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BOOKclub
What Are They Reading?
Who they are: The Book and Wine Club:
Jane Bennett, Kelly Bennett (no relation),
Elisabeth Clark, Dee Ann Crush, Paula
George, Linda Gries, Robin Grigsby, Rose
Helm, Gerri Ann Rice, and Anne Stewart.
Their Rules: The hostess for the next meeting
picks the book. “You won’t get thrown out if
you didn’t read the book but you have to serve
good wine!” – Gerri Ann.
First meeting: Spring, 1998
How they got together: Jane and Gerri Ann
wanted to start a group. Jane invited
people she knew in Crescent Hill, and Gerri
Ann invited friends from the Anchorage area.
The group is about evenly split between the
two areas.
Their meetings: January through October they meet in a member’s home for wine and
cheese and dessert. In November they have a holiday party and they don’t meet in
December.
What they are reading this month: Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of
the West by Gregory Maguire
It takes about 30 minutes for all to arrive. As each new person comes in she is asked if
she liked the book.
“It was one of the worst books I ever read,” says Kelly.
“I read 250 pages and quit,” replies Robin.
“Ya know, I tried,” says Rose, shaking her head, “but it was bizarre.”
“I didn’t get past the first hundred pages,” says Kelly. “Then it was time for me to move
on.”
The consensus: Few finished it; most hated it. Elisabeth and Gerri Ann liked it;
perhaps coincidentally, both of them had read at least some of the original Oz books by
Frank L. Baum.Passage from the book: “This is my house and I choose to hear what I
want.” — Sarima in WickedSome of their conversation about it: “I’ll bet you he (Maguire)
read all the Oz books,” says Elizabeth, adding that he borrowed the setting of the book
from Baum. “But they didn’t have pubs and sex clubs in the Oz that I knew!”
“I liked her sticking up for the Animals. The book distinguishes between animals and
Animals, who talk and behave much like humans. She believed Oz was wicked…that he
was a dictator. She was for the little people, and the little people were the Animals,”
explains Jane, who forced herself to finish the book.
Robin says that she saw the Broadway production based on the book and loved it.
“Her parents were so screwed up. They were both in love with the glass blower,” says
Jane.
“They should have moved him in and they all would have been happy,” says Dee Ann,
who
didn’t start the book.
“They did!” say several at once, to roars of laughter.
“You are making me want to read more,” says Rose.
“We’re telling you about it so you don’t have to,” says Jane.
After about 30 minutes of talking about the book they digress to other topics. Robin
commands, “Come get food,” and they adjourn to the dining room for refreshments and
to talk of other books they’ve enjoyed more. Sophie, Robin’s dog, provides floor-show
entertainment.
Their first book club book: Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt
Their favorite selection to date: Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
Their most controversial reads: Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving, Bel Canto by
Ann Patchett, Sex and the City by Candace Bushnell (they love the program, hate the
book), At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon (some loved it; Gerri Ann yawns dramatically).
Other books they’ve loved: The Red Tent by Diamant, Into Thin Air: A Personal
Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya
Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells, The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
ELAINE JACK at elainejack@iamtodayswoman.com is a regular feature writer for Today’
s Woman magazine.