Rina has been with the Lit Chicks for about four years now, and during that time I have learned the following about her: 1) She is not ambivalent about books - she either really likes them (they get 5 stars) or she really doesn't (they get 1 star) and 2) Books with maps are the BEST.  Here are 10 other things to know about Rina and books.

1. What book are you currently reading? - "The Fugitive" by Pittacus Lore (Part of the Lorien Legacies series)
   
2. Most memorable book from childhood? - "The Face on the Milk Carton" by Caroline B. Clooney 
   
3. What are you favorite genres to read? - Fiction of all types (In particular, I love dystopian YA, mysteries, and historical fiction.)
4. How do you read (i.e. library vs. purchase, electronic vs. physical book, audio)? -  I purchase a lot of books from used book sales, buy new books for things I've been waiting on, and Kindle/Nook books when there's a good daily or monthly deal.
5. Where is your favorite place to read? - On the move (traveling, commuting) or waiting because it makes me feel productive and makes boring time go faster.
6. What book character would you most like to have dinner with? - Hans Hubermann from "The Book Thief"
7. What do you read for guilty pleasure? - YA novels that are a little too much Y and not enough A.  Or these series of Christian romance mystery novels I accidentally got into.
8. Favorite thing to drink while reading? - Depends on the book.  Hot beverages are great for mysteries, wine is great for a guilty pleasure.
9. Favorite author? - That's too hard to pick.  I guess the only author I've loved everything I've read (and read more than one or two books) is JK Rowling, but there are probably others and I just don't remember they're all the same author.
10. Favorite book club read? - "Mornings in Jenin" (by Susan Abulhawa) or "The Gift of Rain" (by Tan Twan Eng).  Bonus points for "The Gift of Rain " surprising me by how much I liked it and for having a map.
    

In our last "Get to Know Us" post, I mentioned that Amy was introduced to us through Jeanette, so I thought it would be a good idea for us to get to know her next.  Jeanette has been with us for two years and is known for her mad cake baking skills.  She had to take a brief hiatus in order to take a class, but we are so glad she (and her cake) is coming back this month.

1. What book are you currently reading? - "Happy Wives Club" by Fawn Weaver and "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers 
   
2. Most memorable book from childhood? - The Harry Potter Series
3. What are you favorite genres to read? - Memoir and biography
4. How do you read (i.e. library vs. purchase, electronic vs. physical book, audio)? - Library (print or electronic)
5. Where is your favorite place to read? - Curled up on the couch
6. What book character would you most like to have dinner with? - Hermione Granger from Harry Potter
7. What do you read for guilty pleasure? - Celebrity gossip magazines
8. Favorite thing to drink while reading? - Raspberry or hazelnut mocha
9. Favorite author? - Way to hard to pick!
10. Favorite book club read? - "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood (If I remember correctly, this may have been Jeanette's first meeting)

Amy is one of our most recent new members.  Amy recently moved to this area and was recommended to us by another of our members Jeanette.  We are so pleased that Amy has chosen to join the Lit Chicks.

1. What book are you currently reading? - I'm currently reading this month's book and a terrible book called "My Sister's Grave" that I cannot finish but don't want to give up on. (haven't we all been there?)
   
2. Most memorable book from childhood? - "Lily of the Forest" and "The Lady With the Alligator Purse"
3. What are you favorite genres to read? - Fiction, Historical Fiction, and Fantasy
4. How do you read (i.e. library vs. purchase, electronic vs. physical book, audio)? - I have been reading on my Kindle a TON, but I also frequent the library
5. Where is your favorite place to read? - My bed; but in an ideal world, on a beach somewhere.
6. What book character would you most like to have dinner with? - the narrator from "What is What" by Dave Eggers or maybe Atticus Finch
7. What do you read for guilty pleasure? - Southern chick lit and murder mysteries
8. Favorite thing to drink while reading? - wine!
9. Favorite author? - Dave Eggers (except for his first book), Dorothy Allison, a ton of others
10. Favorite book club read? -Since I'm new to this group, I'll pick one of my old book club books -- "Silver Sparrow" by Tayari Jones

The second Lit Chick member we are highlighting is Lorene.  Lorene has been with the club for a little bit over 2 years and is known for being a connoisseur of audiobooks, as well as being an excellent pet sitter.  We asked our members 10 book related questions, here are the responses from Lorene:

