Memory Dam by Annelies Kuiper
Author Annelies Kuiper has resided in the desert for many years and I have really enjoyed reading her new book Memory Dam, the 4th in the line of Scout books published by HDTS. I am happy to say she will be visiting the Desert Book Club on Monday, December 9th at 7:00pm, at BOXO House, to read and perhaps tell us a few extra desert tales. Her book can be ordered from the High Desert Test Sites online store or if you happen to be in the neighborhood, you might stop by the HDTS HQ at the Yucca Valley swap meet on Saturdays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Look for the HDTS sandwich board signs.
The BOXO House address is 62732 Sullivan Rd. Joshua Tree, CA. but don’t bother to GPS yourself there, it will end in tears. Simply turn south on Whitefeather Rd. off of Hwy 62, drive past the hospital and turn right on the second dirt road when you see the Boxo sign. Bernard’s house will be the second one on the left with the Book Club sign in front. Bring a folding chair if you have one so we are sure to have enough seating and try to park around back near the garage if you can. See you there and don’t forget to bring a delicious snack or drink!
Upcoming books: Recapture by Erica Olsen in January at Kip’s house and Wind Sand and Stars by Antoine de Saint-Expurey at Tonelise’s place in February.
Every month from October 2014 until March 2020, Kip’s Desert Book Club gathered on the first Monday of the month at 7:00 pm in the home of a different resident of the Morongo Basin to discuss a book that in one way or another touches on the theme of “desert”.
Since the start of the pandemic, Kip has been hard at work making renovations to the kitchen and bathrooms at Copper Mountain Mesa Community Center, where he is the board President, and keeping their monthly USDA food drive alive. During this time, Kip’s Desert Book Club had largely been on pause, with the exception of a few virtual meetings. These virtual gatherings allowed us to welcome the participation of book club fans from beyond our local region.
Sixty-six books, more than seven years, and one pandemic later, Kip has decided to step back from being the primary book club organizer and join the rest of us as readers. Kip, we thank you for all the wonderful and eclectic desert books you’ve chosen over the years, as well as the unforgettable stories and knowledge you continue to share (if you know, you know!)
So, we are excited to announce that beginning in January 2022, our in-person book club will resume as the Desert Research Library Book Club (or DRL Book Club, for short). Each month, a member of the current Desert Research Library Artist Cohort will select a book from the library as that month’s book club selection.
