Stay Gold Book Club by Emily McClain

emi_mcclain — 2020-12-19 20:09:20 UTC

“I can promise you that women working together – linked, informed and educated – can bring peace and prosperity to this forsaken planet.” - Isabel Allende

emi_mcclain — 2020-12-19 20:09:33 UTC

“See work as play.” - Alan Watts

Goals:

emi_mcclain — 2020-12-19 20:11:26 UTC

We strive to create deeper understanding and connection among diverse womyn in our community. We come together every month to catch up, eat, discuss interesting books about diverse life experiences, challenge and build each other up. We seek diversity in all its forms — race, ethnicity, age, culture, perspective, religion, education, etc.

Who are we?

emi_mcclain — 2020-12-19 20:14:11 UTC

Genres / Themes we hope to examine:

emi_mcclain — 2020-12-19 20:14:58 UTC

-Anti Racism
-Feminism
-Fiction
-Humor
-Magical Realism
-Memoire
-Mystery
-Roller Skating
-Steampunk

Authors we hope to read:

emi_mcclain — 2020-12-19 20:15:11 UTC

Bell Hooks

To read:

emi_mcclain — 2020-12-19 20:16:13 UTC

Book 1 2021 (Feb 4th - April 8th)

-The Stationery Shop

by Marjan Kamali

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Book 2 (April 9th - June 3rd)
-East of Eden
by John Steinbeck
(Chosen by Juliana, Justine may lead parts of the book study and questions)
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Book 3 (May 9th - August 5th)
-More Myself by Alicia Keys
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Book 4 (August 6th - October )
-The Lost Apothecary
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Book 5 (September 9th - October )
-Hocus Pocus & Cookbook
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Book 1 for 2022 (January - Feb)
-Circe
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Possibilities for other months:
-American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins

-Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor
-Days of Distraction by Alexandra Chang
-Glorious Boy
-I'm Still Here by Austin Channing Brown

-Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robins
-Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno Garcia
-Mothers, Tell Your Daughters Bonnie Jo Cambell
-Play it As It Lays by Joan Didion
-Q Road by Bonnie Jo Campbell
-Rollergirl: Totally True Tales from the Track
-The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life by Zander
-The Queen’s Gambit by Scott Frank Allan
-The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
-Together Tea by Marjan Kamali
-Untamed by Glennon Doyle

-Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore

How? Participation Guidelines:

emi_mcclain — 2020-12-19 20:17:08 UTC

We were inspired by The Civil Conversations Project and borrowed from them & other sources to create our Participation Guidelines.

Make attending meetings a priority & strive to come on time with the book completed.
Listen actively & contribute wholeheartedly without monopolizing the conversation.
Respectfully challenge ideas (not people) by candidly sharing your personal experiences & perspective.
Strive for deeper understanding & new insights.
Hold one another’s personal stories within the group.
Practice the pause. If things get tense or emotional, breathe & reset.
Learn from one another.

Agreements

emi_mcclain — 2020-12-19 20:19:20 UTC

-About 5 to 6 books in a year.
-Rotation, each person chooses a genre & then we vote on choices.
-Volunteers host.
-Name drawn out of a hat for who chooses the next genre, once everyone has chosen, start over.
-About 6 weeks per book.
-Off for Nov and December (holiday volunteer work / helping feeding houseless in December).
-Meet once a month to discuss & eat appetizers.
-Flexibility: Come to the book club even if you have not read!

emi_mcclain — 2020-12-19 20:20:33 UTC

“It does not require many words to speak the truth.” – Chief Joseph, Nez Perce

Nothing Gold Can Stay

emi_mcclain — 2020-12-19 20:21:49 UTC

emi_mcclain — 2020-12-19 22:08:39 UTC

Schedule:

emi_mcclain — 2020-12-19 22:36:59 UTC

-Feb 4th: Start book 1, meet via zoom. Talk about Padlet ideas & quick introductions.
-March 4th: Discuss book 1 via zoom, Person "picked out of the hat" will announce book 2.
-April: Start book 2. Meet.
-May: discuss, Person "picked out of the hat" will announce book 3.
-June: Start book 3 meet.
-July: discuss, choose book 4.
-August: Start book 4.
-Sep: discuss, choose book 5.
-Oct: Start book 5.
-Nov: Off for holidays.
-Dec: Off for holidays, volunteer together.
-Jan: Catch up, Start book 1 for the new year.

