On Books and Luncheons

Here we see the Parkyns reading together.  All around Hamming Hall these R-E-A-D posters
featured North Park faculty and staff reading books of choice.
 I understand these posters hang regularly throughout the university library.
 

About this time every year is the Annual Spring Luncheon at North Park University.  And this excites me greatly, ever since Linda Parkyn started hosting such events! She has such a spirit of fun, and likes to go with themes and colorful table settings and good food...exit the ho-hum ladies luncheon, thank goodness! 

 

The invitation came and the subtitle was

 Eat. Pray. Love.

"Celebrating North Park University Women Who Love Books"

 

I knew I had to come.

The luncheon was held in Hamming Hall - formerly the old college chapel and gym.

For a dreary spring, orange was just the right pop of color for the table linens.

Centerpieces at each table featured a stack of books tied together with string and a white tulip tucked into the string.

We were encouraged to bring a book to swap. Bye-bye Edgar Sawtelle; hello The Happiness Project.

Following a very delicious lunch and cherry pie ala mode, Dr. Parkyn talked about books and her Book Club. North Park's (retiring soon) librarian, Sally Anderson, talked about her love of reading. Then it was time for others to share their favorite books as invited by Dr. Parkyn beforehand. Luckily, I was granted my request to highlight some of my favorite children's books.

Yes, YUMMY is a book with no sugar coating...and one of Miss E's favorite books!

Now for your own reading list pleasure, here are some of the wonderful books mentioned to get

you started wherever you are. 

 Thanks, Carissa and Marit for compiling this list to share:

Recommended Reads…

• Walking a Literary Labryinth: A Spirituality of Reading by Nancy M. Malone
• Walking with Lincoln: Spiritual Strength from America's Favorite President by Thomas Freiling
• Olivia by Ian Falconer*
• Yummy: Eight Favorite Fairy Tales by Lucy Cousins*
• Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren, Lauren Child and Tiina Nunnally*
• Tea for Ruby by Sarah Ferguson and Robin Preiss Glasser*
• The Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand
• The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister
• The Snow Child: A Novel by Eowyn Ivey
• My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor
• Silence of the Grave by Arnaldur Indridason and Bernard Scudder
• Independent People by Halldor Laxness
• Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets by Sudhir Venkatesh
• House of Prayer No. 2: A Writer's Journey Home by Mark Richard
• Land of a Hundred Wonders by Lesley Kagen
• Evel: The High-Flying Life of Evel Knievel: American Showman, Daredevil, and Legend by Leigh Montville
• All That Is by James Salter
• The Ordinary Acrobat: A Journey into the Wondrous World of the Circus, Past and Present by Duncan Wall
• The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel by Garth Stein
• The Opposite of Love by Julie Buxbaum
• America America: A Novel by Ethan Canin
• Vampires in the Lemon Grove: Stories by Karen Russell
• A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchy
• The Smart One by Jennifer Close

(*presented by Yours Truly)