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As drought settles on the town of Peaches, California, fourteen-year-old Lacey May and her alcoholic mother find themselves at home in an environmental disaster. In their desperation, residents have turned to a cult leader named Pastor Vern for guidance. He promises to bring the rain everybody is praying for. But these promises come with unimaginable strings attached. . . . From female friendship and resilience, to mother-loss and motherhood, and seeking salvation in unexpected places, Godshot introduces a writer who gives Flannery O’Connor’s Gothic parables a Californian twist and who emerges with a miracle that is all her own.
Welcome to In The Club, a newsletter of resources to keep your book group well-met, well-read, and well-fed. Greetings from my place of people avoidance whereI’m serving up suggestions for book clubs of one (or more if you live with people)! I’ve also found myself watching a ton of movies, so we’re going cinematic once again. From Shakespeare to Cher Horowitz, we’re snuggling up with some adaptations.
Ready? To the club!!
Nibbles and Sips
I’m still out here (well, in here) preaching the gospel of self care and simple pleasures. This week I am treating myself to a true movie night: lights off, cozy blanket on hand, and an array of indulgent snacks at the ready. I tossed out a version of this idea back in February, but this time’s a little different since it’s a much smaller gathering and you get to pick the menu with little to no input from anyone else. Here’s what I’ll be munching on:
- Popcorn: the good, buttery, may-cause-atherosclerosis stuff
- Sour/fruity candy: Twizzlers Rainbow Twists or Haribo Gummy Bears
- Flaming Hot Cheetos Con Limon, an essential food group
- Chocolate: the Cadbury and Robin Eggs I recently purchased at a deep, deep discount
- Wine in the form of a Viognier or Sauv Blanc slushy
- Tums, ’cause lordt am I gonna need em
Adaptation Nation, My Old Friend – There are a few ways to do this: do it alone, with a live-in buddy, or with others via the wonders of video chat. Read the book, then watch the movie, or the reverse for all you rebel types. You can also read the book in chunks and watch the movie/series the same way. Or, get this: ditch the reading. If you’re in a slump, you’re not alone. Do what ever makes your isolated boat float!
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness + A Discovery of Witches series on AMC – This is actually a whole series, but it’s so fun! I finally read the first book in the All Souls Trilogy this year and fell hard for the reluctant witch historian + hottie Oxford vampire chronicles. It was lovely to see the Oxford, Scottish highlands, and French country locales brought to life on screen. I was going to start book two (Shadow of Night), because I’m ready to follow Diana and Matthew to Elizabethan London, but here comes the rona ruining all the fun: season two of the series is apparently being bumped to 2021.
Bonus: Speaking of bookish shows to marathon: Killing Eve! This uh-mazing series starring Ellen Oh and Jody Comer was flawless in its first season and is based on Codename: Villanelle by Luke Jennings. I haven’t watched the second and third seasons; if you’ve kept up, give me your thoughts!
Emma by Jane Austen + Clueless – Did ya know that this 90s classic film is based on an actual classic? I’ve been in the mood for an Austen reread and am trying rull hard not to make it Pride & Prejudice for the fifty-leventh time. I may just go with Emma and pair the reread with an evening spent with Cher, Tai, Dionne & friends.
Alternatively, you could watch the 2020 adaptation directed by Autumn de Wilde!
The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare + 10 Things I Hate About You – Ah, the film that had all the girls thinking they could drop it low to Biggie’s “Hypnotize” just because Julia Stiles tried it. Shade aside, I love this movie and instantly start singing “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” when I think of it. I invite you to join me in spending a little time with Willy Shakespeare, then with Heath Ledger. Also, when’s the last time anyone checked on Andrew Keegan? Is he okay? Does he have snacks? Is he living comfortably off that Tiger Beat money?
Bonus: There are a lot of outlets offering free or low-cost streams of Shakespeare’s plays right now. I just watched The Globe’s production of Romeo & Juliet last night starring Ellie Kendrick and Adetomiwa Edun; it’s available on their YouTube channel until Sunday, May 3rd and a new play is released every two weeks. Just this morning, Jenn Northington put me on to PBS Great Performances streaming Much Ado About Nothing starring Danielle Brooks. Sold!
Jaws by Peter Benchley + Jaws – Okay, I wasn’t today years old when I found out Jaws is an adaptation, but I was absolutely around-this-time-two-years-ago old. Eek! Perhaps its time to give it a read and then roll that beautiful shark footage.
Suggestion Section
How The Bookclubz App Is Bringing Book Lovers Together During Coronavirus Lockdowns
Book lovers + theater lovers: check out the BroadwayWorld Book Club
Oh joy, there’s now a Goop book club. Hopefully there’s no mandatory vajayjay candle purchase required for participation.
There are way, way too many of these stories to link to, so I’ll just remind anyone looking for a book club to look up their local library. Libraries around the country are offering virtual club hangouts!
Thanks for hanging with me today! Shoot me an email at vanessa@riotnewmedia.com with your burning book club questions or find me on Twitter and the gram @buenosdiazsd. Sign up for the Audiobooks newsletter, catch me once a month on the All the Books podcast, and watch me ramble about even more new books every Tuesday on our YouTube channel.
Stay bad & bookish, my friends.
Vanessa
More Resources:
– Our Book Group In A Box guide
– List your group on the Book Group Resources page