Can I Get a Head Count?

Please let me know if you can or cannot attend the meeting on Friday so I can figure out where we are going to meet. Vote in the poll at left.

Hope to see you there. I already have one burning point I want to discuss. So curious what you guys think!

Happy reading!
~Kerrie

Looks Like Good Things for December

Thanks so much for voting! It looks like we have our December book: Good Things by Mia King.

If you voted for a different one, don't worry! We'll keep them on the list...well, maybe not the holiday ones, but the nice thing about December's book is that it is light, so you can read ALL of them!

Here's what Mia's Web site says about Good Things:

Living simply isn’t simple. Deidre McIntosh is 40, single, and host of Seattle’s premier lifestyle TV show, Live Simple and Simply Live. But when her show is abruptly cancelled, her seemingly perfect life ends along with it. It’s a godsend when Kevin Johnson offers her a place to stay, even if her new living arrangement is literally a shack in the woods. As she slowly begins to practice what she once preached, Deidre takes the first step toward a new kind of success, and maybe even love.

Includes recipes: Orgasmic Corn Fritters with Chinese Peppercorn, Creme Fraiche, and Sherry; Linguine with Rose Petal Sauce; Uptown Bistro’s Spinach Salad with Light Roquefort Dressing; Lindsey’s Meatloaf Special; Maple Walnut Scones in Origami Parchment Pockets;Hardware Bobby’s oven- Baked, Old-Fashioned Fries; Chocolate Cherry Crackle Cookies; Old-Fashioned Mashed Potatoes; Deidre’s Aromatic Gingerbread; Johnson Family Eggnog; Fresh Salmon and Penne Salad with Creamy Light Dill Dressing; Potato and Leek Gratin; Deidre’s Peace of Mind Tea.

I don't know about you all, but this is totally the type of book I need right now. Actually, any of the ones on our list would've been great. :)

Just FYI: I was at Borders in Federal Way and they didn't have a copy of Good Things. I'm not sure if the other stores have a copy, but just saving you a trip...

Okay, everyone, happy reading!
~Kerrie

Light & Easy for December

Thanks to everyone who met at Vino on Friday to discuss The Street of a Thousand Blossoms. We had a good time!

The next meeting will be December 4th (first Friday), and we decided to bump the time up by a half hour. Hopefully, that will work better for everyone. I am looking at where we should have our next meeting. Any new ideas, please comment or shoot me an e-mail.

After two very heavy books in a row, we all agreed to keep things light for December's book. I even suggested reading a Christmas-themed one.

You may notice that I thinned out our suggested books list because several of them have been on there for months and months, and have not been chosen. Please send me ideas for future titles and I will add them

Here's what I added and what's up for voting for our December meeting. Read about the books and then vote by Monday, Oct. 12, please.

Skipping Christmas by John Grisham: I read this book several years ago. I really loved it...then I saw the movie. Ugh. The movie was horrible and wasn't at all like the book. Read more here.

The Perfect Christmas by Debbie Macomber: I have never read anything by this author, but I know she is popular. I'm willing to try something different. Read more here.

Good Things by Mia King: The description for this one starts out: "Seattle's answer to Martha Stewart..."! Sounds good to me...and pretty much all of the reviewers on Amazon. Plus, recipes in the back. Sweet. Read more here.

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen: This is a Young-Adult book that was recommended at my last SCBWI meeting. Not sure how you all feel about reading YA, though. Read more here.

Pretty in Plaid by Jen Lancaster: I don't remember who suggested this one. A friend just finished reading it and she liked it. Read more here.

Happy reading!
~Kerrie

Calling It: Where We Will Meet on Friday

After much discussion and thought, we will meet in Renton at Vino at the Landing at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2. We will discuss The Street of a Thousand Blossoms by Gail Tsukiyama (I will bring discussion questions). Don't worry if you aren't finished, we'll make the best of it. Mostly, at this meeting, I hope to discuss the future of NPBC. So, see you there!
~Kerrie

PS: If you want/need my cell number, shoot me an e-mail.

We Need a Home!

I need suggestions for where to meet next Friday. Unfortunately, Vino at The Landing won't work as they have a "Meet the Winemaker" forum every Friday from 6-8. If we reaaaalllly want to meet there we will have to move our meeting to 8 p.m. and I know for several people that doesn't work.

Soooooo....

Any other ideas? Renton is a good central meeting place, I think. If I don't get suggestions, I will just pick somewhere for this first meeting and we can discuss later.

WARNING: Right now, the only place I can think of in the Renton area that can accommodate us is Scari's (Shari's) by the hotel there at 169 and 405. And nobody wants that...

Our "First" Meeting & Where to Meet

I'm trying to get this party started.

Based on your feedback, the new era of the No-Pressure Book Club will be meeting at 7:30 p.m. on the First Friday of every other month beginning in October.

That means our first meeting will be Friday, October 2 at 7:30 p.m. We'll be discussing The Street of a Thousand Blossoms by Gail Tsukiyama. I will bring questions. Check the sidebar on the left for updated meeting times, locations and other general info, such as what book, who will bring discussion points, etc.

Now, we just need to find a "home." The Renton Landing area is sort of a middle-ground for most of us, I think. I contacted Vino at the Landing, a well-lit and nice looking wine bar, to see if they're the type of place that a book club could meet at. I will let you know what I find out.

But we need more suggestions. I'm thinking we should try to stay close to the downtown Renton area. Anyone know of any good places that could host about 10 people?

FYI: I fixed the comments on this blog, so if you had issues leaving one in the past, it should be working now. Sorry about that.

See you soon!
~Kerrie

A New Era of NPBC

"A watch is always too fast or too slow. I cannot be dictated by a watch." ~Jane Austen

Sound like anyone you know?

Have I found the motto for the No-Pressure Book Club? Honestly! We are not good about keeping a schedule. But that's the whole point. Don't rush us, we'll get around to meeting. I like our philosophy, even if we take it to the extreme sometimes.

But I do think some things about NPBC need to change. I have talked to several of you and everyone has agreed. Here is my proposal. Please let me know what you think by commenting below. I am opening up the blog for anyone to comment.

1. Meet every other month. We need longer amounts of time to read the books.

2. Meet in the evenings. The lunch-time meeting worked for a couple of years. But moving it to the evening will allow us to invite more people. We'll have more time to chat about the book and life and whatever. What do you think about 8 or 8:30 p.m.? That gives people enough time to get home from work and have dinner with their families. Then, we can meet somewhere for dessert or drinks or whatever.

3. Stick to a day. How about the first or the fourth Friday of every other month? The first or fourth Friday seems easy to remember. What do you think? That would make Oct. 2 or Oct. 23 our first meeting.

4. Invite more people.

5. Organize our meetings. What do you think about actually having an organized discussion of each book? Maybe someone could volunteer each time to look up some good book discussion questions or topics...what do you think?

***

Here are the things I hope we can keep the same. Again, let me know what you think.

1. A mix of genres. I like going from chick lit to YA to historical fiction. It keeps things interesting. And, like always, anyone who is not interested in a certain genre can always choose to skip the book.

2. No pressure. Again, if you don't want to read the book, no biggie. We'll catch you next time around.

***

If you are interested in being in, or staying in, the NPBC, please comment below. We are currently reading The Street of a Thousand Blossoms by Gail Tsukiyama.

~Kerrie