Last night I went to hear Arthur Phillips (wrote Prague) speak about his new book the Egyptologist. To report back he seemed like a nice, intelligent guy. I was kinda worried that he might turn out to be a jerk that Jonathan Franzen (the corrections). Franzen was the only other author I've gone to hear speak.

The new book sounds nothing like Prague. Its a silly adventure mystery, which might be fine, but what I liked about Prague was that it was "intellectual" - bringing up new Ideas (with a capital "I"). He said a contemporary author he admired was Milan Kundera (Unbearable Lightness of Being) and I had an "aha" moment cuz I thought the two had similar writing content.

Remember how Sheila said that the first chapter about the ex-pat's playing that game was so realistic to her that she had to put the book down? Well I asked Phillips if that chapter came straight out of his imagination or had he himself been an ex-pat. He has lived abroad twice, so we can't give him too much credit for "imagination" - he lived it. I was very proud of myself for asking a question :)

So, that's my report.

I'm up for Tuesday, October 5. See you there.

So the plan is Tuesday, Ocober 5? I am cool with that. Especially as it will give me some more time to finish reading...... :)

Hey all. I'm finally on the famous blog.

Have we all agreed on Tuesday, October 5th for the next meeting?

Yeah Monday! Looking forward to it. Definitely hope Kristen can come, but do not want to scare her away with "The Rules." Do we know if the place is open on Monday? Do you think we should make reservations?

I can do the 27th as well. I am well into Part II, and can probably get quite a bit further this weekend. Or make a valiant effort at least. Once we figure out where this Russian place is I'll see you all there!

I can do the 27th (may have the book finished) or a week or two later (would def. have the book finished). Whichever is best for everyone else. I am pretty sure that Cafe Europa is in the Washington Sq. area (if the place I think it is, it is accross the street from Athan's Bakery). Cafe Europa sounds good to me, especially since the other places sound a bit pricier (short on the cash this month)

Cat, those speakers next Tues. both sound very interesting. Right now I have dinner plans (conveniently in Harvard Sq.) so I do not think I will be able to make the talks, but maybe I can meet up with people for drinks afterwards? Lets discuss later.....

big Tuesday next week and Harvard Book Store, Arthur Phillips wrote "Prague" so I'm interested in the new book. Followed (down the street) by Paul Krugman - an interesting liberal economist. I'll probably go, work permitting. Anyone else want to join me?


Tuesday, September 28, 6:30 p.m.Arthur PhillipsTHE EGYPTOLOGIST: A NovelHarvard Book Store, 1256 Mass. Ave.Bostonian opium dens, apocryphal Egyptian pornography, imperialist Britishtoffs-Arthur Phillips' tricky new novel has nothing in common with hisbest-selling novel PRAGUE. Except, of course, its brilliance. http://hbsnews.c.topica.com/maacFS2abaa0FbedEiWbafpLQA/

Tuesday, September 28, 7:30 p.m.The Cambridge Forum presentsPaul KrugmanTHE GREAT UNRAVELING: Losing Our Way in the New CenturyFirst Parish Church, on the corner of Church St. and Mass Ave., CambridgeNew York Times columnist Krugman returns to Cambridge on the paperback tour ofhis popular book. http://hbsnews.c.topica.com/maacFS2abaa0GbedEiWbafpLQA/

I can do the 27th. Is Cafe Europa the most reasonably priced? One website says $10-20. Its at 213 Washington Street.

For me, the 27th of september is fine. I will plug away and see how much I can get done. As for restaurants, I liked the description of the one in brookline better. there's my 2 cents. ;)

So..I am well in to the book (pg. 500 or so) and could make a good run at finishing it before we meet (depending on when we meet). But, my status aside, I think that we should go ahead and set a meeting date to discuss the book whereever people stand. It is a great book, but difficult to put down and pick back up again. I am afraid if we wait for everyone to finish we will never meet again...and then I would miss book club. Catherine, the location suggestions looked really good. I think there another Russian place in Brookline (??) that has homemade infused Vodka's, that could be interesting. I will look into it, it may be the place you already found.

I'm a bit into part II, but agree that it may not be feasible for all of us to finish previous to us meeting. Getting together to discuss what we've read sounds like a plan to me.

Well, I had been the slacker of the group that hadn't even opened it, but Anna and I spent some time together this weekend. I am finished with Part I (yes, I concede it's only a drop in the bucket, but I forge on) I'm getting pretty into it, but wow do I have a ways to go! Maybe we could go ahead and schedule a meeting and discuss what we've read so far? There's certainly plenty there to talk about even for those of us who lag behind........ I'll keep reading of course and get as far as I can until the meeting. And there's always Cliff Notes.......... (joke! joke!)

I have finished Anna Karenina!!! It is an incredible book that I think everyone should read. However, given that summer is basically over, I wonder how many of the group will actually be able to finish it in timely manner? There has been talk of maybe coming to closure by watching the movie. This seems iffy to me.
My search on netflix yield a 1948 version starring vivian leigh but has very bad reviews. A 2-disc 1967 version with no reviews and a 3 disc miniseries 1977 version with no reviews. I'm thinking we don't want a lengthy version.

One of the reviews mentions a 1930's version with Greta Garbot - but netflix don't got it.

I propose we set a pencil's down date within the next 2 (?) weeks and discuss as much as people have read.

What do others think?

As for locale, citysearch pops up these two russian restaurants:
Cafe Europa in Brookline:

The SceneWelcome to Brookline's Little Russia, where emigres and the local-born gather for gracious Eastern European dining at below-market prices. Moscow jazz sampled to a bouncy synth beat (Louis Armstrong meets Oleta Adams) sets a breezy tone for this pretty room with yellow walls and a brick-red, embossed tin ceiling. The FoodThe menu draws on the flavors of the old Russian empire. Tasty vareniki (delicate dumplings filled with mashed potatoes) hail from Ukraine, while the salty, lightly tangy duck salad is a Muscovite tradition. The rich beef Stroganoff is fitting cold-weather comfort food--thin slices of tenderloin, mushrooms and onion tossed with sour cream. Lagman, an Uzbecki dish, spotlights the spice of central Asia with delicate lamb chops, chewy noodles, and a vegetable consommé redolent of cilantro. The apple strudel is a pastry-wrapped baked apple stuffed with dried fruits--big enough in size and flavor for two.

OR Cafe levoyna in Arlington

The SceneLevonya's red and orange decor looks like a shipment of exploded sherbet, but it creates a cheerful storefront room on the west side of Arlington Center. Some diners order in Russian; young couples tell their kids that these are dishes just like grandma used to make, which bodes well for the menu's authenticity. Service is eager, though waves of diners can sometimes slow the kitchen.The FoodGreat starters include an Armenian basturma (dried, spiced beef) salad with spinach, walnuts and feta, or the large and creamy fillet of pickled herring with scallop-cut potato slices, hard-boiled egg and raw onion. Dome-shaped lamb dumplings (khinkali) are satisfying and spicy, especially if you use the Georgian red-pepper dipping sauce. Cherry dumplings (vareniki) are both sweet and toothy--a Ukrainian favorite with sour-cherry sauce and sour cream. Portions tend to be large, but try to save room for assorted ruggelach and a demitasse of murky Armenian espresso.