When I agreed to write a guest blog for the winsome and kindred Modern Mrs. Darcy in September, I didn’t know all the goodness that would transpire.
Gilbert Blythe versus Fitzwilliam Darcy: Who Smolders More?
Gilbert versus…
F. Darcy, Gentleman
First of all, how much fun did I have writing it?
Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! There are no words–only squeals.
And normally it’s a good idea to stay away from the comments, but in this case, the comments were fantastic. In order to enter Mrs. Darcy’s giveaway for my book, readers had to leave a comment stating their own lit crush. There were 440 comments, all so fascinating to read!
(And BY THE WAY: Gilbert won the comments! As I knew he would. As if there was any doubt…)
But there were lots of other lit crushes cited as well, some of them somewhat obscure, like
Anton from “Summer of My German Soldier,” which I remembered reading as a young lady (only a few years after my own Summer of My German Soldier…a story I will tell here soon).
and Barney, from “The Blue Castle,” Lucy Maud Montgomery’s luscious, hidden gem of a novel for grown ups.
and Teddy from the lesser known, lesser read Emily series by L.M. Montgomery. (If you’re an AOGG fan and you haven’t read Emily yet, do so post haste! Some people even prefer Emily!)
Those gems were mixed in with lots of the big classics: Jane Eyre, Little Women, Sense and Sensibility, and Anne of Green Gables, OF COURSE.
So I decided to do my own blog: Top Ten Lit Crushes and Why We Love ‘Em, and my publisher, Tyndale, co-hosted a contest with me.
(Bravo and Mazel Tov, Kelli, Elizabeth, and Michelle! You are the winners of my new book AND the delightful Anne of Green Gables radio theater production on CD! Thanks to you and all who chimed in with great, funny, touching comments.)
Both blogs really hit a nerve, and got me thinking: Obviously, we literary ladies/book geeks loooove our classics, obscure and standard.
And there’s nothing we adore more than discussing the books and characters that have enlivened our days.
So if you revere books like I revere books, let’s all hang out together at the…
LITERARY CRUSH ONLINE BOOK CLUB
Each month, starting in January, we’ll pick a book from the list, read it, and convene here for discussion, recipes and giveaways.
If your last book club fizzled (as they do), or you just prefer to sit at home in your pajamas while you discuss books, this club is for you!
Low pressure. High fun!
I’ve also assembled a group of ladies here in Grand Rapids to meet as a physical (notice I didn’t use the word “real”) book club. The online book club will allow friends from Canada and the UK to chime in as well. Really, I have a friend in Vanuatu so she could join, too.
To celebrate, I’m giving away one of the nine books we will be reading and discussing throughout 2016. Enter to win below by commenting on which book you would most love to discuss, or suggesting a recipe idea for one of the picks.
(German schnitzel for Summer of My German Soldier, English Cheese Pie for one of the British books, Raspberry Cordial for you know what, etc!).
The first book club selection will be Summer of My German Soldier, by Bette Green.
This is the audio book cover, but it’s also the best one. I’m kind of picky about covers…
And this is the latest version available, 2006, Puffin
With Thanksgiving and Christmas coming, I thought it best to shoot for mid-January, once all the wrapping paper is thrown away and the cherubs are back in school, diligently attending to their studies. So we have almost two months to read this delicious, moving, funny book.
Sign up here for my blog, for book club updates and a deluxe set of Mother/Daughter Book Club questions for Anne of Green Gables–perfect for homeschoolers and moms and daughters who love to read.
More later, but for now, please do chime in with your comments: Which of the following titles intrigues you the most?
Summer of My German Soldier
Jane Eyre
The Blue Castle
Little Women
Emily of New Moon
North and South
Sense and Sensibility
Pride and Prejudice
OR…
Anne of Green Gables
By the way, we’ll probably mix it up and do Anne next, because who wants to wait 9 months to read Anne???
The winning commenter will receive the book of their choice from the above list.
Join us! As I like to say about my blog, there’s always room for one more kindred spirit!
So excited to return to childhood favorites Anne of Green Gables and Summer of My German soldier — my heart is tingling just thinking about Gilbert and Anton again. Also looking forward to Blue Castle, which I’ve never read before!
Awesome, Amy! So glad you think of Anton fondly! I am excited to introduce him and Patty to those who never read this gem!
I want to read them all!!!!
Me too! Which haven’t you read, Carolyn?
I have not read the Emily books in years – it will be wonderful to delve into them again! (And even more fun if I can get my girls to do it with me!)
Lisa, I agree–Emily is someone to share! Really looking forward to introducing new people to characters like Emily, Teddy and Dean Priest.
This sounds amazing! I have never done a book club, but have always wanted to. And how have I never heard of Summer of My German Soldier? There are a couple others I haven’t read, but would love to. Thanks for creating this opportunity.
Welcome Corrie! Looking forward to your voice on all these luscious books and characters!
How fun! I am going to try to get my daughter to do this with me 🙂
Now you’re cooking with Crisco, Jen! What a great idea.
So excited about this! Thanks for starting something quite possibly wonderful, my friend. On books: I’d like to read The Blue Castle, as I’ve never read it, but then I’ve never read Summer of My German Soldier, so I Iook forward to that. Haven’t read the Emily books. And though I’ve read North and South–sigh…. Can’t wait to read it again!
I believe you to be our current Gaskell specialist, Tracy! Excited to hear your thoughts on all these juicy books.
North and South.
Our most challenging book. Well done, Kirsten!
Aside from the Austen books, AOGG and Little Women I haven’t read (or heard of) any of the other books, so I’m definitely intrigued! Looking forward to reading more by LMM especially.
You just made my husband’s Christmas shopping so much easier. I put the titles of the books I don’t currently have on my wish list. I expect they’ll be tied up with a big red bow under the tree on Christmas morning.
I’ve never been in a book club before, and since I don’t recall reading any of the titles on the list, I think this would be a fabulous way to start! I’m most excited about Anne of Green Gables because I’ve followed you on FB for a few years and want to read the book that has captured your heart and imagination.
I’m intrigued by The Blue Castle.
I am looking forward to reading them all and being in a book club again! The one I am most looking forward to reading, though, would have to be “Little Women” since I have managed to live 47 years and graduate with two English degrees and have never read it! I even picked it up on a visit to Louisa May Alcott’s home in Concord, Mass., many moons ago and never read it. But I have a theory that you read books when the time is right and you NEED to read them. So I’m excited to know that I will finally be able to say I’ve read it!
What a great list! North & South and The Summer of My German Soldier are the only ones of these that I have not read, so they’re the ones that intrigue me most.
North and South – because I’ve not read it and it’s been on my tbr list for years!
this club is perfect – thank you!
So excited to read these books and joining the book club.
Matt had to read North and South for a gender class at Regent…he was ashamed of the schmaltzy book cover and being seen reading it on the bus, so he taped white paper over it. I read it after him and loved it. I have yet to read the other L.M. Montgomery books (besides Anne) and the Summer of My German Soldier.