Category Archives: Book Club

Florence’s Book Club: Italian Home baking

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This week, I’m going slightly off the beaten track with the book recommendations and shifting from fiction to food. You all know I love my food and so I love recipe books, particularly when they are as evocative as this one. Italy is one of my favourite countries, I love visiting there and it’s also hands down my favourite type of food, so when I flicked through this book several months back in WH Smith, I knew I was going to have to buy it.


Italian Home Baking: 100 Irresistible Recipes for Bread, Biscuits, Cakes, Pizza, Pasta and Party Food by Gino D’Acampo

The recipe book is full of baked recipes, so it naturally starts off with about a million variations on the humble loaf, from ciabatta to foccacia, stuffed, plain, with olives and sun dried tomato, there’s bound to be something to make you want to slow down and knead the dough for your very own masterpiece.

There are (Italian) cakes too but the book branches out a little further into recipes where baking is simply part of the process, like pizza of course, but also baked pasta dishes. Although I like Gino D’Acampo, I’ve never really loved him on TV, but the way he talks about family and the role of food within it is enough to make you go all Jamie over him, just like the Essex lad ‘sexified’ food, here’s an easy-on-the-eye chef with a tan and a twinkle straight from the Italian school of charm.

If you are a fan of Italian food or know someone who is, I would totally recommend it, I know many of the recipes will be gracing my table this summer.

Can you recommend any great Italian or other regional food cook books?

Love,
Rebecca
xo

Italian Home Baking: 100 Irresistible Recipes for Bread, Biscuits, Cakes, Pizza, Pasta and Party Food by Gino d’Acampo available on Amazon for £9.99

PS Want to read more of Florence’s favourite cook books?

Florence’s favourite: Gardening books

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This morning, I thought I’d share some of the sources of the wealth of knowledge I’ve accumulated on gardening. Most of that came from books over the years and I love getting a recommendation for a good book. It’s also a little distraction from the dismal weather we’ve been having (bonus Florence points if you’ve secretly been looking out of the window thinking how good it is for your garden!) that will get you ready for next month’s warmer weather and gardening boom time.

So here goes…

  1. The Flower Expert - Dr D G Hessayon £6.19. Growing up, this was my bible. I used to read this book, cover to cover, every year when I was deciding what to plant. It tells you what conditions a plant likes, the size and spread it grows into and what sort of plant it is. It’s part of the best-selling Expert series with a book on nearly everything you could need and you can’t go far wrong with them. Must buys for the garden enthusiast or beginner!
  2. The Kitchen Gardener: Grow Your Own Fruit and Veg - Alan Titchmarsh £13.00 I got this one more recently, when we got the allotment. Arranged year by year with list of jobs to do, what to sow and when, and chapters on how to arrange your vegetable garden and rotate crops etc, it’s a great one to turn to for reference.
  3. Alan Titchmarsh – The Gardener’s Year Similar to the Kitchen Gardener, this is a month by month guide to your garden. Think of it as an old friend or taking the place of your grandad and his green thumb which could make anything grow. I love Alan’s books because he’s so no-nonsense and easy to read. No pretences and he has a healthy attitude to just getting on with planting.
  4. Small Garden - John Brookes £11.04 This last two were purchased when we moved into our house. John Brookes is a fantastic garden design writer and a name to look out for if you want to buy a gift you know will be decent. This collection of small garden inspiration is a real treat if you think your garden isn’t big enough to do anything with.
  5. Planting a Small Garden: Simple steps to success (RHS Simple Steps to Success) – RHS £4.89. Taking more of a practical approach, this book has lists of plants perfect for small gardens, from trees that won’t overshadow your patio spot, to plants for tricky shady borders or damp patches. It’s all easy to read and with loads of gorgeous gardens to feed your ideas!

So tell me, how does your garden grow this April?

Love,
Rebecca
xo

Florence’s book club: The Language of Flowers

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This afternooon it’s Florence’s book club, returning with Rachel’s review of The Language of Flowersby Vanessa Diffenbaugh. I have a copy at home waiting for me to have spare time to read it and I’ve got high hopes so I’m looking forward to hearing what any others of you might think who have read it.

The next book is introduced at the bottom so make a note of it!

