Here it is - the OFFICIAL 2014 READING GOAL CHALLENGE THREAD

[xlsm]

Finished 26 of 45...Guardians of Ga'hoole #1: The Capture.

My kids bought this for me from their school book fair for Mother's Day b/c I like owls

We read this together, and we all liked it. Very interesting characters, decent plot...I'd recommend it for good to advanced readers age 8+.

I rate it a solid 3/5, and would read more of the series.

 

[jenny105]

I've been away from this thread since vacation. I finished The Book Thief (book 16/30) on our cruise. Kind of a depressing read while on vacation! I'm working on Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead and The Mediator by Meg Cabot now.

 

[threeboysmom]

Just finished #18 out of 30:

Room by Emma Donaghue

I know this is one of those "controversial" books amongst readers - you either love it or you absolutely hate it. I was both, lol. For the first half or so, I hated this book. Didn't think I could stand the baby talk much longer and would have to quit the book (which I HATE doing). This book is narrated by a five-year-old named Jack. I couldn't stand how all the inanimate objects were referred to as proper nouns, and I hated that Jack was always "wanting some" lol.

Jack lives in a 10x10 room with Ma, and it's the only world he has ever known.

But WOW, I am so glad I stuck with this one. Halfway through I realized, "hey, I don't even notice the baby talk anymore!". I was thoroughly enthralled and pulled right into the eyes and mind of a 5 yo.

I don't think this book would have had such a powerful and gripping effect on me if it had been told in a different voice. It's not often you get a glimpse into a young child's mind, and the author made me see the world from HIS viewpoint, not an adult's.

I don't want to give away the storyline, but wow. I know I'm in the minority here based on other's reviews, but this is a story that will stick with me for a long time.

Next up: Innocence by Dean Koontz. WHY am I reading a Koontz novel? LOL! I seriously hate scary books...

 

[wilma-bride]

Just finished #18 out of 30:

Room by Emma Donaghue

I know this is one of those "controversial" books amongst readers - you either love it or you absolutely hate it. I was both, lol. For the first half or so, I hated this book. Didn't think I could stand the baby talk much longer and would have to quit the book (which I HATE doing). This book is narrated by a five-year-old named Jack. I couldn't stand how all the inanimate objects were referred to as proper nouns, and I hated that Jack was always "wanting some" lol.

Jack lives in a 10x10 room with Ma, and it's the only world he has ever known.

But WOW, I am so glad I stuck with this one. Halfway through I realized, "hey, I don't even notice the baby talk anymore!". I was thoroughly enthralled and pulled right into the eyes and mind of a 5 yo.

I don't think this book would have had such a powerful and gripping effect on me if it had been told in a different voice. It's not often you get a glimpse into a young child's mind, and the author made me see the world from HIS viewpoint, not an adult's.

I don't want to give away the storyline, but wow. I know I'm in the minority here based on other's reviews, but this is a story that will stick with me for a long time.

Next up: Innocence by Dean Koontz. WHY am I reading a Koontz novel? LOL! I seriously hate scary books...

I loved it too - and yet my best friend, who normally loves the books that I do, absolutely hated it.

 

[zippitydoo]

Book 31 of 50

Weddings Can Be Murder by Christie Craig

 

[KrazyPete]

Reading Challenge Goal: 26 Books

May Update: (The titles are linked for jacket synopses and reviews)
#10 Green: The Beginning and the End - Ted Dekker
Christian allegory is Ted Dekker's thing. This series was pretty good. It's sort of a post-apocalyptic Narnia. This last book was my least favorite. I feel like he wanted to explain the other three books and so the characters spent the first three hundred pages just talking through everything that happened and was happening. The action picked up in the last 100 pages but then it came to a conclusion that seemed a little rushed. If you accept the "alternate" ending then this is the first book in the series and I think I like that a little better.

#11 Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card
I'm not a big fan of science fiction. The kind of science fiction that I like is more than a space fantasy, it asks the existential questions. Ender's Game does that and it's impeccably well written. The pacing was perfect. Pretty good for a kid's book!

