Beyond the Binding | PA Book Club

Sat, Oct 11 · 12:00 PM EDT

📚 BEYOND THE BINDING: The Winemaker's Wife meets Grape Stomping

Bishop Estate Vineyard and Winery, 2730 Hilltown Pike, Perkasie, PA, US

Ever wondered what it's like to step into the pages of a book—literally? We're reading The Winemaker's Wife, set in the champagne vineyards of France during WWII, before stomping grapes ourselves at a Bucks County winery. It's the ultimate pairing: history, heartbreak, and harvest in one unforgettable afternoon.

Details for you:
STEP 1: BUY your ticket for Grape Stomping 🍇 Grape Stomping Event at Bishop Estate Vineyard & Winery

• When: Saturday, October 11, 2025, 12:00 PM ET
• ⛅ RAIN OR SHINE!
• Venue: Bishop Estate Vineyard & Winery
• Address: 2730 Hilltown Pike, Perkasie, PA 18944
• Phone: (215) 249-3559
• Tickets are limited and selling fast! Get yours here
• Total investment: $44 ticket + book + your additional drinks/snacks at winery = grape-filled memories with fellow book lovers!

Your Ticket Includes: 🍷 A glass of Bishop Estate wine 👕 An "I Stomped at Bishop Estate" T-shirt 🥂 An exclusive Smashin' Pumpkin wine glass 📸 Beautiful vineyard views, tons of photo ops, and plenty of laughter as you become part of the winemaking tradition

STEP 2: RSVP | ⚠️ IMPORTANT: Purchase your ticket FIRST, then RSVP on Meetup.

STEP 3: READ the book 📚 The Winemaker's Wife by Kristin Harmel

• Available: $10.41 on Amazon
• Formats: Kindle, Audiobook, Hardback, Paperback
• Pages: 400 (Don't worry if you don't finish—just read what you can!)

STEP 4: Join us for the Event! 🍇 Grape Stomping & Discussion at Bishop Estate Vineyard & Winery Saturday, October 11, 2025, 12:00 PM ET

• ⛅ RAIN OR SHINE!
• Address: 2730 Hilltown Pike, Perkasie, PA 18944
• Phone: (215) 249-3559
• Website: Bishop Estate Vineyard & Winery
• We'll stomp grapes together, then gather at the winery for book discussion over wine!

WHAT TO WEAR & BRING
Wear:

• Dark-colored clothes you don't mind getting stained (grape juice is permanent!)
• Shorts, capris, or pants you can roll up above the knee
• Consider bringing a small bag for your phone/wallet while stomping
• Flip-flops or sandals - easy to slip on after stomping and that you do not mind getting stained
• Leave your nice shoes in the car - this gets messy and that's the fun of it!

Optional but helpful!:

• Towel - to clean your feet after stomping
• Wet wipes
• Water bottle

About the Book The Winemaker's Wife by Kristin Harmel
Set in the Champagne region of France during WWII, this dual-timeline novel weaves together love, betrayal, and resistance. When young Inès marries into the storied Chauveau champagne house in 1940, the German occupation brings danger to everyone—especially Céline, the Jewish wife of their winemaker. Decades later, in 2019, Liv returns to France with her mysterious grandmother to uncover long-buried secrets about what happened during the war. With 4.23 stars and over 92,000 ratings on Goodreads, this heartbreaking yet hopeful story explores how wine, family, and the land connect us across generations.
Reading connection: Harmel's vivid descriptions of champagne-making—from the careful harvest to the transformation of grapes into wine—will make you see the grape stomping experience through new eyes. As you crush grapes beneath your feet, you'll connect to the French winemakers who risked everything to protect their vineyards and their loved ones during one of history's darkest hours.

About the Event Grape Stomping at Bishop Estate Vineyard & Winery
Experience the time-honored tradition of grape stomping during harvest season! Roll up your pants, step into a barrel of fresh grapes, and crush them the old-fashioned way. After our stomping adventure, we'll gather at the winery to discuss the book, share a glass of wine, and celebrate how stories bring us together in the most unexpected ways.

CONVERSATION STARTERS:

• Wine as witness to history: How does Harmel use the champagne house and vineyard as more than just a setting—how does the wine itself become a character that carries the weight of secrets, survival, and memory?
• Love and betrayal in wartime: Both Inès and Céline face impossible choices between love and survival. Which character's decisions resonated most with you, and could you see yourself making similar choices under such circumstances?
• Past and present connections: How does the 2019 storyline with Liv and her grandmother illuminate the WWII narrative? What does the book suggest about how we inherit family secrets and historical trauma?
• Grape stomping parallels: Now that you've stomped grapes yourself, how does the physical experience change your understanding of the winemaking scenes in the book? What does it teach you about the labor, tradition, and love that goes into each bottle?
• Your own reactions, questions, and observations!