I really wanted to read this book. I’d heard lots about it, read good reviews by people whose opinion I trust plus a book about flowers and language, perfect. Yet…Like Victoria, our heroine, I was a rollercoaster of emotions. Sometimes loving it, sometimes bored, sometimes wondering what on earth could happen next and why was she spoiling something good in her life? It often felt that Victoria’s life seems to be getting better, have shoots of promise, making friends, working as a florist and then bang! Something else comes along and throws her story into another direction.

“I had loved, more than once. I just hadn’t recognised the emotion for what it was until I had done everything within my power to destroy it.”

The Language of Flowersis set in present day America, somehow I’d miss read the name Victoria and the role of the language of flowers in Victorian times, to think this would be a story passing between today and the Victorian era. It moves between the present day and probably 10 years earlier. Victoria’s traumatic life, unwanted from birth, sent from foster home to foster home until she turns 18 and has to fend for herself. From the beginning we know that she has been loved once but something terrible happened, this part of the story is slowly unravelled for us. We also know that somewhere along her journey she has discovered flowers, and the language of flowers.

“Now, as an adult, my hopes for the future were simple: I wanted to be alone, and to be surrounded by flowers. It seemed, finally, that I might get exactly what I wanted.”

I absolutely loved reading it in spring time as my new garden was coming to life. To feel and smell the flowers, see the buds of new life popping out whilst reading about characters who live, breathe and love flowers. To learn about the different meaning of flowers, at the back of the book is ‘Victoria’s Dictionary of Flowers’. Victoria uses flowers to communicate. Her skill as a florist is partly in understanding her customers, their loves and lives, and choosing the flowers to express their hopes and dreams for when words have run dry, or when planning a wedding. There is a recurring theme about misinterpretation of definitions, how things aren’t always as they appear, meanings, and life, are not all as they seem. A rose is a rose is a rose…

“What does she mean, ‘A rose is a rose is a rose’?” I asked….
“That things just are what they are,” he said.
“’A rose is a rose.’”
“’Is a rose,’” he finished, smiling faintly.
I thought about all the roses in the garden below, their varying shades of colour and youth. “Except when it’s yellow,” I said. “Or red or pink, or unopened or dying.”

If you are planning a wedding, or recently have, flowers are important to you and are perhaps a worrier, now may not be the time to read this book. Some of our favourite wedding flowers appear to have uncomfortable meanings. This could also make planning your wedding flowers more fun, interesting or just add a different dimension. Or you could keep this in the world of fiction.

My final thoughts, when I was enjoying the story, had had a tough day at work, my brain and emotions ached from working too hard my first thoughts on commuting home were ‘oh good I can escape into The Language of Flowers – above twitter, blogs, and that says a lot about a book.

To try a development of Florence Finds Book Club and following on from conversations at Florence Finds London Afternoon Tea I wondered about whether to open up the discussion more. Please share your thoughts on this book but also any other novels about flowers or gardens that you’ve read and we can create a selection of recommended novels about flowers and gardens.

I don’t know about you but I like to read books about men and women, books set in the modern day to the distant past. I like reading a book that then prompts me to find out more about the subject by reading other books. This leads to our next Florence Finds Book Club. The Paris Wife by Paula McLain. I don’t know very much about it but do know it’s about Ernest Hemmingway and his marriage, written from the perspective of his wife. I’m looking forward to finding out more about him, being tempted to perhaps read his autobiography A Moveable Feast and maybe being nudged into reading one of his novels. If reading this book doesn’t appeal then please think about fictional books you’ve enjoyed that are based on real people for when we meet again.

So, it’s time to hear from you! Have you read The Language of Flowers? Or can you make a similar recommendation? Maybe you love a certain flower for it’s meaning or chose/are choosing your wedding flowers for that reason? I’d love to hear…

Love,
Rebecca
xo

Florence’s Book Club: Backwards in High Heels

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I’m doing this month’s book club differently – first up, you’ll see the book that is suggested or recommended reading for the next 2 months and below it you will find the review of the book we’re closing this month.

Do join in if you have read or would like to read either of them – as always, your comments are what keeps the blog ticking over, so wade on in!

This months book, Backwards in High Heels: The Impossible Art of Being Female is introduced by Anna, so give her a warm welcome!

Do you ever glance over your book collection and feel utter joy at the rediscovery of something you’ve not read in a while?

I do, and did very recently. After doing a little dance around the living room, and settling of the sofa for some P & Q reading time, I felt compelled to share my book with you.

