You’re in a Book Club? How wonderful!! Here are a few special offers that I hope will make your discussion about The Little Lark Still Sings richer and more fun.
- Discussion Questions — choose your favorites.
- Recipes, some from the book, to nibble or serve. While you meet, be sure to enjoy a new Little Lark cocktail or sip a Cortona DOC red, if you prefer wine.
- Sign up for a zoom author reading and Q&A with groups of six or more.
- Request a specially-designed, personally-signed bookmark for each club member.
Thank you for reading and discussing The Little Lark Still Sings. It would really help me if you tell your friends about it and why you liked it. And don’t forget to write reviews. First-time authors need all the help they can find!
To contact me with questions, order personally-signed bookmarks for your club, or schedule a zoom, click here.
Happy Reading!
Grazie mille,
- 01 If you had to tell someone, in one sentence, what this book is about, what would you say?
- 02 The Little Lark Still Sings combines the experience of moving to Italy and insights about Italy, and a story of a marriage being transformed. Which one was most interesting to you and why?
- 03 How would you describe the book’s themes? If you had to choose one theme that hit home with you, what would it be?
- 04 Which story in the book do you think best illustrates that theme?
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05 In that particular story,
- What problem does Victoria spell out that needs to be fixed?
- What is the solution Victoria suggests?
- What steps does she take toward implementing the solution? - 06 Who did you most identify with in the book and why?
- 07 What are some sentences or phrases that you want to remember?
- 08 How did Victoria’s rules for her writing — to be accurate, honest and honoring — contribute to how you felt when you read the book?
- 09 What did you learn or observe about your own relationships while you were reading? In what ways did Victoria’s story help you with your relationship?
- 10 What about the ending surprised you?
- 11 How did Larry’s reaction to publishing their story change your opinion of him?
- 12 Have you ever considered moving to a foreign country? How does Victoria and Larry’s experience inspire you to try that or another life-changing adventure?
- 13 Who do you most want to read this book and why?
- 14 If a movie or mini-series is made… who should play Victoria? Larry? Francesco?
Recipes
“Italians cook so well because they are passionate about the ingredients, preparation, presentation, and the people with whom they share it.” (The Little Lark Still Sings)
In honor of my passion for food, may I suggest you serve chocolate truffles and candied orange peel at your book club event? If you want to go all out and provide a light meal, all you need to do is make easy gli gnudi with oven-roasted tomatoes and toss a salad.
Beverages to Sip While You Meet
Little Lark Cocktail
Cortona’s brilliant mixologist, Massimo Olivieri, owner of Caffè Tuscher, created a beautiful Little Lark cocktail using my favorite Italian liquors (easy to find in the USA). Someday, you must visit Caffè Tuscher, meet Massimo and his talented chef-wife Daniela, and let them make you a Little Lark!
For two drinks: Pour 2 oz. Campari and 2 oz. Sweet Red Vermouth over ice. Chill and strain into two champagne flutes. Add 2 oz. (or more, to taste… I like more) chilled Prosecco. Top with 1 oz. chilled Limoncello sweetened with ½ tsp. sugar.
For a fancy cocktail, froth the sweetened ounce of limoncello by shaking with an egg white in a cocktail shaker (NO ice, it won’t froth), then gently pour over the other liquors, half in each flute, and top with an edible flower such as borage, nasturtiums, impatiens, and many herb flowers. For the easier at-home version, just pour the sweetened limoncello on top of the other liquors and float an edible flower in each glass.
Cortona DOC Syrah
Marco Molesini suggests these luscious red wines, produced in vineyards near Cortona and available in the USA, though probably not at Marco’s prices. These wines can be ordered from Cortona’s Enoteca Molesini, shipping varies but is approximately $10 per bottle.
- - Achelo 2018 La Braccesca
- - Baracchi Syrah Smeriglio 2017
- - Bosco 2015 Tenimenti d’Alessandro
- - Syrah rosso Tenimenti d’Alessandro 2018
- - Selverello Cortona 2017 Tenuta Montecchiesi Syrah
Recipes
Tasty Treats to Nibble
I feel grateful for God’s design that humans need food to survive. So many of life’s richest memories are made lingering over a meal. (The Little Lark Still Sings)
Pane Nero Scones
Pane Nero means “black bread”. This dark flour is ground from seven grains and seeds and produces dark, seedy, aromatic and delicious scones.
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Sweet Fire Truffles
These little sweet treats have a kick and were created to celebrate a good friend’s 60th birthday — Bruce is always sweet, but can be fiery!
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Candita Arancia
Each morning Larry squeezed fresh orange juice for us. These irresistible sticks of candied orange peel are the way I recycle our endless quantity of orange
peels.
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Let’s Zoom & Get a Free Gift
For your book club, request a personal zoom and specially-designed Little Lark book marks. I’ll personally signed them, since I can’t sign your book.
Go to Connect, send me a message and I’ll contact you to ask about your Book Club and make the arrangements.
Hope you and your Book Club friends enjoy reading The Little Lark Still Sings as much as I enjoyed living it and writing it!
Happy reading, happy discussing…. Ciao and a presto!