And are you ready to get back to the BBC grind? Hopefully it isn’t really a “grind”. Actually, the day it becomes a grind, let’s stop meeting

If everyone is ready, we can start The Story of Edgar Sawtelle for Saturday, August 15. I can’t currently find my copy (I think I bought it too long ago!), so am unable to assign an amount to read. Since we’re still in the summer, let’s start off slowly. I think there are actual chapters in this book, so maybe just read the first couple, and then we can decide how quickly we want to go through this one once we meet.

If we can’t all make it, let’s wait to start meeting again until we’re all available.

For future planning, here is the list we cobbled together last season. If you’d like to adjust the order or add additional books, just post in the comments. Several of them are still only available in hardback, so I’ve put them at the end, but unless we add other books to the list (maybe it’s time to go back to our “classics” roots?), we may be reading hardbacks anyway. Here it is:

• The Vote (Sybil Downing)
• The Harmony Silk Factory (Tash Aw)
• Cutting for Stone (Abraham Verghese) HB
• The Help (Kathryn Stockett) HB
• Drood (Dan Simmons) HB

Am wondering if everyone is over and done with Mr. Dickens, or if we could include Bleak House in the list somewhere? It is available in paperback, if that helps Drood is the one that’s the fictional story about Dickens — would it be better or worse to read that in conjunction with one more of his books? Thoughts?

Looking forward to seeing you all at House of Commons on Saturday, August 15, at 10:30. (It seems fitting that the return of the BBC should be at the House of Commons, no?)

As discussed, let’s finish Snow in August this week before our July haitus. How about a last trip to The French Press in Lakewood?

85 South Union Blvd, Ste H
Lakewood, CO 80228
(303) 984-5447

Take 6th West to Union and turn left (South) on Union. Drive toward Alameda and it’s in the strip mall area up behind the Wendy’s on the right-hand side. There’s a Curves back there, too. It’s little and charming and not very expensive.

Just an update to let everyone know our new book is “Snow in August” by Pete Hamill. Read through the first 9 chapters for our first meeting on this book. We’ll meet on Saturday, June 20, at House of Commons at 10:30. If you’d like to invite other people to join us, this would be a good time for someone to jump in.

See you the 20th for snow and scones!

Ok gang — it looks like our calendar could be questionable in the next few weeks. We already know the sisters are unavailable on the 16th (composting class?!), and Ant has something on the 23rd. The 30th is a holiday weekend, so how does everyone feel about not meeting until June 6, when we can also finish “What is the What”? Does that work for everyone?

Future scheduling:

• Finishing Great Expectations on VHS — any chance you could all come on Friday night (yes, the 15th) around 7-7:30?
• Movie night for “What is the What”? Now taking suggestions/ideas
• Since some of our other books are still only available in hardback, we’ll do “Snow in August” next (first meeting week would be June 20)

Ok gang — let’s try for The French Press again. Since the Inspector is out, it’s just a Westside BBC this week. Read another 5 chapters, up to Chapter 15 (XV) this time.

See you at 10:30!