Backwards in High Heels: The Impossible Art of Being Female is written by the immensely talented Tania Kindersley (who has published several novels and writes for The Times, The Spectator and The Guardian) and Sarah Vine (writer and editor at The Times, and wife of Michael Gove (slightly irrelevant but good for your general knowledge)).
It claims not to be a ‘How To manual’. Indeed it is not, its whole raison d’être is to encourage the reader to challenge the shoulds and should nots (we feel) society impresses on us. It contains insightful and witty chapters on pretty much every topic over which women today might find themselves lamenting; love, career, health, money, grief, age and beauty to name but a few.

The writing style is intelligent and succinct as well as being I-must-ring-a-friend-to-share funny. I think, however what I love most about this book is the authors’ passion over certain topics. For instance, they argue vehemently against the size zero cult, suggesting that ‘the Pankhursts were too busy battling for emancipation to worry about the evils of a cream cake’. They are real women, writing about real issues in real life.
Great care is taken to portray a balanced view with the idea that there is no right and wrong way to do things. As modern women today find themselves caught up in an internal (as well as a very public) debate over working and family life, the idea of ‘having it all’ is explored. Equal attention is given to having a career, not having a career, (gasp) not working at all, having children, not having children…the message is bold, loud and proud – only you are qualified to decide how to live your life.

You might not want to sit down and read this book cover to cover. It’s perfect for dipping in and out of, especially when you’re faced (as we all are at some point) with a niggling feeling over a particular issue. It’s the literary equivalent of phoning a friend for a chat, and will leave you with the same warm feeling that life is ok, that you are doing ok.

The Review: Sacred Hearts. – With thanks to Jo Norman

For those of you that persevered with Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant I hope you’re glad that you did? I wonder if, like me, it took you a while to really appreciate this book but by the end couldn’t wait to find out what would happen to all the characters.

Sacred Hearts takes place inside the Benedictine cloister of Santa Caterina, in 16th-century Ferrara, and the character who is the main focus is sixteen year old Seraphina sent to the convent as her father doesn’t have enough money for a dowry for his two daughters. Seraphina however is in love with her music tutor and is determined not to comply with the rules of the convent. Her sense of anguish at her separation from an unsuitable suitor and her determination to ‘beat the system’ had so many parallels with modern times. She had more than a hint of stroppy teenage girl about her! She goes from childlike to lovelorn, from loving to scheming but in the end has to rely on her friend and confidante to help her.

I thought it was interesting that initially I thought how awful that these poor unfortunate women would be sent to a convent against their will, but given the choice between marriage to a stranger or being cloistered, maybe the convent wasn’t such a bad choice for some. Sister Zuana, who befriends and helps Seraphina, could certainly never have practiced her medicine on the outside and for her the convent was probably the best life she could have.

The story also delves into the political nature of religious life for women. I went to a Catholic school and before I went I thought that all the nuns were bound to be lovely, kind and gentle. How naïve! Convents are exactly the same as any community, you have strong characters, weak characters, those that manipulate and those that are genuinely kind-hearted. I think this book has parallels to many small modern communities or perhaps offices?

I hope you found this book to be a timeless story of love but more importantly a story of friendship – the happiness, sadness, loss and love.

Once again, if you have a book to recommend to the Book Club and Florence’s readers, do get in touch on hello@florencefinds.com

Love,
Rebecca
xo

Florence’s Book Club: Little Women and The Language of Flowers

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This afternoon, we’re welcoming Rachel back to review her last Book Club choice, Little Women, with the option to also read the follow on book, Good Wives. I read both on holiday a couple of weeks ago and felt an overwhelming sense of nostalgia, them being two of my favourite books as a teen.

The thing I love about the Book Club though is the way hearing what somebody else felt when they read a book changes your perspective on it, even when it’s a classic you are familiar with already. For that reason, I loved Rachel’s review and think her choice for next month’s Book Club is perfect for Florence Finds – particularly as my thoughts turn to the garden with spring in the air and the romance that brings. I’ll let you judge for yourselves but please do join in and share your thoughts on Little Women and/or Good Wives, and let us know if you’ll be reading The Language of Flowers too. Don’t forget, all the book club titles are listed in Florence’s Amazon shop.

Little Women and Good Wives by L M Alcott

NB This review contains spoilers if you are yet to finish it.

I could write about how Little Women made me think about female friendships and how we’re drawn to stories surrounding them. (SATC anyone?) The different characters that make up our friendship groups. How we work as a friendship unit but within it some of us are closer to one friend, how we each bring out the best in each other and sometimes the calmest person gives strength to the loudest.

I could write about how I loved reading it in the run up, during and post Christmas. How it made me reflect on how we’re coming back to giving homemade gifts. We now relish making handmade gifts for our loved ones. There are wonderful passages about what they choose to make and give each other.

I could write about how I think I’m mainly Meg but with a little bit of Beth and Amy tossed in for good measure. (Though I do like my nose and would never dream of wearing a peg on it. Each time I read or think about Amy’s nose it makes me smile.)

Little Women

I could write about how I identified with Meg having completely planned what to say if Mr Brooke asked for hand in marriage. And when it came to it, it all went out the window.

I could write how it was good to read Good Wives in the New Year for New Year’s resolutions.

I could write about how I felt chastened reading about Meg’s desire and temptation for frippery landed her in financial trouble as I travelled on the tube to go sales shopping on the Kings Road.

I could write to all who are thinking about having a family, are pregnant or have a family that they must read the chapter ‘On the shelf’ to ensure their adult relationships remain strong with the arrival of the pitter patter of tiny feet.

I was all set to write about the heartache. About Laurie’s heartache. Let’s just say I missed my tube stop at the point where Jo refuses Laurie’s hand in marriage. I know, I know, of course Jo and Laurie shouldn’t be together but part of me will always feel that Jo and Laurie belong together. My heart kept saying – ‘Oh Jo why couldn’t you love Laurie?’ By the end of the book I’m just about convinced that they have all made the right matches.

And then…. The final chapter. Jo our strong willed, independent heroine, who breaks boundaries, lives by her heart and not society’s conventions sets up her own school. A school for boys. My head and heart scream – “What about the girls’ education?” I realise that even that is a step too far for Jo and L M Alcott to consider and feel thankful that I live in Britain in the 21st century.

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
I’m really excited about our next book. I’d been wanting to choose a more recent novel and it doesn’t get more recent than this one. It will be out in paperback on the 1st March. So read it first for Florence Finds.

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh is our next title for Florence Finds Book Club. I know very little about it apart from reading great reviews, hoping I’ll enjoy a good story and learn a little bit more about the language of flowers. What could be more perfect for a spring read? We’ll be reviewing this on 17th April.

Thanks Rachel!

Don’t forget, if you have a great read that you would like to suggest for Florence’s Book club (click for more info) then please just drop me a line on hello@florencefinds.com.

Love,
Rebecca
xo

PS you can read more from Rachel at her blog Flowers and Stripes, or find her on Twitter @MrsHunterDunn.

Florence’s Favourite: Children’s books

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Yesterday I was very honoured to become a Godmother to my friend Helen’s 16 week little boy. As most of you will know, I don’t have children yet and I really felt quite overwhelmed at the responsibility that lies before me, but it’s a role which I’m looking forward to and I hope gives me further insight and tips for babies in my own future! (Helen is akin to Super-Nanny when it comes to managing her little ones.)

However, my first responsibility was to find a gift! I was christened and I still have many of the gifts I was given then, but it has to be said that most of them are pretty impractical; things that I look at once in a blue moon rather than getting any use out of. I hate to give presents that are ‘dust gatherers’ as my Mum would say, but obviously the occasion requires something a touch more sentimental than a baby-grow.

Eventually I settled on a collection of books that I read as a child and remember my Mum reading to me or my sister. I figured it could be the beginning of his little library and I can add to it throughout his life, plus it has an intimate connection to me.

I chose:

I could have gone on forever though, The BFG, Harry Potter, The Water Babies, The Velveteen Rabbit, The Little Match Girl…

Before I came to this decision however, I asked the almighty genius of my twitter followers and received so many brilliant suggestions, I thought I would use them for a gift guide in case any of you required some similar help in the future. Most of them would make great gifts for any celebration in fact.

Other suggestions included a course of swimming lessons, (genius Aisling!) a tree planted in his name, or wine that matures on his 21st. (I’m not sure I would have appreciated fine wine at 21, but good idea!)

After an enjoyable afternoon scouring a couple of book shops and feeling nostalgic – it’s amazing how many memories children’s books bring back, I thought I would ask you all to share the books you were read at bedtime as a child that bring back lovely memories?

