The Story of the Forest is an epic story that's perfect for book club.
Hey readers: Our latest book club pick, The Story of the Forest by Linda Grant, is an epic — and epically beautiful — multigenerational saga, that takes us from Latvia to Liverpool, along with the absolutely fascinating and very likable character of Mina Mendel, and her brother, Jossel.
When Mina, age fourteen, stumbles upon an encampment of Bolsheviks in the woods in Latvia in the early twentieth century, she’s intrigued. And thank heavens, as she was desperate for something interesting. That meeting sets off a short and suspect sequence of events that lands Mina and Jossel aboard a ship, headed for America, waylaid in England, and suddenly settled.
In the years that follow, as these two young people find their may, making their own families and livings as the world changes drastically and subtly all at once around them, they adapt. Mina’s daughter, Paula, finds her way along a path that ultimately leads to a strange reunion, setting her own life into a new direction. As a family expands and contracts and expands again, the through-line remains the same: Once, there was Mina, in the forest with the Bolsheviks, and that’s what changed it all.
“A gorgeous, heartfelt generational saga about stories told and retold, some true, some embellish, that create the personal mythologies that define who we are. I loved every moment of this epic story!” – Sarah Jessica Parker
The Story of the Forest
by Linda Grant
Read an excerpt.
We were ready to discuss The Story of the Forest nearly out of the gate — but held ourselves back until the very last page. Rich with themes of family, loyalty, love, and ambition, survival and resentment, resignation and revival, there’s so much that is thought provoking packed in the pages of Linda Grant’s novel. So get your book pals together and dig in.
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Spaghetti and Chianti - The Perfect Pairing
One of our many favorite things about The Story of the Forest is the strange romance between Roland and Paula. Roland — a voice on the radio, seemingly much more cultured and polished than Paula — sets his sights on Paula. She’s game for his odd sort of courtship, and their relationship is kicked off over a spaghetti dinner and a bottle of Chianti at a red sauce joint not known for its class. We say “Salut” to the two of these characters, who brought much laughter and entertainment and, well, heart to the whole experience of this book, as we cook up a classic (and likely better than the original) spaghetti with marinara, served alongside a delightfully bold bottle of Banfi Chianti Classico Riserva from Tuscany.
A perfect bite? This book gives us a classic pairing for your book club to circle around at the dinner table and discuss - salad and pasta!
Nicoise salad was recommended as a healthy and enjoyable dish from the author herself, Linda Grant. Not miss out on this easy recipe that is sure to please.
And that spaghetti we mentioned going great with the Chianti? It’s absolutely a level up. You will absolutely get no better than this sauce recipe from Marcella Hazan.
Get the sauce recipe.
We’re always up for a novel that transports us across time and place. After finishing The Story of the Forest, we found ourselves reflecting on some of our favorite multigenerational tales of immigrant families. For all the cultural and personal details they bring to life on the page, we can’t get enough. Check out some of the best we’ve ever known.
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