Book Club ~ Barbara Samuel O'Neal: The Secret of Everything (February 1-7)

[Kim]

Sue,
I'm sure that's true!  It's too bad we are so rushed at breakfast time.  Sending everyone off with a warm breakfast and a little morning conversation seems the ideal start to the day.

Jill,
There's nothing like little diners in small towns.  Whenver hubby & I take road trips, we search them out.  Wonderful atmosphere and energy.  100 Breakfasts would surely be one of our favorites.

[Kim]

I love traveling, but one of the best parts of traveling is coming home, making a cup of tea,  and sitting in your favourite chair.

   ...with a good book in your hands. :)

[Jill]

Have you ever wanted an unconventional career? 

Not a hiking guide, that's for sure :)

In elementary school I wanted to be an altar boy. Unheard of ! Then a nun. And I always had this urge to be an archeologist. Since I have grown older I do not have the urge to dig in the dirt.  I turned  out to be a former Navy nurse and stay at home mom. A STHM  nowadays is an unconventional career.

[Jill]

100 Breakfasts would surely be one of our favorites.

Us to. We like to go to local places.
I just read in our local paper today about a gentleman who is celebrating his 99th birthday on Monday. He has eaten lunch at McDonald's every day since it opened.  The same thing every time.  He broke his shoulder once and his family had to go to McDonald's to get his lunch. I cannot tell you how many years that has been--we did not have a McDonald's when we moved here in 1971. They (McDs) are having cake for him.
 In our town we have those who meet at McDs, East Side , Blue Top , Donut shop. Or those who breakfast hop from place to place in order to get all the gossip.  And they say beauty shops are  gossipy.

[Jill]

Yes, but Irish breakfasts are wonderful !

[Jenny]

I LOVE this soundtrack!  Especially MacColl, of course, but it's so wonderful and warm.  Well, it's Barbara's, so it would be.

[Jenny]

I remember reading some writing advice somewhere that said never to do dinner scenes, that they were overused, and I thought, "Does this woman know nothing about people?"  One of the things that's been the most fun about Lani and her kids moving in has been Family Dinner.   I was amazed at how much they wanted Family Dinner, which is just the four of us at the dining room table, but to them it's a huge treat.   I love dinner scenes in books, food and conversation, what could be better?

[Jenny]

Barbara's such a hiker that that was probably a great metaphor for her, too.  When she talks about it in conversation, she's not just an expert, she's lyrical.   It's such a gift to be able to put physical experiences that transcend the physical into words.

[Jenny]

I think fights are normal, but the physical stuff is definitely beyond the norm and means there's something else going on.  My brother and I came to blows a couple of times, but looking back, it wasn't about us, it was about the dynamic our parents had set up.  All kids understand is that something is really wrong, they don't have the skills to look beyond the person standing next to them.  Of course, a lot of adults don't have that, either.

[Jenny]

You all know that Barbara is the one who coined the term "Girls in the Basement."  We just all stole it from her.
Thank you, Barbara!

[Jenny]

The teen years will bring DIFFERENT angst.  But still with a strong support group/family like this, the girls will be fine. 
I love family stories.

[Kathy]

The book club ends tonight.  This is your last chance to chime in!

Many thanks to Barbara for joining us, for the wonderful recipes and playlist (and a personal thanks from me for reminding me of Suitors) and most of all for a wonderful story.

Don't forget to check out Barbara's novella:  "Eternal Rose"  in Chalice of Roses, available now.

[Kathy]

Barbara,

Thanks so much for joining us! 

This Cherry Forums book club is now closed.

Again, don't forget to check out Barbara's novella:  "Eternal Rose"  in Chalice of Roses, available now.

We'll be discussing Karen Harbaugh's story,  Miss Templar and the Holy Grail (aka The English Rose)  in the same collection beginning Feb. 15.