Books 'n Babes - idea

[libandneo]

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if there would be any other Mums interested in getting together to form a book club for Mums with young babies?

I thought it might be fun to pick a book each month to all read together and discuss over coffee and cake (or something more healthy?) because I don't know about all of you, but as much as I love my baby and talking about him and my parenting experiences I also want to have new thoughts and to have my brain stimulated too. Sometimes I feel a bit starved for adult non-baby related conversation.

What do you all think? I would be interested in your feedback.

Thanks

Libby
DS: Neo aged 10 months
D?: Due 14 December 2006

[Oscar's mum]

I noticed that this was your first post so I thought I would welcome you to bub hub and say 'hi'!



If you are interested we are all meeting for a dinner (no kids, unless you want to bring them) sometime next month!

[SassyDiva]

Love the idea... Im on the Gold Coast so bit hard to meet up but would still be interested in chatting and reffering a good read on-line.

I miss reading so much - I use to be a huge book worm but now adays dont get much time - I've brought 3 books in the past 6 months but dont get past the first chapters cause they were ****... So I'd love to hear about the types of book ppl are reading.

I love the hardship tales, or something that shows u a different side of life, dont have a fav. author any more so love to hear what you're in to.

[Jinx]

That sounds like a great idea - count me in!!

[drewid]

I was just thinking about something like this the other day :)

I'm a bit travel-restricted though without a car, what were you thinking of, meeting-wise? At someones house, or at a cafe, park or...?

[libandneo]

Hi,

Thanks for replying to my post - glad to know I am not the only bookworm out there!

I am open to ideas, and would be happy to host it at my place, I live in Woodridge very close to transport, but if it is easier for those without cars we could meet somewhere central and baby friendly.

I guess another idea is that we could have an online chat, but it would be a shame not to get together...?

Libby

DS Neo aged 10 months
D? due 15 December 2006

[Jo9999]

I do a lot of reading, not sure where I get the time - normally while giving my little one breakfast, bottles or other essential tasks!
I would be interested, perhaps the books could be discussed online with a regular meeting somewhere central once a month or so (Southbank Parklands is always a good place with little ones.)
Jo (32) and Kayla (31.10.04)

[Indigosmum]

I like this idea too, I love reading and catching up for discussion.

[libandneo]

Hi everyone

Thanks for your interest in this, I think we probably have enough people to get started.

Now I thought I would ask you all what our first book should be, and perhaps we could all aim to read it by the end of May? What do you think?

My suggestion for the first book is:

How to Kill Your Husband And Other Handy Household Hints. by Kathy Lette. Kathy is a very successful Australian author who is married to Hypothetical's Geoffrey Robertson. Her first book, which was published in the 1970s when she was a teenager was Puberty Blues.

Here is an except of what the book is about:

"Marriage is a fun-packed, frivolous hobby... only occasionally resulting in death. All wives sporadically want to kill their husbands, and are often overhead making the quip "not all men are ******** - some of them are dead". But when Jazz Jardine is arrested for her husband's murder, the joke falls flat. Life, not imprisonment, should begin at 40!

Jazz's girlfriends know she doesn't have a license to kill, hell, she doesn't even have a learner's permit, so they set about proving her innocence, uncovering lust, betrayal, adultery, divorce lawyers, plot twists, thinner thighs and toy boys along the way.

Sexy and wise, Lette's latest irresistable novel is about women not Having It All, but Doing It All. It's about how today's mother is often a married lone parent. It's about how no woman ever shot her husband while he was vacuuming. This is classic Lette at her best, casting her trademark caustic eye on what goes on in the bedrooms and kitchens of ordinary couples. "

I thought it might be nice to start off with something lighthearted that we could all relate to as an icebreaker. What do you all think?

Libby

DH: Jard 20/08/68
DS: Neo Xavier 25/05/06
D?: due 14/12/06

[libandneo]

Hi all,

Just to let you know I have spotted our proposed book for May, :detective: "How to Kill your Husband and other Handy Houshold Hints" by Kathy Lette at Big W (the one nearest me is at Logan Hyperdome) for $17.85, which is cheaper than the $25 most bookshops charge for new releases.

Wondering what you think of this choice?

Libby
DH: Jard 20/08/68
DS: Neo Xavier 26/05/05
D?: due 24/12/06

[Jinx]

I'm in......

I am going to see if the library has it tomorrow.


Hi all,

Just to let you know I have spotted our proposed book for May, :detective: "How to Kill your Husband and other Handy Houshold Hints" by Kathy Lette at Big W (the one nearest me is at Logan Hyperdome) for $17.85, which is cheaper than the $25 most bookshops charge for new releases.

Wondering what you think of this choice?

Libby
DH: Jard 20/08/68
DS: Neo Xavier 26/05/05
D?: due 24/12/06

[Indigosmum]

Sounds like a great choice to me.. I have never read it before, so should be a good read. I will wait to get the green light from other book-clubbers first. lol.

Danielle & Indigo

[ArnaNZ]

Hi guys,

I think this is such a fantastic idea! I'm going to head out this week and try and pick a copy up. Finally getting to the point now where I can sit down and read in the morning with a cup of tea - even if it is only for an hour or so!!! :smiliedance:

Thanks Libby for the great idea and for the first book suggestion!

