If the walls at City Café could talk, they’d ask for a library card. On February 4, The Suburban Reviewers gathered at the popular Baton Rouge restaurant and once again proved that literary discussion thrives best alongside good food and clever conversation.
The meeting opened with club business, conducted efficiently and with the group’s signature good humor. The nominating committee presented its slate of officer recommendations: Earline Sceroler for president, Angela Mashon for vice president, Carolyn Ott for secretary, and Nelda Dendinger for parliamentarian. The slate was met with unanimous approval, confirming a leadership team well-equipped to guide the club into its next chapter.
A particularly meaningful moment followed as members recognized Sara Easterly for 25 years of continuous club membership. In appreciation of her steadfast commitment, Easterly was officially inducted into the club’s Living Legends, an honor reserved for members whose loyalty and love of literature have endured through decades of reading, discussion, and fellowship. Ann Kemp gave a poignant tribute in celebration of the milestone.
The program continued with guest speaker Ansley Johnson, whose own work as a writer added depth and delight to the afternoon. Johnson has self-published several novellas, including The Lullaby of the Drowned Wife, a richly imagined historical story set in 1860s New Orleans, and Carvings of the Heart, the first book in a romantic historical trilogy.
Johnson’s remarks engaged the group with thoughtful insights about her creative process and the books and experiences that shaped her journey. As always, club members balanced attentive listening with lively questions, turning the talk into its own kind of literary exchange.
Members departed City Café well-fed, well-led, and well-inspired.
