Christmasville

Book menu for Christmasville by Michael Dutton

I absolutely loved this novel and couldn't put it down.  I've been telling everyone who will listen about it.  I'm sure I will read it again and again.  It's certainly not just for reading at Christmas time.  Christmasville is told from the point of view of 14 year-old Mary Jane.  This story is filled with humor, wit, good feeling, and mystery.  There is even a key scene that takes place in one of my favorite places...the public library!

ISBN of edition I read: 9780978665593 (trade paperback)

Food mentioned in Christmasville:
Tollhouse cookies, 3-4, 67, 89-90, 94, 105
Turkey sandwiches, 4
Hot cocoa, 5-7, 11, 13, 16, 21, 30, 37, 70, 72, 97
     113, 149, 155, 184, 197
Candy canes, 7, 34, 116, 129
Peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, 11, 21, 184
Chocolate bars, 11, 15
French fries, 27, 29, 39
Belgian waffles, 30
Ice cream sundaes, 36, 49
Chicken teriyaki, 37, 42
Texas toast, 37, 111
Swedish meatballs, 38
Boston cream pie, 38, 111, 311
Cheesecake, 38, 111
Hot apple cider, 49
Butterscotch pudding 67
Malted milk balls, 67, 137, 211
Baked ham, 67
Apple pie, 67
Gingerbread cookies, 67, 80
Ice cream sodas, 68, 199
     Black Cow (chocolate ice cream w/rootbeer), 119
Eggnog, 115-116
Fudge brownies, 118
Lemon meringue pie, 118, 142
Penny candy, 123, 129
Fruitcake, 131
Mincemeat pie, 131
Black forest cake, 142, 144
Berries jubilee, 142
Jellybeans, 143
Chocolate custard, 146
Jack Daniels, 184-185
Clark Bar, 193
German chocolate cake, 212
Ginger ale, 221
Meat loaf, 224
Coffee cake, 227
Corn muffin, 247
BLTs, 284
Chicken soup, 303
Cheese and crackers, 303

Discussion questions for Christmasville:
What do Mary Jane and Otis and Willy Wright have in common?
Describe Mary Jane's relationship with her father.
What other books or movies did you think of while reading Christmasville?
What themes run through this story?  What, if any, are the author's messages?
Christmasville is told in the female first person point of view by a male author.  Does this work?
Describe Mary Jane in one word.
Will you read the sequel, Finding Christmasville?   Why or why not?

My favorite passages from Christmasville:
p. 107 "Are there whole worlds that are bigger than us? Smaller than us?
p. 144 "The whole notion of remembering--of memory--is something that is almost too much to bear."

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Room of Tears

Book menu for Room of Tears by Linda Merlino

Room of Tears is a mysterious, haunting, and beautiful story.  When I first glanced at the cover, I felt it's too soon to read a book about 9/11. I'm glad I pushed through it. Ms. Merlino has combined unusual ideas and concepts into this brief but lyrical novel. 

ISBN of edition I read: 9781927792100 (trade paperback)

Food mentioned in Room of Tears :
Coffee, 3, 71
     Espresso, 18
Canolis, 3
Napoleons, 3
Lemonade, 8, 12
Irish whiskey, 14
Wine
     Italian red, 14
     Grenache, 98
Calamari, 17
Chili, 21
Cookies, 21, 72
Fried plantains, 45
Empanadas, 45, 78
Revoltillos, 45
Spaghetti and meatballs, 60
Italian frittata with cheese, spinach, and mushrooms, 71
Lasagna, 72
Brownies, 72
Cheese and crackers, 81
Sandwiches, 94
Pancakes and sausage, 107
Sliced fruit, 107
Danish, 127

Books/Authors mentioned in Room of Tears:
Everyman / Anonymous, 1, 40, 80, 110
"Sonnet 60 ", William Shakespeare, 110
Nostradamus, 142

Title mentioned on pages 24, 109, 113:
p. 24 "I close the door to my bedroom and cry. I have cried for so many days that it has become a room of tears."

p. 109 "No one would question Antonio, not even Peter. Not until he became Pope, as his mother predicted, then the two men would sit in the Room of Tears with her handwritten letter, and Antonio would finally be able to explain."  

p. 113 "'The conclave has placed me here, in the Room of Tears.' Peter gestured with wide arms to the walls around them."

Discussion questions for Room of Tears:
1. How do Diane's journal entries affect the overall story?
2. Describe the deal Billy makes with God.
3. After reading the ending, were you compelled to go back and reread certain passages?  Which ones? Why?
4. What surprised you in this story?
5. Describe Room of Tears in a single word.
6. Before reading the book, what was your reaction to the cover?

Philomena

Book menu for Philomena by Martin Sixsmith

ISBN of edition I read: 9780143124726 (trade paperback, movie tie-in ed.)

