The Dovekeepers

A hot summer night....

I think we were all astounded by the writing of Alice Hoffman's The Dovekeepers. What an amazing book. So well researched and detailed. It was rich with the entwined lives of women, their men, children, mothers and fathers - and even beasts. What are women willing to give up in order to have the man they were "meant to be with?" Can you imagine living off the land when the land is so barren it barely gives scrub plants? How would you cope with searing hot days in the desert sun with little to cover you and shoes that were already worn through? How do you think you would save yourself if you and your newborn were thrust out, rejected and humiliated, into the unforgiving desert? And what about the ultimate question: how would you react when your leader said it's time to die for your God?

We had the mini-series DVD playing in the background while we munched on almonds, olives, cherries and strawberries.

The mini-series was filmed in the 80's at Masada. So we got to see some of the incredible views and the astonishing cliffs of the fortress of Masada.  It was interesting to see some of picks of actors - Peter Strauss, Peter O'Toole, Barbara Carrera. Made it easier to picture all the amazing technology that was used back then - the cisterns, the pools, the barracks, and some of the familiar characters.

As the thin crust pizza arrived, we discussed all that was happening in our lives and in the world. We talked about those who couldn't be there to join us, and wished them well. Also, we talked about what books we might want to read next. Jeannie joined us from England once again, and we were very happy to have some of her insights. She gave several suggestions for classic books we might want to read next such as The Catcher in the Rye, To Kill a Mockingbird, MacBeth, and even Dracula! We will come back and get to this genre soon, I think!

What we settled on, though, as we enjoyed dove bars for dessert, is a book that has been around a while but is only now just being filmed for a major motion picture, out Sept.20 starring Emma Watson and Paul Rudd. It's called Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. A couple of us mentioned it, having noticed lots of quotes and buzz around on the Internet.

From Amazon, "What is most notable about this funny, touching, memorable first novel from Stephen Chbosky is the resounding accuracy with which the author captures the voice of a boy teetering on the brink of adulthood. Charlie is a freshman. And while's he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. He's a wallflower--shy and introspective, and intelligent beyond his years, if not very savvy in the social arts. We learn about Charlie through the letters he writes to someone of undisclosed name, age, and gender, a stylistic technique that adds to the heart-wrenching earnestness saturating this teen's story." 

It should be a quick read at a slim 224 pages.

We are going to meet at Trattoria da Vinci in St. Paul near Louise's place.

Marie is possibly returning in October to US soil? So we're hoping she can take the time to meet with us for book club!

As we get closer, maybe Louise can send out an email with the specific date and time we'll meet in October?

It was great to catch up with everyone! Now we move on to the busy, busy fall. Leaves are already demanding to be kicked and crunched underfoot. Unbelievable.

See you all next time,
Katie