October’s Book Club Meeting exceeded all expectations, and the Hostesses- Karen Gibson, Connie Britton, Judy Overton, and Pam Tiemann- outdid themselves in every way!!! The hostesses’ decor included items significant in the book- a vintage suitcase filled with 1930’s pictures of beautiful young girls, a pair of baby shoes, a replica of the Eiffel Tower, a replica of the Statue of Liberty, and a copy of our October book, The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff- a historical fiction novel about Britain’s SOE (Special Operations Executive), and the secret agents they recruited, who sacrificed so much to support the French Underground as they foiled the Nazis at every possible turn, in preparation for the Allies Invasion on D-Day. To get the meeting started, the Hostesses treated their guests to an “English Tea Party” with an elegant spread of Scones with Lemon Curd Sauce, ham and pimento cheese finger sandwiches, a variety of hors d’oeuvres, desserts (muffins, lemon bars, strawberry bread, pumpkin bites, and sand tarts); along with beverages of cucumber water, lemonade, and Champagne!! It was all beautiful and delicious!!!!

Following the “Tea Party,” the Ladies voted on the books for the Club’s “2023 Book Club Reading List”, resulting in a wonderful variety of books for upcoming year!!

The Book Discussion that followed was spellbinding, with Hostess Karen Gibson, who had done extensive research about the SOE and the real-life agents on whom the book was based, giving an excellent presentation with interesting details and information about the agency and how the British government, including Winston Churchill, operated it. She included pictures of two of the real-life female agents, (who were also characters in the book) and who, along with hundreds of other agents, were ultimately captured and executed by the Nazis, thus making the ultimate sacrifice for the SOE and their cause. Archives of that period show that the SOE, through its support of the French Underground, truly played a vital role in keeping the Nazis distracted from the Allies D-Day Invasion plans, and helped foil the Nazi advancement by blowing up bridges and roads, and other acts of sabotage. Hostess, Connie Britton, led the group in a lively discussion of various questions about the characters in the book, with the Ladies giving their opinions and reactions to each. It was an interesting, informative, and delightful afternoon, and the group thanked their Hostesses for an outstanding Book Club Meeting!!

November’s Book Club meeting will be held on November 8, 2022 at 2:00 PM, and November’s book is The Four Winds by Kristen Hannah. If you are interested in joining “Hooked On Books,” please email your contact information to alanehaardt@yahoo.com. All Ladies are welcome!!