Love,
Rebecca
xo

Pssst! It’s a 3 post Monday! Pop back at 1pm to see who the winner of the Swoon Worthy Homewares giveaway was and then for a brilliant and ethical idea later on…

Florence’s Book Club: The Help and Sacred Hearts

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This afternoon it’s Florence’s book club and a huge thank you goes to Anna for stepping into the breach with her fabulous review. (Yes, Anna of the Edwardian kitchen make-over – this girl’s multi-talented!)

It’s over to Anna before we introduce our next book – Sacred Hearts below.

I picked up The Help at the airport as my holiday read eighteen months ago. I’d not yet come across the hype that now surrounds this book and the film that followed it, so had very little in the way of expectation.

I think I read it in a day. It may or may not have been the first day of my holiday. From the very start I was totally hooked.
As you are transported to 1962 Jackson, Mississippi, you know what you are reading holds more than a hint of truth, yet you just don’t want to believe it. The unjust treatment of the black maids is hard to stomach, however the compassion they show for each other is humbling. There is a huge depth to each of the main characters. It is impossible not to completely warm to Aibileen; to want to see Miss Hilly get her comeuppance and to stand at the sidelines cheering Skeeter on.

As the stories unfold, it becomes clear that the race divide is not the only pressing theme in the lives of the women we meet. Embedded within their community are more important relationships that transcend the colour of their skin.

The most apparent is that which develops between Aibileen, Minny and Skeeter. Skeeter must work hard to win the trust of the two women, but once she has it, they are willing to risk their lives in the belief that she will make the world a safer and fairer place for them and their daughters. Does this say more about the injustice of the Deep South at this time, or the bond of friendship that can be built in the most unlikely places?

I’ve painted the story as a serious one which focuses on the plight of marginalised women 50 years ago. This it is. But at the same time, it is a truly heart-warming tale with some real ‘laugh out loud’ humour in it. Never more so than whenever someone pulls a fast one on Miss Hilly. We have all known a Miss Hilly, the do-gooder who deep down, and for whatever reason, is really not very nice. She holds dear to her heart the belief that black people are inferior. (and she is not alone in this belief)

She symbolises all that is wrong with this society in the author’s eyes. She is portrayed as a bastion of negativity, and not just from the point of view of the maids. Likewise her refusal to welcome Miss Celia into the community shows her as small minded and snobbish. It is difficult to warm to her at all, but should we have more sympathy for such a character? After all, she is doing nothing more than acting on the beliefs instilled in her by the society in which she has been brought up?

There are so many themes running through this novel. The history of black maids in the Deep South; the prejudices faced by them on a daily basis; the expectations of white women to marry and have children, and to forego any kind of career. For me, the biggest theme was change. Change for the better that can be brought about by people, in this case women, working together for a common cause.

A powerful, funny and inspiring read.

Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant (recommended by Jo Norman)

I think this would seem to be a perfect book for Florence Finds as it is essentially a love story but is also about the strength of love between women obliged to live together. Set in 1570 in an Italian convent it is the story of the young Seraphina sent to the convent under duress and Zuana who has been in the convent for a number of years intermingled with the stories and politics of cloistered life.

It is a story of a forbidden love, loss of loved ones, the machinations of convent life and repressed passion. Don’t be put off by the religious nature of this book as it certainly doesn’t preach, it just gives you an insight of 1570s life in Italy without feeling like a history lesson. This book does require a little bit of perseverance at the beginning but by the end you won’t be able to turn the pages quick enough.

(Here are some ‘reading notes’ to consider if you want to:)

  • Did you like it?
  • Did it take you a while to really get into it?
  • If you were a woman with few options, would you prefer to go into a convent or to be married off to someone you had no knowlege of?
  • Do you think convents are/were subject to political wrangling?
  • Did you like the ending?
  • Did you think Zuana should have kept the secret?
  • Did you feel sorry for the Abbess?
  • Did you get much sense that it was set in 1570 or was it timeless?
  • Was it a shame that Zuana was there – would she have been happier “outside”?

Will you be joining in with this read along and have you read The Help? I’m really enjoying my copy so I’d love to hear what you all think?

Love,
Rebecca
xo

Giveaway: Mr & Mrs Smith Italy Guide

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Just before Christmas I was lucky enough to be sent a copy of the latest Italy travel guide from Mr and Mrs Smith. I’m a big fan of their concierge standard service and luxe edit of boutique boltholes, ranging from budget to blow-it prices.

