"The Forgotten Garden" {by Kate Morton} Book Club Ideas

Our April Book Club book was "The Forgotten Garden" By Kate Morton.
I was the moderator for this book so I'm warning you now that there are a lot of photos for this recap!

The DELICIOUS food!
Thank You Bethany for thinking of bringing a drink to represent Australia from the book!

Thank You EVERYONE who played along with my picky menu and helped bring the book to life through our tummies!

Some of my garden decor:
Thank you Rachelle for letting me borrow your awesome suitcases (and you too Jillian)
and Thank You Brooke for letting me share your beautiful painting that makes me want to see what's behind the garden door.

We also voted on our new Book Club name which is now DELICIOUS READS!
(Mandi was the big winner!)

This was the start of my moderation, a game.
I asked everyone to write down as many items as they could remember that were in Nell's little white suite case.
Lisa was the winner of the luxury gardening prize!
(Which she told me she used that weekend.)

{Several of these book images are by Bethany}

I surprised everyone on the first game while naming off all the items in Nell's suitcase when I pulled the last item which was the "Magical Tales for Girls and Boys" fairy tales book which was ACTUALLY Eliza Makepeaces book.
Well, it was my version of what I wished it were at least!

I enlisted Bethany's help to direct me the binding of these beautiful books and I cannot thank her enough for all her help.
I loved learning how the process worked and I think the final product came out better than I could have imagined! We made only three books:
1. for me, 1. for Bethany and 1. I gifted to Kellie Hall as a Thank You for being the best Book Club V.P. there ever was!

{NOTE: These books were made for private use ONLY and will not be reproduced or used in any way other than to keep as a cherished book club memory. All credits go to the genius Kate Morton.}

A couple of examples of the pages inside.

Thanks again Bethany!
I hope you enjoy your book of Hans Christensen Anderson fairy tales.

NOW...lets get into the discussion of the book shall we?

I started off my presentation showing a few photos the Lost gardens of Heligan in Cornwall England which spurred Kate's inspiration for Eliza's cottage garden in the book.

A couple pictures of Cornwall

Next in my presentation I brought up all the little details from the book that most didn't realize were actual facts from history. It was fun to research them and bring them to every one's attention; little facts like:

-The Lusitania ship that Rose sailed on and how it sank

-The train accident that occurred that was coined in history as the "Ais gill Railway tragedy of 1913"

-The famous artist, John Singer Sargent who was mentioned doing portraits several times throughout the book

-Morning Broaches

-The early years of the X-ray

-and Kodak's first "Brownie Camera"

More fun details I pointed out from the literature mentioned were:

-Rose discusses her thoughts on reading "Tess of the D'Urbervilles" (Interesting foreshadowing!)

-The children's book "Meggendorfer's International Circus" where rose got the idea to balance the thimble she accidentally swallowed, before getting her x-ray.

-Rose recites a bit of Lord Tennyson's poem, "The Lady of Shalott," which expresses how Rose felt trapped.

-and lastly, the large reference to "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett (who actually makes an appearance at their garden party where she gets the inspiration to write her book!)

More garden decor

Thanks again for a delightful and memorable book club ladies!

{Small favor...would you please leave me a little comment, I need a little "comment motivation!"}