December Book Club--two seasonal short stories

Pardon my lateness for those of you I haven't spoken to already...

We are meeting this month, but we have chosen two short stories to read due to the fact that I know all of us are super-busy at this time of year--not the best time to dive into a big book.

The first story is one I know everyone knows of but perhaps few of us have actually read: The Gift of the Magi by O Henry. This one is available lots of places online (the link below is one option) and is absolutely delightful.

http://www.online-literature.com/o_henry/1014/

The second one is a Hanukkah story Shelley found for us that is also wonderful: "Menashe and Rachel" by Isaac Bashevis Singer. We have a pdf copy that I will email everyone on the email list as an attachment (send me an email if you are not on that list and I'll be sure to send it to you--emilyeyringrobertson@gmail.com).

It can also be found in the book, The Power of Light by Singer which is a collection of his stories, several copies of which can be found at the Athens library. The stories all tie somewhat together, so you may want to check it out and read more than one!

We are meeting at Lee Anne Pope's house (thanks Lee Anne!) which is a great central location close to Athens and Watkinsville:

Tuesday, Dec 1st

7 pm

1431 Lakewood Manor Drive

Athens

706-850-6477 (Lee Anne)

Finally, we asking everyone who would like to to bring a Christmas goodie to share. Shelley is leading our discussion, which is always very enlightening and, um . . . exciting. :) Just kidding, Shell. She's amazing. We all know it.

Looking forward to it!!!

URGENT: Still looking for a few good books...

All right, most of you have heard that we're compiling a new list of books to read for the next 9 months or so. But I've gotten very little feedback!

So I want everyone who reads this to take a second to leave a comment with one book they'd like to read. Otherwise we'll be stuck with all of my and about 2 other people's choices, which I guess I wouldn't entirely mind.

And here are some of the suggestions so far:

The Guernsey Potato Peel Pie Literary Society
Daniel Deronda by George Elliott
Vanity Fair by William Thackeray
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
Rough Stone Rolling by Richard Lyman Bushman (scheduled many months in advance to give us time!)
Les Mis by Victor Hugo (also scheduled well in advance)

Thanks!

A Poem For Your Reading Enjoyment

I ran across this poem the other day, and I really liked it and thought I'd share it.

The Dream

O God, in the dream the terrible horse began
To paw at the air, and make for me with his blows.
Fear kept for thirty-five years poured through his mane,
And retribution equally old, or nearly, breathed through his nose.

Coward complete, I lay and wept on the ground
When some strong creature appeared, and leapt for the rein.
Another woman, as I lay half in a swound,
Leapt in the air, and clutched at the leather and chain.

Give him, she said, something of yours as a charm
Throw him, she said, some poor thing you alone claim.
No, no, I cried, he heates me; he's out for harm,
And whether I yield or not, it is all the same.

But, like a lion in a legend, when I flung the glove
Pulled from my sweating, my cold right hand,
The terrible beast, that no one may understand,
Came to my side, and put down his head in love.

Louise Bogan (1897-1970)