Previous Books and Meetings

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2020
'''Michael, Tuesday, August 25, 2020, "Love and Theft" by Stan Parish Yet another Zoom meeting; virtual wine just doesn't cut it

'''Scott, May 12, 2020, "Night Boat to Tangier" by Kevin Barry Our first virtual Coronavirus meeting

'''Martin, Thursday, February 27, 2020 "Warlight" by Michael Ondaatje Great salmon over scalloped potatoes

2019
Will, Friday, December 20, 2019 "Fall Back Down When I Die” by Joe Wilkins Pan-Seared Codfish with Creamy Lobster Sauce as per Black Dog Cafe

Michael, Monday, October 7, 2019 “This House of Sky” by Ivan Doig "Fresh" Montana trout, caught by Ivan Doig's father Will loves the evocative pace and landscape of the West. Scott just wants something to happen!

Scott 8/21/19 "Washington Black" by Esi Edugyan Up in the heights of the Seaport with some lovely lobster.

Rick 6/20/19 "Milkman" by Anna Burns The new puppy joins us.

Martin 3/12/19 "Rabbit Run" by John Updike

2018
Rick 12/17/18, at Michael's "The Lie of the Land" by Amanda Craig

Will 10/12/18, "The Dog Stars" by Peter Heller Breakfast meeting without a Sick Rick

Martin 8/22/18 “A Long Way from Home” by Peter Carey A perfect evening up on the roof of 9W Broadway

Michael 7/17/18 “The Belly of Paris” by Emile Zola

Scott 6/19/18 “Paris in the Present Tense” by Mark Helprin

Will 4/3/18 “Dark at the Crossing” by Elliot Ackerman

Rick 2/26/18 “Modern Gods” by Nick Laird

2017
Martin 11/30/17 “Beautiful Animals” by Lawrence Osborne

Michael 10/2/17 “A Gentleman in Moscow” by Amor Towels

Rick 7/18/17 “Lincoln in the Bardo” by George Saunders

Will (at Scott's) 5/9/17 “The Plot Against America” by Philip Roth

Scott 4/5/17 “The Association of Small Bombs” by Karan Mahajan Serious carnivore evening: pork, beef, lamb!

2016
Martin 12/15/16 “The Sympathizer” by Viet Thanh Nguyen

Michael 10/19/16 “The Sheltering Sky” by Paul Bowles New York Times review “An Allegory of Man and His Sahara” The Independent review

Will 9/14/16 “The Little Red Chairs” by Edna O’Brien New York Times review The New Yorker review The Guardian review

Rick 7/12/16 “The Winter Fortress” by Neal Bascomb

Scott 5/26/16 “In One Person” by John Irving

Martin 3/29/16 “Old Filth” by Jane Gardham

Michael 1/21/16 “Memoirs of a Public Baby" by Philip O'Connor http://www.nytimes.com/1998/06/04/arts/philip-o-connor-81-acerbic-memoirist-dies.html

2015
Will 12/14/15 - “The Children Act” by Ian McEwan

Rick 11/4/15 - “All the Light We Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr Location: 30 Circuit Avenue, in the country of Scituate - visas may be needed :<)

Scott 9/30/15 - “The Buried Giant” by Kazuo Ishiguro

Martin 8/4/15 - “The God Delusion” by Richard Dawkins

Michael 5/24/15 - "Stoner" by John Williams "The Greatest American Novel You’ve Never Heard Of"? Many great wines!

Will 3/31/15 - "Green on Blue" by Elliot Ackerman http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/01/books/review/elliot-ackermans-green-on-blue.html http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/16/books/review-in-green-on-blue-an-afghan-boy-narrates-story-of-war.html http://trueboots.com/2015/02/15/guest-post-review-of-elliot-ackermans-green-on-blue-by-brandon-caro/ http://www.omnivoracious.com/2015/02/ben-fountain-reviews-elliot-ackermans-green-on-blue.html

Rick: 2/18/15 - “Redeployment”, by Phil Klay [*http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/09/books/review/redeployment-by-phil-klay.html?_r=0 Review by Dexter Filkins]

