A few months ago I was given the opportunity to review a book… which gave me the idea to host a monthly book club! In March, we read Paper Towns, by John Green.
Before we discuss sangria, let’s talk Paper Towns- as a 31 year old mom to two, who in a past life, and maybe a bit today, has battled mental illness.
It was a good book, but would have been much more appreciated by my teenage self. As a parent reading, I found the adult characters in the book to be enabling with a whoa-is-me complex- almost as if passing the buck on your children once they turn 18 is a way to solve what is seemingly a lifelong battle with an undiagnosed illness. I found the way the story unfolded to be out of the realm of reality… a good thing to get lost in a book, but this didn’t seem to read as fantasy, as much as a story of privileged teens with uninvolved parents.
The end of the book, as the kids ditch a huge life milestone, deciding to continue down a pipe dream, again their parents seem disillusioned, yet somehow still allow the motley crew to continue their journey- and ultimately the final straw of letting a loved one who had been emotionally screaming for years about needing help- wander into the abyss of anonymity. A truly disappointing ending.
Paper Towns has a great story line, one that explores mental illness and the need to delve deeper into our loved ones lives- even when they’re pushing back against us. The desire to have something of substance in one’s life, relinquishing the facade of high school friendships littered with betrayal. Coping with the true confrontation of death and suicide. Heavy stuff I felt just didn’t come together as I would have liked, as a parent. Though 15 years ago, I would have given anything to be allowed to walk away.
I got it. I just didn’t relate to it. For me, not worth reading again, but definitely hanging onto it for my someday high schoolers- the perfect summer read!
So… let’s get to the sangria, shall we? Using my favorite Soda Stream, I grabbed a box of Malbec and Ocean Spray, mixed in some ice and it was the perfect drink for our gathering.
- 2c Bota Box Malbec
- 4c Ocean Spray Cran-Pomegranite Juice
- 2c Cran-Raspberry Seltzer, Soda Steam
- Using a Soda Stream, make Cran-Raspberry Seltzer
- Measure out your ingredients and pour into a pitcher
- Using a wooden spoon, gently stir
- Serve over ice
The kids can join in, too, with the mocktail version– just don’t add wine!
Click for more on the Soda Stream, recipe and craft!
Next up Eleanor & Park which lured me in with the description
...what it's like to be young and in love with a book. #bookclub Click To Tweet
I love the idea of making a special drink to pair with a book! Hope you like your next book choice better 🙂
Me too!!
I love book clubs!! It is so much fun to talk about a good book with girlfriends, this sounds like an amazing Sangria as well.
I do LOVE book club! I keep hearing it’s just a place where women vent, but I have found it to be SO cathartic- we DON’T discuss our spouses or partners or kids… it’s all about having a glass of wine or some good food and talking about reading!
We read paper towns for my book club too! Everyone realy loved it!
I wish I loved it! I think the writing is great, I just think we were the wrong crowd!
I want to join your book club just so I can have a glass of that sangria! I really like that author and Paper Towns is my favorite book of his.
I love his writing- I just think this book was beyond where my mind could go back to. Our next book was highly touted by John Green- so I hope we like it!!
I have not read this book but I’ve seen the previews for the movie and the movie looks good! I didn’t realize it was about mental illness in teens…this is definitely something that I would be interested in reading.
I don’t think that’s meant to be the premise… but that theme was very strong with me.
My daughter has one so I need to have her whip that together for a GNI. I know you didn’t absolutely love the book, but I would still like to read it, I think.
I do love John Green’s writing… I think my own mind harped heavily on the obviousness that one of the characters was silently screaming for help! Let me know what you think when you read it!!
This looks so good and so much fun! Love reading and would love to have a book club. My mom and I are reading a book together then we discuss so we kinda have our own little club.
That is awesome!!!!
I should get drunk and read a book … And then write a “book review” about it! LOL! That would be insanely comical!
I guess… ?