2021.12.17 Meeting Notes

I won't do a meeting minutes for the December meeting/party; I rarely do for December. Suffice it to say, you either hated the book, hated the book, or hated the book. Just kidding, some of us actually liked it! And thanks to Paige's vote of confidence, I will continue to regale you with mystery classics in December. Thank you Paige, I believe in me too (let the hate mail to Paige begin - and she thought she dodged the initiation). I think the lesson here is...give me some December book ideas for the vote list or I will pick them all myself. I put a book of short stories on the list each year and they've never been chosen. I think we should revisit that. Specifically, check this out, Midwinter Murder: Fireside Tales from the Queen of Mystery. I feel like it's a no brainer.
A lot of fun was had by all at the December Holiday Extravaganza. I don't use that word lightly, it was a packed night of gifts, drinks, theft, laughter, and quite a few, dare I say, um, interesting jokes. What happens at the book club party stays at the book club party, including the answers to the Secret Santa question: if you were a writer, who would you murder in your next story.
What doesn't stay at book club, though, is book ideas and reading lists. Secret Santa participants were also asked for their best and worst reads in 2021. I've shared the lists with you below. 
Thank you ALL for my wonderful gifts! I absolutely love my quilt with all of your names on it. I am particularly attached to this club and all of the friends I have made through it. We have some founding members who have known each other for going on 15 years (or it is even more?) and we have welcomed so many new members who fit right in and make the club the fun that it is. My diorama is beautiful and I have placed it prominently in the bookcase I can see from all angles, and even managed to snug it between a couple of books that seemed super appropriate. Everyone I show it to is super jealous and has been asking Sharon where she got it. That Russian artist might find herself very busy this year. Thank you again, I love everything!!!!
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I’ve posted the party photos on our Facebook group page. If you use Facebook and you’re not in the group, just send me a friend request and I will except it and invite you to the group.
Crime & Beyond BEST Reads from 2021
* The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly
* The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab
* The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse
* The People We Keep by Allison Larkin
* The Survivors by Jane Harper
* Murder at the Mena House by Erica Ruth Neubauer
* Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger
* One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus
* I Eat Men Like Air by Alice Berman
Crime & Beyond WORST Reads from 2021
* Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
* The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
* Beautiful Bad by Annie Ward
* The Killings at Kingfisher Hill by Sophie Hannah
* And Then There Was No One by Gilbert Adair
* The Bone Jar by SW Kane
* The Paper Daughters of China by Heather Moore
* The Eighth Detective by Alex Pavesi
Have a wonderful Christmas & New Year! See you all on January 24th (in person at the Lone Tree library) to discuss A Line to Kill by Anthony Horowitz.
Kerry
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