Em's Favourite Book

emi_mcclain — 2020-12-19 23:16:32 UTC

Justine's Favorite Book

2021-01-05 18:54:19 UTC

Emilee's three

emi_mcclain — 2021-02-04 22:48:16 UTC

-Unique: I struggle with "cute aggression" / the need to squeeze.
-Nickname: MLE
-Fave genre: Magical Realism
-Fave book: 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami

Rumi

emi_mcclain — 2021-02-05 02:55:06 UTC

Allison's three

allisonleyoga — 2021-02-05 03:17:45 UTC

Unique: I am a yoga teacher
Nickname: Alli
Fave genre: mystery/thriller, self journey vibes

Lori's Three

2021-02-05 03:17:57 UTC

Unique: Enjoys finding critters
Nickname: Lori (Birth name is Laura)
Fav book: Where the Crawdads Sing
Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/shoutoutlori

My family calls me Leeny - no clue why :)...

2021-02-05 03:19:26 UTC

Gabby's 3

2021-02-05 03:19:41 UTC

Favorite book:
Tuesdays with Morrie

Justine's Three

2021-02-05 03:24:25 UTC

1. I have a free roam bunny rabbit
2. Justeeny
3. East of Eden

Naomi's 3

naomijensen0823 — 2021-02-05 03:24:42 UTC

-I Love LEMONS! I love meyer lemon pizza!!
-Nomie is my childhood nickname or nomes (like a garden gnome).
-Grapes of Wrath! Classic but I loooove it.

Tamara's Three

2021-02-05 03:42:58 UTC

1. Former roller derby player. Can’t wait to play again someday
2. My nicknames are tamma slamma (roller derby name) and T$
3. 5 People You Meet in Heaven

naomijensen0823 — 2021-02-05 03:44:00 UTC

2/5, Meeting of the minds #1

emi_mcclain — 2021-02-06 02:32:40 UTC

1. Agreements
- Read "Part One".
- Have deadlines to help us.
- Have links to a google doc or a site where the questions are posted for the book.
- Every 2 months, a new book will be chosen.
- The person who chose the new book, searches in Google for the "Book Club Questions" or uses the ones in the back of the book.

2. Further discussion - The free range BUNNIES of Justine and Carleen!

3/4, Gathering #2

emi_mcclain — 2021-02-06 02:34:16 UTC

1. Discuss questions about "Part One".

2. Bring or wear something that reminds you of what we're reading. (For example, wear a specific color or bring a drink / food item).

3. Choose a name out of a hat for the next person to choose a book (to start in April). BE READY with a book you want to read! (:
4. Finish the book before our next meeting on Thursday, 4/1.

2021-02-06 20:50:29 UTC

emi_mcclain — 2021-02-09 05:07:18 UTC

Join our Good Reads Group (click)

Gabby's fave book

2021-02-10 00:29:14 UTC

I love this book.

allisonleyoga — 2021-02-12 02:14:35 UTC

And may choose this if chosen to host.

2/14, Galentine's Date

emi_mcclain — 2021-02-21 00:53:32 UTC

Neida, Tamara, & Emilee discuss the book.

Typical night

emi_mcclain — 2021-03-02 03:59:21 UTC

Angel Lupo, reading "The Stationery Shop" & stretching.

Bruza's Three

2021-03-05 03:27:45 UTC

1. I was in a movie once on accident
2. Em or Bruza
3. YA/Fantasy/Sci-Fi

4/8, Cuddle Session #3

emi_mcclain — 2021-04-07 21:10:55 UTC

We'll check in, discuss The Stationery Shop, & other plans from 7:15 to 8:15pm.

-It will be low key/relaxed -A Rose & a Thorn (quick share)
-Break into 2 small groups to talk about the story.
-Dress up or bring a drink or food that reminds you of the book.
-Reminder: Each person is encouraged to speak about 2 times and then listen as others speak.

Juliana got to choose our next book, East of Eden by John Steinbeck.

We start this book this month and read half way through by our next meeting on the first Thursday of May.

3/4 Post Book Club Chat

emi_mcclain — 2021-04-07 21:14:14 UTC

3/4 The Stationery Shop Discussion. Baby Kennedy joins us!

emi_mcclain — 2021-04-07 21:14:45 UTC

"Her lips are warm and sticky on his face. She feels like a burst of fire." (p.137)

emi_mcclain — 2021-04-09 03:09:23 UTC

"There is nothing new in the world except the history you do not know." H. Truman

emi_mcclain — 2021-04-09 03:10:48 UTC

Jeweled rice (p.65)

emi_mcclain — 2021-04-09 03:11:32 UTC

With time. With time. It would go away.

emi_mcclain — 2021-04-09 03:12:28 UTC

p. 137

2021-04-09 03:54:48 UTC

Before he can decide how to word all this, the sweet flavor of melon envelops him. In the noon sun, Ali is momentarily blinded, he must be hallucinating.

