Don't Tell Mummy by Toni McGuire

Even though The Finer Things Club is no longer, I still love books, and I still love to write about them. Reason for the end of FTC is all the founding members are pretty much all over the globe! Even the ones who were initiated into Finer are no longer able to meet as we're all in different states or countries. Jen is in Washington, Rebekah is in Western VA on the border of Tennessee, Micah is in L-Burg, and I'm in Italy.

Anyway, while in Italy it seems I have a lot of down time. Instead of turning on the tube, I've decided to use my time more wisely and read. Reading, for me is a sense of freedom. I'm able to travel wherever and whenever to any time in history I want. I love to read. Now, I actually have the time to do it. At home I would always read before be, but by the time I'm ready here, people are getting off work & I have Skype dates!

I recently read a book from the shelves of the Airaldi's which probably belonged to an Au Pair before me since its in English. In stead of writing commentary for the book "Don't Tell Mummy" by Toni McGuire, I decided to write Ms. McGuire a letter instead. This book was truly inspiring and sad at the same time. Below is the letter I have written:

Dear Ms. Toni Maguire,

After reading your book “Don't Tell Mummy” I have to say that I was disturbed, disgusted, angry, sympathetic, sorry, and moved. Reading about the sexual abuse of six year old Antoinette made me angry beyond words. I wanted to pull her out of that house, into my home where she would have been loved and cared for. Even if it wasn't me who would have been able to rescue her, I wanted her to tell and scream it from the rooftops! I kept thinking in my head, “if only...if only she would've written her grandmother, told her what happened. If only her mother would have stood up for her, things would have been different.” Questions you have probably wrestled with yourself. Oh I was so angry! Another part of the story which boiled my blood was the way people acted and treated her once she outed her father. The town and your family member's actions and words were inexcusable. I know one day they will have to answer to God for their words and deeds, and I do not think He will be kind. I also wanted to punch the psychiatrists in the face who were asking her if she received pleaseure and liked her father's actions. Why are people so dense? I wish at that point you just would've gone crazy and told them all off. Ugh, I wanted that moment in the book so terribly bad!

Your book made me think. It made me think how I would have treated you throughout your whole ordeal. If I had been one of the people you had come to for love and help, or if I had been one of the girls at school. It honestly scared me, because I would hope that I would have been kind, and treated you with love, but at the same time, I know how I was in high school with people who had the rattier clothes, weren't popular or seemed different. Your story has truly inspired me and I hope that one day I will be able to help girls who have been in situations such as yourself.

You are a beautiful, beautiful lady. Stronger than most woman ever could've been. I wish so many things could have been different for you. But unfortunately the past can not be changed. Thank you for writing your story and sharing it with others. It has been an inspiration to me, and I'm sure to many others. Thanks again.

Sincerely,
~Allison Ruth

FINALLY!

Nothing is more difficult than trying to schedule 4 girls to get together. It's pretty much murder. Like for real. But we finally had Finer Things and it was fun. Micah made a wonderful dinner which consisted of this Apple Chicken Cous Cous Thing and Asparagus. It was really good. I bought a bottle of Moscato because nothing’s finer than a bottle of wine! For dessert Sarah, Micah, and Lindsey got their frozen yogurt from Sweet Frog, but I totally wasn’t feeling the Frog of Sweet so Micah was a nice gill and stopped by Monkee Joe’s, a new ice cream place that serves Hershey’s Ice Cream, and I was able to get my Moose Tracks. We had our usual girl talk and then we dived into the first chapter of “The Help”. Can I just say that this book is absolutely wonderful! It is a breath of fresh air from all the fantasy books I’ve been reading with me and myself. I just got done with Harry Potter in March and now I’m stuck on the Percy Jackson Series. Great series, but “The Help” is the good ole’ southern charm I’ve been looking for. I love the character of Abileen, but I will say that I have a soft spot in my heart for Skeeter. She’s a 23 year old college graduate who everyone thinks needs a man in order to be successful. Her Mom keeps trying to get her married off and even asks her if she’s a lesbian because she didn’t find a guy after college. Skeeter wants to do great things, but feels held back. Like I said, Kindred Spirits. I also love back talking Minny. She’s just funny and says what everybody’s thinking. I think this book will end up being one of the best reads Finer Things has come across. Till next time stay finer. 

Help!

