What a Spectacular Year by Sharon Julius

Volume 5 - Issue 1
September 2014
What a Spectacular Year
Greetings: Reese’s Roundtable members. This is our
15th Year Anniversary and
we have just completed the
most spectacular year in the
book club’s history.
Newsletter
REESE’S ROUNDTABLE
We began 2013-2014 by
reading Dear Marcus by
Jerry McGill. Thanks to
Jackie White, Julia White,
Beverly Cooper and Julian
Cooper we were able to
discuss with the author his
experience in writing the
book as well as his life
experiences.
Jerry McGill author of Dear Marcus
Remember
Mr. McGill was
shot by an unknown assailant and was left paralyzed
from the waist down as a
result.
Mr. McGill was open, honest
and passionate regarding
forgiveness and the impact
the shooting has had on his
life; a mixture of blessing
and tragedy.
Next on the calendar on
November 16, 2013 we discussed with the author in
the flesh this time Daughters of the Stone by Dharma
Llanos- Figueroa. This book
illuminated the journey of
five generations of women
in one family that began
with the passage from Africa
into slavery in Puerto Rico
to migration to New York
City and reverse migration
back to Puerto Rico in pre-
sent times. This book was
a beautifully written story
Dharma Llanos- Figueroa author of Daughters of the Stone
about the
power of the
daughters of the stone.
Next we celebrated Kwanzaa on January 4, 2014,
with an old fashion holiday
gathering, grabbag gifts
and a discussion of the
book Wife Of The Gods
by Kwei
Quartey, a
whodunit from
the mother land
of Africa.
Our group leaders were Barbara Blair and
Elease Edmondson.
by Sharon Julius
Robinson. Alex Young led
us in a lively discussion of
this book and he gave us
an African American history lesson, that so richly
provided in the story,
through the vivid dreams
of the protagonist.
Next we read the book
Wading Home by Rosalyn
Story. The facilitators
were Patricia Morton and
Sharon Julius.
A story about a
father and son
surviving hurricane Katrina.
The story was
brought to life with live
props brought in by Ms.
Morton.
Last but certainly not least
Reese’s Roundtable was
the host to author Sarah
Bracey-White on June 14,
2014. Ms. Bracey-White
talked about her autobiography Primary Lessons,
Ms. Bracey-White beautifully described her life and
Later in January we continued on the mystery trail
in Africa with The Secret
Lives of Baba Segi’s
Wives by Lola
Shoneyin.
Our facilitators
were Denise
Gourdine and
Janice YoungNichols. The
secret was SHOCKING.
Reese’s Roundtable returned the literary experience
to the United
States with an
African twist
with the selection of Makeda by political
and social activist Randall
Ms Bracey-Wh ite author of Primary Lessons
all of the
social, family
and personal dynamics
living in and out of the Jim
Crow south circa
1960’s.
Page 2 continues on the back
Inside this issue:
Special points of interest:
A spectacular year we spent with our guest speakers
1
List of books we have read during past 15 years 2
A continuation of the books we have read
3
More news and the list of books we will be reading this year 4
 Please bring a dish to share and $3.00 to every
meeting for supplies and sunshine fund .
© 2014 Reese’s Roundtable Newsletter Designed by Beverly Garrett
Welcome To Our 15 Year Past Book Listing
Reese’s Roundtable is in it’s 15th year and we have always maintained a commitment to sponsoring youth and community activities. Listed below are some of the
books we have read; events that we have attended and programs that we have
presented.
July
1998-1999
September
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
September
1999-2000
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
October
November
July
Alexander Readers Roundtable:
1998
“The Reader” by Bernard Schlink
“No Disrespect” by Sister Souljah
“Growing Up X “by Ilyassah Shabazz
“Growing Up King” by Dexter Scott King
“A Man Finds His Way” by Freddie Lee Johnson II
“The Harris Family” by R. M. Johnson
“Douglass’ Women” by Jewell Parker Rhodes
“Sapphire's Grave” by Hilda Gurley Highgate
Alexander Readers Roundtable ended and
Reese’s Roundtable began in July. This is the official beginning
of Reese’s Roundtable’s first year:
1999
“A Lesson Before Dying” by Ernest Gaines
“Black and Blue” by Anna Quindlen
“Angela's Ashes” by Frank McCourt
“Easier to Kill” by Valerie Wilson Wesley
“When I Was Puerto Rican” by Esmeralda Santiago
“She's Come Undone” by Wally Lamb
“The Wake of the Wind” by J. California Cooper
“The Notebook” by Nicholas Sparks
“Tell Me Your Dreams” by Sidney Sheldon
Participated in the Westchester's Walk for Breast Cancer.