#12 Déjà Dead - Kathy Reichs
High resolution, the level of the detail the author uses is pretty amazing, also sometimes little tedious. It is the inspiration for the TV series "Bones" and if you enjoy a police procedural then you will probably like this. The author is a real forensic anthropologist who splits her time between Charlotte, NC and Quebec and that also describes the lead character exactly. The prose isn't brilliant (in fact, her metaphors are sometimes laughably silly) but the way she describes the forensic part of the investigation is fascinating. It's a good story with plenty of suspense.

#13 Slaughterhouse-Five - Kurt Vonnegut
The lead character is "unstuck" in time and moves back and forth through the different events of his life, including the bombing of Dresden in WWII and a period of time as an exhibit in an alien zoo. These are just flashbacks except that the character is present in them instead of remembering them. In the reading, there's not much difference. Each vignette in time is a parable on the human condition. It was sometimes clever in it's humor, it was interesting to consider time from the Tralfamadorian perspective but mostly the book was bleak and pessimistic.

#14 Hold Tight - Harlan Coben
This book made me realize how overwritten a lot of other books are. Coben writes in an easy, natural style. The cop dialog was a little campy but overall it was a great story, well told. I saw a lot of myself in many of the characters. The ending was probably a little too tidy but I liked it anyway. Highly recommended for parents of high schoolers.

Five books this month! Can you tell that all of my favorite television shows have ended their seasons? Next up is Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. I went to a book club meeting this week where we discussed American Gods and that was enough to make me want to return to this author again.

 

[xlsm]

Finished 27 and 28 of 45.

27) Ruined by Paula Morris - This is a YA novel, a ghost story set in New Orleans. Rebecca is sent to stay with a family friend in New Orleans while her father is on an extended business trip in China. She makes friends, she makes enemies, and she becomes wrapped up in the mystery behind a 155 year old curse.

I love ghost stories, and I love New Orleans, so I really enjoyed this book. If you have any teens/preteens in your family that you're trying to get to read more, give them this book. I rate it a 3.5/5

28) Dragon Slayer's Academy #3 :Class Trip to the Cave of Doom - Ok, so I hesitated to actually add this to my list since it is totally a kid's book, but it was our read-aloud book this week with my boys, and it was pretty fun!

My 8 and 10 year old enjoy this series (probably the 8 year old more). It's pretty funny, with enough clever humor to help adults get through them as well. I'd recommend this for solid readers aged 7-11 (maybe older, but there really isn't much of a challenge here, outside of some names that might be tricky for younger readers to figure out on their own).

 

[mumloveseeyore]

book 70/150full dark house by christopher fowler
the first in the bryant and may series of quirky detective novels i enjoyed this
book 71/150 ivy lane:spring by cathy bramley
from amazon Friendship blossoms at Ivy Lane...

Tilly Parker needs a fresh start, fresh air and a fresh attitude if she is ever to leave the past behind and move on with her life. As she settles in to a new town seeking peace and solitude, taking on her own plot at Ivy Lane allotments seems like the perfect solution. But the vibrant, friendly Ivy Lane community has other ideas and endeavour to entice Tilly into seedling swaps and Easter egg hunts. Can Tilly let new friends into her life, or will she stay a wallflower for good?

Ivy Lane is a serialized novel told in four parts - taking you through a year in the life of Tilly Parker - beginning with Spring.
book 72/150 the water room by christopher fowler
2nd bryant and may book
book 73/150 every woman for herself by trisha ashley fun fluff chick lit. also includes recipes
book 74/150 hunted by kevin hearne most recent in the iron druid series
book 75/15077 clocks by christopher fowler 3rd bryant and may book

 

[Swimnoid]

43. Under and Alone by William Queen
This is an autobiography by an agent of the ATF who goes undercover to gain admittance to the Mongols, the most dangerous outlaw motorcycle gang in existence. He describes his whole ordeal from making the initial contact to rising in ranks of the club to become vice president and then to their sting which led to dozens of arrests and convictions. If you are a Sons of Anarchy fan this is a must read. The author is not a writer but the subject is gripping as he shows how absolutely horrific and deadly these people are and yet how important and deep their brotherhood is. One of my top picks of the year.