🌟 WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS

• Experience the book's themes hands-on through grape stomping
• Connect history to present-day winemaking traditions
• Meet fellow literature enthusiasts in a beautiful vineyard setting
• Taste wine while discussing a wine-centered story
• Take home an "I Stomped at Bishop Estate" T-shirt and exclusive wine glass
• Make memories that blend books, friendship, and adventure

QUESTIONS? Check our Rules of Engagement before signing up. Message Heather with any questions.
See you there! 🍇📖🍷

Sat, Oct 18 · 3:00 PM EDT

🎭📚 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street

Music Mountain Theatre, 1483 New Jersey 179, Lambertville, NJ, US

📚 STORY SEEKERS: Sweeney Todd meets Sweeney Todd, the musical

The Concept: What happens when you read a book and then experience something connected to it? Join us to find out! We'll all read Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street: The String Of Pearls by Prest, then gather for Sweeney Todd, the musical at Music Mountain Theater to see how the story translates beyond the page. Afterward, we'll compare notes over food and drinks at Under the Moon in Lambertville, NJ.

***

Details for you:
STEP 1: BUY your ticket for Sweeney Todd
🎭 Sweeney Todd

• When: Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 3PM ET
• Venue: Music Mountain Theater
• Address: 1483 NJ-179, Lambertville, NJ 08530
• Phone: (609) 397-3337
• Total investment: $35 ticket + book + your meal = great conversation with fellow book lovers!

STEP 2: RSVP | Once you've secured your ticket, RSVP here to reserve your discussion spot. Limited to 10 members

STEP 3: READ the book
📚 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street: The String Of Pearls by Thomas Peckett Prest

• Available: $11.99 Amazon
• Pages: 276

STEP 4: The Event! Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 3PM ET
🎭 Sweeney Todd at Music Mountain Theater

• Address: 1483 NJ-179, Lambertville, NJ 08530
• Phone: (609) 397-3337

🍽️ Post-Event Gathering at Under the Moon

• Address: 23 N Union St, Lambertville, NJ 08530
• Phone: (609) 397-1710
• Menu

***

About the Book
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street: The String Of Pearls by Thomas Peckett Prest
The String of Pearls: A Romance is the title of a story first published as a penny part serial 1846-47. The main antagonist of the story is the infamous Sweeney Todd, "the Demon Barber of Fleet Street", who here makes his literary debut.
Reading connection: Reading "The String of Pearls" - the original 1846-47 Victorian penny dreadful that created the Sweeney Todd legend - allows you to experience the dark, sensational source material that inspired all later adaptations, including Sondheim's musical, giving you insight into how the story evolved from Gothic serial fiction to Broadway stage.

***

About the Event
Sweeney Todd at Music Mountain Theatre
Be sure to purchase the Saturday, October 18th 3PM showing
Attend the dark, witty and Tony Award-winning tale of love, murder and revenge set against the backdrop of 19th century London. An infamous tale, Sweeney Todd, an unjustly exiled barber, returns to nineteenth century London, seeking vengeance against the lecherous judge who framed him and ravaged his young wife. The road to revenge leads Todd to Mrs. Lovett, a resourceful proprietress of a failing pie shop, above which, he opens a new barber practice. Mrs. Lovett's luck sharply shifts when Todd's thirst for blood inspires the integration of an ingredient into her meat pies that has the people of London lining up... and the carnage has only just begun!

Note: This production contains depictions of murder, violence, and dark themes that may be unsettling for younger or sensitive audiences.

⚠️ IMPORTANT: Purchase your ticket FIRST, then RSVP on Meetup. Don't RSVP here until you have your ticket secured!

***

LET'S TALK ABOUT...
To get us started:

• Character transformation: How did Sondheim and Wheeler reimagine Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett from Prest's original characters - what personality traits, motivations, and relationships changed, and how do these changes affect our sympathy for the characters?
• Victorian social critique vs. modern themes: Compare Prest's commentary on 1840s London's class divisions, urban corruption, and justice system with Sondheim's focus on alienation, revenge, and moral decay - what does each version say about its era's anxieties?
• Storytelling across mediums: How does the episodic, cliffhanger structure of the original penny dreadful serial compare to the musical's dramatic arc, and which medium better serves the story's themes of obsession and descent into madness?
• Your own reactions, questions, and observations!

🌟 WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS

• Experience stories in multiple dimensions
• Meet fellow literature enthusiasts
• Gain deeper appreciation for both mediums
• Enjoy thought-provoking conversation over great food

***

QUESTIONS?
Check our Rules of Engagement before signing up. Message Heather with any questions.
See you there!