I’m an even bigger fan of Italy and hope to visit later this year for one of our holidays (NY resolution #1: Travel more) so it made for enjoyable browsing.

The book however was another thing all together. In signature witty style and a touch of subversive naughtiness The Guide takes you through all the top destinations in Italy, of course also recommending a selection of Mr and Mrs Smith getaways for you to choose from at each stop on your travels.

The crowning glory however is the stunning photography featured throughout the book. I defy you not to want to book a get-away immediately after even the most cursory flick through its pages. Just leafing through made me desperate to get started on my travel plans and due to its size and weight it also makes a beautiful coffee table tome- the perfect reference point before you book or reminder of a special trip.


From Top: Villa Arcadio (Lake Garda) Ca Maria Adele (Venice) and Bellevue Syrene (Amalfi Coast).

And the best bit? Mr and Mrs Smith have kindly provided one of the new Italy Guides for one of you lucky things to win. And I’m not going to make you work too hard for it either…

Here’s what you have to do:
1. Head on over to Florence’s Facebook page and ‘like’ us (if you don’t already) to be eligible to enter.
2. Click through to Mr and Mrs Smith and leave a comment below telling us where your dream destination is in Italy.

The competition will be open until Sunday evening at midnight so get entering and if you’re not lucky enough to win you can purchase one here, they make a fabulous gift.

Buona Fortuna!

Love,
Rebecca
xo

Amendment! I’ve been reliably informed this morning by Mr and Mrs Smith themselves that Blacksmith membership is now free to everyone, which means you can all get the exclusive extras that Mr and Mrs Smith bookings come with. Great news!

Florence’s Book Club: Breakfast at Tiffany’s & Little Women

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Hooray! It’s that time again – Florence’s book club. Rachel is back with her thoughts on Breakfast at Tiffany’s and I can’t wait to share mine (I’ll be leaving a comment later) and hear your take on it. Plus, I’m pretty excited about Rachel’s next choice which happens to be an all-time favourite of mine which featured heavily in my childhood. Let’s get going!

Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote
So this is a book club. Yet try as I might to review just the book, the film just keeps creeping into my mind. Which came first for you? I knew of the film, but read the book first. After reading it I remember thinking ‘How can this story be so widely talked about with daydream moon eyes?’ The way everyone spoke I’d presumed this was a frothy, glamorous escape story. It’s nothing like I imagined. This is a dark story. Then I saw the film. Aaah: here are two different stories. This is my third re-read of Breakfast at Tiffany’s and this time I watched the film mid read. Like so many stories each re-read, & re-watch in this case, gives something new.

As is often the case, when there is a film, images are already in your head. The Holly of the film really does look like the Holly in the book.

‘…she wore a slim cool black dress, black sandals, a pearl choker. For all her chic thinness, she had an almost breakfast cereal air of health, a soap and lemon cleanness, a rough pink darkening in the cheeks. Her mouth was large, her nose upturned. A pair of dark glasses blotted out her eyes.’

What really struck me this time is the theme of ‘travelling and home’. On first glance having ‘travelling’ on one’s calling card seems oh so decadent, teasing, yet the more one learns of Holly the deeper it runs. Her surname? Golightly. The cat with no name. It really struck me when she says ‘I’ll never get used to anything. Anybody that does they, might as well be dead.’ I like knowing where my home is. I’m glad I have an address with a number, road and town. I don’t want ‘Travelling’ as my address.

And as the story unravels it gets further and further from the film, or rather the film gets further and further from the book. So when I want to escape on a wet Sunday afternoon I shall re-watch the film. But when life feels blue, and I don’t want to run away from it, I will read the book.

I shall write no more. If you love the film do read the book, but expect a different story, or if you want to stay in the Tiffany blue box daydream then don’t; but if you don’t, know that the story you know isn’t Truman Capote’s.

Here are the prompts we left you with on the introductory post, which as you’ll have noticed I haven’t addressed so please don’t feel you have to.

  • Why do you love it/loathe it/like it?
  • Which happened first for you? Book or film and how were your thoughts different?
  • What do you think of the men in it?
  • What’s your favourite part?
  • What are your thoughts on Breakfast at Tiffany’s?

