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Book Club What Are They Reading?
By Elaine Rooker Jack (ghostwritten by Janet C. Blake) Photos by Joon kim
Who they are: The Junior League of Louisville Book Club: Michelle Black White, Alicia
Gordon, Aneesah NuÕMan, Beth Smith-White, Liz Haeberlin, Liz McGrath, Kitten
Lawless, Megan Pinson, Cassie Symon and Lisa Nash.
First meeting: September 1, 1997
Number of books they've read since founding: 93
How they got together: They are all members of the Junior League of Louisville, except
for Beth, who is Michelle's sister-in-law and was in need of a new book club after moving
to the area from Florida. They have made her an honorary Junior League member, but
she's a full-fledged book clubber. Michelle and Lisa started the book club in 1997 with
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells. Relaxed and good-natured,
the Louisville Junior League Book Club members don't care if fellow members haven't
read a book. They meet in restaurants these days, but they used to meet in bookstores.
In fact, in the 10-year history of the club, there's really been only one great tradition:
We always read a horse book for Derby, Kitten Lawless announces.
Some of their conversation about it: How did that all happen without them knowing?
Liz McGrath I think it was just greed.
Alicia Did you have a lot of trouble with the millions and millions and millions? This is so
far beyond anything I can just ever imagine.
Kitten It reads like fiction for the first 150 pages.
Michelle It would be so much more fun to have a novel ending to it, Lisa adds, to which
the group nods. But it's also agreed that the true story is no fairy tale, and the ending
couldn't read like the beginning. The book has so inspired Liz Haeberlin that she twice
urges her fellow members to take on more nonfiction choices down the road (this group
predominantly reads fiction). Because this is real, this has just got us fascinated, she
says (and she's right). I would recommend we do this once a year. Next year, we could
do another nonfiction. Lisa Next year! a chorus of voices.
What they are reading this month: Wild Ride: The Rise and Tragic Fall of Calumet Farm,
Inc., America's Premier Racing Dynasty by Ann Hagedorn Auerbach
Why they picked it: It was suggested by a male acquaintance of Cassie's.
What it's about: The history of Lexington's Calumet Farm, one of the
most famous horseracing stables in the world, from its baking powder beginnings to its
dizzy heights to the greed and 1980s excesses that brought it to bankruptcy in 1992.
What they thought of it: Five of the 10 members at the meeting finished the book (it's
long 438 pages). But all the women agreed wholeheartedly that it was superbly written
and completely absorbing, especially if you have even a passing interest in
thoroughbred racing. They highly recommended it for any book club, and added it would
be great for coeducational book clubs, as well. Wild Ride generates so much discussion
so quickly that the waiter at Jack's Lounge in St. Matthews can barely get drink orders,
much less squeeze in his list of specials. Beth says her grandfather noticed the title of
the book she was reading and updated her on the current state of affairs at the farm
(the book was written in 1994). Lisa asks if it's possible to still take tours of Calumet
Farm, and the group enthusiastically agrees that if it is, they're all going on a field trip.
There is, at times, more than one discussion going on about various topics, but the
focus is on the behavior of John Thomas (J.T.) Lundy, the man credited with bringing
Calumet Farm to its knees.
What they talk about when they finish talking about the book: They never finish talking
about the book! What they say about books and reading: I don't think any book is ever
bad, someone says when asked about book choices. The women nod and say, yes,
except for Kitten, who deadpans: Yeah, there have been some. Sometimes the books
we dislike the most, we have the best conversations on. Lisa
When asked how long they have each been in the book club, they answer not in terms
of years but books: I came in at The Forest Lover, says Megan. That is groupspeak for,
Òabout 11/2 years ago. Other horse books they've liked: Seabiscuit: An American
Legend by Laura Hillenbrand, Horse Heaven by Jane Smiley, Three Strides Before the
Wire by Elizabeth Mitchell.
Their rules: They are stumped when asked about rules, since they are very flexible.
They've only read paperbacks, except for once (Ahab's Wife, by Sena Jeter Naslund).
Reading the book is optional. If they like an author, they read more books by that
person. They choose three months out, with members making suggestions and the
group agreeing by consensus. If it's a strong no, we won't do it and people read it on
their own, Michelle says. But they usually give a book a try, unless a lot of people have
already read it. In our book club, Lisa adds, we just do it for each other, we just plug
through.
What they say about their group: The League is different things to different people, but
we all have this in common. Michelle Books they suggest: Girl with a Pearl Earring by
Tracy Chevalier Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue The Curious Incident of the Dog in
the Night-Time by Mark Haddon The Red Tent by Anita Diamant When We Were
Gods by Colin Falconer Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks Books they wouldn't
suggest: Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel Garcia Marquez The Mermaid Chair
by Sue Monk Kidd Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Suskind
Future plans: They've gone together to see movies based on books they've read and
to listen to their favorite writers at the University of Louisville's Kentucky Author Forum.
Next on their list is something they have never done have an author come to one of their
meetings. Lisa suggests her husband's cousin, Alanna Nash, might be willing: she's local
and is coeditor of Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Country Music in America.
How to join the Junior League of Louisville: Visit www.juniorleaguelouisville.org or call
(502) 637-5415 for more information on this womenÕs volunteer organization.
Elaine Jack at elainej@iamtodayswoman.com is a regular feature writer for TodayÕs
Woman magazine, Janet Blake is filling in for her as Elaine recovers from an accident.
