My Big Girl Book Club

It's cold and rainy  a blizzard in Dallas, a perfect night to cuddle up with a page-turner. You know, those books you absolutely can't put down...I've been known to even read at stop lights, much to the chagrin of fellow drivers, I'm sure. So, like many of you, I'm in a book club..the invitation from a friend came a few months ago, and I'm so glad I accepted. Sure, I've been in others, but I call this my "big girl" book club. Why? Past book clubs I've enjoyed were the old 80:20 rule..80% gossip, drinks and more gossip, and 20% (if that) on the book.  This one follows the 80:20 rule, but the conversation truly is 80% book.

My "club" is made up of an eclectic group of women - I'm one of two New Yorkers, one gal from Mississippi, one from East Texas, three Indian women, one Polish, one Korean girl, and a mid-westerner (Nebraska!).  A great mix that makes for some intense conversations. Our club is in it's infancy stage ( 3 months), but I look forward to the coming reads and discussions.

Our past three months reads:

You'd have to be living in a cave not to have heard of this best-seller. Historical fiction based on the lives of black maids and the "country club" set of white women they work for, based in the 1960's just as the Civil Rights revolution is about to begin. Beautifully50 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

A new look at child development that every parent should read. Each chapter was it's own "aha" moment...I particularly liked the chapters on the detriments of over-praising, new research on sleep deprivation, race relations and lying.  Beautifully50 Rating: 4 stars out of 5

At first, I was reluctant to open this one up... "a series of short stories based in Pakistan" (as described to me by a friend), however, I loved this book! The eight stories are linked with some of the same characters, and explore the lives of wealthy Pakistani landowners and the common men and women that serve them. The feudal system is still at work in Pakistan and other parts of the world. Beautifully50 Rating: 5 stars out of 5.

Of course I don't need Dr. Mao to tell me that a healthy, challenged mind is imperative to our quest for longevity.  Next time a book club invitation comes your way, my suggestion is to accept. Of course, the gift of reading is phenomenal, but the discussion the books can spur may pleasantly surprise you! Our next read:

Care to read along??

My own "Julie and Julia"

If you haven't seen this movie with Meryl Streep, add it to your list. A story of a girl from Texas (I happen to know a friend of hers, and I promise she is just like any one of us!) who decided to make all of Julia Child's recipes in a year's time. Quite a daunting task for even the best of chefs! Julie completed her goal and learned a lot about herself along the way.  It started out as a hobby to pass time and turned into her passion/obsession. It motivated me to start cooking, and to create this blog!

A couple of years ago I purchased the book "Secrets of Longevity" by Dr. Maoshing Ni, a 38th-generation doctor of Chinese medicine and an authority in the field of Taoist anti-aging medicine. At 46, I randomly flipped through it, patted myself on the back for the things I clearly had under control, and only half-heartedly read the other items. Now, at 48.5, I'm ready to go back and  incorporate all of his recommendations into my daily life. I'd love someone to do this with me - any takers?

This book received terrific reviews and I like the fact that Dr. Mao (as his clients call him) "marries wisdom from the East with the latest scientific advances from the West". I've always had an open mind about Eastern medicine (acupuncture, chinese herbs, yoga, tai chi) so I really like this approach. I'll be sharing my thoughts, likes and dislikes as I become my own guinea pig.  Again, any takers??