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Inglenook Book Club News

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The monthly meeting of the Inglenook Book Club was May 10, 202, at Lakeside Senior Living Community in McKenzie, with 18 members in attendance. President Carolyn Moore called the meeting to order and extended a thank-you to hostesses Geneva Johnson and Shirley Martin. The ladies graciously served delicious warm peach cobbler topped with ice cream, assorted nut medley, and assorted beverages. The tables were decorated with tulip-designed napkins, and little spring baskets holding the assorted nut medley.
All recited the Pledge of Allegiance, Club Aim, and Motto. There are no birthdays for May, but our April birthday lady Pedie Pedersen, who wasn’t present for the April meeting, was extended a birthday wish, and all joined together to sing Happy Birthday to her. President Moore called for the roll and the reading of the April minutes, which had one clarification change, which was noted and corrected, with the minutes being approved. Treasurer Donna Ward was absent, so Shirley Martin gave the Treasurer’s Report, which was approved as read.
Our prayers and sympathies are extended to the husband and family, of one of our book club members, who recently died. President Moore mentioned it was a beautiful service and many members were present to extend condolences and support to the family. Sunshine Chair, Elaine Williams, sent cards to those who are ill, recuperating, and needing prayer. Membership Chair Suzanne Howell was not present for the meeting; no update was given. Telephone Chair Victoria Ard, was thanked for all her calling to remind each member of the meeting date and items to bring.
In unfinished business, President Moore thanked everyone for the donations of school supplies given for the April meeting that were taken to the school. She again thanked everyone for all they do and continue to do.
There was no new business, so President Moore called upon Gail Mack, who presented her program to us on author Jan Karon. Karon who is 87, was born Janice Meredith Wilson on March 14, 1937, in the foothills of North Carolina, in Lenoir. She was named after the title of a popular novel, Janice Meredith. Jan Karon quoted “At the age of 10, I wrote my first novel. The news that I would become an author was given to me as a kind of epiphany. I recall where I was standing and how I felt when this stunning forecast was made known, rather quietly, to my heart.” Being an avid reader since the age of 5, and both reading and seeing the movie “Gone with the Wind”. Karon’s grandfather didn’t believe in the dubious influence of books upon the innocent minds of children. In the life of a shy and dangerously curious country child, imagine the impact of those two fierce works, (the reading and seeing the movie). Karon stated “I say ‘dangerous’ because I was told with authority that ‘curiosity killed the cat’ and I expected to die several times during any given day.”
The thrilling phase of her writing career came to a bitter, but ultimately satisfying end. Her manuscript was written on Blue Horse notebook paper, and was for good reason, hidden from her sister. But when found by the sister, she discovered the one curse word Karon had, with pounding heart, which included someone’s speech. Karon’s grandmother learned that the blue-lined pages contained the curse word famously used by Rhett Butler in the final scene of “Gone with the Wind.”(Hadn’t Rhett Butler used the same word and gotten away with it?) But with her grandmother’s good and proper thrashing, Karon said “it’s the one reason there is no cussin’ in any of my work.”
There were times when she had no clue about why she was born. She really wanted to discover that answer. She couldn’t bear the dark knowing she might perish without learning what she was born to do. “I whined a lot to the one I perceived as a distant and disinterested God. Karon’s grandmother was a believer; she read the Bible to her sister and her, they prayed at mealtime, went to church with Shirley Temple bows in their hair, put pennies in the offering plate, and got occasional gold stars in Sunday school.

Married at 15, and by age 18, a single mother working in advertising, midlife crisis setting in by age 42, she left her successful career to do what she loved. She sold her home, moved to the mountain village of Blowing Rock, North Carolina (the model for Mitford), and started writing books. Thus the writing of the Mitford series, the first being “At Home in Mitford.” This first book was nominated for an ABBY by the American Booksellers Association in 1996, 1997, and 1998. Karon has also been awarded the Christy and Gold Medallion awards, and the Library of Virginia awarded her the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015.
At the age of 50, she began writing her series of books. Karon has 9 books in the Mitford Series, and 5 Father Tim books. She also has a Cookbook/Kitchen reader and children’s books.
“Jan Karon writes “To give readers an extended family and to applaud the extraordinary beauty of ordinary people living ordinary lives.”
Book chair, Mary Newman continued with the book passing, with the next book passing date of May 24. There were no announcements.
The next meeting will be on June 14, at 3 p.m., at Lakeside, with hostesses Gayron Lyles and Pedie Pedersen. The program will be presented by Mary Newman. Reminder to bring small trinkets for the schools awards box. The Benediction was recited by all and the meeting adjourned.
Members present were: Victoria Ard, Mona Batchelor, Peggy Chappell, Carolyn Goodwin, Jean Hollomon, Geneva Johnson, Gayron Lyles, Gail Mack, Shirley Martin, Jean McKinnie, Carolyn Moore, Beverly Mueller, Mary Newman, Pedie Pedersen, Marilynn Putman, Suzanne Russell, Genia Sherwood, and Elaine Williams.

Submitted by Recording Secretary, Beverly Mueller