1. What book are you currently reading? - "Naked" by David Sedaris (reading) and "SuperFreakonomics" (listening)
   
2. Most memorable book from childhood? - "Are You My Mother?" or "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" (really silly but they were books from my mom's childhood library)
3. What are you favorite genres to read? - Fiction and Humor
4. How do you read (i.e. library vs. purchase, electronic vs. physical book, audio)? - I prefer hardbacks, but I am really cheap so I get my books from the library.  I listen to books on tape on the Overdrive Media App on my phone.  I listen to books when I'm driving, walking for exercise, cleaning, and sometimes when I'm grocery shopping - it makes that time seem more productive.
5. Where is your favorite place to read? - I like to read outside, but don't have a practical place to do so, so I normally read in my bed.
6. What book character would you most like to have dinner with? - Chelsea Handler, Jennifer Lancaster, or Jenny Lawson (who are all real people)
7. What do you read for guilty pleasure? - I like to change it up with Chick Lit (like Emily Giffin) and murder mystery books (like Kathy Reichs, James Patterson, or Patricia Cornwell)
8. Favorite thing to drink while reading? - I always think "Hey, I should be drinking wine," but then I usually fall asleep (which from my history of ruining library books is not surprising)
9. Favorite author? - Cheryl Strayed and James Patterson

1. Favorite book club read? - "Let's Pretend This Never Happened", "Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness", and "Glitter & Glue"

Today's Throwback Thursday takes us to the very recent past: yesterday.  Yesterday was the first Wednesday of the month which meant that it was book club night.  Our November book "Glitter and Glue" by Kelly Corrigan, nominated by our member Alison.  

In the middle of "Glitter and Glue" Corrigan recalls a lecture in college where her professor explained a theory: "More often than not, it's the readers - not the writers - who determine what a book means.  The idea is that readers don't come blank to books.  Consciously and not, we bring all the biases that come with our nationality, gender, race, class, age.  Then you layer onto that the status of our health, employment, relationships, not to mention our particular relationship to each book - who gave it to us, where we read it, what books we've already read." (page 145 of Kindle version)   This theory was very evident in our discussion last night, as we all reacted to the book by looking at our relationships with our own parents, as well as our status as parents, parents-to-be, or non-parents.  

One of the most discussed questions was did parents have to choose between being the glitter or the glue; could parents be both or neither.  It seemed like we all had our own different opinions that we based on our own experiences.  It was truly an interesting discussion, and by the end of the meeting member Julia summed it up perfectly by saying, "Now I really wish I could meet everyone's parents."

Overall the club liked the book.  On the goodreads 5 star scale, the book got mostly 4's and 5's.  Emily described it as "both a love letter to your mother and your children".  The one thing we all did agree on is that it will get you thinking about your mother.


Club News:
November marked the 2 year anniversary for members Alison and Jeanette.  On a sad note, this was the last meeting for members Stephanie and Debra.  We wish them nothing but the best in their future endeavors.

The big news was that November marks the 10th Anniversary of the NoVA Lit Chicks.  While none of our members today were at that first meeting, we continue to carry on the tradition of sharing literature and friendship.   To all Lit Chicks past and present, thank you for helping to make the club what it is today, and here's to another 10 years of reading together.

A book club is not just about books, it's also about its members.  Over our 10 year history, the Lit Chicks have been fortunate to count many awesome NoVA women on its roster. We're starting a feature here on the Lit Chicks Blog called, "Get to Know Us" where you can get to know the current members of the NoVA Lit Chicks.  

The first member we are highlighting is Sara.  Sara has been with the club for 7 years and has a rep of being one of our toughest book critics.   We asked our members 10 book related questions, here are the responses from Sara:

1. What book are you currently reading? - This month's book :)  ["Glitter and Glue"]
   
2. Most memorable book from childhood? - "The Seventh Princess" 
3. What are you favorite genres to read? - Contemporary fiction, historical fiction, and decent Young Adult.
4. How do you read (i.e. library vs. purchase, electronic vs. physical book, audio)? - As long as it ISN'T an audio book I'm not picky.
5. Where is your favorite place to read? - The beach, although I can read just about anywhere!
6. What book character would you most like to have dinner with? - No idea.  For awhile I would have said Jonas from "The Giver" just so I know what happened, but now that we have the 4th book it isn't necessary.
7. What do you read for guilty pleasure? - Chick lit
8. Favorite thing to drink while reading? - Wine! But that's my favorite thing to drink regardless of the activity.  Maybe tea if it's winter.
9. Favorite author? - Don't have one.  There are some authors who have more than one book that I've liked, but in general authors don't tend to impress me long term.  After a good book or two things tend to go downhill.
10. Favorite book club read? - I think it would be cheating to pick one of my books ("Those Who Save Us", "Jesus Land").  It also probably doesn't count if I had already read and loved the book before it became a book club selection ("Moloka'i", "Middlesex", "House of Spirits").  In that case I'll go with "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" or "Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir"