Friday, June 6, 2008

To Bee or Not to Bee

Wow! Thanks so much to Peggy (and Brittny too) for the amazing night of honey and hot topics. The food was amazing, including such delicacies as honey mango salsa, pecan honey brie, fresh fruit and veg with honey-spiked dips and honey glazed orange slices that were to die for, the array was rounded out with a heavenly beehive shaped cake that was doused in a honey glaze. It was beyond delish. Attendance was high and spirits were too. Conversation jumped from racial tension to motherhood and love and growing up. Always the gracious hostess, Peggy made everyone feel welcome and comfortable to share their thoughts. It was lovely. Thank you so much.

What's next? The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls...here is a little summary:

Jeannette Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn nonconformity were both their curse and their salvation. Rex and Rose Mary Walls had four children. In the beginning, they lived like nomads, moving among Southwest desert towns, camping in the mountains. Rex was a charismatic, brilliant man who, when sober, captured his children's imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and above all, how to embrace life fearlessly. Rose Mary, who painted and wrote and couldn't stand the responsibility of providing for her family, called herself an "excitement addict." Cooking a meal that would be consumed in fifteen minutes had no appeal when she could make a painting that might last forever.

Later, when the money ran out, or the romance of the wandering life faded, the Walls retreated to the dismal West Virginia mining town -- and the family -- Rex Walls had done everything he could to escape. He drank. He stole the grocery money and disappeared for days. As the dysfunction of the family escalated, Jeannette and her brother and sisters had to fend for themselves, supporting one another as they weathered their parents' betrayals and, finally, found the resources and will to leave home.

What is so astonishing about Jeannette Walls is not just that she had the guts and tenacity and intelligence to get out, but that she describes her parents with such deep affection and generosity. Hers is a story of triumph against all odds, but also a tender, moving tale of unconditional love in a family that despite its profound flaws gave her the fiery determination to carve out a successful life on her own terms.

For two decades, Jeannette Walls hid her roots. Now she tells her own story. Aregular contributor to MSNBC.com, she lives in New York and Long Island and is married to the writer John Taylor.


Our next Book Club meeting will be hosted by Kelly Martinez and Betty Richardson in Betty's home on Tuesday, July 24th.

Finished already? July's book will be The Covenant by Beverly Lewis