September Top Picks

by Malena Lott

We’ve reached the second bookend of summer: Labor Day weekend, which means it’s time to put away our playthings and pull out our pom poms and denim for autumn.

First, I’d like to say a quick “thank you” to the Bookettes for being such faithful and interesting book bloggers here, and to the readers and our book club members for loving books and taking the time to get together to discuss them!

Every month, you’ll find fresh picks in our BEBookshelf in the sidebar of the site. For September, we’ve selected another diverse collection – a story of four women at a crossroads, two “birthday sisters” who love the same man, the story of what happens at a zoo, and a touching memoir about a writer and his mentor.

What they have in common is beautiful, engaging writing that makes you think. Click on the covers to learn more about each book and purchase if you so choose.

If you’d like to start a book club in your area, shoot me an e-mail and we’ll get you set up. We’re happy to add more lit sisters to our readerority. :)

What are you reading and loving?

Tropical Breeze Recipe

51-gc7itSvL._SL500_AA300_PIbundle-6,TopRight,0,0_AA300_SH20_It’s nearly summertime, which means time to add more fruity drinks to our book club repertoire. I created this fun one last month, completely by accident, and was thrilled with the results because it’s lighter in calories than a lot of “juice” drinks.

Recipe is done in “parts” so you can make accordingly. For a small group, I use my Magic Bullet Blender and for larger parties, I bring out the big blender.

Tropical Breeze:
1/2 Crystal Light Fruit punch
1/4 orange juice
1/4 citris vodka (plain is fine, too)
Ice cubes
Green apple sugar rimmer
Blend and serve.

Also makes a refreshing smoothie if you wanna go non-alcoholic.

Have a fabulous weekend and thanks for reading, Babes.

xo,
Malena

New Chapter of the Week: 19!!!

I’m so thrilled to welcome the newest chapters in Book End Babes who joined this winter. For the full list, go to our Twitter BEBabes directory. This week we’re featuring chapter #19 and they are so super organized, they’ve already picked out their reads from now through January 2011.
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They are an “All-for-one” chapter so they will all be reading the same book to discuss each month. All for one is the traditional book club method, but if your group is diverse and you’d like more choices in what to read simply to encourage reading, you can consider an “any four” club where your members read any of the four top picks we promote on the site or “anything goes” where your members read ANYTHING THEY LIKE but then come to book club and discuss it.

CHAPTER OF THE WEEK: Chapter 19 from the Oklahoma City Metro
queenB: Jill

Members:
Christi (Twitter @cwoodworth; Blog http://cnotes.typepad.com
Non-tweeting members: Nicole, Angela, Ali, Holly, Jenny, Julie, Leslie, Lindsay

Their book club selections for the year:
March: Lovely Bones
by: Alice Sebold
April: The Emperors Children
by: Claire Messud
May: Mennonite in a Little Black Dress (A BEB February Top Pick)
by: Rhoda Janzen
June: Hunger Games
by: Suzanne Collins
July: Chasing Fire
by: Suzanne Collins
14527968.JPGAugust: Wuthering Heights
by: Emily Bronte
Sept: Are You there Vodka, its me Chelsea
by: Chelsea Handler
Oct: The Help
by: Catherine Stockett
Nov: Redeeming Love
by: Francine Rivers
Dec: Dune Road
by: Jane Green
Jan: The Necklace
by: Cheryl Jarvis

Ready to join Book End Babes? See the about page for more info. New queenBs receive a tote bag, free book and bookmarks for your book club!

Happy New Year, Babes!

chocoHere’s hoping you’re reading this with a not-too-aching head from ringing in the new year last night/this morning. On behalf of all the Book End Babes around the country, I’d like to wish you a very happy, healthy and successful 2010. Dream big, take action to make traction and PLAN TIME WITH GIRLFRIENDS THIS YEAR.

A great way to reconnect with friends, relieve stress, learn and laugh is to start a book club! Why not become an official Book End Babe? It’s easy. Just e-mail me (see link at top right), and if you’re committed to be a queenB to start up a book club in your area, then I’ll set you up with a cool digital invite to send to your friends, co-workers, neighbors as well as a book bag and one book from our book closet.

I look forward to sharing more great authors, reads and recipes with you this year. This weekend we’ll post our video for Top Picks for January! It’s a diverse, fun selection!

Red Box Recipe: Italian Meat Roll

Yeah, yeah, the title has a dirty ring to it, but this week’s mystery recipe from the Red Box happens to be Italian Meat Roll, which looks like a fun recipe and great alternative to pizza for your next book party.

redboxITALIAN MEAT ROLL
Prep time: 15 min.
Cooking time: 1 hr. 30 min.

1 lb. ground beef
1/2 lb. ground pork
2 tbs. grated Romano cheese
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
1 egg
1 tbs diced Romano cheese
2 sprigs fresh parsley
4 slices salami, diced
2 eggs hard cooked, dieced
1 sliced onion, 4 stalks celery (I hate celery so I would leave that out.)
3 carrots, 1 green pepper (carrots, seriously?)
1 tsp. sweet basil
3 (8oz) cans Spanish-style tomato sauce

Combine first 6 ingredients. Add salt and pepper to taste. Divide mixutre, spread each half on a sheet of wax paper. Line up lengthwise rows of diced cheese, eggs, parsely, salami. With the aid of the paper, roll up mixture. Chill, then brown rolls in fat. (I have no idea how to roll in fat, but please let me know if I can do that some other way.) Add vegetables, sauce and seasoning. Simmer 1 1/2 hours.
Serve with green noodles or spaghetti
Serves 6

WINE WEDNESDAY PICK: Yellowtail Merlot, a standard around my casa, under $10