Food mentioned in Philomena:
Sherry, 1, 40
Candy floss, 7
Toffee apples, 7
Sugar biscuits, 34
Coffee, 55-56
Cake, 55-56
Eggs, toast, and bacon, 58
Tea, 65
Orange Fanta, 94
Cocoa, 97
T-bone steaks, 105
Peaches, 107-108
     Peach pie, 108
Champagne, 169
Milkshake, 186
Hershey bars, 218
Twizzlers, 218
Eggs Benedict, 226
Guinness, 249, 251
Mulled wine, 307
Prosecco, 339
Bouillabaisse, 402

Books/Authors mentioned in Philomena:
Adoption: the parent, the child, the home / Cecil Barrett, 31
W.B. Yeats, 128
     "The Lake Isle of Innisfree", 127
     "A Drinking Song",364, 408-409
John Donne, 128
Robert Frost, 128
Charles Baudelaire, 128, 317
Michael Lermontov (poet), 129
Romeo & Juliet / William Shakespeare, 149
Of Mice and Men / John Steinbeck, 218
Great Expectations / Charles Dickens, 237

Movies mentioned in Philomena:
Kind Hearts and Coronets, 197
Pillow Talk, 348
Bridge over the River Kwai, 356

Music mentioned in Philomena:
Mozart, 131
Beethoven, 131
John Lennon, 131
Jimi Hendrix, 131
Miles Davis, 174
Johnny Mathis, 191
Pearl Bailey, 218
Art Garfunkel, 220
     "I only Have Eyes for You", 220
David Bowie, 220
Janis Ian , 220
Glen Campbell, 220
Kathleen Ferrier, 221
"Jennifer Juniper" / Donovan, 223
"Do You Love an Apple?" / The Bothy Band, 244, 245

Television programs mentioned in Philomena:
The Liberace Show, 138

Magazines mentioned in Philomena:
The Gay Blade, 213

Theater mentioned in Philomena:
Mame (musical), 131, 139
The Pirates of Penzance, 139

Need a list like this for a book you're reading or an upcoming book-related event? Email me at ndemers62@hotmail.com for a free quote. (Please include "Book Menu Request" in the subject line). 

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Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker

 
Book menu for Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker by Jennifer Chiaverini

ISBN of edition I read: 9780525953616 (hardcover)

Food mentioned in Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker:
Bread, 63
Cheese, 63
Apples, 63, 220
Roast turkey, 76
Foie gras, 76
Oysters, 76
Fruits, 76
Cakes, 76
Ices, 76
Spun sugar, 76
Punch, 100-101

Books/Authors mentioned in Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker:
Nathaniel Parker Willis (poet), 86
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl / Harriet Jacobs, 107
The Bible: Book of Job, 134-135
Sojourner Truth, 191, 303
MacBeth / William Shakespeare, 206
Phillis Wheatley, 343
W.E.B. Du Bois, 343
Behind the Scenes / Elizabeth Keckley, Chapter 16

Music mentioned in Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker:
"Dixie", 205, 209
"Rally Round the Flag", 208
"Star-Spangled Banner", 208
"Yankee Doodle", 209

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Twelve Years a Slave

 
Book Menu for Twevle Years a Slave by Solomon Northup

ISBN of edition I read:  9780143125419 (trade paperback, movie tie-in cover)

Food mentioned in Twelve Years a Slave :
Fried pork, 25
Gingerbread, 32
Hoe-cakes
Sweet potatoes and bacon, 59, 112
Corncake, 69, 112
Watermelon, 84
Oranges, 96
Peaches, 96
Plums 96
Pomegranate, 95-96
Biscuits and preserves, 141
Tarts, 141, 191
Pies, 141
Frosted cake, 191

Books/Authors mentioned in Twelve Years a Slave:
Uncle Tom's Cabin / Harriet Beecher Stowe, dedication
The Task: a Poem, in Six Books / William Cowper (poet), epigraph
A Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin / Harriet Beecher Stowe, 185

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Mary Poppins

Book Menu for Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers

ISBN of edition I read: 0152017178 (trade paperback)

Food mentioned in Mary Poppins:
Milk, 13
Rum punch, 13
Tea, 15, 23
Raspberry jam cakes, 19-20, 23, 25
Whelks (snails), 23
Crumpets, 32
Coconut cakes, 32
Plum cake with pink icing, 32
Eggs with asparagus, 52
Scones, 83, 163
Bananas, 92
Shortbread fingers, 104
Gingerbread, 116-117, 122, 124, 126, 128
Peppermint bars, 121
Baked custard pie, 126, 163
Sponge cakes, 163
Doughnuts, 163

Books mentioned in Mary Poppins :
Robinson Crusoe / Daniel Defoe, 28, 182
Swiss Family Robinson / Johann David Wyss, 188

Dances mentioned in Mary Poppins:
Sailor's Hornpipe, 68, 78
Polka, 68
Highland Fling, 68, 125

