May’s Book Club Meeting proved to be as lively, entertaining, and enjoyable as its book was suspenseful, spellbinding, and gripping!! The book, All The Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr tells the story of a young blind girl in France during the World War II before, during, and after the Nazi’s invaded and occupied France, and the devastation and hardships faced by her and her family. The book also, simultaneously, tells the story of a poor, highly intelligent German boy and his little sister, who were orphans, and all the hardships they endured before and after the brother was taken by the German’s to be groomed for Nazi Intelligence, and trained to be a soldier. Their stories were woven throughout the book in such a compelling way, readers couldn’t put it down!!!
Our Hostesses: Nancy Ladshaw, LaJune Pitonyak, and Kathleen Simmons, did an excellent job keeping the cuisine in tune with the time period, and served both French and German dishes mentioned in the book! There were two types of cheese- Brie (which is French) and Gruyere (which is German); Fruit Kabobs made with pineapple, peaches, mint, and strawberries; Liverwurst and pumpernickel sandwiches; egg salad on French Baguettes; apple strudel with cherries, coconut, pecans, whipped cream; and mini chocolate bars; all served with water, tea, and pineapple Proseco punch!!
Decorations were little wooden houses, which represented the tiny carved villages that the father made for his blind daughter, and used to train her to get around the house and surrounding town! They even had a jewel inside one small house, just as it was in the book!! It was all excellent! The 14 ladies in attendance, enjoyed everything immensely! Thank you to our wonderful hosts who did everything with flair!
Following the refreshments, the group held a lively discussion about all aspects of the book: the characters, the happy lives they led before the invasion, the extremely difficult conditions during the German invasion and occupation, the lack of food, the bombings, the destruction, the constant fear and pursuit of a safe place to live, and the loss of homes, property, independence, and loved ones. The twists and turns in the story kept readers spellbound until the very end!! All agreed it was an outstanding book, and highly recommend it! It was a fun, wonderful get-together, a wonderful book, and a wonderful afternoon spent with great friends!
As always, the Book Club takes a summer break during June, July, and August; and our next Book Club Meeting will be on Tuesday, September 13, 2022 at 2:00 PM. September’s book is To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. If you would like to join “Hooked On Books”, please send your contact information to alanehaardt@yahoo.com. All are welcome!
