Good morning, readers!
Today is an exciting sort of day...and that's because I get to share about a little change I made to my book club. As you may have noticed, I gave my blog a little refresh for the new year, including a bit of a slightly new look and a fresh vision for what I hope, desire, and aim to share here this year. At the beginning of each new year, I like to ponder my vision for this blog and see what my heart and soul tells me. But I'll be sharing more on that in another post.
Today, it's all about my book club.
Last summer I began a monthly book club here on my blog. In this book club, I share a book choice for each month and then at the end of the month, I share a discussion post and anyone who read the book along with me is invited and encouraged to share their thoughts, too. I really enjoyed beginning a book club and learning this and that about doing such a thing.
And as a new year begins, I felt a nudge in my heart and soul to give it a new name...so, I am ever so delighted to share that the book club is now called...
The Steeped in Story Book Club.
Everything else about this book club remains the same. I will be sharing the monthly book choice at the end of each month, with plenty of time to anyone who wishes to read along to get a copy of the book. Then we'll read the book during that specific month and gather to share our thoughts on it at the end of the month. There really isn't anything too fancy or complicated about it.
The books that I hope for us to read together will be clean (see note below), lifegiving and wholesome, cozy and comforting, and light rather than heavy stories. Some will be seasonal, other will be whatever pops off my shelf that month. I hope to possibly share some books that maybe aren't on your radar so that you may find some new favorites. But we'll also visit stories that perhaps are already beloved favorites that you will enjoy returning to. Either way, my ultimate goal is to simply remember and rekindle the wonder, beauty, and gift of being steeped in story. And my belief in being steeped in story is to be reminded of the goodness of the world and of being alive to the beauty of the world. Those are the kinds of stories I wish and hope to share in this book club.
Note regarding "clean" reads: My personal definition of a "clean" book is one that does not have open door s*x scenes or overly graphic descriptions of intimate moments. It isn't what one would call spicy or steamy, and most definitely, not what would be labeled "smut". The best way I can explain my standards is to use the show Gilmore Girls as a guide. For me to read a book, it can't contain anymore content than an episode of Gilmore Girls would. If I wouldn't watch it on a show or in a movie, I don't want to read it in a book. Hopefully, this helps explain my standards in choosing books for this book club. As always, though, if you have any questions about a specific book I chose (or have mentioned in a post), you are always welcome to send me a message through the form on the sidebar.
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And so now, for February's book choice...oh, I am absolutely beside myself with excitement about this one...drumroll, please...
Betsy-Tacy
by Maud Hart Lovelace
This is the first in a series of books written by Maud Hart Lovelace. It is a series that has been compared to the Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maud Montgomery...another Maud. These books are written in a way that is meant to grow along with the readers, in that the books and writing style gets more advanced as they go on in the series. This was done with the hope that readers might grow up along with the characters as they read the stories. But, of course, adults love these stories, too. And it is my hope that whether this is your first introduction to the world of Deep Valley and Betsy, Tacy, and all their adventures, or if you've long been a kindred spirit to these girls and their stories, you will join me for this beautifully sweet story.
I'm sure this book is quite easy to find at your local libraries, but if you'd like to add a copy to your own personal collection, Abe Books has some great deals, as always. It's my go-to for used book shopping online! You can find their selection here.
We will be gathering to share our thoughts on this story on Sunday, February 23rd. I will also be announcing the book choice for March that day, too.
As always, if you have any questions, please leave a comment or send me a message using the form on the sidebar. Do let me know if you'll be joining in! I will be sending a little bookish note via snail mail to those participating (by reading the book and sharing their thoughts in the discussion post) who wish to send me their address, simply as a thank you for joining me and reading along.
Thank you for being here today...
I hope you'll be joining me in Deep Valley with Betsy and Tacy next month!