Thank you to all the people who gave me book suggestions and choices for the next few months.

The set time for meetings remains the same, but I am open to either Friday or Saturday for future discussions. As I was asked to have the April book on a Friday, I did, but I think I will go back to your Saturday (Sunday for us in Australia) unless I am asked to change it again.

Here is a list of proposed books for 2007:

• Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, 496 pages January CRC selection
• War in Val D'Orcia by Iris Origo, 256 pages February CRC selection
• Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See, 253 pages March CRC selection
• Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt, 400 pages April CRC selection
• The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon, 240 pages May CRC selection
• A Season with Verona by Tim Parks, 464 pages July CRC selection

• The Dream of Scipio by Iain Pears, 396 pages
• A Life of Her Own by Emile Carles, 304 pages
• Moloka'i by Alan Brennert, 400 pages
• Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt by Anne Rice, 336 pages
• Mr. Emerson's Wife by Amy Belding Brown, 336 pages
• Miss Garnet's Angel by Salley Vickers, 352 pages
• Our Hearts were Young and Gay by Cornelia Otis Skinner and Emily Kimbrough, 208 pages
• The Lovely Bones by Alice Seybold, 352 pages
• Don't Let's Go To The Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller, 336 pages
• Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, 336 pages
• Cara Massimina by Tim Parks, 230 pages
• The Makioka Sisters by Junichiro Tanazaki, 544 pages
• Palace Walk by Naguib Mahfouz, 512 pages
• Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner, 592 pages
• The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, 672 pages
• In This House of Brede by Rumer Goddon, 656 pages
• The Lady in the Palazzo by Marlena de Blasi, 371 pages.

Please note that the new Marlena de Blasi book is available from Amazon using our Slow Travel click through at $15, and used prices start at half that. I must say, there has been a lot of interest about having this as our September book.

I have been following the discussions on the Italy forum about it with interest.

From the above it appears that there is no June CRC. Is this correct?

I hope I have not overdone the pushing of "A season with Verona". I am a bit nervous that others will decide to miss this one.

John,
I was thinking about skipping "A Season with Verona", but I ordered a used one on Amazon (the new ones had a 4-6 week wait). It arrived today and actually came from Palm Springs, which is less than an hour from where I live! Small world!

Leslie,
I am in the midst of reading my very first Marlena de Blasi book (1000 Days in Venice), and I am loving it. I also bought "1000 Days in Tuscany" and "Lady in the Palazzo" at the same time, so I am all set for September if that ends up being the book selection!

Nancy

I read a lot of books that give me a perspective on Italian life, and ways of thinking.

A Season With Verona fits in beautifully with that. He is a popular author too.

I read it a few years ago, but am getting a copy from a work colleague. Otherwise I would have got it off Amazon.

Yep, the third Marlena de Blasi book, The Lady in the Palazzo, for September.

I can't be the only one who read the George Negus book. John, have you read that? The World from Italy - Food, Football and Politics.

I preferred the Tim Parkes actually. Although I really enjoyed the last chapter of the George Negus one, where he went off by himself to an apartment in a hilltown to focus on finishing writing the book.

Thanks Nancy,

I didn't even look at the delivery date for a new copy. I just cancelled that one and ordered a used one also.

Ginger

quote:

Originally posted by JohnFromAus:
From the above it appears that there is no June CRC. Is this correct?

John,
The book club skips June, August, and December because they're busy months for many of us, so longer books (400+) are selected to read during those breaks.

Leslie,
I have "The Lady in the Palazzo" on my TBR stack, so you can add me to the list who'd be interested in it for the September meeting.