Monday, July 28, 2014

literary




I've been contemplating finally starting a book club lately.

I've shared my thoughts and given advice on starting a book club on the blog before, but I think I've been hesitant to actually begin one here because I've been waiting to settle into a routine. Now that I have a full-time job and we're feeling more settled (and my husband takes part 1 of the bar exam TOMORROW -- where has the summer gone!?) I've been thinking a lot more about it.
Where would we meet? Who should I invite? What should we read?

I think quite secretly another reason why I hesitate to start my own is because I miss my book club in Virginia. It was my first and only book club ever, so part of me is pretty nervous to try and replace that presence in my life. It's hard not to compare. I think I'm going to have to just try it out and maybe mix things up a little, try a fresh new take on things. Make it our own, allowing the new group to dictate the growth and change as we go along.

This book necklace always makes me think of book club, because I bought it from a local Lynchburg artisan downtown at a craft market. It's the best book necklace I've come across, made from real leather and paper. Each one is completely unique. I had seen her at several craft markets during our time in Virginia and have been really hoping she would update her Etsy shop and list some items there! To my delight, she has! She even has more book necklaces listed. I absolutely love the variances in style and texture.

Check out her shop, Barefoot Pathways!
I'm thrilled to add that she has provided a special coupon code just for you!
Just enter voguishatbest10 to receive 10% off anything in her shop!

It honestly takes a great deal of self-restraint not to buy a whole library's worth of those tiny book necklaces. She has other handmade jewelry as well, and is so sweet and talented.


Top: gifted, Skirt: Primark in London, Shoes: Marshall's
Necklace: Barefoot Pathways on Etsy


During one of my last book club meetings we had a fantastic discussion about books (imagine that).
One of the girls, Allison, presented us with a list of questions to ponder and I loved hearing everyone's different answers. I'd love to hear yours, too!

1. What book would you choose to have completely memorized?
2. What book would you embody, if you could be a book on a shelf?
3. What book would you recommend to absolutely everyone?
4. What book would you burn/banish to a desert island?

We all went back and forth, and it took us all a very long time to answer with any sort of finality.
I think my answers will change constantly, but while sitting there these were my answers:

1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
2. The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
3. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
4. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

I obviously love Harry Potter, but that 5th book is a plague (but I won't get into that Sirius stuff again).

I could also put Lord of the Flies or Bridge to Terabithia on that #4...
But instead of contemplating more of my answers, let's hear yours!
Comment below! Let the discussions begin.


7 comments:

  1. I love these questions~!
    Here are my answers, at the moment:
    1. The entire Winnie-the-Pooh series, so I can quote it whenever!
    2. Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn; I want to live in her world!
    3. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis <3
    4. Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy; I think I've thrown this across the room multiple times to stop myself from crying...


    And that book necklace! Ahhh~! <3 <3

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  2. Aw I love your answers! I've never heard of your #2 - I'll have to read it!!

    I love my growing collection of book necklaces, yours included!! I need to make a special display for them.

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  3. For sure, for me, #1 would be Bode Thone's The Zion Chronicles. All of them. Captivating and tragic. #2 Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. #3 The Great Divorce, C.S. Lewis

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  4. Wonderful Questions. #1 for me would be Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. #2 Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns #3The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova #4 Would be The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

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  5. Hi Charity! Thanks for stopping by!
    I love your answers -- especially since most of them are new to me! Cold Sassy Tree sounds delightful. And I absolutely will take your #3 as a personal recommendation. That sounds like something I would love to read!!
    I've heard such mixed things about Old Man and the Sea, I'm not sure I'll ever muster up the courage to read it! Why would you banish it?

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  6. I haven't read the Zion Chronicles!
    Those are great choices though, Great Divorce is a good choice for recommending!!

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  7. Caitlin, Cold Sassy Tree is amazing. I read it in eighth grade and have loved it ever since.

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