Things I've read this year:
Lively, Penelope  How it all Began ( really enjoyed it for being a woman of a certain age - I also read her earlier book Moon Tiger)
Barnes, Julian Sense of an Ending 
Goolrick, Robert  A Reliable Wife
Those are probably my top 3 books this year
Others I read
Otsaka, Julie The Buddha in the Attic (a 'conglomerative' telling of Japanese mail order brides coming to the U.S.
Price, Lissa Starters (engaging YA, SF book about a future when old people 'rent' young bodies)
Egan, Jennifer  Visit from the Goon Squad  (was highly recommended by some of my more 'read-y' friends)
Brooks, Geraldine MarchOndaatje, Michael Cat's Table (again highly recommended by some of my more read-y' friends)

--Laurie Whitcomb

So many books, so little time...

Here are my favorites:

Mantel, Hilary. -  WOLF HALL and BRING UP THE BODIES - a fascinating look at Henry VIII and his first 3 wives through the eyes of Thomas Cromwell.

Barnes, Julian. -  THE SENSE OF AN ENDING - Man Booker prize winner.  A man looks back on his youth, a dear college friend and a girl he loved and discovers new truths.

Misery, Rohinton. -  A FINE BALANCE - Set in India 1975. A tailor, his nephew, a student and a widow are the main characters whose lives intersect in this rich and moving novel.

So many books, so little time!  Sally,

Help! I have been reading nonfiction all year and my sisters want
recommendations of great fiction for gifting this year.
So, tell me, what were your three favorite fiction reads this year?

Submitted by Mary Ann
maryannlaun@yahoo.com

Reading List from PPL Pals Weekend July 27-29, 2012

In (sort of) the order discussed:

The Tale of Genii – world’s oldest novel?

Rikyu – (documentary about ancient Japanese Tea Master)

Winchester, Simon – The Man Who Loved China

Castanga, Dario – Too Much Tuscan Sun

Miller, Henry – The Colossus of Marrousi

Greene, Graham – The Honorary Consul

Theroux, Paul – Dark Star Safari

Fuller, Alexandra – Don’t Lets Go To The Dogs Tonight

Hill, Susan – The Woman in Black (and all of her British mysteries)

Lamott, Ann – Some Assembly Required

Harrington, Laura – Alice Bliss (YA book)

Hitchens, Christopher – Hitch 22 (autobiography)

King, Carole – Natural Woman (autobiography)

Jonasson, Jonas – The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window (U.S. publication date 9/11/12)

Morgenstern, Erin – The Night Circus

Shaara, Michael – Killer Angels

Shaara, Jeff – The Steel Wave

Brooks, Geraldine – Year of Wonder

Brooks, Geraldine – March

Patchett, Ann – State of Wonder

Ghosh, Amitav – Sea of Poppies

Ghosh, Amitav – The Hungry Tide

Roberts, Gregory David – Shantaram

Lukas, Michael David – The Oracle of Stamboul

Hillenbrand, Laura – Unbroken

Howard, Beth – The World Needs More Pie

Swarthout, Glendon – The Homesman

Obrecht, Tea – The Tiger’s Wife

Archer, Jeffrey – The Clifton Chronicles (new historical fiction series)