Little Women
Image taken from the 1949 film version of Little Women starring Elizabeth Taylor as ‘Amy’

We have The Help on the go too but the book for two month’s time is a childhood and adult classic that’s also a Christmas classic. One to cuddle up with cosy on the sofa with a mince pie, L.M.Alcott’s Little Women. It’s a long time since I read this and this time I’m going to be really interested in reading about the sibling relationship, thinking about which character is most like me, or I would most like to be like and how would I cope in their circumstances? I’m looking forward to reading about the sister, (I think Amy?) who wears a clothes peg on her nose to change its shape, Jo and Laurie’s relationship and strong female characters. If you’d like to read a little more, or read a part you’ve not read before then how about reading Good Wives too? We will be sharing our thoughts on this book on Tuesday 21st of February.

Thanks Rachel! Please do share you thoughts on Breakfast at Tiffanys (book or film) by leaving a comment. :)

Love,
Rebecca
xo

Florence’s Book Club… Persuasion and The Help.

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Hooray! It’s book club time again, and the month we’re wrapping up the last of the books that were started (by me) pre Florence’s launch. This one was chosen as a suggestion by Rachel mentioning The Book Snob‘s read-along.

Reviewing a classic is always difficult and I haven’t quite finished my copy (Blame the blog!) so instead of treading on the toes of those who love it, I am of course, as always, asking you ladies to share your thoughts on Persuasion.

As a guide, consider these questions that I had when reading to prompt your comments too…

  • Is Mrs Russel a good friend? Well meaning, or a busy body? Or did you cynically think she had an ulterior motive?!
  • Like many of Austen’s novels, the story takes a long time to come to its conclusion, via many a misunderstanding and unsaid word. Does this drive you (like me) to distraction?
  • There are parallels to be drawn between Persuasion and modern life with similarities to many womens’ sense of missing out on the ‘one that got away’. Can you identify with a character who lives in such a different era with such different social constraints?

I can’t wait to hear your thoughts!

Before we do however, it’s time to introduce our next book. Don’t forget, the book club runs bi-monthly, so this book will be introduced this month but not reviewed and discussed until January. Next month we’ll be discussing Breakfast at Tiffany’s that Rachel introduced last month. So now let me hand over to Laura who sent this in to me as a suggestion a few weeks ago, to introduce The Help, also out on film right about now.

Hi Florence Finds readers! My name is Laura, an avid Florence Finds follower and I would love to introduce to Florence Finds Book Club a beautifully written novel – The Help by Kathryn Stockett. A U.S bestseller novel, that has recently been made into a film – hotly tipped for Oscar nominations!

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

The Help is set in 1962 in Jackson, Mississippi, in a time where “Black maids raise white children, but aren’t trusted to not steal the silver…” The story focuses around three central characters, Skeeter, Abileen and Minny who form an unlikely friendship to give the black maids in Mississippi a much needed voice.

The sub characters in the book are hugely enthralling and create fantastic images in your mind – from the controlling and self obsessed Miss Hilly, to the outcast Miss Celia, who, no matter how hard she tries, never quite fits in.

The Help provides a valuable insight into the Civil Rights Movement in the sixties. Set alongside the world of white middle class housewives who are so constrained by traditions and rules, they are almost suffocating, even though some of the ‘rules’ are self-imposed, and those who are desperate to join their world, but are shut out. The story moves at such a pace that you will find you can’t put the book down – so much so I read it cover to cover in just two days!

The Help’s central focus is around the working conditions and treatment of the black maids and whilst this clearly provides a huge number of very valuable and interesting talking points, I would love for readers to not only look at the central issue but also the many layers of relationships between women that are prevalent in the book and think about how these relationships still exist in our very own modern day lives, such as;

- The “unlikely” friendship that is formed between Skeeter, Aibleen and Minny, have you had an unlikely friendship that turned into one of your most rewarding?
- Have you ever had a “Toxic Friend” like Miss Hilly, someone who you once were possibly so similar too but now don’t relate to at all?
- Have you every felt like an outcast like Miss Celia, who can’t do right for doing wrong? Or ever had empathy with someone who is in Miss Celia’s shoes?

The Help will have you feeling true warmth towards the central characters and laughing out loud at the ultimate revenge story that becomes “Two Slice Hilly”

Happy reading :)

Laura xx

Over to you readers… tell me your thoughts on Persuasion, and if you will be reading The Help – I think it looks brilliant :)

Rebecca
xo