October Book Club

Month: October
Hostess: Alyssa
Book: Kiss of the Spider Woman by Manuel Puig
Food: Squash soup, Avocado Pasta, Three cheese pasta with olives, Pumpkin Cheesecake

It was a blustery evening for book club, with winds and rain and a definite chill in the air. I feel that snow is just around the corner now, whether we are ready or not. We all arrived one after another, bundled in our sweaters and warm clothes, and promptly parked ourselves at the kitchen table. For some reason at Alyssa's this is our space; we gather around the table, sharing and laughing and eating. Those who could drink poured themselves glasses of red and bubbly, while I poured myself countless glasses of Perrier. It didn't take long before the food was ready, and food was on the table.


I actually managed to grab a few shots of the food before I started eating!

As we all ate and rhapsodized over the pasta, especially the avocado, we chatted and caught up on each other's lives. Conversations were flying all over the place, and it was that good kind of chaos of conversation, like you find on a holiday with family. That is what it felt like too; warm, cozy, surrounded by friends who are like family, talking about everything and anything. Alyssa always has some new animal or another at her house, as she works in an animal shelter and brings them home a lot to care for until they find homes. Last night her new additions included a pen of the tiniest new little kittens, and a crazy dilute calico named Squee, whom Alyssa is adopting. This cat was a nutter - just spayed that day, Squee did not show any signs of slowing down as she jumped on our laps, played with our hair, tried to lap whipped cream off my plate. She was tiny too, 5 months old but the size of 3 month old cat. I can see why Alyssa fell in love with her. 

Talk eventually turned to the book. This book was crazy! I had to admit some of the time I was confused, but by the end it all made sense. The general consensus was that this was a strange story, saved by the fact that it was short. What was interesting was that some of us liked different parts more than others - for instance, Jennifer liked the parts where the characters were talking about their actual lives, but I liked where the character Molina was relating to Valentin the story of the panther woman. I don't think it was a terrible story, it just wasn't necessarily a book I loved.

It was a fun night, and while it was blustery when we arrived, when we left it was even crazier! The wind had picked up considerably and the temperature had fallen even further. I couldn't wait to get home and put my pajamas on. Perhaps I was distracted by that, but I almost hit a deer! I was driving through Alyssa's sub when a huge deer raced out in front of me! I was shocked, I didn't even know deer were in her subdivision! But then there one was, large as day, running through the cold and windy night. It felt like something out of a movie! I am not sure I have ever been so close to a deer before, except in Shenandoah National Park. 

I finally made it home safe and sound, and snuggled down under a quilt on the couch, in my pajamas, content after a wonderful, fun night with my friends. 

Next month is my month! I picked Little Women.