Sunday, March 26, 2017

the boat

I don't usually enjoy a book about sports, 
so reading Boys in the Boat, by Daniel J. Brown,
was definitely a different experience for me.
And, it has become one of my favorite books.

More on the book in a moment. Food seems important at our book club as much as
we try to simplify things. This time Lydia Grace, our hostess, provided just
simple snacks. Well--maybe not so simple. One thing led to another 
as she creatively came up with boat-type serving pieces and snacks. 
See all the narrow slips (boats), oars and nine crewmen?
The book was about the 1936 University of Washington crew that won the 
gold medal at the Berlin Olympic games. See? That doesn't sound to me like
 a book I'd like. It was even long, and I had to get three different
copies out of the library to get it all read before book club.
 But it was well worth it. Mr. Brown is an excellent writer. 
 I kept reading snippets to the Gardener and he followed the story along with me. 
It took us through the depression, regattas near our college, the dust bowl, 
Hitler's propaganda schemes, extreme weather, and inside the lives 
of young college men who were just regular guys.

The teamwork was what was the most fascinating and such a wonder 
to take in. It was a riveting story and gave me a lot to think about.

"And he came to understand how those almost mystical bonds of trust and affection, 
if nurtured correctly, might lift a crew above the ordinary sphere, transport it to a place 
where nine boys somehow became one thing--a thing that could not be quite defined, 
a thing that was so much in tune with the water and the earth and the sky above that,
 as they rowed, effort was replaced by ecstasy."

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23 comments:

  1. Oh, Dotsie - you have such a lovely way of sharing even the most of mudane things - a book - and making it such a pleasure of which to learn.

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  2. All the different snacks in a boat theme---very clever. The book sounds interesting. ♥

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  3. So great! The table, the food, the book. What a neat book club you have!

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  4. Love the food! Now, I should really read that book since we have 2 graduates of the University of Washington in our family and one more who is hard at work right now at Udub. I'll have to place a hold at the library!

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  5. I read this for my Muse book group a few years ago. We all thought it was an excellent book. Love the boat-themed food.

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  6. I love the boat themed serving dishes. Perfect for this month's book choice. That last paragraph is written beautifully so if the whole book is like that, I can imagine it would be interesting, especially the historical aspects. (Saw on the news that the University of Washington is currently experiencing a mumps outbreak.) Have a good week.

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  7. Like you, I am not much into sports but it sounds like there was a lot more going on than that. I do enjoy period stories and true events...in books and movies both. Of course you get much more out of it when shared as a group, especially. And that table of food...well, your hostess surely out-did herself...so very creative!

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  8. Now, that was a very creative and well themed food presentation!! Dotsie, if the whole book was as beautifully written as that last paragraph, it had to make a subject that would not necessarily be first choice a joy! Wow.
    I'm going to be thinking about that all day... "the mystic bonds of trust and affection... if nurtured correctly..." blessings ~ tanna

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  9. The quote you shared at the end is intriguing. Your review has made me want to read this book!

    What fun and creative food! I'd ask to join your book club if the drive was not so long. :)

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  10. I agree that you have a wonderful way of sharing things Dotsie, but would never call a book "mundane"!
    Your hostess did a great job of theming the snacks to the book, very clever.
    The excerpt describing teamwork is beautifully expressed, thanks for sharing your book recommendation with us this week at MM.

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  11. I love this post, Dotsie! What cleverness at the table! Your post reminds me that I have recently been watching, via YouTube, a series about canal boats in the UK. It's just fascinating. And now i have to check out that book. Thanks for such a fun post!

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  12. I think I would like to read this book too! Hope the week goes well for you my friend. Hugs, Diane

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  13. You have succeeded at making me think I'd enjoy reading it! Your hostess was very, very clever! What an attractive table for the book club meeting. The only thing to make it better is to have you all head for the water and a boat. 🙂

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  14. The food was very clever, indeed! I think this is why I've never joined a book club--having to read something I'm not interested in--even if it turns out to be worthwhile! Just getting me to start it would be difficult! I applaud your perseverance.

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  15. I love your bookclub... it's neat that you all chose a book that not too many of us women would probably think of right away -- I certainly would never -- but your review makes it very clear that its about more than sports! That was quite a famous Olympic year for many reasons! How very interesting -- and of course the fact that it is the UDub makes it even more special for those of us who've lived in the state. Loved this review -- added the book to my TBR list. Oh yes and another reason to love your club obviously the clever theme-centered and delicious looking snacks.

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  16. All the boat themed food looks like fun. I have to say the subject of this book is not of interest to me either but often a book can surprise us with how well it's written and we forget that we didn't want to read it.

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  17. Dotsie, What fun!!! Love the wide and skinny "boats" all filled with yummy food. An interesting book from your description. Thanks for sharing. Have a great week. Sylvia

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  18. Like you, this is a book I probably wouldn't choose to read. But the quote you included is so beautifully written that I might reconsider.
    What a creative hostess to come up with all those boat-themed dishes and snacks.

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  19. Wow, what an interesting book to read. I love historical accounts. And your hostess was over the top, and not simple at all, how creative of her to make so many fun snacks in boat shapes! What fun to have such a lovely book club adventure together :)

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  20. One of my Mahjong fri nds offered to lend me the book last year - I declined as I had too many books lined up to read back then.
    Now you've well and truly whetted my appetite Dotsie! I will ask her to put me on the list!
    Aren't people creative? Your hostess Lydia Grace certainly is - the celery boats are wonderful!
    Please thank her for me as I've picked up several tips for Mahjong morning teas when my turn comes around again!
    An inspiring quote from the book.
    With good team work anything is possible👏
    Shane

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  21. Such a good book and discussion. It made me want to go out on the water!

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  22. My book club read this, too, but we were not so clever to come up with boat-themed snacks. We need to up our game! I, too, didn't really think I'd enjoy this book, but really did.
    For some reason I wasn't able to comment on your most recent post, but yes, I remember fondly the Easter gloves and hats. Happy Easter to you, Deborah

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  23. I enjoyed your post and our book club was a lot of fun with all the rowing-themed snacks, pretty incredible I thought, along with some great discussion. This book was one of the best, and had some connections to my own family. I am always amazed at how many good books we read in book club that stay with me for a very long time. I look forward to the movie coming out sometime soon.

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I enjoy the conversations that come with comments!

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