44. Private LA by James Patterson and Mark T Sullivan
Another series by Patterson et al, but I enjoyed it. Private is a high tech private detective agency who tackle some really hard and/or high profile cases. In this installment two highly famous actor/philanthropists disappear and Private goes about solving the case which leads them to some shocking revelations about the couple. At the same time a rash of horrible murders occur in an unrelated case.

Typical Patterson story but it kept me turning pages.

45. Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks
From Goodreads:
When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family.

This one had a little bit more excitement than most of Sparks books when the past returns to threaten Katie. I enjoyed it.

46. Stolen Innocence by Elissa Walls
This is an autobiographical account of Elissa Walls who grew up in a sect of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints. Walls' testimony was what put Warren Jeffs in prison. The story followed her life in great detail from childhood through the trial describing how they were manipulated in the name of the church. At times she dwelled far too long on some aspects of her ordeal but in general it was really good.

 

[wilma-bride]

Book #21 - Eeny Meeny by M J Arlidge

The girl emerged from the woods, barely alive. Her story was beyond belief. But it was true. Every dreadful word of it.

Days later, another desperate escapee is found - and a pattern is emerging. Pairs of victims are being abducted, imprisoned then faced with a terrible choice: kill or be killed.

Would you rather lose your life or lose your mind?

Detective Inspector Helen Grace has faced down her own demons on her rise to the top. As she leads the investigation to hunt down this unseen monster, she learns that it may be the survivors - living calling cards - who hold the key to the case.

And unless she succeeds, more innocents will die . . .

This was a true thriller in every sense of the word. Somebody is abducting people in pairs. When they awake they find themselves in an inescapable place, with no food or water and a gun with a single bullet. They have to make a choice - do they choose to kill or be killed. This was a book recommended by Richard and Judy (TV presenters in the UK who have a 'book club' in which they recommend a number of books each season). I find the books they recommend a little hit and miss - some I have loved and some I have hated but this was a real winner. A fabulous read and I couldn't wait to find out what happened in the end. And, unlike many crime/drama books I have read this year, I did not guess the ending of this one. Highly recommended.

 

[Pig Pen]

#16 of 25 - The Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline.

I really didn't know much about this book and downloaded it on a whim from the library. It was a winner. My #3 favorite of the year so far.

Molly is a troubled teen who has been in foster care for most of her life. She is thoughtful and intelligent but hides her insecurities behind her Goth persona. She loves books and was caught "borrowing" Jane Eyre from the library (hidden under her clothes). As part of her punishment she must perform community service and ends up helping Vivian, a 90 year-old widow, clean out her attic.

As they sort through the stored boxes, Vivian tells her life story. It turns out they have a lot in common and begin to form a relationship, much to the concern of Molly's foster parents, boyfriend, and the boyfriend's mother who is Vivian's housekeeper.

I loved Vivian's story of traveling to the mid-west with a slew of other orphans, stopping at various stations, hoping to be selected by a family. Unfortunately most of the "parents" were looking for cheap labor, not a son or daughter.

So next up is The Goldfinch (Joyland will have to wait). There's a lot of hype around this one!

Change of plans! Deconstructing Amelia just became available at the library so I will start that one instead. I bought Goldfinch for my kindle so can read that anytime. I did start it, but didn't get very far. It's a huge book so I figure I can work on it between library books.

 

[willowsnn3]

Goal 72

#44 Alex by Pierre Lemaitre

From the jacket:
Alex Prevost---kidnapped, savagely beaten, suspended from the ceiling of an abandoned warehouse in a tiny wooden cage--is running out of time. Her abductor appears to want only to watch her die. Will hunger, thirst, or the rats get her first?

This was pretty good but at times I just wanted it to end.

 

[jenny105]

Finished book 17/30 last night. Vampire Academy #3 - I'm so happy I won the first book in this series off the blog because I don't think I would have given it a chance otherwise. I thought it would be another Twilight but it's not. Rose is kickass!

