April 11, 2011 • Category: Blog, Book Club, Book Club Picks
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In exactly two weeks from today (!), Sara Gruen and Kathryn Stockett (author of the amazing debut novel The Help) will discuss Water for Elephants in front of a live audience, which will be simultaneously streamed live on our Algonquin Book Club website. When you tune in to the live webcast you can chat with other viewers and even ask questions of Sara Gruen. How cool is that? Mark the date: Monday, April 26, 7:00 p.m. EST.
To tie you over until then, we have a special Water for Elephants meal planned for you, taken right from the book. It’s the same meal Jacob had when Marlena and August invited him to join them for dinner in the railway car. We’ve taken a few liberties with the dishes, but in our humble opinion, we’ve improved upon them. Sara Gruen herself offers a divine spin on Oyster Bisque with a recipe for Oyster Brie Soup, courtesy of the Grove Park Inn. You can view the full recipe, plus recipes for the other dishes, here.
And speaking of two weeks–the Water for Elephants film opens up in less than two weeks (!), on Friday, April 22. You can view eight high-definition clips from the movie over at the Water for Elephants Movie Fan Site. Our favorite of the eight is below. So what do you think: Are you excited to see the film?
This week we’re giving away an autographed copy of Water for Elephants and several Algonquin tote bags. To enter, tell us in the comments below or on our Facebook page: What Water for Elephants-themed dish would you bring to a book club party? We’re looking for creativity here, folks, so put your thinking caps on!
Tags: Algonquin Book Club, book club recipes, book clubs, Grove Park Inn, Kathryn Stockett, Oyster Bisque Soup, Oyster Brie Soup, Sara Gruen, The Help, Water for Elephants, Water for Elephants book club, Water for Elephants Movie Fan site, Water for Elephants recipes
Mika says...
I would bring a strawberry pineapple punch, reindeer food, chicken and steak kabobs, and chocolate truffles!
April 13, 2011@ 8:38 AMCorey K says...
Peanut curry with ginkgo biloba tea (because elephants never forget!) or maybe some watermelon martinis…
April 12, 2011@ 5:22 PMDeana says...
Why, fried elephant ears of course! Made with dough of course, no real elephants would be harmed in making of these delicious treats.
April 12, 2011@ 5:15 PMSusan M. says...
Roasted peanuts in the shells, which would be scattered on the floor as they were being consumed. Then we’d draw straws to see who would get to sweep up afterwards, thus continuing the elephant theme even further!
April 12, 2011@ 4:58 PMSusan says...
Our book club did a circus theme under the big top. We actually were able to get a big top tent for a couple hours. We had peanuts(Rosy’s favorites). Cotton candy, hot dogs, and popcorn. We had such a good book club that day. I always like to have a theme with the book. Looking forward to the book discussion at Aloquin boooks. Looking forward to the movie with Reese Witherspoon.
April 12, 2011@ 4:50 PMJessica M. says...
I seriously can’t wait for this movie to come out.
I’d bring all the sort of stereotypical circus and carnival themed foods — cotton candy, circus peanuts, corn dogs, popcorn, etc. Not very creative, I know, but I was thinking it would be fun to come up with a creative way to present it — maybe make a big top circus tent out of the food, gingerbread-house style.
April 12, 2011@ 2:53 PMMartha says...
Chicken on a stick, popcorn balls, cotton candy cupcakes, and big, soft hot pretzels…strawberry lemonade to drink!
April 12, 2011@ 2:14 PMDebby says...
The changes sound delicious. I like the idea of the 1930′s Apple Cake, but wouldn’t it be better with extra apples? I make an apple cake, and I modified it to use applesauce and apples of any kind.
April 12, 2011@ 1:45 PMTorri Jackson says...
I loved this book. There were so many times when I actually laughed out loud but I can just image Jacob’s face when he walked in on Walter with his pants down. I cried laughing so hard.
But what touched me more than anything was the care that Jacob and Walter (who tries to be so hard, and really is a softy) took of Camel. Hiding him away behind boxes during the day and giving him the cot. They both risked so much for him.
I loved the fact that Jacob never understood why performers and workers should not mix together. We are all people. Great underlying message.
April 12, 2011@ 11:47 AMColleen Tracey says...
Cracker Jack shrimp
April 12, 2011@ 9:27 AM