2014
Scott: 12/10/14 - “The Dinner”, by Herman Koch Good euro-weird story Some wonderful scotch!

Martin: 10/14/14 - “The Bone Clocks”, by David Mitchell A bit too much supernatural but wonderful writing and descriptions Some good grapes [*http://www.vivino.com/wineries/altamura-winery-and-vineyards/wines/napa-valley-cabernet-sauvignon-2000?share_id=543ed4524af7b Altamura Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2000] [*http://www.vivino.com/wineries/ramey-wine-cellars/wines/larkmead-cabernet-sauvignon-2004?share_id=543ed426463e8 Ramey Larkmead Cabernet Sauvignon 2004] [*http://www.vivino.com/wineries/andersons-conn-valley-vineyard/wines/right-bank-2006?share_id=543dbbde92ed7 Conn Valley Vineyard Right Bank 2006], Michael gives it 3 stars [*http://www.vivino.com/wineries/opus-one/wines/baron-philippe-napa-valley-2000?share_id=543ed464c7a35 Opus One Opus One 2000]
 * http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/09/08/soul-cycle
 * http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/sep/07/bone-clocks-review-david-mitchell-lot-of-fun-booker
 * http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/sep/02/the-bone-clocks-david-mitchell-review-novel
 * http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/31/books/review/the-bone-clocks-by-david-mitchell.html
 * http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/09/review-david-mitchells-bone-clocks-the-cloud-atlas-authors-meta-masterpiece/379445/

Michael: 8/25/14 - “A Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal” by Ben Macintyre

Will: 7/10/14 - “How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia” by Mohsin Hamid

Rick: 6/10/14 - “The Good Lord Bird” by James McBride The wild ride of John Brown, told by Onion New York Times review Washington Post review

Scott: 04/08/14 - “The Museum of Extraordinary Things” by Alice Hoffman http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/02/books/review/alice-hoffmans-museum-of-extraordinary-things.html?_r=0

Martin: 02/13/14 - “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” by Jean-Dominique Bauby (Author), Jeremy Leggatt (Translator) - J-M Pillot Chassagne-Montrachet Clos Saint Marc, 2005 White Burgundy - Sea Smoke Pinot Noir, 2009 - Sea Smoke Botella Sta Rita Hills, 2009 - Cos D'Estournel, Saint-Estephe, 2002 - Ch. Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac, 2002 And, we watched the movie! http://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/feb/10/philipfrench.theobserver

2013
Michael: 12/10/13 “Ministry of Special Cases” by Nathan Englander http://www.theguardian.com/books/2007/aug/18/featuresreviews.guardianreview15 Malbecs

Will: 10/08/13 - “Billy Lynn's Long Half-time Walk” by Ben Fountain http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/20/books/review/billy-lynns-long-halftime-walk-by-ben-fountain.html?pagewanted=all http://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/jul/06/billy-lynn-ben-fountain-review Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction

Rick: 8/29/13 - “The Madonna on the Moon” by Rolf Bauerdick Book could have used some editing, but it certainly launched the most philosophical discussion we've ever had; Michael's E.O. Wilson ant-based determinism vs. Martin's intelligent design / guiding hand. A varied selection of good reds and a great spread of edibles

Scott: 7/10/13 - 'Yellow Birds' by Kevin Powers http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/aug/31/the-yellow-birds-kevin-powers-review “The Yellow Birds is a must-read book, not only because it bears witness to this particular war, but also because it ekes out some scant but vital vision of humanity from its shame and incomprehensible violence.” http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/07/books/the-yellow-birds-by-kevin-powers.html?_r=0

Martin: 5/22/13 - 'The Orphan Master's Son', by Adam Johnson Another great book http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/feb/17/orphan-masters-son-adam-johnson-review http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/13/books/the-orphan-masters-son-by-adam-johnson-review.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Orphan_Master%27s_Son Horizontal tasting of 2005 Burgundies plus a 2007 Sea Smoke “Ten” for comparison

Michael: 4/2/13 - “The Cat's Table” by Michael Ondaatje Best book we've read for quite a while http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/books/review/the-cats-table-by-michael-ondaatje-book-review.html?pagewanted=all http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cat%27s_Table http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/aug/31/cats-table-michael-ondaatje-review As Liesl Schillinger said in the NYTimes “Ondaatje conjures images that pull strangers into the vivid rooms of his imagination, their detail illumined by his words.” Vertical tasting of Opus Ones (’94, ’95 and ’02) Will's ranking: '95, '94, '02

Will: 3/5/13: 3/5/13 - “Right Ho, Jeeves” by P.G. Wodehouse Time for a lighter book Some not so very good Italian reds

Scott: 1/28/13 - “The Round House” by Louise Erdrich Great book, but what a depressing story A magnum of Arnault, a nice pinot, and a surprisingly good ???