June 2021

emi_mcclain — 2021-05-12 03:11:51 UTC

- Review East of Eden
- Start Reading More Myself by Alicia Keys

6/10 East of Eden (#5)

emi_mcclain — 2021-06-05 23:00:38 UTC

Announcements and coming up:

- Goal: finish, or read as much as I can of, East of Eden by Thursday, 6/10.

- Naomi got to choose our book that we will start.
- More Myself: A Journey by Alicia Keys, 272 pages
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44431860-more-myself

5/6, mini group time #4

emi_mcclain — 2021-06-05 23:33:40 UTC

-4 birthdays this month! Krystal, Tam, Mia, and Gabby!

-Share a rose and a thorn (about your life this past week)

-East of Eden chat

-Goal: finish East of Eden by the first week of June.

6/10. Finished East of Eden!

emi_mcclain — 2021-06-11 03:31:22 UTC

YAY! Thanks Justine for leading the discussion!

July 2021

emi_mcclain — 2021-07-09 01:36:10 UTC

Updates:
BDAY -- Alli, 7/18!
Wedding -- Gabby, 7/24!
WELCOME -- Jill, Zala, & Lindsey!

1) Group message in Whatsapp.

2) Anonymous votes for books.

3) Monthly short games: Book Club trivia, Getting to know members Trivia, or Book Club Pictionary.

4) Accountability text buddies.

5) Occasional random outings & it doesn't have to be book related. For example, "Anyone want to hike this weekend?"

7/8. More Myself by Alicia Keys

emi_mcclain — 2021-07-09 16:39:57 UTC

A serious moment with Lindsey, Em, Jill, Justine, & Tam.

Happy about Alicia Keys' mellow calm honest telling of her life.

emi_mcclain — 2021-07-09 16:41:18 UTC

Lindsey & Jill join our group!

GABBY! Happy Wedding!

emi_mcclain — 2021-07-22 16:22:31 UTC

7/24/2021

August 2021: 1st "in-person" gathering, Discussed "More Myself" by Alicia Keys @ Naomi's.

emi_mcclain — 2021-08-07 02:48:13 UTC

September 2021: The Lost Apothecary

emi_mcclain — 2021-09-09 23:26:45 UTC

Amy, Emilee, Hyun, & Jill discuss the riveting page turner.
Ideas for next month:
Halloween Theme in October!
Read Hocus Pocus (or watch it!)
Meet at Tamara's Home (and / or on google meets).

2 Recipes from the back of our book:

(NOT the poisonous ones.... (; but those are there too!)

Tom Pepper's Hot Brew

To soothe the throat

1 tsp raw honey

1 oz scotch or bourbon

1 cup hot water

3 sprigs fresh thyme

Rosemary Butter Biscuit Cookies

1 sprig fresh rosemary

1.5 cups butter

2/3 cup white sugar

2 3/4 cup flour

The Lost Apothecary

emi_mcclain — 2021-09-10 03:22:48 UTC

Fact: "Throughout England in the 18th-19th centuries, the largest population of accused poisoners consisted of mothers, wives, & female servants, between the ages of 20-29."

2021 in Review

emi_mcclain — 2021-10-03 21:30:51 UTC

1) The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali
2) East of Eden by John Steinbeck
3) More Myself by Alicia Keys
4) The Lost Apothecary by Sarah 🤬
5) Hocus Pocus & The All New Sequel by A.W. Jantha

We met twice in person, thanks Naomi & Tamara!

Love to you all -- glad we met through all the roses and thorns.

Up next, January 2022: Circe by Madeline Miller
Then we will continue to vote on books in 2022.

10/2021: Witchy Hocus Pocus Gathering

emi_mcclain — 2021-10-24 22:37:08 UTC

Theze witches reviewed the 6 books we read this year, shared delicious treats from the "Hocus Pocus" Cookbook, & talked about 2022 book club plans in Tamara's moonlit yard. Jill even made "Dead Men's Toes".

Then 3 of us went to "The Pearl Hour" in Monterey to hear some spoken word and rap artists perform.

10/2021 Hocus Pocus Party under the Moon

emi_mcclain — 2021-10-24 22:42:48 UTC

10/2021 Halloweenieez?

emi_mcclain — 2021-10-24 22:44:03 UTC

Jill made "Dead Men's Toes" from the Hocus Pocus Cookbook!