I know I say this all. the. time., but I love our book club. Really – I adore it. The people. The books. The food. All of it. I love that we all love a good story. I love that we like to think and laugh. I love that we all appreciate good food and good wine, art, culture, travel, learning, and discourse. I love that we can be intellectual and humorous, thoughtful and playful, snarky and empathetic, passionate and lackadaisical. I love what we share, and what we discover.
We just finished discussing The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey last night (see part I here), and while not everyone shared my thoughts about the story or its outcome and we tossed back and forth several varied interpretations of the ending and what we thought the take-away was, I found the book to be enthralling and ethereal – a magical balance and compelling juxtaposition of feral and fragile, wild and delicate. I was intrigued by the exotic and adventurous Alaskan homestead living, captivated by the gorgeous and stunning imagery, enchanted by the whimsical ‘maybe’/’maybe not’ magic, and sweetly satisfied with the story’s bittersweet conclusion.
Without giving away too many of this fairy tale’s discoveries, I do think Fiana is, at least somewhat, formed of both the flesh and the snow – that she is balance, that she is both human and spirit; real and magic. I also think Fiana represents a haunting, natural human progression – the magical, feral, wonder that we all possess as children and that we all must – though we strive not to – eventually outgrow when we fall in love, which brings with it a certain taming; change and compromise – for better or for worse – and that we all lose our magic and mourn that loss. And I also believe that Fiana was a part of, and the end of, a cycle that also included the mother who bore her.
I’d love to share more of my thoughts about The Snow Child and there’s a whole awful lot of good stuff, interesting characters, and debatable ideas I’m skimming over, but I don’t want to influence anyone’s perception of the story. I would highly recommend giving this book a read. And if you do, please let me know so we can talk it over beside a roaring fire with a shared jug of moonshine, some bison steaks, and a rhubarb pie between us.
{The book guide and a melting snowman}
{Elk meatballs, potato cheddar chive bread, and dried fruit}
{An appropriately themed beverage}
{Spinach artichoke bread bowl}
{Chocolate chip coconut bars}
{Melting snowmen cookies}
{Making snowflakes}
{Eating and drinking and discussing and crafting}
{Our snowflakes! I was responsible for the hideous fringed cross-like snowflake up center…and the two adorable paper foxes in the center! Also, some of us – though obviously not me – can make some wicked amazing paper snowflakes. Apparently, passable fox are my specialty}
Up next: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott and March by Geraldine Brooks.
