many book club meetings we’ve been a part of, who we miss for various reasons (Love to you Claire!!! ) We are a unique blend of ladies – diveristy is key to having a great group.  Proud of us!

Ok. So.  The author of our book for this month is AJ Finn – who actually is REALLY named Daniel Mallory.  A young pup born in 1979.   For author bio click HERE   

Book Club Questions click HERE 

We all REALLY enjoyed the book.   I listened on audible (which by the way, the narrator was fantastic – sometimes if you get someone wonky reading it takes away from enjoying the book – because all you’re thinking about is ‘Good LORD their voice is irritating….so….. I found myself driving around just to see what happened next!!!!  Twists and turns galore!!!! What you THINK you knew changed in the blink of an eye!!! What I felt towards Anna in the beginning was smashed on the rocks when I learned of the accident.  WOW!!!!  I don’t want to give TOO MUCH away… read the book!

Our November read is The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson.  You can find all our books for the year and past reads under Book List Year in the tab section.  We’ve read some great selections…some not so great.  That’s the joy of book club! You may get something you would have never picked up and think WOW – or YUCK.   Bad with the good makes you enjoy the good even more! Boom.

Ok.  Enough of my morning chatter – I’ve had two cups of french press I need to get going!

Happy Halloween everyone!!!! See you next month!

August 2019 – The Last Castle by Denise Kiernan

We’ve had some rainy weather so far in August!  Last night we gathered at the home of Laura Lee Gentry (thanks for hosting sweet friend!) which is always a fun night.   She and her hubby have an incredible edible garden out back – I’m inspired!  My favorite was the chocolate peppermint (think Peppermint Patties) and the basil.  Oh the basil!!! :::dreamy sigh::::

Our book for August is The Last Castle by Denise Kiernan.  We explored the world of the Vanderbilts and the incredible home they built in Ashville, NC.  We’ve all visited this architectual wonder.  The intrigue of the iconic Vanderbilts and the people who swirled around their social circles is quite fascinating.   Can you imagine growing up in the Biltmore estate?  I can!!!

For author Denise Kiernan bio click HERE 

For book club questions click HERE 

There are many tales of ghosts who walk the halls of the Biltmore – the most famous is George Vanderbilt himself!  Upon my last visit years ago, I of course asked the staff (in hushed tones of course – much more fun that way) ifthere were INDEED tales of ghosts.  With a very serious glance around to make sure no one was listening, they confirmed that YES there are certain wings and rooms of the Biltmore that are avoided like the plague due to unusual occurrences happening.  Doors opening or closing – voices echoing when no one is there, foot steps on upper floors.  George Vanderbilt died in the Biltomore  so you KNOW it HAS to be HIIM!  It’s more fun to think it is anyway!

We enjoyed The Last Castle very much – we hope you do too!

Until next time!

**Make sure you follow our book club blog so that you don’t miss a thing! Cheers! **