“A Love of her Own” by Bettye Griffin
2000
“The Devil's Riding” by Valerie Wilson -Wesley
Suggested Reading for the Summer: “River Cross My Heart” by
Breena Clarke, “The Color of Water” by James McBride, “Double
Yolk” by Buchi Emecheta, “Yo” by Julia Alvarez, “Zachary's
Wings” by Rosemarie Robotham, “The Debt” by Randal Robinson, “The Substance of Things Hoped For” by Samuel Proctor,
“Passing conversation” by John Housman, “Blues: For All the
Change: New Poems” by Nikki Giovanni.
2002-2003
October
October
November
January
March
May
2003-2004
September
October
November
January
March
May
2004-2005
September
October
November
January
March
May
2005-2006
2000-2001
September
October
November
January
March
May
June
July
2001-2002
September
October
November
December
January
March
April
May
Page 2
Reese’s Roundtable’s first year:
2000
“Abide With Me” by E. Lynn Harris
Participated in the Westchester's Walk for Breast Cancer.
“Redemption Song” by Bertice Berry
2001
“Passing” by Patrice Jones
“The Shirt off His Back” by Percy Brown
“The Flip Side of Sin” by Rosalyn McMillan
“Souls of My Sisters” by Dawn Marie Daniels
Celebrated our first anniversary by dinning at Londel's in
New York City.
Reese’s Roundtable's second year:
2001
“Mother To Mother by SindiWe MaGoNa
Participated in the Westchester's Walk for Breast Cancer.
“Finding Fish” by Antwone Quenton Fisher
We celebrated our Holiday Season by dinning at Yvonne's
Southern Cuisine Restaurant in Pelham, NY.
2002
“Cane River” by Lolita Tademy
“Church Folk” by Michele Andrea Bowen
Held a Poetry Contest for all students grade K-12 within and
outside the Greenburg area.
“Threesome” by Brenda L. Thomas and “Manchild in the Promised
Land” by Claude Brown
September
October
November
January
March
April
May
2006-2007
September
October
November
January
January
March
April
May
Celebrated our second anniversary by dinning at Londel's in
New York City.
Reese’s Roundtable's third year:
2002
“Alex A Cry For Love” by Lametrius Brown. Ms. Brown joined us
for an enlightening discussion and The Best of Simple by
Langston Hughes.
“Love Don't Come Easy” by Jason T. Smith
Participated in the Westchester's Walk for Breast Cancer.
Celebrated the life and the writings of Sindiwe Magona.
2003
“Emperor of Ocean Park” by Stephen L. Carter
“Sitting in The Front Pew” by Parry Brown and “The Warmest
December” by Bernice McFadden
“Pact Three Young Men Make a Promise and Fulfill a Dream”
by Sampson Davis, George Jenkins, Rameck Hunt with
Lisa Frazier Page.
Reese’s Roundtable's fourth year:
2003
“Zenzele: A. Letter for My Daughter” by J. Nozipo Maraire
Participated in the Westchester's Walk for Breast Cancer.
“Second Sunday” by Michele Andrea Bowens
2004
“Somebody's Someone” by Regina Louise
“Far From the Tree” by Virginia Deberry and Donna Grant
“In the Lion's Den” by Geri Blackwell-Davis. Ms. Blackwell-Davis
joined us for a discussion and a book signing.
Reese’s Roundtable's fifth year:
2004
“Standing at the Scratch Line” by Guy Johnson
Participated in the Westchester's Walk for Breast Cancer.
“The Harris Men” by R. M. Johnson
2005
“Ladies in Waiting” by Linda Hudson-Smith
“Drinking Coffee Elsewhere” by Z. Z. Packer
“Daughter” by Asha Bandele
Reese’s Roundtable's sixth year:
2005
“Josette and Caleb” by Geri Blackwell-Davis
Participated in the Westchester's Walk for Breast Cancer
“Purple Hibiscus” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
2006
“Some People, Some Other Place” by California Cooper
“Graceland” by Chris Abani
Presented Flower the Butterfly: a Children's Short Story Work
shop for children ages 2-7 years.
“Orange Crushed” by Pamela Thomas-Graham
Reese’s Roundtable's seventh year:
2006
“Echoes of a Distant Summer” by Guy Johnson
Participated in the Westchester's Walk for Breast Cancer.
“George and Rue” by George Elliot Clarke
2007
Celebrated Kwanzaa at the Harlem Tea Room in Harlem, NY
while discussing the book Darker Shade of Crimson by Pamela
Thomas Graham.
