Great Books & Entertaining Ideas for Your Next Book Club

I am in two book clubs but yet still read many more books than that in a month. How you ask with a busy schedule? The secret is audiobooks. Everytime I exercise I am listening to a book. Three of my recent reads would be fantastic for a book club for they not only have great content to discuss but lend themselves to some terrific entertaining themes.


Circling the Sun by Paula McLain
This is by far the best book I have read this year. If you loved “The Paris Wife” then you will love this book. In an NPR interview she said, “It is my fate to illuminate the lives of these one-of-a-kind notable women that have been somehow forgotten by history.” Inspiration is coming from safaris and Champagne!

• Appetizer and Wine: Maize Fritters with Aioli served with Champagne or Sparkling Wine.
• Main Course and Wine: Sous-Vide Venison with a Radford Dale Syrah from South Africa
• Music: Angélique Kidjo or Afro Funk or Jazz from the 20’3 and 30’s
• Decorating: Earth tones, burlap, make a trip to Cost Plus and scatter little statues and corn.

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George, translated by Simon Pare
A charming book with heartfelt sentiment all with the backdrop of Paris and Southern France. Monsieur Perdu doles out books like a doctor to a patient. The books are medicine for what ails a particular person. I feel the same way about wine. When I consult people for wine choices I not only ask what food is being served I ask about what mood they are trying to establish.

• Mussels and Pommes Frites with either a Sancerre or a Rosé
• Music: Paris Combo, Pink Martinis and Madeleine Peyroux would be perfect!
• Decorating: Don’t do the pink and black thing. Be more authentic and go for found objects. I found this website that had the right idea http://www.bellenza.com/wedding-ideas/decorate/fabulous-feature-a-french-inspired-table-setting.html

Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal
I am almost finished reading this book and find it highly entertaining and reflective of today’s food obsessed lifestyles. I burst out laughing at a few points. If you are into food and wine this is a must read.

• Appetizer and Wine: Try a little goat cheese with jalapeño jelly with a California Sauvignon Blanc.
• Main Course: a Caesar Salad, Succotash and venison (again!) serve with a California Chardonnay or California Cabernet Sauvignon. Of course, the wine must be from small producers and know where and what type of seeds were used in making the Succotash. Don't forget peanut butter bars for dessert!
• Music: I would do classic rock. You really could play almost anything but I think the heart of the book is Americana.
• Decorating: I say keep it simple and nothing pretentious. Use your everyday dishes and glasses with simple white flowers and greenery. Or use beautiful produce to decorate your table top.