It's not a book club

Right now my house smells delicious. I'm baking vanilla bars for my "literary society" tonight, also affectionately known as MELS (Meeting of the Elite Literary Society). I've belonged to a few book clubs over the years. In the end it ends up as more of a social hour. People don't read the book or only get half way through. Then they show up and they don't want to discuss or you can't because no one wants any "spoilers." So I decided no to book clubs and YES to a literary society.
I love MELS. It's a really great mix of people -- girls in their 20s, 30s, 40s. Working moms, stay at home moms, animal moms, single moms. Moms with babies, teenagers and even a Grandma. We rotate houses and whoever hosts gets to pick the book for the month. Every month is a different turnout, but no matter how often you come, everyone is glad to see you. If you're reading this and thinking -- I LOVE to read (or even, "I want to pretend I like to read") just let me know. Anyone is welcome!

There are two things you know for sure about MELS:

1) We WILL discuss the book. It will be long and in depth and if you hated the book you'll probably leave the meeting want to reread it because suddenly you loved it.

And 2) There will be LOTS of food. Since the majority of us don't drink we splurge on the food instead. Sometimes we bring food to go with the theme (like chocolate pie for The Help, Indian food for Life of Pi and chocolate bars for The Glass Castle) and sometimes it's like an overload of everything you've ever pinned on Pinterest. And yet, if you show up empty handed because it's been a crazy week everyone understands.
Tonight's meeting wraps up the 2nd year full of great books (there have been a few stinkers mixed in) and even better conversations. I thought I'd add a list of books we've read:

• The Help by Kathryn Stockett
  
• The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory
  
• These is My Words by Nancy Turner
  
• Winter Garden by Kristen Hannah
  
• Life of Pi by Yann Martel
  
• A Long Way Gone by Ishmeal Beah
  
• The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent
  
• The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
  
• The Autobiography of Santa Claus by Jeff Guinn
  
• Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
  
• The Possibilities of Sainthood by Donna Freitas
  
• Enchantment by Orson Scott Card
  
• The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare
• Learned Optimism by Martin Seligman
• The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
• The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
  
• The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
  
• All The Lovely Bad Ones by Mary Downing Hahn
  
• What Men Live By by Leo Tolstoy
• Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project
• Escape by Carolyn Jessop
  

Any suggestions for year 3??