“In the Midst of it All” by Linda Taylor Ms. Taylor shared with the
club her creation of the story.
“Piece of Cake” by Cupcake Brown
Presented a Literary Publishing Workshop with Brenda L. Thomas
a renowned author
“River Woman” by Donna Hemans Ms. Hemans joined us for a
lively discussion of her book.
NE WSL E T T E R RNO U ND T AB L E N E W SL E T T E R
(Book Listing Continues)
July
Celebrated Reese’s Roundtables 7th Anniversary at the Philipse
Manor Hall in, Yonkers, NY – the food was by Lejends.
2007-2008
Reese’s Roundtable's eighth year:
2007
“Red River” by Lalita Tedemy
Participated in the Westchester's Walk for Breast Cancer.
“Leaving My Burdens Down” by Brenda L. Thomas. Ms. Thomas
shared with the club her story and to facilitate our Domestic
Violence Conference for adults.
“Measure of a Man” by Sidney Poitier
2008
Celebrated Kwanzaa at the Theodore D. Young Center in White
Plains, NY while discussing the book “Their Eyes are Watching
God” by Zora Neal Hurston.
“How Ya Like Me Now” by Leslie A. Morris. Ms. Morris joined us
for an energetic conversation of her book.
“Freshwater Road” by Denise Nicholas
Sponsored a Healthy Personal Relationships Workshop for teen’s
ages 12-17 years.
“A Thousand Splendid Suns” by Khaled Hosseini
Celebrated Reese’s Roundtables 8th Anniversary at Billie Black’s
Bar, Restaurant & Lounge in New York, NY .
September
October
November
November
January
January
March
April
May
July
2008-2009
Reese’s Roundtable's ninth year
2008
September
“One Drop” by Bliss Broyard
October
Presented a Domestic Violence Conference on Healthy
Relationships for Teens.
October
Participated in the Westchester's Walk for Breast Cancer.
November
“Knots” by Nuraddin Farah
2009
January
Celebrated Kwanzaa at the Yvonne’s Southern Cuisine Restaurant
in Pelham, NY while discussing the book “Blonde Faith” by
Walter Mosley.
January
“Friends: A Love Story” by Angela Bassett
March
“Them” by Nathan McCall
May
“Standing Tall” by Vivian Stringer
2009-2010
September
October
November
2010
January
January
March
May
August
2010-2011
September
September
October
October
November
January
January
March
Reese’s Roundtable's tenth year:
2009
“The Dew Breaker” by Edwidge Danticat
Participated in the Westchester's Walk for Breast Cancer.
“Midnight” by Sister Souljah
Celebrated Kwanzaa at the Euro-Asian Bistro in Port Chester, NY
while discussing the book My Soul to Keep by Tananarive Due
“Before I Forget” by Leonard Pitts Jr.
“No More Mr. Nice Guy” by James Alston. Mr. Alston shared with
the club his creation of the story.
“Someone Knows My Name” by Lawrence Hill
Went to the Jazz Concert at the Caramoor Center for Music and
the Arts in Katonah, NY.
Reese’s Roundtable's eleventh year:
2010
“Reese's Roundtable Newsletter” September 2010 - Volume 1,
Issue 1
“Wench” by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
“Perfect Peace” by Daniel Black Mr. Black
Participated in the Westchester's Walk for Breast Cancer.
“The Other Wes Moore” by Wes Moore
2011
Celebrated Kwanzaa at Alvin and Friends Restaurant in
New Rochelle, NY while discussing the book The Devil’s Sitting
Room by Doug McIntosh.
“Small Island” by Andrea Levy
“Cooking With Grease” by Donna Brazille and “Stand the Storm”
by Breena-Clarke. Ms Breena-Clarke joined us for a discussion on
her book.
VO L U M E 5 - I S SU E 1
May
“Red Hats” by Damon Wayans
2011-2012
Reese’s Roundtable's twelfth year:
2011
“Reese's Roundtable Newsletter” September 2011 - Volume 2,
Issue 1
“The Street” by Ann Petry
Participated in the Westchester's Walk for Breast Cancer.
“If Beale Street Could Talk” by James Baldwin
2012
Celebrated Kwanzaa at Westchester Hill Community Room in
Elmsford, NY while discussing the book “What Looks Like Crazy on
an Ordinary Day” by Pearl Cleage.
“Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe
“Middle Passage” by Charles Johnson. Professors Ron Brown of
Westchester Community College and Dr. Teresa Murphy of
Lehman College shared their collective research in African
American history and the Middle Passage.
