Sunset Book Club Meeting at the Beach
@DeborahDiane (40053)
Laguna Woods, California
July 10, 2018 10:18pm CST
I have been in a club with the same group of women for 20 years. We started as an Investment club and we all successfully made a little money. When the recession hit about eight years ago, we cashed out and switched to a book club.
Either way, we have bonded and formed some close friendships over the years.
Each summer, our July book club meeting is at the lovely beach front home of one of our members. It overlooks the San Clemente pier and has a stunning view, especially at sunset, as you can see in the above photo.
Our book club meeting there is so pleasant, it actually does not even matter what we thought about the book we read. However, this year we read an interesting one called "The Charm School." It was written in 1988 and is about the Russians training their people to look, sound and act like Americans, so they can plant them in the U.S. as spies.
Despite the age of the book, it seemed very timely and thought provoking!
9 people like this
12 responses
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
11 Jul 18
Oh wow, yes that is definitely a very timely piece! Wow, and also what a beautiful sunset!
I would rather discuss books at my leisure and not be governed by a group decision on what to read next.
3 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40053)
• Laguna Woods, California
11 Jul 18
@ScribbledAdNauseum - We just meet five times a year, so we only have to read five books a year. We vote on which book to read next, so we all get a say in what we read. I enjoy the club.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
11 Jul 18
@DeborahDiane I know the majority of clubs vote on a book but even so... I feel as if I would be less likely to read a book that was suggested to me in that manner.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40053)
• Laguna Woods, California
11 Jul 18
@ScribbledAdNauseum - I guess I'm more of a follower. I have read several books which I did not expect to like, but I did!
1 person likes this
@caopaopao (12395)
• China
11 Jul 18
The scenery is really beautiful. It would be a pleasure to live in this place.
3 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40053)
• Laguna Woods, California
11 Jul 18
@caopaopao - Yes, my friend is very lucky to live in this place.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (457966)
• Switzerland
12 Jul 18
@DeborahDiane This makes me laugh, in Italy we always knew that Russians were doing this (not only in the United States), I wonder how the CIA did not know.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40053)
• Laguna Woods, California
11 Jul 18
@LadyDuck - Yes, the book is very timely. The author wrote the book in 1988. The CIA interviewed the author in 2000 after a number of Russians were discovered in the US, passing themselves off as Americans. The CIA wanted to know how the author knew twelve years before that the Russians were doing that. That makes the book even more intriguing.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40053)
• Laguna Woods, California
13 Jul 18
@LadyDuck It is pretty disappointing to realize our CIA did not know about this.
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
11 Jul 18
That is a lovely place to discuss books and other things. With friends all conversation is great.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40053)
• Laguna Woods, California
11 Jul 18
@responsiveme - I agree that with friends all conversation is great!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40053)
• Laguna Woods, California
11 Jul 18
@deba12 - We have dinner together and talk about the books we read. We also share personal stories about our own lives, so we have become very good friends.
@Jessabuma (31700)
• Baguio, Philippines
17 Jul 18
Wow! It's so beautiful picture.. I love the view
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40053)
• Laguna Woods, California
19 Jul 18
@Jessabuma - Yes, my friend is very lucky to have a home in that spot. It has a very pretty view.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40053)
• Laguna Woods, California
19 Jul 18
@Jessabuma - I understand. I would love to live in my friend's house, too. I wonder if she would rent me a room? LOL
1 person likes this
@Jessabuma (31700)
• Baguio, Philippines
19 Jul 18
@DeborahDiane I would love to have a house near the seashore also..
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40053)
• Laguna Woods, California
21 Jul 18
@patgalca - Thank you for reminding me that I am fortunate to have friends and to be able to spend time with them in beautiful places. Yes, I am blessed and sometimes we all need to be reminded of our blessings.
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (137212)
• Philippines
12 Jul 18
@DeborahDiane I agree. I always had read or heard about it. For such reason, I started to collect books and planning to have them shared them with such a club.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40053)
• Laguna Woods, California
11 Jul 18
@Shavkat - I hope you do organize a book club. They are a lot of fun!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40053)
• Laguna Woods, California
12 Jul 18
@Shavkat - That's a fun idea. I hope you enjoy your book club!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40053)
• Laguna Woods, California
11 Jul 18
@just4him - Yes, life doesn't get much better than a good book, beautiful settings, and close friends, does it? "The Charm School" is a fascinating story. It was so accurate, that the CIA actually interviewed the author 12 years after the book was written. They wanted to know how the author knew this was going on!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40053)
• Laguna Woods, California
13 Jul 18
@just4him I'm sure it was a shock to that author!
1 person likes this
@just4him (305965)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 Jul 18
@DeborahDiane That can be a bit alarming to have the CIA interview you after the fact.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40053)
• Laguna Woods, California
13 Jul 18
Yes, I am l am lucky to have these dear friends!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40053)
• Laguna Woods, California
14 Jul 18
@RubyHawk You are absolutely right! Friends are better than gold!
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99425)
• Atlanta, Georgia
13 Jul 18
@DeborahDiane Friends are better than gold.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129413)
• Israel
11 Jul 18
@DeborahDiane
I think I heard of it. Was there a movie too?
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40053)
• Laguna Woods, California
12 Jul 18
@Hannihar - They could have changed the name. It is one of those novels that keeps you on the edge of your seat. My husband is reading it now, and he will barely talk to me. I'll be glad when he's finished! 
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40053)
• Laguna Woods, California
11 Jul 18
@Hannihar - There may have been a movie. If so, I didn't see it, but it would make a good one. The TV show, "The Americans," may have been inspired by this book.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129413)
• Israel
12 Jul 18
@DeborahDiane
I think there was a movie The Charm School but not sure.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40053)
• Laguna Woods, California
11 Jul 18
@Icydoll - We were very lucky to get to meet in this place!
1 person likes this
