ASD Reads & Entertains: The Last Thing He Told Me
Harriet and I both read a lot, especially since we are in two book clubs! We each take a turn at hosting; July was my month. So we want to give a brief review of The Las Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave then talk a little about the July event at my house.
We certainly don’t want to give away any of the important plot twists in The Last Thing He Told Me but a quick synopsis might pique your interest. The protagonist, Hannah Hall, has been married for a year when her husband mysteriously disappears. He is able to get a note to Hannah which simply states, “Protect Her.” Hannah knows she is to protect her stepdaughter Bailey; they have never developed any sort of relationship which makes this a difficult request. This story is about the quest that Hannah and Bailey undertake to try to discover the truth and, in doing so, embark on an unexpected relationship.
If you read any of the reviews, you will find descriptions such as “fast-paced, a heart-pounding mystery about good and evil that is reminiscent of true crime”, “up-tempo page turner” or “absorbing mystery/suspense novel.” Let us simply say that we both really liked it, read it in just a couple of sittings and thought it was a great summer read. It is being made into a film starring Julie Roberts, but hopefully you will pick up the book before the movie airs.
Now onto the party…..
What’s a Party Without Wine…
There are both red and white wine lovers in this book club so we needed several different choices. For the red, I picked a Pinot Noir from Goldeneye (one of the wineries in the Duckhorn Family). We had two selections of white: a Trefethen Sauvignon Blanc and a Grgich Chardonnay. Somehow the 6 of us managed to finish off all three bottles. Wine makes book discussions all that much more interesting!!
To Begin….
What could be better than creamy burrata cheese with heirloom tomatoes? Not much, but adding fresh peaches to this dish makes it even better. Drizzle balsamic vinegar over the peaches and garlic olive oil on the tomatoes. This dish was a hit!
And for an Entre….
Keeping with the Italian theme created by the burrata, what could be more appropriate than an updated version of Chicken Parmesan. Simple but oozing with flavor!
Dessert is a Must….
Easy to make but a great presentation, I made brownies topped with strawberries, raspberries and blackberries, finished off with whipped cream. Yum!
Book Lovers United…
What can be more enjoyable than discussing a book with a bright, articulate and fun group of women. Fortunately all participants loved the book. That doesn’t always happen, but since I selected the book, I was thrilled that everyone gave a thumbs up to The Last Thing He Told Me.