 

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Gone Girl: A Novel

 
Book menu for Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Edition referred to: hardcover (ISBN: 9780307588364)

Food mentioned in Gone Girl:

Ice cream, 5

     Ice cream sundae, 170

Crepes, 6-7, 47, 254, 316

Green apple liqueur, 11

Potato chips, 12

Deli tray, 12

Olives with mustard, 13

Pimento loaf, 15-16

Pabst Blue Ribbon beer, 16

Zimas, 21

Gin martinis, 27, 54, 366

Diced cantaloupe, 30

Waffles, 30, 402

Quinoa, 36

Beef jerky, 39

Tom yum soup, 40

Lobster, 40, 66, 128

Scotch 40-41, 52, 275

Knishes, 44

Boeuf bourguignon, 45

Goat cheese tarts, 54

Lamb meatballs, 54

Mojitos, 54

Cherry pie, 62

Cherry cobbler, 62

Muffins, 89

Chicken Frito pie, 95, 130

Eggs Benedict, 98

Bagel sandwiches, 101

Danish, 103

Sweet pickles, 119

Spanish olives, 119

Ambrosia salad, 121

Crab dip, 121

Pickles wrapped in cream cheese & salami, 121

Goat cheese & crackers, 122

Pancakes with strawberries & whipped cream, 126

Grilled cheese, 136

BBQ chips, 136

Peanut butter & saltines, 136

Apples, 146

Coffee with peppermint schnapps, 148

Coffee & Bailey’s, 184-185

Cookies, 185

Grapefruit, 185

Blueberry pie, 185

Popcorn, 190

Clamato, 213-315

Chili dogs, 222

Moon pies, 223

Coke, 223

Amaretto, 233

Greek yogurt, 248

Wine

     Pinot Grigio, 248

     Montrachet, 293

     Sancerre, 349, 351

Hershey bars, 249

Lemonade, 259

Goldfish crackers, 264

Potato salad, 266

Hot dogs, 282

Peanuts, 324

Gin & tonics, 327

Jack Daniels & ginger ale, 327

Manchego cheese, 348

Chocolate truffles, 348

Pineapple juice, 354

Star fruit, 361

Artichoke & spiny crabs, 361

Champagne, 380

Books/Authors mentioned in Gone Girl:

The Illusion (play) / Tony Kushner, epigraph
F. Scott F. Scott Fitzgerald, 12

Mark Twain, 13, 107-109. 167, 293
      The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, 13
     The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, 140
Confucius, 19
Alice in Wonderland / Lewis Carroll, 19
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle / Haruki Murakami, 31
Beverly Cleary, 79
War and Peace / Leo Tolstoy, 83-84
Simone de Beauvoir, 167
Jean-Paul Sartre, 167
Jane Austen, 223
Virginia Woolf, 247
The Martian Chronicles / Ray Bradbury, 261
Black Beauty by Anna Sewell, 262
The Black Stallion / Walter Farley, 262
Something Wicked This Way Comes / Ray Bradbury, 282
 

Music mentioned in Gone Girl:

Genesis, 7

“Take Me Out ” / Franz Ferdinand

Lionel Ritchie, 136

Tom Petty, 202

     “American Girl ”, 204

“That’s the Way You Do It” / Madness , 230-231

“Sister Christian” / Night Ranger, 276

Jimmy Buffett, 286

Movies mentioned in Gone Girl:

Breakfast at Tiffany's, 8

The Sure Thing, 13

The Big Sleep, 151

Double Indemnity , 151

Godfather II, 276

The Last of the Mohicans, 303

 

Television programs mentioned in Gone Girl:

M*A*S*H , 7

Law & Order, 67

Quincy , 283

The Love Boat, 283

Eight Is Enough , 283

 

Theater mentioned in Gone Girl:

Oliver!, 262

Libraries mentioned in Gone Girl:

(Can’t help it, I'm a librarian and love to see how novelists portray us!)

p. 301 “I drive to the library in a dark mood. I need to pack up and leave. Clean my cabin with bleach…”

p. 301 “That’s what I decide when I walk with my head bowed into the chilly, mostly uninhabited library with its three vacant computers and I go online to catch up on Nick.”

Discussion questions for Gone Girl: 
What, if anything, was missing from Amy’s childhood and upbringing? 
Who is to blame for Amy’s unhappiness? 
Compare Amy Elliott Dunne to Amazing Amy. 
What role does technology play in this story? 
What do you think of the quizzes that Amy writes? 
What parallels are there between Nick and his father? 
Describe the relationship between Nick and his sister Go. 
There are multiple references to Nick and Amy’s cuckoo clock. What is the significance of the clock? 
What are causes of Nick and Amy’s marital breakdown? 
What is the significance of the Punch and Judy dolls in this novel?  

 

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