2013.04.22 Meeting Notes

I will start with the books we’ve chosen for the second half of the year, our upcoming reading list is below. Also, note the change below to the regular meeting day for May.
*NOTE* The May meeting will be on MONDAY, May 20th due to Memorial Day. We will discuss Chasing Darkness by Robert Crais. Dave will lead AND bring snacks.
You’ll notice that the list below starts with June instead of July. The book we chose for June has only 2 copies available, so we voted for a replacement and hope to get more copies of our new choice. A couple of our choices for the second half of the year also have fewer copies, so if you’re able to check other libraries, or pick up a copy in any other way, that will help. Agatha Christie is the one the library has the least amount of copies of, but we have until December to read it. Anyone with a good memory who wants to read it early (Judy this means anyone but you and me), it may be easier to get a copy. I own Iron House I think, so I will share that . I know I have several copies of Agatha Christie that I will also share. I think I have a copy in Hungarian if anyone can read that, just let me know.
* June - Defending Jacob by William Landay
* July - Victims by Jonathan Kellerman (Alex Delaware #27)
* August - Iron House by John Hart
* September - Six Years by Harlan Coben
* October - Dead Scared by SJ Bolton
* November - Phantom by Jo Nesbo (Harry Hole #9)
* December - The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie (Hercule Poirot #1)
I will pass around a sign up sheet next month for volunteer leaders and snack makers.
On Monday we met to discuss The Fifth Witness, Michael Connelly’s 4th Mickey Haller book. Sharon led the discussion and managed to tell us some new information about Michael Connelly, even though we’ve read him many times in the past. She even found some online questions about the book on the author’s website to help get the discussion going, and we seemed to have a lot to say about the characters and plot. I found it interesting that they are looking to do a TV series featuring Mickey Haller. I think that would be fun.
First of all, I think it’s important to note that the unanimous slap vote went to Lisa. Many of us wanted to do worse than slap her, especially when we got to the end of the book and found out she did it. Oh yeah, spoiler alert after the fact. Hey, if you haven’t finished the book you’ve got no business reading this email and have only yourself to blame. Lisa bugged the crap out of many of us, which I’m sure was Mr. Connelly’s intention. This let into a discussion of defense attorneys (a group of people Kryss LOVES) and how it would be to represent someone you didn’t like and/or thought was guilty.
Everyone really liked the book and most votes were in the 8 and 9 range. Judy scored it a bit low due to the abundance of courtroom scenes at the expense of more violence. I too got a little bored during the trial, but a lot of people loved those parts. So it goes to show how different readers we are. You gotta love that. I suspect Chris loved the book because every time she read about Mickey she was picturing Matthew McConaughey. I don’t think she’s the only one.
Most of us were surprised at the ending of the book. Some suspected Lisa, but were lulled into believing she was innocent for the most part….until we saw the balloon and her smirk at Mickey. Many believed that Mickey was the one that sent the cops to her house to search for her “missing” husband. I think it was Jeff who said that whenever a book has a missing husband he thinks – search the backyard! That one threw me and I fell for the fake husband she produced. Connelly led me right along into believing everything he was selling. It’s one of the reasons I like his books so much.
Nick added his two cents on the use of a hammer to kill someone. Apparently, much like pulling someone’s ear off, it’s easier than you think. BTW, I did google how to kill someone with a hammer and didn’t find much worth repeating here. However, when the FBI get their warrant to search my computer files I’m in big trouble. I guess I shouldn’t have googled how to poison your husband last week either, I swear it was research!
In May (again, we’re meeting on the 20th) we will discuss Chasing Darkness by Robert Crais. See you then.
Kerry