Take care
Arna

[BJelly]

Hi,

I got a copy of the book today - I wouldn't be able to meet up in real life, but I'd be keen to take part in any online discussions - it'll be the first book I've read other than books about babies and toddlers since I gave birth over a year ago - so I'm looking forward to it:yelclap: .

Thanks for kicking this off Libandneo - it's a great idea:smiliedance: .

[libandneo]

Hi everyone, :wave:

Thanks for your encouraging feedback about this group and about the choice of book for this month. It's lovely to know I am not the only bookworm out there, and I am very much looking forward to chatting to all of you, be it online or in person.

Those of you from out of town have given me the idea that perhaps I should post something in another part of the bubhub so that mums in other states and in New Zealand who might like to join in the online chats can do so.

Since there have been no violent objections to my suggestion for "How to Kill Your Husband and Other Handy Household Hints" I think we will go with that. I will schedule a real-life catch-up for Brisbane mums who are interested.. I was thinking somewhere at Southbank would be nice and central for public transport and it is very baby friendly - lots of playgrounds and nice paths to walk along with prams.

In terms of timing, perhaps we could agree to meet once a month, and I would be interested to know which day of the week would suit all of you. We are pretty free and easy, with Friday being the only day when I have a firm commitment. I'll suggest the last Wednesday of every month which would make the first meeting on Wednesday 31 May which gives us all a whole month to get reading.

Would love to hear back from all of you...

Happy May Day! :D

Libby
DH: Jard 20/08/68
DS: Neo Xavier 26/05/05 (turning 1 this month!)
D?: Due 14/12/06

[Jo9999]

I'll see if the library has it this week! It sounds like a good light read.
Re meeting etc... Wednesdays are our swimming day - our free days are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

[Jamie's mum]

Sounds like a great idea -It's only been 2 months, but I can already feel my brain turning to jelly! Re meeting, I can do pretty much anything except friday mornings.

[Mum&bubs]

Hey! this all sounds like a great idea i thought i was the only book worm out there. I miss reading so much & reading & get togethers with other mums sounds fantastic!!
Has anyone got any ideas of places or dates yet?
Oh and yep that book sounds like a great way to start :thumbsup: I've been wanting to read it for a while.

[Mum&bubs]

Oh and about the timing. Im free every Monday, tues & thursday plus the weekends! :D

[libandneo]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your enthusiastic posts! I have also recruited my friend Tiff and her baby Hamish from Ashgrove.

I did check my local library (Logan) for the book and there are 41 requests for it ahead of me :laughing: so I think I will go to Big W and buy a copy after all.

Just from reading your messages it seems like Tuesday would be a good compromise choice. I am going to suggest our first meeting on Tuesday 30 May at the Southbank Parklands, say at about 10am? I will do some scouting to see what the right spot might be, unless any of you have another suggestion. Of course you would all be very welcome to come to my place, we live on the southside, not far from the Pacific Motorway.

Very excited that this thing might actually happen! :smiliedance:

Please stay in touch

Libby

DH: Jard 20/08/68
DS: Neo Xavier 26/05/05
D?: Due 14/12/06

[Nessa]

Hi

I am really keen to be involved with this too. Tuesdays are perfect for us. I am new to the area and don't know what/where Southbank is - can anyone give me some info on location?

Looking forward to seeing you all there

Nessa

[adair]

Hi
I'd like to be involved too, but can only make it on wednesdays and thursdays. Any chance of changing to Thurs? Is there anyone who can"t make it on this day?

[libandneo]

Hi Nessa,

Welcome! Southbank is a restaurant/recreation precinct literally on the south bank of the Brisbane river. It is directly opposite the CBD but on the other side of the river. To get to it I go via the Pacific motorway and then take the Stanley St exit. If you use public transport you could always get a bus or train to the city and then it is an easy walk across the bridge.

I would be happy to switch the day to Thursday if that would suit everyone best?

Libby
DH: Jard 20/08/68
DS: Neo Xavier 26/05/05
D?: due 14/12/06

[mof2bz]

Hi. Was wondering if I could join in also...I probably couldn't make it though to the first meeting but hopefully could join in to any further meet ups and it's a good excuse to sit down with a good book:yelclap:

[Jo9999]

The first suggested meeting time was perfect for me (Tuesday 30th). Thursdays are ok for me but not ideal - could make about 50% of meetings on that day. I don't think we are going to suit everybody every time so maybe we could make meetings alternatively Tuesdays and Thursdays so that people could make it at least every 2nd time? Or is that all getting too hard!
Re the location - Southbank is fine for me, or I am also happy with the suggestion of your house Libby - I am also Southside very close to the Pacific Motorway. Although it sounds like we have people interested from all over Brisbane so maybe a picnic in Southbank will be a nice informal central meeting place.
I am about to leave to get the book now!
Jo

[RaryGirl]

Hi all - I have read and have a copy of this book - so if anyone is in the Algester area and would like to borrow it, please pm me.

Nic