How cool would it be if you were having a book club meeting and all of a sudden the author of the book walked into the room and sat down? This week, we’re making that happen, as two New York Times bestselling authors, Anton DiSclafani and Jojo Moyes, are on their way to Nashville to talk with fans of their books.
DiSclafani’s book, The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls, is our book club moderator Kathy Schultenover’s latest pick for the Parnassus Book Club. Set in the South in the 1930s, it tells the story of Thea, a willful 15-year-old girl who is sent away to boarding school for reasons that are slowly revealed as you stay up way past your bedtime turning page after page. This debut novel — which deals in themes of family, betrayal, sex, love, and money — earned DiSclafani a reputation as an enchanting storyteller and a powerful new literary voice. There’s plenty to talk about, and you can ask DiSclafani all about it this Wednesday, 6/16, at 6:30 p.m. or Thursday at 10 a.m., because she’ll be sitting right there in the book club circle. (The Nashville Scene made DiSclafani’s book club appearance their Critic’s Pick of the week, too.)
In honor of her trip to Nashville from St. Louis, where she teaches creative writing at Washington University, we asked DiSclafani to suggest some travel tunes for everyone who’s hitting the road this summer. She says:
“To me, summer means upbeat, fun music and anything I can sing along to while driving with the windows rolled down. Below are a few of my favorite tunes to listen to during evening walks around the neighborhood, while visiting family in the mountains of North Carolina or driving to the stables to ride my beloved horse Val.”
Here’s her playlist:
Likewise, Jojo Moyes is on the road this summer (and in the air, considering she’s coming all the way from England), touring for her new novel, One Plus One — a love story with a roadtrip at the center of its plot. Romantic comedy ensues when geeky tech nerd Ed somehow ends up giving Jess, his down-on-her-luck housekeeper, and her quirky kids a ride to the Math Olympiad several hours away. If your book club happens to be reading this one, bring the gang over to Parnassus this Friday evening, 6/18, at 6:30, so they can meet Moyes and ask how she keeps creating hit novel after hit novel.
Moyes’ publisher was kind enough to put together a whole book club guide, complete with Q&A, recipes, and music inspired by the book. Here’s the playlist that goes with it:
Enjoy your own summer travels, whatever they may be, and if you’re in Nashville this week, please do stop in. These events are free and open to the public, and this book club has no secret handshake. If you’d like to have the authors sign your books, make sure to get your copies here:
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The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls (Paperback)$16.00
ISBN-13: 9781594632709
Availability: On Our Shelves Now Published: Riverhead Trade, 6/2014 |
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One Plus One (Hardcover)$27.95
ISBN-13: 9780525426585
Availability: On Our Shelves Now Published: Pamela Dorman Books, 7/2014 |
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Me Before You (Paperback)$16.00
ISBN-13: 9780143124542
Availability: On Our Shelves Now Published: Penguin Books, 7/2013 |
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The Girl You Left Behind (Paperback)$16.00
ISBN-13: 9780143125778
Availability: On Our Shelves Now Published: Penguin Books, 7/2014 |
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The Last Letter from Your Lover (Paperback)$16.00
ISBN-13: 9780143121107
Availability: On Our Shelves Now Published: Penguin Books, 6/2012 |
Musing 