Cover Snapshot of Read Books

Sara's bookshelf: read

Crazy Little Thing
A Kiss at Midnight
The Disenchanted Widow
Hollywood Wives - The New Generation
There Goes the Bride
Table for Five
Do Not Disturb
The Husband's Secret
The Ugly Duchess
Help for the Haunted
The Power Trip
Flawless
The Haunting of Maddy Clare
Fame
Summer At Willow Lake
Barefoot
Every Crooked Nanny
The Mystery Woman
The Woodcutter
How to Be an American Housewife


Sara's favorite books »

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Sugar and Spice: Hosting Themed Book Clubs

Many books lend themselves to a theme which makes it easy for the host to determine a menu. The obvious theme choice is a culinary book and there are many that are suitable for those times when your book club wants to read something on the lighter side.

My club recently read The Sugar Queen --a light but enjoyable book which lends itself perfectly to a themed book club. The book focuses on Josie Cirrini, a gal who has a secret closet full of candy and romance novels. Josie soon wakes up and discovers a local woman named Della Lee is living in her closet. Della is determined to help Josie and change her life—especially once she sees the secret stash of closet sweets. Della believes that no one should live such a sad life and makes it her mission to give Josie advice. Before long Josie is contemplating leaving her small town and deciding whether or not to give up her closet-sugar-eating lifestyle. All of our favorite childhood candies (and some we didn’t know) were mentioned---Sour Patch Kids (my favorite), Sweet Tarts, Moon Pies, Lemon Drops, Squirrel Nut Zippers (what?) and more! So, you can see how this easily lends itself to a vibrant candy theme! Our host had a candy table with glass containers of Gobstoppers, M&Ms, and Bottle Caps; it was candy-filled fun! Inspiration is easy to find—add candy as cake or cupcake toppers, have brightly colored drinks, serve candy found in the book!

If you choose The Sugar Queen for your book club, be sure to check out author Sarah Addison Allen’s website. She has a book club tab, discussion questions, and a full Sugar Queen candy list!
http://www.sarahaddisonallen.com/book_clubs.html.

Culinary Themed books that may work for your book club: The School of Essential Ingredients, The Sugar Queen, The Wedding Officer, Like Water for Chocolate, The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, Chocolat, Five Quarters of the Orange, The Diva Runs out of Thyme, Comfort Food, Deep Dish

Relax and enjoy your sugar coma,