 

[Glynis]

Goal - 70 books

Book #15 - The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

From Goodreads: Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

My review: I enjoyed this book more than I thought it would. I was expecting it to be really sappy, but it wasn't. I felt that it was quite honest, and that was refreshing. I enjoyed the characters of Hazel and Gus, and felt they were real people. I highly recommend this book!

Next up: Not sure. Gotta see what I brought home from the library.

 

[Kinziepoohsmom]

#16 NYPD Red 2 - James Patterson
This is a typical Patterson book, easy to read with good plot twists. I enjoy most of his books and liked this one more than some.
Next up is What Remains by Carole Radizwill.

 

[StephMK]

Book #21 - Eeny Meeny by M J Arlidge

The girl emerged from the woods, barely alive. Her story was beyond belief. But it was true. Every dreadful word of it.

Days later, another desperate escapee is found - and a pattern is emerging. Pairs of victims are being abducted, imprisoned then faced with a terrible choice: kill or be killed.

Would you rather lose your life or lose your mind?

Detective Inspector Helen Grace has faced down her own demons on her rise to the top. As she leads the investigation to hunt down this unseen monster, she learns that it may be the survivors - living calling cards - who hold the key to the case.

And unless she succeeds, more innocents will die . . .

This was a true thriller in every sense of the word. Somebody is abducting people in pairs. When they awake they find themselves in an inescapable place, with no food or water and a gun with a single bullet. They have to make a choice - do they choose to kill or be killed. This was a book recommended by Richard and Judy (TV presenters in the UK who have a 'book club' in which they recommend a number of books each season). I find the books they recommend a little hit and miss - some I have loved and some I have hated but this was a real winner. A fabulous read and I couldn't wait to find out what happened in the end. And, unlike many crime/drama books I have read this year, I did not guess the ending of this one. Highly recommended.

This sounds great - like a Criminal Minds episode! It's now on my wish list at Amazon.

#19 - Geoducks are for Lovers -Daisy Prescott. This was a freebie I'd gotten last year from Amazon and found it while flipping through the Kindle. It was a story about a group of college friends who are reuniting after 20 years on Whidbey Island. I picked it because it was my age group so it was kind of fun reading about bits & pieces of memories from that time.

I think she wanted it to be an updated Big Chill but didn't need to make references to that. I also thought some of the references were totally not from that era. We did not listen to any records in college and The Graduate was a really old movie in the 80s.

Overall, the settings and characters were well described and it was a cute story and good summer read.

 

[CaliBear]

18. The Magicians by Lev Grossman

from Amazon:

Like everyone else, precocious high school senior Quentin Coldwater assumes that magic isn't real, until he finds himself admitted to a very secretive and exclusive college of magic in upstate New York. There he indulges in joys of college-friendship, love, sex, and booze- and receives a rigorous education in modern sorcery. But magic doesn't bring the happiness and adventure Quentin thought it would. After graduation, he and his friends stumble upon a secret that sets them on a remarkable journey that may just fulfill Quentin's yearning. But their journey turns out to be darker and more dangerous than they'd imagined.

I wanted to like this more than I did. Some of it was really good and suspenseful, but most of the characters are not very well-developed. The narrator is annoying, self-absorbed, whiny, and arrogant. He really has no redeeming qualities. And the worst part, for me, is that many of the important events of the book happen off-page and are summarized after-the-fact. For me that is the worst, but when there is action, it's well-done. Two stars.

After being so annoyed by my book I need a brain cleanse so next I'm reading The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg.

 

[DisneyWalle]

Ok, I've been a away for a few weeks. We homeschool our son and I've been getting everything ready for his 10th grade school year starting in July. So the following books are apart of his curriculum next year and I had to read them ahead of time to write the tests.

#33 - Unveiling the Kings of Israel: Revealing the Bible's Archaeological History by: David Down

from CBD:
Unearth the history of the small nation of Israel - the troubled and devastating periods of loss and exile - once lost to time. Far from being a book of myths, the Bible is an amazing historical record, and each year, more archaeological discoveries continue to prove its validity and significance. Follow the intriguing clues found buried in ancient cities, on the walls of early monuments, and in the written records of our world's oldest civilizations. Walk the ancient streets, explore the distant temples, and unearth the compelling history that continues to resonate with the world today.