By Elaine Rooker Jack (ghostwritten by Janet C. Blake) Photos by Joon kim
Who they are: The Junior League of Louisville Book Club: Michelle Black White, Alicia
Gordon, Aneesah NuÕMan, Beth Smith-White, Liz Haeberlin, Liz McGrath, Kitten
Lawless, Megan Pinson, Cassie Symon and Lisa Nash.
First meeting: September 1, 1997
Number of books they've read since founding: 93
How they got together: They are all members of the Junior League of Louisville, except
for Beth, who is Michelle's sister-in-law and was in need of a new book club after moving
to the area from Florida. They have made her an honorary Junior League member, but
she's a full-fledged book clubber. Michelle and Lisa started the book club in 1997 with
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells. Relaxed and good-natured,
the Louisville Junior League Book Club members don't care if fellow members haven't
read a book. They meet in restaurants these days, but they used to meet in bookstores.
In fact, in the 10-year history of the club, there's really been only one great tradition:
We always read a horse book for Derby, Kitten Lawless announces.
Some of their conversation about it: How did that all happen without them knowing?
Liz McGrath I think it was just greed.
Alicia Did you have a lot of trouble with the millions and millions and millions? This is so
far beyond anything I can just ever imagine.
Kitten It reads like fiction for the first 150 pages.
Michelle It would be so much more fun to have a novel ending to it, Lisa adds, to which
the group nods. But it's also agreed that the true story is no fairy tale, and the ending
couldn't read like the beginning. The book has so inspired Liz Haeberlin that she twice
urges her fellow members to take on more nonfiction choices down the road (this group
predominantly reads fiction). Because this is real, this has just got us fascinated, she
says (and she's right). I would recommend we do this once a year. Next year, we could
do another nonfiction. Lisa Next year! a chorus of voices.
What they are reading this month: Wild Ride: The Rise and Tragic Fall of Calumet Farm,
Inc., America's Premier Racing Dynasty by Ann Hagedorn Auerbach
Why they picked it: It was suggested by a male acquaintance of Cassie's.
What it's about: The history of Lexington's Calumet Farm, one of the
most famous horseracing stables in the world, from its baking powder beginnings to its
dizzy heights to the greed and 1980s excesses that brought it to bankruptcy in 1992.
What they thought of it: Five of the 10 members at the meeting finished the book (it's
long 438 pages). But all the women agreed wholeheartedly that it was superbly written
and completely absorbing, especially if you have even a passing interest in
thoroughbred racing. They highly recommended it for any book club, and added it would
be great for coeducational book clubs, as well. Wild Ride generates so much discussion
so quickly that the waiter at Jack's Lounge in St. Matthews can barely get drink orders,
much less squeeze in his list of specials. Beth says her grandfather noticed the title of
the book she was reading and updated her on the current state of affairs at the farm
(the book was written in 1994). Lisa asks if it's possible to still take tours of Calumet
Farm, and the group enthusiastically agrees that if it is, they're all going on a field trip.
There is, at times, more than one discussion going on about various topics, but the
focus is on the behavior of John Thomas (J.T.) Lundy, the man credited with bringing
Calumet Farm to its knees.
What they talk about when they finish talking about the book: They never finish talking
about the book! What they say about books and reading: I don't think any book is ever
bad, someone says when asked about book choices. The women nod and say, yes,
except for Kitten, who deadpans: Yeah, there have been some. Sometimes the books
we dislike the most, we have the best conversations on. Lisa
When asked how long they have each been in the book club, they answer not in terms
of years but books: I came in at The Forest Lover, says Megan. That is groupspeak for,
Òabout 11/2 years ago. Other horse books they've liked: Seabiscuit: An American
Legend by Laura Hillenbrand, Horse Heaven by Jane Smiley, Three Strides Before the
Wire by Elizabeth Mitchell.
Their rules: They are stumped when asked about rules, since they are very flexible.
They've only read paperbacks, except for once (Ahab's Wife, by Sena Jeter Naslund).
Reading the book is optional. If they like an author, they read more books by that
person. They choose three months out, with members making suggestions and the
group agreeing by consensus. If it's a strong no, we won't do it and people read it on
their own, Michelle says. But they usually give a book a try, unless a lot of people have
already read it. In our book club, Lisa adds, we just do it for each other, we just plug
through.
What they say about their group: The League is different things to different people, but
we all have this in common. Michelle Books they suggest: Girl with a Pearl Earring by
Tracy Chevalier Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue The Curious Incident of the Dog in
the Night-Time by Mark Haddon The Red Tent by Anita Diamant When We Were
Gods by Colin Falconer Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks Books they wouldn't
suggest: Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel Garcia Marquez The Mermaid Chair
by Sue Monk Kidd Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Suskind
Future plans: They've gone together to see movies based on books they've read and
to listen to their favorite writers at the University of Louisville's Kentucky Author Forum.
Next on their list is something they have never done have an author come to one of their
meetings. Lisa suggests her husband's cousin, Alanna Nash, might be willing: she's local
and is coeditor of Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Country Music in America.
How to join the Junior League of Louisville: Visit www.juniorleaguelouisville.org or call
(502) 637-5415 for more information on this womenÕs volunteer organization.
Elaine Jack at elainej@iamtodayswoman.com is a regular feature writer for TodayÕs
Woman magazine, Janet Blake is filling in for her as Elaine recovers from an accident.
