Stephanie Butland The Lost for Words Bookshop Loveday is more than just an introvert who loves books and works in a used books store. She’s hiding from a childhood tragedy that no one needs to know, and she doesn’t want to discuss, though her kind, portly boss knows enough about it to shelter her and…
Category: Life after tragedy
“The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry” Discussion Questions and Apple Crumble Muffins Recipe
A.J. Fikry is a calloused, tragic middle-aged widower who owns a bookstore in New England, but hates change, and most of the newer genres of books. He prefers to be left alone to his frozen curry meals and short stories, and gives a cold, angry reception to the new sales rep for the local book…
“The Notebook” Book Discussion and Cherry Coke Chocolate Cupcakes Recipe
Noah is an elderly man in a nursing home, his hands crippled by arthritis, who still, every morning, picks up a notebook, and carries it with him to his wife’s room, where he will tell her their story, hoping her Alzheimer’s won’t stop her from remembering them, even just for a little while. He makes…
“Far From the Madding Crowd” Book Discussion and Bacon, Ham, and Cheddar Biscuit Recipe
Bathsheba Everdeen is a stubborn but hardworking young woman who inherits her grandfather’s farm just as her once-dear friend falls into personal tragedy. Independently making a living in a man’s world leads her to arrogance and in doubt of ever finding marriage. She thinks love to be a joke and plays a foolish trick on…
“A Court of Mist and Fury” Book Discussion and Citrus Scones Recipe
“A huntress with an artist’s soul” and a dark, fallen Prince in the land of night become part of a new alliance developed to stop a terrible king. Feyre has defeated Amarantha and been remade, but her fiery spirit burns deeper within her than Tamlin can control, or cage in the mansion at the Spring…
“P.S. I Love You” Book Discussion and Strawberry Jam and Vanilla Cupcakes with Vanilla Frosting
Holly’s husband Gerry has just died of a brain tumor. She thought they would have the rest of their lives together, and instead she has to learn how to be a widow before she has even turned thirty. But Gerry didn’t leave her to fend for herself completely. He left a series of letters for…
“Jane Eyre” Book Discussion and Orange Almond Cardamom Cupcakes Recipe
Jane Eyre is an orphaned governess who develops romantic feelings for her employer, Mr. Rochester, a man ensconced in tragedy. Sent away to an orphanage as a child by her cruel aunt, Jane’s attachments in life have been few. At Lowood, she gains a friend whose perspectives enable Jane to reign in her anger and…
“The Distant Hours” Book Discussion and Mini Pear Pound Cakes
The Distant Hours by Kate Morton From the first pages of The Distant Hours, imaginations are captured, like Edie’s, by the dark tale of the Mud Man, a haunting fictional book within this one: “Can you hear him? The trees can. They are the first to hear him coming…It is moonless when the Mud Man comes.”…