Fri, Oct 24 · 5:30 PM EDT

📚 STORY SEEKERS: Profiles in Ignorance meets Andy Borowitz Live

The Dinky Bar & Restaurant, 94 University Place, Princeton , NJ, US

📚 STORY SEEKERS: Profiles in Ignorance meets Andy Borowitz Live
Ever wonder how a political satirist's zingers land differently on the page versus on stage? We're finding out by reading Andy Borowitz's Profiles in Ignorance before seeing him perform live at McCarter Theatre. Pre-show discussion and appetizers at The Dinky Bar & Kitchen.

Details for you:
STEP 1: BUY your ticket for Andy Borowitz
🎤 Andy Borowitz: An Evening of Sanity

• When: Friday, Oct. 24, 2025 7:30 PM ET
• Venue: McCarter Theatre - Matthews Theatre
• Address: 91 University Place, Princeton, NJ 08540
• Phone: (609) 258-2787
• Total investment: $49-94 ticket + book + your meal = great conversation with fellow book lovers!
• Tickets are selling fast!

STEP 2: RSVP | ⚠️ IMPORTANT: Purchase your ticket FIRST, then RSVP on Meetup. Limited to 6 members
STEP 3: READ the book
📚 Profiles in Ignorance: How America's Politicians Got Dumb and Dumber by Andy Borowitz

• Available: $11.30 Amazon
• Pages: 336

STEP 4: Join us for the Events! Friday, Oct. 24, 2025 5:30 PM ET
🍽️ Pre-Show Gathering at The Dinky Bar & Kitchen Friday, Oct. 24, 2025 5:30 PM ET

• Address: 94 University Pl, Princeton, NJ 08540
• Phone: (609) 423-2188
• Menu

🎤 Andy Borowitz: An Evening of Sanity at McCarter Theatre 7:30PM ET

• Address: 91 University Place, Princeton, NJ 08540
• Phone: (609) 258-2787

About the Book
Profiles in Ignorance: How America's Politicians Got Dumb and Dumber by Andy Borowitz
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER * WASHINGTON POST BESTSELLER
Andy Borowitz, "one of the funniest people in America" (CBS Sunday Morning), brilliantly chronicles our embrace of anti-intellectualism in American politics, from Ronald Reagan to Dan Quayle, from George W. Bush to Sarah Palin, to its apotheosis in Donald J. Trump. This "wittily alarming polemic tracks the evolution of American politics from grounds for gravitas to festival of idiocy" (The New York Times).
Reading connection: Reading Borowitz's satirical analysis of political devolution prepares you to appreciate how his written humor translates to live performance, showing you the craft behind his biting wit and helping you understand the real events that inspired his most outrageous satirical takes.

About the Event
Andy Borowitz: An Evening of Sanity at McCarter Theatre Be sure to purchase the Friday, October 24th 7:30 PM showing
Join celebrated satirist and creator of The Borowitz Report, Andy Borowitz, for an evening of sharp comedy, candid conversation, and audience Q&A. Known for his biting wit and timely insights, Borowitz delivers a hilarious—and much-needed—break from the chaos of the world.

Books will be available before and after the event. Andy will be in the lobby for a meet and greet and book signing after the show.
LET'S TALK ABOUT...
To get us started:

• Satire vs. reality: How does Borowitz use humor to make serious political critiques more digestible, and which examples from the book felt more like satire versus actual documented events - where's the line between comedy and journalism?
• The evolution of political intelligence: Trace Borowitz's argument about the decline from Reagan to Trump - do you agree with his timeline and examples, and what factors does he identify as contributing to this "dumbing down" of American politics?
• Comedy as social commentary: Compare how Borowitz's written satire in the book translates to his live performance style - which medium is more effective for political criticism, and how did seeing him in person change your perspective on his written observations?
• Your own reactions, questions, and observations!
• We are making an exception on No Political Discussion for this event, please be respectful of everyone's thoughts, point of view, and opinions

🌟 WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS

• Experience stories in multiple dimensions
• Meet fellow literature enthusiasts
• Gain deeper appreciation for both mediums
• Enjoy thought-provoking conversation over great food
• Make connections and friendships

QUESTIONS?
Check our Rules of Engagement before signing up. Message Heather with any questions.
See you there!

Sat, Nov 1 · 5:30 PM EDT

📚 STORY SEEKERS: Touched with Fire meets 300 Paintings

The Dinky Bar & Restaurant, 94 University Place, Princeton , NJ, US

📚 STORY SEEKERS: Touched with Fire meets 300 Paintings
Ever wonder about the connection between creative genius and mental health? We're exploring this fascinating link by reading Kay Redfield Jamison's Touched with Fire before experiencing 300 Paintings - where comedian Sam Kissajukian shares his manic journey of creating 300 paintings in six months. Pre-show discussion and appetizers at The Dinky Bar & Kitchen.

Details for you:
STEP 1: BUY your ticket for 300 Paintings
🎨 300 Paintings

• When: Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 7:30 PM ET
• