Loose Ends

I just wanted to make sure we are all on the same page about book club for next year.  We will be meeting the last Wednesday of the month.  At the January meeting, each member needs to bring one idea of a book they would be willing to host.  We won't get to all of them, but we'll figure out a way to choose which we'd like to read throughout 2012.  We will also be taking the summer off and perhaps passing around books that we want to share, but not discuss. 

The Robe

On January 25th we will meet to discuss Lloyd Cassel Douglas' The Robe.

It is about a Roman soldier who wins Christ's robe and then sets out to learn about Christianity.  It promises faith, romance, adventure, and redemption.

 I stumbled across this link to the book online.  Copies can also be found for interlibrary loan through the local libraries and I came across a video as well.

December Meeting

Remember that we are meeting Wednesday, December 14th, 10 am to discuss Wives & Daughters and have our cookie exchange.  Bring 6 dozen of the same cookie to share. 

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Copies available at Wilsonville library and Library2Go.  

We will discuss this the first Wednesday in November.

Watership Down Discussion Questions

1. What is Fiver's role in the novel? 
2. What role do humans play in Watership Down? How do they compare to other animals?
3. Assuming that each of the warrens can be viewed as a metaphor for a way that people live their lives, what does the Cowslip’s warren represent? And Efrafra?
4. What is the role of the stories that the rabbits tell inside the novel? Assess both metaphorical implications and practical role within the plot.
5. Why might Adams have chosen rabbits, rather than other creatures, as the subjects for his novel? What features of rabbits make them special?
6. How is Hazel the leader?  Why not Bigwig or Blackberry?
7. Why does Cowslip’s warren make physical art?  Are they the only rabbits to make art?  What is the difference between Art and Craft? 
8. Efrafra and Woundwort – what lessons can we take from them.  At what point does security trump liberty? 
9. What is the significance of Kehaar?  Hazel is nice to Kehaar as well as the mice.  Could the rabbits have been as successful without them? 
10. Describe the Blackavar in your life?  Why does Adams include his character in the story?
11. Who is your favorite character and why?
12. What problems might the Watership Down warren have in the future?
13. At the end, no one really knows what happened to Woundwort.  What do you hope happens to him?
14. What is the overall message of the book?

Blackberry Cobbler

Here is that wonderful cobbler we had at bookclub from Heidi Torian.

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar, divided
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons cold butter
• 1/4 cup boiling water
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/4 cup cold water
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 4 cups fresh blackberries, rinsed and drained

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
2. In a large bowl, mix the flour, 1/2 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in 1/4 cup boiling water just until mixture is evenly moist.
3. In a separate bowl, dissolve the cornstarch in cold water. Mix in remaining 1 cup sugar, lemon juice, and blackberries. Transfer to a cast iron skillet, and bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Drop dough into the skillet by spoonfuls. Place skillet on the foil lined baking sheet.
4. Bake 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until dough is golden brown.

Watership Down

 

Watership Down is available for interlibrary loan through the Wilsonville and Woodburn library systems.  It is also available at Library2go.  DiDi has a copy to lend as well.