HELP! We're loosing members left and right...but that's not why I wrote I need Help. Our next book we unanimously agreed upon will be The Help. Written by Kathryn Stockett, this story follows the life and situation of Aibileen, a black maid in 1962 Jackson, Mississippi. Soon to be a Motion Picture, these Finer gills will explore Jackson, Mississippi, a world unknown to the Finer Things Club. The Friday Night Knitting Club was not disappointing, but we're all hoping that The Help will blow our previous choice out of the water. Read along and find out what happens to poor Aibileen! In the meantime, stay finer! :)

From 4 to 2 : The Core No More

This week we had to say goodbye to one of the Finer Things Club Founder's. We had already lost Rebekah to Pennsylvania last summer, but on Thursday, May 25th we held our final FTC meeting with Jen. Reason being, Jen has received a professional acting job with Missoula Children’s Theater in Montana. This a huge opportunity for her, and of course she took it. Who wouldn’t? I can’t say Micah and I are happy about the move, but we’re happy for Jen. After graduation, Jen was one of the few people that hit the pavement in regards to an acting job and after months of auditioning and hard work, she finally got one. A good one at that. This summer she will be traveling around the Midwest so who knows? We might run into her. We’re all so proud and happy for Jen, but we will miss her terribly.



Thursday night we exchanged gifts and finished reading, “The Friday Night Knitting Club,” which was surprisingly good. Micah will say differently, but we just disregard that opinion of hers.  Before we started reading we exchanged farewell gifts. Jen and I were in Alice in Wonderland together our senior year of high school and for some reason that is where our friendship bond was truly formed.I have known Jen since 2nd grade, but got to know her by doing theater in high school and college. She’s a little gem, and like I said, she will be truly missed.For her farewell present I bought her a Celtic bookmark with a saying that says, “May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back.” I thought it fitting since Micah, Shaun and I are going to Ireland and Jen will be on the road, traveling, and making a difference in the lives of children. Along with the bookmark, I purchased a hardback copy of Alice and Wonderland, which I found out in a conversation previously that night, she had already just purchased. I could’ve killed her! But I didn’t.  That little Jen was so sweet and purchased one of my most favorite wine’s from Mangia, “Moscaot D’Asti, 2008, Lodali”. I was so freaking excited! And not only did she buy me that, but she also got me a $10 gift certificate to Taste Selects downtown. I love cupcakes and that’s pretty much all they sell. Plus it’s local and downtown. The best of both worlds. After the gifts and cards were exchanged we all cried a little and hugged. Then we finished the book. I believe the book was extremely fitting for this moment in FTC. Although Jen will be traveling all around the U.S. we will have her spirit with her always in FTC. So now from the four original (the core as we call it) we’re down to only half of the pie. Micah and I, along with Lindsey and Rachel will keep it going. We’ve thrown around the idea of changing Finer Things Club to the Finest Things Club and adding males! OH MY!  We’ll see about that one though. In the meantime say a little prayer for Jen and stay finer…cause we always will. 

A Spot of Tea in honor of the Royal Newlyweds

As the world is well aware Kate Middleton and Prince William Duke of Cambridge tied the knot on the morning of April 29th, 2011. Over two billion viewers watched the pair as they said their vows in Westminster Abbey in London, England. Due to the fact that it was a morning wedding which aired at 4:00 am EST the Finer Things Club recorded the wedding and watched later in the day. To celebrate the couple Jenn, Micah and I dressed up in our finest English garb, complete with our finest hats. I prepared the dining fare which consisted of cucumber sandwiches, lemon pound cake and of course some Twinings English Breakfast Tea. As we watched the wedding and oooed and ahhed it was clear how we all wanted to get married just so we could feel like a princess. We made up fake English names which included Elizabeth and Maragaret and talked in a British accent for the entire evening. It was simply finer. :)

Riverton is a little Disappointon

Finer Things has been slow going for this book. Not going to lie it is not my favorite. I think it makes it worse since it is winter and once you run out of things to do inside you are stuck with the same ole drudgery. We are also having a hard time planning FTC with everyone busy schedules. What's a gill to do? I have read three books since we started Riverton and I must say that they were leagues above it. Oh the book...like I said not one of my favorites but we're getting through it. As long as I have my faithful Harry Potter to read in the meantime I can pretty much endure anything Grace has to throw at me. Grace is the main character of the book and is for lack of a better term, droll. The way the author writes the book is extremely unclimaxed because she gives away all the good information in such a nonchalant way. It's positively maddening. Me and the gills will persevere through the book till the end and once it is done I think most of us will be relieved. Till next time...stay finer. :)

We Finally Resume

The holidays are a busy time for everybody and Finer Things was no exception. We finally resumed with our new chosen book, "The House at Riverton" by Kate Morton. Micah and I realized a pattern FTC has fallen into by reading books based mainly on female servants in rich homes. The only book that has fallen far from the pattern was Elizabeth Gilbert's "Eat.Pray.Love". On our next book choice, we'll have to branch out a little more and read something completely out of the box. We held FTC at a different venue this time from the usual apartment setting. I am house sitting this week for my new step-mom while her and my Dad are on their honeymoon(yeah, weird) so I decided to host it there. I think this next book will be an interesting one. I'll have more to come on the book later and in the mean time, stay finer :)