Bookmarks: Original Book Club

Before you scroll down: any guesses as to where I've been for the past few days?

Sure enough, that's Kelly in the top photo, faithful pooch to the Chieftess and Chief, Kathy and Dan Watson. My pictures don't do justice to Mammoth, but the Chieftess' do. If you haven't met her, I suggest you visit her at Mammoth Lakes Daily Photo.

Mammoth Lakes is a gorgeous ski resort in the California Sierras, east of Yosemite and south of Mono Lake. Everywhere you turn there's another heart-filling vista. I defy you to beat this place for scenery.

It was also the scene of my first book club visit for Camelot & Vine. I spent a fantastic evening with the Mammoth Lakes Original Book Club. I heard about their lives, answered questions about the book, and jotted down feedback. It was one of those evenings that, when it was all over, my face hurt from smiling.

The next day, Kathy introduced me to the head librarian (gorgeous library) and the owner of the Booky Joint independent bookstore (which is charming, superbly stocked, and smells really good).

I'm posting two photos of the book club to make sure everyone gets to show their best side.

Kelly is no fool. She knew we were all there to see her and she made the best of it. Chieftess Kathy sits at left with Kelly, with (L-R) Edyth, Jodi, Peggy, JoAnne, Pat, me and Debby.

Here's Kelly with Carolyn, Edyth, Jodi, Peggy, JoAnne, Pat, me, and Debby.

I enjoyed meeting each of these women. Knowing Kathy, the fact that they're all interesting and smart is no surprise. Thank you, Mammoth Lakes Original Book Club! Your Original Book Club is original for me, too.

And thank you, Kathy and Dan Watson for sharing your comfy hearth with me.

Linda Vista Branch Library

The Pasadena Public Library has kits for your book club to check out. Each kit includes study questions and materials for getting the most out of the book your group is reading, plus 12-15 copies of the book. Anyone with a library card can check out a kit. Go to the search page at the library's website and search "words in the subject/kits."

I shouldn't tell you this because the number of kits is limited and I want them to be available to my book group. When I checked the website last night there were 38 kits, down from 39 a couple of weeks ago when I was searching for a kit for my group. 39 might seem like enough, but the fiction always seems to go first. I couldn't get what I wanted. To my horror, I was forced to check out a memoir.

Damn if it didn't turn out to be fantastic. (The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls.)

And damn if that isn't what a book club is for--opening your eyes to something you weren't looking for.

I expanded my library horizons, too. I usually go to the Central Library but the kit I wanted happened to be at the Linda Vista Branch. I'd never been there before. Now I know a new quiet spot to work. I don't know where the coffee is (there's got to be coffee) but isn't the children's area cute? That furniture takes me back.