“The Spook Who Sat by the Door” by Sam Greenlee
September
September
October
November
January
February
March
May
2012-2013
September
September
October
November
January
February
March
May
2013-2014
September
September
October
October
November
January
January
March
May
June
Reese’s Roundtable's thirteenth year:
2012
“Reese's Roundtable Newsletter” September 2012 - Volume 3,
Issue 1
“Warmth of Other Suns” by Isabel Wilkerson
Participated in the Westchester's Walk for Breast Cancer.
“Silver Sparrow” by Tayari Jones
2013
“Something Real” by Bettye Griffin
“Die Free” by Cheryl Wills. Ms Wills joined us for a lively discussion
on her family’s journey thru history.
“Cutting for Stone” by Abraham Verghese
“The Twelve Tribes of Hattie” by Ayana Mathis
Reese’s Roundtable's fourteenth year:
2013
“Reese's Roundtable Newsletter” September 2013 - Volume 4,
Issue 1
“Dear Marcus” by Jerry McGill
“Black Count” by Tom Reiss. Reese’s members will be meet at the
Havana Central Restaurant in Yonkers, NY to have a hearty
discussion about Tom Reiss’s book.
Participated in the Westchester's Walk for Breast Cancer.
“Daughters of the Stone” by Dahlma Llanos Figueroa. Mr. Figueroa
joined us a guest to talk about his book.
2014
“Wife of Gods” by Kwei Quartley
“The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives” by Kwei Quartey
“Makeda” by Randall Robinson
“Wading Home” by Rosalyn Story
“Primary Lessons” by Sarah Bracey-White. Ms Bracey-White joined
us as a guest to talk about her book.
2014-2015 - Reese’s Roundtable's fifteenth year:
2014
September
“Reese's Roundtable Newsletter” September 2014 - Volume 5,
Issue 1
September
“The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander
November
“Barrel Child” by Pamela Marshall
2015
January
“The Supremes at Earl’s All You Can Eat” by Edward Kelsey Moore
January
“Americanah” by Chimamanda Adichie
March
“Stokely: A Life” by Perniel E. Joseph
May
“And the Mountains Echoed” by Khaled Hosseini
(subject to change)
June
Anniversary and Special Event
Page 3
Reading Schedule for 2014-2015
The reading cycle will be as follows:
September 20, 2014
The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
Group Leaders: Elease Edmondson and Beverly Barbour
R E E SE ’ S R O U ND T A B L E
Primary Business Address
Your Address Line 2
Your Address Line 3
Your Address Line 4
November 15, 2014
Barrel Child by Pamela Marshall
Group Leader: Joan Edwards
January 3, 2015
Kwanzaa Party and we will discuss
The Supremes at Earl’s All You Can Eat by Edward Kelsey Moore
Facilitator: Stephanie Washington
Phone: 555-555-5555
Fax: 555-555-5555
E-mail: someone@example.com
January 24, 2015
Americanah by Chimamanda Adichie
Group Leader: Joan Edwards
Your business tag line here.
We meet bi-monthly at: Theodore D. Young Community Center
32 Manhattan Avenue
White Plains, NY
Contact us at: ojj41@aol.com and
reesesroundtable@reesesroundtable.com
Wow What a Year
March 21, 2015
Stokely: A Life by Perniel E. Joseph
Group Leaders: Alex Young, Joseph Mosley, Noel Ellison and
Doug McIntosh
May 16, 2015
And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini
(subject to change)
Group Leader: TBA
June 6, 2015
ANNIVERSARY & SPECIAL EVENT
A Woman’s Game by Paula Pinderhughes
Paula Pinderhughes will join us for a lively discussion on her book.
Program Committee: TBA
by Sharon Julius
Thanks to all of our Reese’s Roundtable
members who help to create all of our exciting Reading experiences.
Thanks to the Theodore D. Young Community Center for allowing Reese’s Roundtable
to gather within their walls. We hope that our
donation of $400.00 will assist TDY center in
meeting the needs of the children in the
Greenburgh Community.
Field Trip
Reese’s experienced its singular outing to
the restaurant Havana Central located at the
Ridge hill shopping plaza in Yonkers, NY. We
ate Cuban style and we enjoyed a discussion of the book
The Black Count , by Tom
Reiss the story of General
Alex Dumas, the father of
Alexandras Dumas author of
The Three Musketeers and
The Count of Monte Cristo. This project was
spear-headed by Beverly Brown-Barbour.
Thanks for the memories and fun!
Page 4
NE WSL E T T E R RNO U ND T AB L E N E W SL E T T E R