This is a short, catch-up episode of the Front Porch Book Club. Nancy admits that she ran out of time finding a guest for Crazy Rich Asians. Kevin Kwan was unavailable (!) as were a number of the experts Nancy contacted. Instead, we catch-up on what is going on in our lives. Linny tells Nancy all about her latest paid extra gig, a feature film, based on a documentary about a Washington, D.C. man who begins a boxing club for youth in his neighborhood. Linny was a spectator in some of the boxing matches and filmed over two days. The filming location was actually in Baltimore. Linny believes she will be invited to the premiere in Baltimore. Linny put her actor’s resume together and sent it to the casting director. Linny loves doing these gigs because she gets to meet so many interesting people. Linny also reports that her video work she had a goal about in January is going very well. She figured it out and it’s going well. That, and the podcast, are also on her actor’s resume, along with the photo Nancy took of her last year. Nancy’s recent win was a partner who said she was fun to play tennis with. Nancy also reported that another win was cooking a successful French progressive dinner live-auction item she and friends offered to benefit the Lied, Lincoln’s performing arts center. Nancy was responsible for the entrée, sides, and salad, and it all went well. The four couples who won the dinner were very fun. Linny and Nancy talk about gratitude, in this time of Thanksgiving. Nancy is grateful for Linny and loves their time on the podcast, as is Linny. She also mentions family, friends, faith, country, and the Hallmark Channel! Linny saw Nuremberg the afternoon of our recording. She highly recommends it. She thought the extras did a very good job 10/10 stars. Russel Crowe gets a 9/10. Linny muses that the Academy Awards should have a category for the best extras. Linny’s son will not be home for Christmas, so she is deciding she will be grateful for Christmas but she is looking for ideas that will create a happy Christmas without her child. If you have ideas, let us know!! Next episode is December and we usually review a children’s book. This year we are reading a youth book: The Giver written by Lois Lowry. The Giver is a modern-day classic. It is a Newbery Medal–winner. In this book twelve-year-old Jonas lives in a seemingly ideal world. Life in the community where Jonas lives is idyllic. Designated “birthmothers” produce “newchildren,” who are assigned to appropriate family units. Citizens are assigned their partners and jobs. No one thinks to ask questions. Everyone obeys. Everyone is the same. Except Jonas. Not until he is given his life assignment as the Receiver of Memory does he begin to understand the dark, complex secrets behind his fragile community. The Giver is actually the first book in a series of four: The Giver, Gathering Blue, Messenger, and Son. We’re only reading the first of the four for next month! Nancy says they’ll read this over Thanksgiving and will be thankful we don’t live in this dystopian community!