Literary and Upmarket

Find book discussion guides for your favorite literary and upmarket fiction. And, much more, including memorable quotes and recipes! Thanks for stopping by!

Before We Were Yours Book Club Questions and Recipe

Before We Were Yours Book Club Questions and Recipe

Do you love novels based on true life events? If so, you should check out Lisa Wingate’s novel, Before We Were Yours. The novel centers around the true life events that occurred in the early half of the 20th Century at the Tennessee Children’s Home Society. Georgia Tann, who took over the Society in the 1920s, began trafficking children through the organization.

To Kill a Mockingbird Book Club Questions and Recipe

To Kill a Mockingbird Book Club Questions and Recipe

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is one of the most beloved stories in American history, perhaps the most. It centers around the spirited and spunky Scout Finch as she struggles with a world-view shift and comes of age in a small Southern town rife with prejudice. If your book club picks To Kill a Mockingbird to read, I’ve provided book club questions and a delicious recipe for your meeting below! So if you are looking for food ideas and more, keep reading!

The Invention of Wings Book Club Questions and Recipe

The Invention of Wings Book Club Questions and Recipe

While researching books for Book Club Bites, I stumbled upon The Invention of Wings. It was released in 2015, but I had yet to read it. The premise was intriguing. In fact, I’m a sucker for Civil War fiction in the same way some people love WWII fiction. This is another book by Sue Monk Kidd with a young narrator. Two young narrators actually–Sarah and Handful. They both have unique voices, like Lily from The Secret Life of Bees. You also have the racial discrimination (civil rights vs slavery) and coming-of-age themes. However, that is where the similarity ends.

Little Women Book Club Questions and Recipe

Little Women Book Club Questions and Recipe

Although I read Little Women as a preteen and knew the basis of the story, rereading the book as an adult was a delight. The book is a classic and written for the post-Civil war era, so it isn’t a fast-paced, straight-line story like those we read today. That said, I found so much timeless wisdom in the book. From Meg’s conversations with Marmee after becoming a new mother, to Jo’s struggles as a writer, to Amy’s frustrations at wanting more without losing her character in exchange for wealth.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine Book Club Questions and Recipe

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine Book Club Questions and Recipe

If your book club hasn’t read Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, I highly recommend it. It will surprise you and leave you smiling. In the beginning, I think it’s safe to say that Eleanor Oliphant is not a very likeable character, but, by the end, I was cheering loudly for her. What a triumphant character and novel.