Inspired by Reading March Blog Hop...

Our March selection for the Inspired by Reading Book Club was "Home" by Toni Morrison.  The book is primarily about a character named Frank Money and his Odyssey-like story of leaving for war and his voyage home.  The book is also about his sister and her path away from (and back to) the small, rural African American community, Lotus, Georgia.  Even though it's a slim book, there's a lot packed into the story that deals with poverty, racism, social norms of the 1950's, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and like other Morrison titles, a touch of magical realism.

At the meet-up, the book was met with mixed reviews.  Some saying that the tone of the book was so dark it was hard to get through it.  I liked it, but agree that this title might not be for everyone.  One of the things that I really enjoyed about the book was the writing style.  It has a sing-songy feel, almost like poetry.  It gives it a dream-like quality and somehow lessens the blow of horrific acts, but at the same time, gives them gravity and weight.

The meet-up was a lot of fun as usual!  Because they ate it in the book, I picked up fried chicken and potato salad.  Everyone brought something and we sat around the table, talking and laughing!  Laurel brought a bottle of champagne to celebrate getting a new house and selling her old one!  I always look forward to the book clubs.  Even though we talk about the book, we also share our lives and it's a nice time to just slow down and catch up.

Since our book club fell on April 1st, Amy brought brownies.  Or rather... brown E's!  April Fools!

And without further ado... here's the REVEAL:

This necklace was made by Laurel.  Here's what she had to say about it, "The necklace is made up of large safety pins, African metal rings, and orange Czech glass.  There's a really horrible scene in the book that deals with a little Korean girl scavenging for a moldy orange.  The color of the glass represents that fruit that impacts the entire book.  Such a sad, sad, sad book."

Laurel also made this matching necklace and bracelet set.  Here's what she had to say about it:  "When I was living in D.C., I stopped in a little bead shop on Dupont Circle and got these African glass beads.  I simply strung them on ribbon and made the matching necklace and bracelet.  The color of the beads and ribbons also relates to that scene with an orange."

Amy submitted this photograph for her submission.  Here's what she said about it:  "I knew that I wanted to do something a little different, so I took a photo this month.  It also deals with that orange scene."

I made this necklace.  It's made up of faceted aquamarine rondelles, African metal spacers, a white bronze toggle from Saki Silver, a wishbone pendant from JessImports, and a single, matte orange stone.  The passage that inspired me read, "I liked the small breakable thing inside each one.  Whatever their personality, smarts, or looks, something soft lay inside each.  Like a bird's breastbone, shaped and chosen to wish on.  A little V, thinner than bone and lightly hinged, that I could break with a forefinger if I wanted to, but never did.  Want to, I mean.  Knowing it was there, hiding from me, was enough."  The blue of the aquamarine is supposed to represent the color of the zoot suit man's outfit and the little misshapen orange bead is supposed to be the orange.

But wait... there's more!  Check out what these other participants of the Inspired by Reading Book Club made:

Alison Herrington

Jeanne Steck

Sarajo Wentling

Mary K McGraw

Andrew Thornton, Laurel Ross, and Amy Roadman

Up next is "Girl Reading" by Katie Ward.  CLICK HERE for the full list of the remainder of this year's books.  The next series of book selections starts in a few months.  CLICK HERE for the full list.  The in-person meet-up for "Girl Reading" is scheduled for Wednesday, April 29th.  The blog hop is scheduled for the following day on Thursday, April 30th.  If you're interested in keeping up with us and what we're doing in the book club, CLICK HERE to visit our Facebook page.  CLICK HERE to check out our supplemental inspiration on Pinterest.