Overbooked - A book club for reading and exploring.

Our current novel features a French protagonist and the setting is France and New France.

Let's channel a little French spirit and meet for burgers and Bordeaux at the Baker's Wife, followed by cinema. They sometimes also have live jazz on Thursdays.

It's a lovely restaurant and it feels like a French bistro. Every other Thursday they offer two burger meals (beef, vegan or lamb) , fries (truffle fries for me!) and a shared bottle of red or white Bordeaux for $40.00. The bartender also makes a great French 75 cocktail. Just down the street is the American Theatre which features classic movies. The movie this evening is Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest.

I know that mid week evenings can be difficult but it might be a nice way to meet and break up the week.

I enjoyed our inaugural meeting - always good news when a first meeting goes long!!

We chose to keep up a regular first Saturday of the month meeting with additional activities to be scheduled.

We chose our first book, Isola by Allegra Goodman. The novel is historical fiction based on real life. Marguerite is a wealthy heiress suddenly orphaned. Her guardian squanders her inheritance and punishes her for engaging in an inappropriate relationship. She is abandoned on an island off the coast of New France with two others. I usually read a lot of reviews, but I don't think I want to ruin the ending of this one.

In keeping with the novel, we'll combine discussion with a hike to the relatively isolated tip of Grandview, weather permitting. If the weather isn't favourable, we'll meet again at Busy Nothings.

We will have to walk a half mile on a gravel path to get to the beach. There is street parking outside of the preserve available. It's usually windier than other places so dress appropriately. There are lots of dining options available for lunch afterwards if anyone is interested.

How about a day trip to the Charlottesville area?

*** edited to add, if you're interested in the event but not the timing, let me know. We could do this on a non-holiday weekend***

The Market at Grelen is a working garden and orchard with a European vibe and six miles of walking trails through the property. The trails are adjacent to Montpelier so we could tour that as well. The cafe looks like a great place to have lunch or we could choose a scenic spot and bring a picnic.

Merrie Mill Vineyard has Sunday Blues and Jazz with Paulien from 1-4. (They also sponsor an art festival and book fair twice a year, so something to look forward to this Fall.)

Gordonsville and Barboursville are in between if we want to visit an another winery or two. Barboursville would be a great picnic spot.

If there is interest, we could see about a sunset French bateau boat tour (but $$). It includes scenery, narration, music and we can bring our own wine!

Plenty of time to talk about our current book selection, get some exercise and enjoy some beautiful scenery so we can return to the Monday scene happy and refreshed.

I've wanted to visit both places for awhile.