For August 2020, The Silver Petticoat Book Club, chosen by Amber and Autumn, selected the classic romance novel, “The Blue Castle” by L.M. Montgomery.
ABOUT THE BLUE CASTLE
“The Blue Castle” is a 1926 novel centered on Valancy, a 29-year-old woman who’s constantly mistreated by her family, especially since she’s considered an old maid. When she learns she has a heart condition and that she’s dying, Valancy decides to break free from her fears, move out, and find happiness with the time she has left. She even tells her family what she truly thinks of them, much to their shock.
Her family and the town think she’s gone mad, especially when she befriends the mysterious Barney Snaith. Valancy soon proposes to Barney without really knowing him, determined to make the most of her remaining time. As she seeks peace, she might also find true love along the way.
THE BLUE CASTLE BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION
Last year, “The Blue Castle” was a book club pick, and the main discussion took place then. However, it’s never too late to join!
You can participate in the discussion on Facebook, Instagram, or Goodreads by looking for past posts. Follow us on social media to read quotes and see what other readers think about our book club picks. Our next book announcement will be on September 1, 2021.
THE BLUE CASTLE DOWNLOADABLE DISCUSSION QUESTIONS (WARNING: SPOILERS)
We’ve created printable discussion questions for you to use when talking about the book with friends and family.
Use the questions below to spark conversation about the novel with your own chapter of The Silver Petticoat Book Club. We hope you enjoyed reading “The Blue Castle” and will join us for our next book club pick, which will be a newer book. Here are “The Blue Castle” discussion questions:
– Did you enjoy “The Blue Castle?”
– What was your favorite part of the book? Your least favorite?
– Do you have any favorite quotes, chapters, or passages? Share!
– One of the themes in “The Blue Castle” is overcoming fear. Once Valancy releases her fear, she lives the life she dreamed of. How do you overcome fear in your life? Did you feel inspired to be more like Valancy while reading?
– What themes stood out to you?
– Did you appreciate Montgomery’s writing and narration style?
– Were you surprised by any plot points? Did you like the ending?
– Do you have a “Blue Castle” of your own? Do you think everyone needs one?
– What did you think of Valancy? Did you find her likable? Was her transformation empowering for you? Do you think she should have had more empathy for her family, or was she too meek initially?
– How did you feel about Barney? He’s very secretive and mysterious. What did you think of the other characters like the Stirlings or Cissy? Who was your favorite character? Least favorite? Why?
– Let’s talk about the romance in “The Blue Castle.” Did you love the romance between Valancy and Barney? How did you feel about the ending? Did you imagine it differently? Discuss…
– If there were a film adaptation of “The Blue Castle,” who would be your dream cast?
– Would you want to read more books by L.M. Montgomery? If so, what’s your favorite Montgomery novel?
Use these questions to discuss with your friends and family. You can download the questions, add your own, and turn your book club into a fun and social experience!
Feel free to discuss any of the questions in the comments below. We’d love to hear your thoughts. Make sure to follow us on Pinterest for more updates.
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Did you read “The Blue Castle”? We welcome any of your thoughts in the comments!
