Book Club Recap

December Book Club Pick

One of the benefits of belonging to a book club is the camaraderie that has grown over the years.

We rotate homes, food contributions, and book discussion questions. Recently, I hosted the meeting for "The All-Girl Filling's Station's Last Reunion" by Fannie Flagg. She's an author well known for her popular book from many years ago, "Fried Green Tomatoes and the Whistle Stop Cafe." 

The book club choice for this month tells the story of Sookie, a woman who discovers a long-hidden family secret in her 60s. The tale takes the reader from Alabama to the Midwest to California, traveling between the 1940s and the present day, and spotlights a little-known aspect of American World War II history.

 When "The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion" begins, Sookie has found herself an empty nester. Her youngest child is married, so she’s ready to relax and enjoy some time to herself at home in Point Clear, Alabama.

However, relaxation is not what Sookie needs. She soon receives papers for her domineering mother, Lenore, revealing a decades-old family secret. Shocked and confused, Sookie begins digging into the past and unearths a rich Polish family history. She learns of the adventures of the Jurdabralinski family of Pulaski, Wisconsin, complete with an all-girl filling station and Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs). The storyline switches between two different time periods.

The story is all about family, trust, friendship, and discovering who you are and what you can become. 

Discovering Polish roots is a large part of the storyline, so Ingrid went all out on the food. We enjoyed the Polish foods she made for us, even though we couldn't pronounce all the names. 

We were impressed with the various ethnic foods and the fact that she made all these without a helper. Thank you Ingrid.