de Waal, Edmund – The Hare With the Amber Eyes

Joyce, Rachel – The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

Margolick, David – Elizabeth and Hazel

Reading List from PPL Pals Weekend July 27-29, 2012

In (sort of) the order discussed:
The Tale of Genii â€" world’s oldest novel?
Rikyu â€" (documentary about ancient Japanese Tea Master)
Winchester, Simon â€" The Man Who Loved China
Castanga, Dario â€" Too Much Tuscan Sun
Miller, Henry â€" The Colossus of Marrousi
Greene, Graham â€" The Honorary Consul
Theroux, Paul â€" Dark Star Safari
Fuller, Alexandra â€" Don’t Lets Go To The Dogs Tonight
Hill, Susan â€" The Woman in Black (and all of her British mysteries)
Lamott, Ann â€" Some Assembly Required
Harrington, Laura â€" Alice Bliss (YA book)
Hitchens, Christopher â€" Hitch 22 (autobiography)
King, Carole â€" Natural Woman (autobiography)
Jonasson, Jonas â€" The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window (U.S.
publication date 9/11/12)
Morgenstern, Erin â€" The Night Circus
Shaara, Michael â€" Killer Angels
Shaara, Jeff â€" The Steel Wave
Brooks, Geraldine â€" Year of Wonder
Brooks, Geraldine â€" March
Patchett, Ann â€" State of Wonder
Ghosh, Amitav â€" Sea of Poppies
Ghosh, Amitav â€" The Hungry Tide
Roberts, Gregory David â€" Shantaram
Lukas, Michael David â€" The Oracle of Stamboul
Hillenbrand, Laura â€" Unbroken
Howard, Beth â€" The World Needs More Pie
Swarthout, Glendon â€" The Homesman
Obrecht, Tea â€" The Tiger’s Wife
Archer, Jeffrey â€" The Clifton Chronicles (new historical fiction series)
de Waal, Edmund â€" The Hare With the Amber Eyes
Joyce, Rachel â€" The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
Margolick, David â€" Elizabeth and Hazel


Submitted by Kathy

Sue Hodson was just blown away by our thank you note. She said that it
was wonderful for her, too - to have such a knowledgeable and enthusiastic
group brought her much joy!

So we got a good review!!

Submitted by Carolyn Garner-Reagan
clg708@sbcglobal.net

Wasn't that a fun time? It must have been as it's taken us all about a
week to get our feet under us for emails again. I'm reading a novel by
Chris Bohjalian, Sandcastle Girls about the Armenian massacres.Incredible.

Submitted by Amy Kinard
amykinard@mind.net

Thank you to Mary Ann and the entire so. cal. group for your great
organization and hospitality! Fun times at the Huntington, wonderful to
see everyone and catch up with a great group of friends!

Submitted by Anne Cain
cain.anne@comcast.net

PPL Pals Breakfast Strata

Christmas Strata (So good any time of year)

1 loaf white bread, crusts removed
1/4 lb. butter, melted (I usually use less)
1 1/2 lb. sharp cheddar cheese, grated
3 1/2 cups milk
1 t. dry mustard
5 eggs
(1 small can chopped green chiles, optional)
(Note: be creative! I've used mushrooms and jalapeno peppers for a spicy
dish!)

Butter bread and cut into 1 1/2 inch squares. Grease 9x13x2 inch pan.
Layer bread, cheese, (chiles, optional) bread, cheese.
Blend eggs, milk, and mustard in a blender.
Pour over bread and cheese mixture.
Press down each section with a spoon so that the bread is well soaked.
Refrigerate 1-3 days.
When ready to bake, set cassarole in a pan of water.
Bake in a 350 degree oven 45 minutes to one hour or until brown and
bubbly.  DO NOT OPEN OVEN.
Serve immediately. Serves 10-12 for brunch.

For a spicy change, I use 1/2 small can of jalapeno peppers.
Blend with egg, milk and mustard in blender...S P I C Y and G O O D!

Submitted by Mary Ann

Corn pudding recipe

Corn pudding recipe
1/4 c. Butter, melted in a 9 x 9 pan
1-16 oz. Canned creamed corn
1-8 1/2 oz. Box Jiffy corn bread mix
2 Eggs
2 Tbs. Sugar (may be eliminated)

Mix ingredients together. Pour into pan containing melted butter.
Bake 350 degrees 30 min. (I double this for a 9 x 13 pan and add to half of it, less than 1/2 can of 3-4 oz. jalapeno peppers)

p.s. can also be found at http://jefflaun.com


Submitted by Mary Ann

PPL Pals Reunion 2012