I enjoyed this book and found it very interesting.

#34 - Unwrapping the Pharaohs: How Egyptian Archaeology Confirms the Biblical Timeline by: John Aston and David Down

from CBD:
Egypt still captures our imagination. The pharaohs, the mummies, the pyramids - such are the subjects of much mystery and imagination, and some have direct correlation to biblical events. Abraham, Joseph, Moses and Jesus each spent part of their lives in Egypt. But how do the biblical accounts line up with historical and archaeological evidence for this empire?
By taking great pains in reconstructing the history and chronology of the entire sweep of Egyptian dynastic history John Ashton and David Down restore the timeline to its original place as a support for biblical history. Illustrated throughout with beautiful full-color photographs of artifacts, structures and art (along with a reproduction of the black and white photos from Zakaria Goneim's discoveries of the "Lost Pyramid" in the 1950's), Unwrapping the Pharaohs presents a wealth of information for anyone interested in these issues.

Another interesting book. Well written - I read both of the above books with my Bible open referencing back and forth.

#35 - Evolution: The Grand Experiment by: Dr. Carl Werner

from Amazon:
Darwin’s book on evolution admitted that “intermeditate links” were “perhaps the most obvious and serious objection to the theory” of evolution. Darwin recognized that the fossils collected by scientists prior to 1859 did not correspond with his theory of evolution, but he predicted that this theory would be confirmed as more and more fossils were found. One hundred and fifty years later, Evolution: The Grand Experiment critically examines the viability of Darwin’s theory.

Great book....very excited for my son to read this. He has already visited the Creation museum in Kentucky and loved it.

#36 - Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas by: Frederick Douglas

from Amazon:
Former slave, impassioned abolitionist, brilliant writer, newspaper editor and eloquent orator whose speeches fired the abolitionist cause, Frederick Douglass (1818–1895) led an astounding life. Physical abuse, deprivation and tragedy plagued his early years, yet through sheer force of character he was able to overcome these obstacles to become a leading spokesman for his people.
In this, the first and most frequently read of his three autobiographies, Douglass provides graphic descriptions of his childhood and horrifying experiences as a slave as well as a harrowing record of his dramatic escape to the North and eventual freedom.
Published in 1845 to quell doubts about his origins — since few slaves of that period could write — the Narrative is admired today for its extraordinary passion, sensitive and vivid descriptions and storytelling power. It belongs in the library of anyone interested in African-American history and the life of one of the country's most courageous and influential champions of civil rights.

Highly recommended. If you have never read this book, you need too.

#37 - Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

from CBD:
Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel influenced an entire country at war with her heart wrenching novel that has long since become a classic. Focusing upon the evils of slavery, the tears shed as child was ripped from mother and husband from wife, her depiction of the seemingly inhuman hearts that could trade human beings has reverberated down to us as a grim reminder of the evil mankind is capable of.

I never read this in High School opting to read other classics. I'm glad I waited to read this book as I'm not sure it would have affected me the same way as it did as an adult and mother. Heart wrenching story that is a must read. Not quite sure how my son will be affected by this book, I suspect it will anger him - as he becomes very angry over injustices. I look forward to discussing this book with him.

 

[threeboysmom]

Reading Challenge Goal: 26 Books

May Update: (The titles are linked for jacket synopses and reviews)
#10 Green: The Beginning and the End - Ted Dekker
Christian allegory is Ted Dekker's thing. This series was pretty good. It's sort of a post-apocalyptic Narnia. This last book was my least favorite. I feel like he wanted to explain the other three books and so the characters spent the first three hundred pages just talking through everything that happened and was happening. The action picked up in the last 100 pages but then it came to a conclusion that seemed a little rushed. If you accept the "alternate" ending then this is the first book in the series and I think I like that a little better.

#11 Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card
I'm not a big fan of science fiction. The kind of science fiction that I like is more than a space fantasy, it asks the existential questions. Ender's Game does that and it's impeccably well written. The pacing was perfect. Pretty good for a kid's book!

