18 — Friday, June 25, 1999 — North Shore News

MEMBERS of the North Shore’s oldest book club have met continuously since just after the Second World War.

Long live the
Layne Christensen

News Reporter layne@nsnews.com

THE North Shore’s oldest book club is 50 this year.

Called simply The Book Club, this group of approximately
22 women has met once a month continuously since just after
the Second World War.

On Monday at a special golden anniversary celebration,

founding member Mary

McNeill toasted the

club’s success.
Tt was Feb. 23,

1949 when a group of
doctor's wives led by MeNcill and Liza Broughton met at the
home of Mrs. Carson Graham. In the early years, elections
were held annually. Among the early presidents were the poet
Derothy Livesay (1953) and former North Van mayor Carrie
Cates (1960).

What makes the club unique from other book clubs is that
members are not required to read the same book. Instead, the
women choose what is interesting to them and share their
interest with the rest.

Doc Ford gets into more trouble

@ The Mangrove Coast by : a
Randy Wayne White, aan
Putnam Publishing, 290

pages, $31.99.

All Doc Ford wants to do is
live a quiet life in his szilt
house beside Dinkin’s Bay
Marina on Sanibel Isiand, but
that wouldn't make for a
good story.
A ghost from his past
resurfaces in the form of the
daughter of a long dead
friend. Amanda Richardson's
mother is missing and the
only one she fecls can help
her is Doc Ford, the man her
father wrote about, “You get in trouble,
Doe’s the guy io call. I’m talking about the

second half.
kind of trouble where the police or a lawyer ;

&3 ewEI LE

printed word

This makes for lively and sometimes heated discussion, says
outgoing president Peggy Gerbrecht. Like the discussion over
Canadian author Ann-Marie MacDonald's Fall On Your Knees,
a book that deals with sexual abuse.

“Several of us had read it and had very different respons-
¢s to it,” says Gerbrecht. Interest was sufficiently piqued
that those members who had not browsed the book, “cer-
tainly read it before the next meeting.”

When asked ta define the reason behind the club’s
enduring success, Gerbrecht says it has to do with group
dynamics and the women’s love for healthy debate.

“For some strange reason we are happy te argue, have a
cup of tea, and come back next month and go at it again.”

The club’s oldest member is in her 90s. The youngest is
40-ish. There are qwo sets of mother-daughter members.

One meeting a year, members all read the same author, if
not the same book. The author is always a Canadian. At
Monday's meeting, Helen Runkle reviewed fellow club
member Barbara Rothwell’s Life witlr Charlie, a memoir of
her life with Charles Henderson. :

Mectings take place in members’ homes. New members
are invited to join when membership falls below 20.

can’t or won’t get involved.”
A lady in distress, an old
debt, a dead man, all work to
draw Ford into the thick of
things. Shadowy figures of
intrigue lurk in the back-
ground, while we wonder if
they will help or hinder our
hero’s progress. Along the way
we learn more of Ford’s mys-
terious past than previous
books have revealed.
Unfortunately it’s a slow
boat that Randy Wayne White
puts his hero on and the first
half of the book flounders as
Ford takes his time getting
involved. Once he’s on the

trail the pace picks up and delivers a satisfying

~- Terry Peters

Mitch
Senior Conductor
West Coast Express

NORTH SHORE UPHOLS

ry ae Home Furnishings
: Leather Work
Car and Boat
Antiques
Refinishing and Repairs

Slipcorers, Camper Cushions,
Foam Mattresses & Valences

Hot Tub Covers
Free estimates, pick up & delivery

19 years experience
your satisfaction ts our concern

Cat 985-7449

Tho Dao
Mention this Ad for a discount

Se ay

~ .
‘Mappy st Birthday Compuchi
THANK YOU

“Bonnie Bzirns Child Care Services
“Dinosaur Daycare and Preschool
“North Shore Child’s Oiecovery Centre Asan.
*Novaco Childcare Contre
FOR MAKING: OUP IST YEAR SUCH A GELAT SUCCESS

RY Compuchild ™

Tek: (804) 980-0252

A-League
Leading
San Diego
vs. Flash

‘Sunday, June27 7:05pm

Celebrate Canada

| Day with the

f Vancouver 86ers.

|Great giveaways

}including BC Lions
i tickets to the first

o i PAN

For tickets call 280-4400, visit any Ti :
centre or buy online at www.ticketmaster.ca

: |
Te

SAVE ON FRASER VALLEY PACKAGE GETAWAYS

OF exciting getaways,
resort to the tralia,

Branning your next getaway?
Make it a Summer Train Adventure
and save! We offer exclusive
discounts on a variety of
accommodation packages.
Travel in comfortable
; air conditioned coaches
ey with picture windows
and breathtaking views.
We even have a Cappuccino
bar og board.
Stay at charming B&B’s
or first class hotels. Play golf,
hike, bike or just relax and
enjoy your getaway. All at a
great price.

oentede,

Po
VWEST COAST: D4 fat

Sumer Traini Aguenttires

| wa mesiceasiengress.com

For package details and reservations call Mon-Fri 9-5:30 Sat 10-3
604-731-4964 or 1-888-515-5545