The twenty-four ladies who attended September’s Hooked On Books Club meeting were delighted to reunite after taking a summer break and enjoyed a delightful meal together. Special thanks to Susan Bertlshofer for opening her beautiful home to us and to her co-hostesses, Sherri Judice, Nancy Ladshaw, Judy Overton, and Shaney Bradford.

The ladies were very pleased with the vintage clothing and hats worn by the hostesses to represent the time period of the novel. They were treated to a magnificent spread of food representative of items mentioned in Sylvia Plath’s only novel, The Bell Jar. The table displayed artifacts, such as bell jars. Chicken, turkey and tuna salad sandwiches were served with chips, Cowboy Caviar and avocados with garnet sauce. Garnet sauce, ketchup mixed with French dressing, was a connection to the novel.

After feasting on the delicious food, a lively book discussion followed with ladies discussing the similarities and differences in Plath’s novel and a book we read in the spring, Bonnie Garmus’ Lessons in Chemistry.

Several members were struck by the central focus of both novels: societal expectations and the pressure to conform to traditional female roles during the mid-20th century. The ladies took umbrage at the main characters’ decline in mental health and her struggle to find success under the oppressive expectations placed on women. Many remarked on the lack of the main character’s struggle to achieve true independence.

All in attendance agreed that it was an engaging and fun-filled afternoon. They thanked their wonderful hostesses for the ingenuity, expert planning, and hard work put into making it all happen. It was definitely an afternoon to remember!

The Club’s next meeting will be held at 2:00 p.m. on October 8th and the book choice is The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry. If you are interested in joining “Hooked On Books”, please email your contact information to alanehaardt@yhoo.com. All Ladies are welcome!