Happy Holidays, Book Clubbers!

What a wonderful year for the Literary Guild of Mt. Pleasant, y’all!

As we get ready to head into the new millennium, I think we can all look back and say that our 12th year was truly the best one yet for our book club. Who knows what the future will bring, but as you spend time with your loved ones this holiday season I hope you enjoy reflecting on all the great books we read in 1999. And if you don’t mind, and have the time, may this little poem help you rewind!

We learned a lot this past year

About horror, terror, murder, fear.

We learned about Theresa Knorr, a real bad mother,

And also we learned a lot about each other.

Jhanteigh Kupihea turned out to be a good talker

On Philip Carlo’s book, The Night Stalker.

We had a wonderful discussion of And Never Let Her Go

Conducted by our own Nicole De Jackmo.

Using diagrams and pictures, artist Andie Reid

Made us wonder whose child was the real Bad Seed.

And after two years of asking by Kate McGuire

We’re all glad we finally read Interview with the Vampire,

Although we will admit Moneka Hewlett caused us all angina

By insisting we read Bastard out of Carolina.

Rick Chillot summed up our October book best,

When he said, “Nobody’s perfect, but at least we aren’t Fred or Rosemary West.”

Then Julia, Kat, and Ann Hendrix, our sisters three,

Had a lot to say about The Killer Inside Me.

As the last century scurries away,

We really musn’t forget to say

Thank you, also, to Amy J. Schneider, our favorite grammarian,

And let’s not forget Becky Spratford, number one librarian.

Of course, behind every woman there’s a man, usually somewhere parking the car or asking why there isn’t any rice on the table, and several in particular went above and beyond this year, so big hugs to Joshua Bilmes, Adam Goldworm, Jason Rekulak, Brett Cohen, and Doogie Horner for all their support, and for staying out of the way when book club descended on their houses like a barbarian horde. We couldn’t have finished all these books without you, fellas!

Let’s also not forget some of the wonderful people who provided special snacks this year like David Borgenicht, John McGurk, Mary Ellen Wilson, Jane Morley, Mandy Dunn Sampson, Christina Schillaci, Megan DiPasquale, Kate Brown, and Molly Murphy.

And finally, a big thank you to the Literary Guild of Greater Charleston, who have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember: Suzy Barr, Helen Cooke, Eva Fitzgerald, Kitty Howell, Croft Lane, Lucille Keller, Cathy Holmes, Valerie Papadopoulos, Stephanie Hunt, Nancy Fox, Ellen Gower, and, of course, Shirley Hendrix. May you all keep on reading for many years to come!

See you on the other side of Y2K!

Marjorie Fretwell