Angry Housewives??? Never!!

Dear Book Club Friends:

Thank you for a fantastic evening last week at book club hosted by Wendi Coccimiglio. We enjoyed a wonderful Italian meal including spaghetti and penne pasta with marinara sauce and meatballs, a delicious salad with strawberry dressing, accompanied with crunchy bread and garlic cheese biscuits. Wendi also served a variety of made to order mixed drinks. I had the pomegranate juice blended with ginger ale – delicious! Dessert went right along with the title of the book - bon bons. We enjoyed peanut butter, toffee, and mint ice cream bon bons along with the best brownies of all time. Thank you, Wendi, for the extra effort to make the evening special. She was a wonderful host.

I really enjoyed your perspectives as we discussed Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons. I liked how the book was organized, with each chapter written from the voice of the book club host. While it took a while to learn the distinctions of the characters, I enjoyed how their lives unfolded from each of their points of view. And Faith's letters to her mother in each chapter added was a great thread throughout the book. Many of us were intrigued by the books that were selected for each chapter and why. One of the titles was a favorite of Aunt Leilani’s (Marylynne and Lani’s mother). I really like each character and was interested in how they faced life's challenges over 40 years. I felt the author introduced many issues, but never developed them fully in terms of their scope and implications. I found myself filling in the blanks a lot.

Faith was the daughter of an alcoholic mother who neglected her terribly; her mom died in a car accident for which Faith blames herself. Faith’s adult life was spent covering up her past for fear that those she loved would reject her if they knew. Married to a pilot, she was a model wife and devoted mother of fraternal twins, a boy and a girl. Faith finds the strength to face her past while dealing with the “coming out” of her homosexual son.

Slip is the short, athletic redhead and peace activist. Through her brother, a soldier in Vietnam, we are reminded of the horrors of war and the post traumatic challenges soldiers face after coming home.

Merit is the daughter of a minister who disapproves of her moving away from home and pursuing a college education. She meets and marries Eric, a doctor, and has four girls - the third is delivered at the book club meeting. Merit endures a physically and emotionally abusive husband, keeping his ever escalating abusive behavior secret from everyone until the Angry Housewives witness an episode after a party. We found her coping strategy, hiding notes and other items in her hair, to be very interesting. She eventually meets Mr. Paradise (very tacky name for a guy who wears a leisure suit) who encourages her musical talent. At age 43 she gets pregnant and marries Mr. Paradise.

Audrey is our buxom beauty who loves showing off her large breasts and wearing mini skirts. I loved her spunky personality. One of my favorite parts of the book was when she got Faith and Slip to join with her to “flash” the nosey neighbor from the tree house. Audrey has a gift of premonitions, and uses this ability throughout the book. She divorces her cheating husband, faces a near death car accident with one of her sons, and becomes close friends with her gay neighbor, Grant, who eventually joins the book club.

Kari is the oldest in the group and enjoys sewing and crafts. Early on, we learn that Kari has experienced tragedy in her life. Her first adopted child that was returned to the birthmother, and she is mourning the loss of her husband. Kari experiences prejudice and racism when she agrees to adopt her niece’s baby, Julia, who is part black. I was very impressed with Kari’s capacity to love and nurture Julia.

Through all of their trials, the Angry Housewives’ friendship really binds them together and helps them pull through. Thanks to all of you for your friendship to me. We have a great group of women in our book club too.