#12 Déjà Dead - Kathy Reichs
High resolution, the level of the detail the author uses is pretty amazing, also sometimes little tedious. It is the inspiration for the TV series "Bones" and if you enjoy a police procedural then you will probably like this. The author is a real forensic anthropologist who splits her time between Charlotte, NC and Quebec and that also describes the lead character exactly. The prose isn't brilliant (in fact, her metaphors are sometimes laughably silly) but the way she describes the forensic part of the investigation is fascinating. It's a good story with plenty of suspense.

#13 Slaughterhouse-Five - Kurt Vonnegut
The lead character is "unstuck" in time and moves back and forth through the different events of his life, including the bombing of Dresden in WWII and a period of time as an exhibit in an alien zoo. These are just flashbacks except that the character is present in them instead of remembering them. In the reading, there's not much difference. Each vignette in time is a parable on the human condition. It was sometimes clever in it's humor, it was interesting to consider time from the Tralfamadorian perspective but mostly the book was bleak and pessimistic.

#14 Hold Tight - Harlan Coben
This book made me realize how overwritten a lot of other books are. Coben writes in an easy, natural style. The cop dialog was a little campy but overall it was a great story, well told. I saw a lot of myself in many of the characters. The ending was probably a little too tidy but I liked it anyway. Highly recommended for parents of high schoolers.

Five books this month! Can you tell that all of my favorite television shows have ended their seasons? Next up is Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. I went to a book club meeting this week where we discussed American Gods and that was enough to make me want to return to this author again.

Congrats on the 5 books in one month! Wow! I'm impressed!

Book #21 - Eeny Meeny by M J Arlidge

The girl emerged from the woods, barely alive. Her story was beyond belief. But it was true. Every dreadful word of it.

Days later, another desperate escapee is found - and a pattern is emerging. Pairs of victims are being abducted, imprisoned then faced with a terrible choice: kill or be killed.

Would you rather lose your life or lose your mind?

Detective Inspector Helen Grace has faced down her own demons on her rise to the top. As she leads the investigation to hunt down this unseen monster, she learns that it may be the survivors - living calling cards - who hold the key to the case.

And unless she succeeds, more innocents will die . . .

This was a true thriller in every sense of the word. Somebody is abducting people in pairs. When they awake they find themselves in an inescapable place, with no food or water and a gun with a single bullet. They have to make a choice - do they choose to kill or be killed. This was a book recommended by Richard and Judy (TV presenters in the UK who have a 'book club' in which they recommend a number of books each season). I find the books they recommend a little hit and miss - some I have loved and some I have hated but this was a real winner. A fabulous read and I couldn't wait to find out what happened in the end. And, unlike many crime/drama books I have read this year, I did not guess the ending of this one. Highly recommended.

This one sounds really good to me - my kind of book! Adding it to Goodreads, thanks!

 

[Glynis]

Goal - 70 books

Book #16 - "The Juliet Club" by Suzanne Harper

From Goodreads: Kate Sanderson inherited her good sense from her mother, a disciplined law professor, and her admiration for the Bard from her father, a passionate Shakespeare scholar. When she gets dumped, out of the blue, for the Practically Perfect Ashley Lawson, she vows never to fall in love again. From now on she will control her own destiny, and every decision she makes will be highly reasoned and rational. She thinks Shakespeare would have approved.

So when she is accepted to a summer Shakespeare symposium in Verona, Italy, Kate sees it as the ideal way to get over her heartbreak once and for all. She'll lose herself in her studies, explore ancient architecture, and eat plenty of pasta and gelato. (Plus, she'll be getting college credit for it--another goal accomplished ) But can even completely logical Kate resist the romance of living in a beautiful villa in the city where those star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet met and died for each other? Especially when the other Shakespeare Scholars--in particular Giacomo, with his tousled brown hair, expressive dark eyes, and charming ways--try hard to break her protective shell?

My review: This was a fun YA read. No brainer, very predictable, but enjoyable. I liked that parts of it were a re-telling of Much Ado About Nothing. Very fun! I would recommend this for my teenage daughters.

Next up: "The Girls' Guide to Love and Supper Clubs" by Dana Bate