2012
Martin: 11/20/12 - “Old Devils” by Kingsley Amis Chateauneuf du Papes

Michael: 10/17/12 - “An Ideal Husband” by Oscar Wilde Bordeaux and Cab

Will: 9/5/12 - “A Hologram for the King”, by Dave Eggers Meats and cheese from Formaggio - Erbaluna Rosso Vino Rosso 2009 - Buondonna Chianti Classico 2009 - Cascina Roera Barbera D'Asti 2007

Scott: 7/25/12 - “Boleto” by Alyson Hagy Paleo from the grill! Will took some pictures of the wine http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/17/books/review/boleto-a-novel-by-alyson-hagy.html http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/books/153820345.html

Martin: 4/19/12 - “Tinkers” by Paul Harding http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/12/the-one-that-got-away/ http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/19/books/19harding.html?pagewanted=all
 * 1: Arboleda Carmenere
 * 2:
 * 3: embruix 2002

Bill: 2/29/12 - “The Sense of an Ending” by Julian Barnes Great book, great wines (I think we've said that before) http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/13/books/review/the-sense-of-an-ending-by-julian-barnes-book-review.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/17/books/Julian-Barness-Sense-of-an-Ending-Review.html

Michael: 1/19/12 - “The Greater Journey” by David McCullough Awesome wines: - 2003 Lunelles - 2003 Sanctus - 2003 Malescot St. Exupery - 2000 Dominus

2011
Will: 12/05/11 - “The Paris Wife” by Pauline McLain Spanish reds with a Cabernet Franc from the Loire. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/28/books/28book.html

Scott: 11/17/11 - “Burr” by Gore Vidal Fine French reds expertly chosen http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burr_(novel)

Martin: 10/19/11 - “The Moviegoer” by Walker Percy. Wow, what a book! South African reds in their new South Boston digs

Bill: 9/6/11 - “An Object of Beauty” by Steve Martin http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/29/books/29book.html Copacino Malbecs Argentine reds 1. Chevai del Andes, 2006, Mendoza, Argintina (see )–$65 with discount 2. Un Jour, Le Clos d'un Jour 2005, Curvee Un Jour, France–$24 with discount 3. Nico by Luca, 2005, Altos de Mdndoza, Argentina (see attached review)–$96 with discount 4. Catena Zapata, Nicasia Vinyard, 2005, Mendoza, Argentina (see attached review)–$96 with discount

Michael: 06/23/11 - Daniel Defoe's "Robinson Crusoe" In lieu of tropical island libation, French reds http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robinson_Crusoe

Will: 05/19/10 - “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” by Junot Diaz Far too depressing… At Ten Tables http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junot_D%C3%ADaz

Scott (and Laura): 4/8 - 4/10/11 - “The Lotus Eaters” by Tatjana Soli http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/books/review/Wagner-t.html On Popponesset Island, with spouses and lots of great food and wines too numerous to list

Martin: 3/21/11 - “A Long and Happy Life” by Reynolds Price Price obituary

Bill: 1/20/2011–“Cutting for Stone” by Abraham Verghese 2007 Pinot Noirs–Martinelli, Robert Sinski, Hartford Court, Archery Summit with Ethiopian Cusine (for better or worse)

2010
Michael: 12/1/10 - “Motoring with Mohammed: Journeys to Yemen and the Red Sea” by Eric Hansen French reds Will: I knew nothing about Yemen before reading this book, now I know a lot more. Great Photos of Yemen http://www.luminous-landscape.com/locations/yemen_whitebread.shtml The article makes me think we should go there soon More photos at http://www.donwhitebread.com/ then click Galleries and Yemen

Will: 10/10/10 - “Freedom” by Jonathan Franzen Italian reds 1) 2006 Mascarello Barbera D'Alba, Vigna San Lorenzo 2) 1998 Quintarelli Valpolicella 3) 2007 Occhipinto Il Frappato (not sure which was #3 and #4) 4) 2007 Occhipinto Siccagno Nero D'Avola New York Times Book Review's review ”…the title, a word that has been elevated throughout American history to near-theological status, and has been twinned, for most of that same history, with the secularizing impulses of 'power.'“ “The Berglunds, introduced as caricatures, gradually assume the gravity of fully formed people, … misshapen and lopsided, like actual humans.” ”…the novel’s most ingenious device — a third-person autobiography…“ “Assaultive sex reverberates through “Freedom,” and why not? Sex is the most insistent of the “personal liberties,” and for Franzen the most equalizing.” “The apocalpyse, when it comes, clears the way for a postlude, set in Minnesota, that is as haunting as anything in recent American fiction. In these pages, Walter, “a fanatic gray stubble on his cheeks,” seizes hold of the novel, and Franzen makes us see, as the best writers always have, that the only pathway to freedom runs through the maze of the interior life. Walter, groping toward deliverance, mourns “a fatal defect in his own makeup, the defect of pitying even the beings he most hated.” But of course it is no defect at all. It is the highest, most humanizing grace. And it cares nothing about power. Like all great novels, “Freedom” does not just tell an engrossing story. It illuminates, through the steady radiance of its author’s profound moral intelligence, the world we thought we knew.” New York Times' review David Brooks' op-ed “First, he argues that American culture is overobsessed with personal freedom” “'Freedom' is a brilliantly written book that is nonetheless trapped in an intellectual cul de sac — overly gimlet-eyed about American life and lacking an alternative vision of higher ground. Snippy review in The Atlantic

