July 2018 Meeting Recap
A Gossip Story Comparison to Sense & Sensibility
Discussion Leaders: Sam and Jennifer Snoek-Brown
Hostess: Lauri Conway
By Vonnie Alto, Secretary
In July 2018, members gathered at the lovely wooded estate of our host, Lauri Conway in Ridgefield, Washington to discuss the 1796 bestseller, A Gossip Story by Jane West as a precursor to Sense and Sensibility.
The Snoek-Browns graciously and most eruditely led the July discussion. Our members were in for a treat since Sam is an Assistant Professor at Pierce College and Jennifer is the OER Librarian at Tacoma Community College, our former web manager, and our 2017 Tribute Grant Award Recipient.
As a fan favorite and always a hit with the group, our literary couple presented a lively and fun in depth analysis of A Gossip Story and the author, Jane West in comparison to Jane Austen and Sense and Sensibility.
Everyone in attendance agreed that this was a most thoroughly enjoyable literary discussion! We couldn’t stop the banter and the exchange of amusing comments. We had such a grand time comparing the two Janes, their lives, and craft, and then also dissecting A Gossip Story. Of course, it can’t possibly measure up to Sense & Sensibility, but it has its own charm as an uproariously, entertaining scatterbrain of a read!
For more on this topic, see the post “The Tale of Two Janes” on our website (for a timeline comparison, characters/plot comparison, character relationship chart, and discussion resources).
Our meeting was complimented with a lovely tea spread. Lauri’s beautiful windowed dining room provided the venue for the tea table decorated with a bouquet of sunflowers. Members dined on a potpourri of Endive With Salmon; Coconut Rolled Dates; crustless salmon, egg, and tuna sandwiches; cinnamon rolls; lemon bread; brownies; assorted cookies; chips with humus; fresh blueberries and cherries; salads; and a tin of Pirouette crème filled chocolate wafers.
Our permanent collection of teapots and tea sets were charmingly arranged in the kitchen; with the teapots on the island counter and the tea cups displayed on a lovely table overlooking a gorgeous hillside view.
We used the buffet hutch for our membership tags and Jane Austen freebies. The top of the hutch was charmingly decorated with a plaque that reads: "Prayer: The World's Greatest Wireless Communication." Jane Austen would likely approve!
Our meeting was also a farewell to Sam and Jennifer Snoek-Brown who have recently relocated to Tacoma, Washington. Our region thanks them for their many contributions in hosting meetings and serving as discussion leaders and also to Jennifer for serving as our former web manager. We miss them and look forward to seeing them again at our annual Spring Tea--and hopefully another reading group discussion!
A Gossip Story Comparison to Sense & Sensibility
Discussion Leaders: Sam and Jennifer Snoek-Brown
Hostess: Lauri Conway
By Vonnie Alto, Secretary
In July 2018, members gathered at the lovely wooded estate of our host, Lauri Conway in Ridgefield, Washington to discuss the 1796 bestseller, A Gossip Story by Jane West as a precursor to Sense and Sensibility.
The Snoek-Browns graciously and most eruditely led the July discussion. Our members were in for a treat since Sam is an Assistant Professor at Pierce College and Jennifer is the OER Librarian at Tacoma Community College, our former web manager, and our 2017 Tribute Grant Award Recipient.
As a fan favorite and always a hit with the group, our literary couple presented a lively and fun in depth analysis of A Gossip Story and the author, Jane West in comparison to Jane Austen and Sense and Sensibility.
Everyone in attendance agreed that this was a most thoroughly enjoyable literary discussion! We couldn’t stop the banter and the exchange of amusing comments. We had such a grand time comparing the two Janes, their lives, and craft, and then also dissecting A Gossip Story. Of course, it can’t possibly measure up to Sense & Sensibility, but it has its own charm as an uproariously, entertaining scatterbrain of a read!
For more on this topic, see the post “The Tale of Two Janes” on our website (for a timeline comparison, characters/plot comparison, character relationship chart, and discussion resources).
Our meeting was complimented with a lovely tea spread. Lauri’s beautiful windowed dining room provided the venue for the tea table decorated with a bouquet of sunflowers. Members dined on a potpourri of Endive With Salmon; Coconut Rolled Dates; crustless salmon, egg, and tuna sandwiches; cinnamon rolls; lemon bread; brownies; assorted cookies; chips with humus; fresh blueberries and cherries; salads; and a tin of Pirouette crème filled chocolate wafers.
Our permanent collection of teapots and tea sets were charmingly arranged in the kitchen; with the teapots on the island counter and the tea cups displayed on a lovely table overlooking a gorgeous hillside view.
We used the buffet hutch for our membership tags and Jane Austen freebies. The top of the hutch was charmingly decorated with a plaque that reads: "Prayer: The World's Greatest Wireless Communication." Jane Austen would likely approve!
Our meeting was also a farewell to Sam and Jennifer Snoek-Brown who have recently relocated to Tacoma, Washington. Our region thanks them for their many contributions in hosting meetings and serving as discussion leaders and also to Jennifer for serving as our former web manager. We miss them and look forward to seeing them again at our annual Spring Tea--and hopefully another reading group discussion!