A few months ago I had the idea that I wanted to get together the various random people I know that love to talk about books and reading. Not to talk about one book in particular, but to talk about why we became people who love to read and discuss books! I thought I would look for some book-related food and drink, book and reading related games, and we would have a grand ol’ time.
Well. A grand ol’ time was had! Oh my. I’m still on a little high.
Long ago I decided that I was not going to let the pressure of hosting a perfect party keep me from hosting parties,. It makes for a more relaxed evening to know that you don’t have to be a Martha in the kitchen to have a successful party. I ended up stocking up on frozen Trader Joe’s appetizers, buying a lot of wine and some fruit, and putting out cheese and crackers. I picked a small Italian theme, because I had a book to giveaway, and that book was set in Italy. I looked through the “Tequila Mockingbird” cocktail book Iclick the title for the blog about how lovely and perfect this book is!) for inspiration and decided to make the “Gone with the Wine” sangria (red wine, peach schnapps, peaches and oranges) and get the fixings for “Scarlett O’Hara’s” (Southern Comfort and cranberry juice) as well. My house is usually relatively clean, so I simply dusted and put away the dishes, prepared the punch, decorated with books, and took a nap. That’s my kind of prep.
The guests arrived promptly and enjoyed the “Gone with the Wine,” and we promptly began discussing the following questions while devouring yummy tapas-like appetizers:
- What was the first book you remember reading/being read?
- What is your favorite book of all time?
- Which book has left the most lasting impression on you?
- Which book have you read most frequently?
- What books are on your bedside table at the moment?
- Name one book/author that you really can’t stand?
- What type of books do you like reading most?
- If you were given $30 to spend on a book today, what book would you buy?
- Where’s your favorite place to read?
- Which character in a book do you think is most like you?
- Which character in a book would you most like to be?
- What book do you plan to read next?
- Which literary character would you most like to have a ‘significant relationship’ with?
These discussion questions took a good few hours and we never digressed to talking about family or work or anything but books books books!
Then we played Bookish Pictionary with a white board and bestseller book titles! It was fast-paced and fun – even to those who freaked out about having to draw!
There were a few online games we played via my iPad – like this one, which is matching the people who marry or almost marry in famous books, this one which is first lines of famous novels, and this one, which was hilarious – top 80 words found in Harlequin romance novel titles! Who knew that Surgeon would be way up there???
Everyone brought a small exchange gift – a jar of Book Worms, favorite classic novels or a favorite book, Well Red wine from Trader Joe’s… creative and fun!
And then everyone got to take home a book from a box of books that I won from TLC Book Tours! Yay books!
I cannot wait to start planning the next Superbowl for Book Lovers or Bookish Affair or whatever it becomes dubbed! I will be on the lookout for more book giveaways, bookish trinkets for exchange, and bookish games and recipes!
Do you have any ideas for future bookish gatherings?
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