Home >> Hobbies >> Reading

Dinner & a Book Activity Ideas

When your book group gathers for a discussion you may have trouble coming up with an activity to focus on the book's theme. Preparing a dinner that coordinates with the theme or setting of the book is one activity you can choose to culminate the discussion. Sometimes meals or recipes are mentioned in the book. Take note of that and include the recipes in your menu. Otherwise you can focus on regional or ethnic cuisine that fits with the theme or setting.

The South
- If you choose a book set in the southern United States, select a Southern country cooking dinner menu. "The Help," by Kathryn Stockett, is set in Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960s. The story involves the plight of Southern black maids. The book brings up thoughts of good old Southern cooking as the black maids go about their routines caring for the white families. Prepare a dinner of Southern fried chicken, mashed potatoes, turnip greens, biscuits and sweet tea. If you have the nerve after reading the book, serve chocolate pie for dessert.
  
  In "The Secret Life of Bees," by Sue Monk Kidd, a young girl runs away from her home on a peach farm in South Carolina. She is taken in by a trio of black women, one of whom is a beekeeper. After your book group finishes this book, prepare a meal of honey roasted pork or honey glazed ham with rice, lima beans and corn bread, served with butter and honey. Include peach pie with ice cream for dessert.
Italy
- Italian meals can accompany a book choice that is set in Italy. In "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert, the main character begins her quest for self-discovery in Italy, eating her way through her stay in the country. Prepare a meal with your group that includes an Italian antipasto salad, lasagne bolognese, Italian bread and a bottle of wine. Serve tiramisu for dessert.
Lowcountry
- Pat Conroy writes books set in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. "South of Broad" or "The Prince of Tides" are selections that could be read by your book group. In keeping with the setting, serve your guests Lowcountry fare such as shrimp and grits or Frogmore stew, a one-pot meal of shrimp, corn on the cob and sausage. Prepare Huguenot torte, a crusty torte made with apples and pecans, for dessert.
New Orleans
- If your book group opts for a crime themed book, "The Client" or "Pelican Brief" by John Grisham are choices concerning court cases that have settings in New Orleans. For these books, choose from the wide selection of New Orleans cuisine. A dinner of jambalaya or gumbo are obvious choices. Watch the spice if you have guests who are sensitive. Include pecan pralines for dessert.

Reading