The Crewel Wing

a novel by Erica-Lynn Huberty

Book Club Party Suggestions

Music

On Spotify ~ Crewel Wing Traditional & Crewel Wing Modern Playlists

Movies

Tess, 1979

Jane Eyre, 2011 

Howard’s End, 1992

Far From The Madding Crowd, 2015 

Activity

Dig a shallow grave on a small hill to hide your body

If you can’t do that then try Needlepointing or Embroidery 


Paired Cocktails & Food

STARTERS 

Drink ~ Laudenum

If you don’t have ~ try The Crewel Mule

Recipe

1 shot brandy

½ teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon lemon juice

½ cup gingerbeer

Mix together, pour over ice in a tumbler or room-temp in a Sherry glass

Pair with ~ Lavender-lemon cookies: Recipe

or buy Sur La Table Lavender Cookies


MAIN COURSE

Eats: Cold Meats, Cheese & Bread

Ham, artisanal cheddar, cornichon pickles, sourdough or baguette

Serve on large platter (make-your-own bites) with side of country mustard (such as Grey Poupon Country Dijon)

Or ~ Scotch Rabbit (with or without ham): Recipe

Pair with ~ Fentimans Botanically Brewed Victorian Lemonade

Or make your own!

Recipe for Botanical Victorian Lemonade:

Equal parts un-sweetened lemonade & tonic, dash of Fee Brothers Cardamom Bitters

DESSERT 

Jasmine Tea with Plum Pudding (Duff): Recipe

Or pair with traditional Crawford’s Garabaldi biscuits 


Questions to Discuss

  1. The term Gothic often invokes a specific type of horror or dark romance, but there are many themes Gothic literature deals with, such as:

    Otherness, female powerlessness and empowerment, predatory men and societal constructs, repression, sexual awakening, psychological distress or mental illness, the complexities of Science vs. Religion, and the Supernatural world.  

    How do any of these themes relate to The Crewel Wing?

  2. Endometriosis is a wide-spread disease affecting 170 million women world-wide. It has been known to exist in some vernacular since Ancient Egypt. Famous women in history had it, such as Queen Mary I of England (Henry VIII’s daughter) and Marilyn Monroe. How does Claire’s medical care and diagnosis compare to modern-day experience of the disease? How far have we come in our use of language and diagnosing of the disease since Claire’s time?

  3. What are the different ways people deal with family secrets? How can family secrets affect people and their relationships with others, and with society?

  4. How do Claire’s prolonged poverty and peril as a young girl, and James’ identity as a Jewish man in a small, Christian village, shape their personalities and how they approach the world as adults? 

  5. What are some other Gothic novels you might compare (or pair with) The Crewel Wing?