recipe for a family book club

Take 10 hilarious women, a good book, some kind of yummy food and a long night of good hard laughs, and what do you have? Our family book club. Better known as Cafe Reado. That's right, we're basically named after food, which is very fitting, considering our obsession with it. And by our obsession, I mostly mean my obsession. Let's just say I have placed the pictures above in order of importance. We've been going strong for four years now. We originally started out with six family members, and have grown to ten. Girls only, of course. Just because. We've read everything from mysteries and sci-fi to self-help and cheesy "inspirational" books. We spend a fair amount of time discussing the good and bad parts of a book, and even more time catching up on each other's lives... and laughing, which is basically the best part of the whole night. It's a perfect balance. We also occasionally spend a night at the movies, whenever a book we've read makes it to the big screen. All in all, it's been a great success and we are planning on continuing it until we die off... which may not be far off if I keep eating donuts!

the written word

Today, I'm singing the praises of a book I recently read for my family book club. It's been around for a little while and has been on my to-read list for quite some time. This past month, I finally read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. 
There were mixed reviews from different members of my family. Some liked it, some couldn't relate to it at all. I found it to be wonderful. I loved how it was written in a letter format. (My english major daughter informed me that the correct term is epistolary.) Whatever the term, I liked it. I think I could relate to the main character because she was around my age. I loved the soul-searching journey she went on, and the end result of that journey. But, the thing I loved most about the book was the letters. Short, personal and very charming letters. They spoke to me. I came away from reading this book with a desire to send more handwritten letters. Letters that can be held in a person's hands. Letters on real paper, with real ink. Something that is not so common today. I have a small collection of handwritten letters that I cherish and there's just something about them. 
So, I highly recommend The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. It's a great read and will leave you with a little soul searching of your own to do. 

that's how we rolo

Today, I'm sharing our book club's to-die-for Rolo Cookie recipe in honor of our fabulous night on the town last p.m.(more on that later). We have this tradition to take these scrumptious Rolo Cookies with us to the all of the movies that we see together. Even though last night's movie was an exclusive premier... uptown... at the Broadway Theatre... and I was a little worried about being busted with three dozen cookies in my satchel, I decided to risk it. As you can see, they turned out perfect and I just could not bear to leave them behind. FYI... it's the easiest recipe on the planet to make. I almost hate to spoil the secret of how quick and easily these bad boys come together. But, for the sake of my loyal readers, here goes....

Rolo Cookies

1 chocolate{ish} cake mix**
1/3 cup canola oil
1/3 cup water
1 bag of Rolos
Sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, combine cake mix, oil and water. Mix well with wooden spoon. Roll out a ball of dough in your hands and then insert a Rolo into the middle of the dough. Make sure dough completely surrounds Rolo on all sides. Roll in sugar. Place on cookie sheet and bake for approximately 8 minutes. Cool and eat until you can't eat any more.

**You can use any flavor of chocolate cake mix. I chose triple chocolate fudge, and it rocked!!  

That's it. Really. Best cookies you will ever eat, according to our entire book club, and half of my neighborhood. They make you want to read. A lot. You can thank me later...


   

highly recommended

Last month's selection for our family book club was Beth Hoffman's 'Saving CeeCee Honeycutt'. "Wow", is all I can say. Sort of a 'Help'esque book, it sucked me in from the very first page. It takes place primarily in Savannah, Georgia, which is where my big sis now resides. It was such a fun read and had a colorful variety of characters. I believe it was Ms.Hoffman's first novel and it hit the bullseye for me. It's going on my shelf of all-time favorites. If you're looking for a good end-of-summer read, check this one out. 

i'm smitten

I think I may have found it. My favorite book. At least for now, maybe forever. I've never been able to pick a favorite, but I believe I have today. It's Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson, our family book club pick for January. I knew I would like it the minute I discovered it was set in the Regency period. I'm a sucker for anything from that period of time. Throw in a feisty heroine and an over-the-top charming gentleman from England and you've got me hook, line and sinker. Mind you, this is no 50 shades of Grey type of novel (not that I have read that book, but I've certainly heard about it!) No, this is a proper love story with a charming predictability that sucked me right in. Yes, it's definitely my favorite. I got a copy from the library on Saturday and finished it today. I promptly went out and purchased it for my own library. And now, I believe I shall start reading it again. Seriously, this book makes me giddy!

Hungry For Hunger Games

I belong to a family book club.

It's mainly just an excuse for us to get together

every couple of months

and eat, talk, laugh and then eat some more.

We've been going strong for a couple of years now,

maybe even three years.

Last January,  

I chose The Hunger Games,

by Suzanne Collins,

for the book to read that month.

I hadn't read it, 

but I had heard it was really good.

Alas, it was true.

It's a very disturbing story,

but there are so many lessons in it.

Last night, a few of us went to see the movie together.

We were not disappointed.

It followed the book pretty perfectly,

which is always a bonus.

And, I thought they presented it in a very tasteful way,

considering the content of the story.

We had a great time.  

It was intense right from the beginning.

I thought the choice of actors was

"spot on".

(I'm thinking in an English accent right now)

My official analysis?

Three thumbs up (even though I only have two).

and at least 6 out of 5 stars.