Scott Taylor: 9/1/2010 - “Invisible Bridge” by Julie Orringer some thought too many adj, too womanly what is wrong with Obama all think he will be reelected Michael: pick a passage Wines all 90 plus included Domaine Gauby 2007 Red Roussilon Wine Vielles Vignes 95pts RP Paul Hobbs Russian River Pinot Noir 2008 * 95 pts RP Jaboulet Aine Paul Hermitage la Chapelle 2003 Brgundy 95+ RP, Buoncristiani OPC napa valley proprietary red wine 2005 95 pts WS

Martin Carmichael: 7/2/2010 - “Out Stealing Horses” by Per Petterson Talbot Chardonay some reds

Bill Copacino:4/12/10 “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” by Stieg Larsson Excellent selection of French Burgundy great food

Michael Pappone: 3/23/2010 - “Kim” by Rudyard Kipling http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_(novel)
 * 86 pichon and st Supra cab all good, good spicey food.

Will Viner:1/25/2010 - “The Lacuna” by Barbra Kingsolver  Fascinating whites excellent cheese

2009
Scott Taylor: 12/09/09 - “The Undertaking” by Thomas Lynch Oysters champagne pommard burgundy 77 taylor fladgate

Martin Carmichael 10/20/09 - “Straight Man” by Richard Russo old us Cabs Martin and Michael.

Bill Copacino 6/9/09 - “A Thousand Splendid Suns” by Khaled Hosseini Selection of northern Italian wines from Compagna New wine store in Waltham

Michael Pappone 4/7/09 - “Deer Hunting with Jesus” by Joe Bageant 1/2 Delicious 2000 Bordeaux's paulliac, medoc st emmilion.

Will Viner: 2/12/09 - “White Ghost Girls” by Alice Greenway Great series of Italian reds with prosciutto and excellent cheese, formed an investment club.

2008
Scott Taylor: 1/14/08 - “The Leopard” by Guseppe di Lampedusa Italians and a 1989 Margaux bad knee food by Will book *1/2

Martin Carmichael ?

Bill Copacino:10/29/08 - “Lincoln at Gettysburg - Words that Remade America” by Garry Wills First non fiction * dense for me good wines cabs

'''Michael Pappone. 8/05/08 - “Gentlemen of the Road” by Michael Chabon''' On the deck with Drew and his girlfriend researcher. We drank some fantastic 1982 Bordeaux's, Copacino showed up later

Will Viner - 5/29/08 - “March” by Geraldine Brooks assorted Italian

Scott Taylor - “The Known World” by Edward Jones served white wine with cheese fondue

Martin Carmichael ?

Bill Copacino: 3/08 - “What is the What” by David Eggers Barolo

Michael Pappone 1/08 - “Turing's Delirium” by Edmundo Paz Soldan old cabs

2007
Michael Pappone: 4/25/07 - “The Aeneid” by Homer (Fagles Translation) pinot noir

Martin Carmichael - (date) - “Absurdistan” by Gary Shteyngart

(who): (date) - “The Information” by Martin Amis

Will Viner: 2/20/07 - “Suite Francaise” by Irene Nemirovsky Excellent selcetion of whites

Scott Taylor: “Snow” by Orhan Pamuk

2006
Martin Carmichael: 10/09/06 - “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” by Jonathan Safran Foer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extremely_Loud_and_Incredibly_Close Pinot Noir

Bill Copacino: 9/13/06 - “Bitter Fruit” by Achmat Dangor http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitter_Fruit Cabernet

Michael Pappone: 7/10/06 - “Hardboiled Wonderland and the End of the Earth” by Murikami http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard-Boiled_Wonderland_and_the_End_of_the_World Shiraz fruit bombs

Will Viner: 5/16/06 - “Promise of Happiness” by Justin Cartwright Italians The Guardian review

Scott Taylor: 4/17/06 - “The Regeneration Triology” by Pat Barker Old Cabernet

Martin Carmichael: 1/13/06 - “Cloud Atlas” by David Mitchell cab from weltman harlan estates

2005
Bill Copacino: 11/05/05 - “The Master” by Colm Toibin 1990-1999 Lynch Bags 95,98 I'Evangile Bordeaux

Michael Pappone: 8/05 - “Saturday” by Ian McEwen Arthur Miller Bordeaux collection

Will Viner: 6/05 - “Angle of Repose” by Wallace Stegner Younger Bordeaux Wikipedia definition of angle of repose

Scott Taylor: 5/05 - “Gilead” by Marilynn Robinson Old Bordeaux New York Times review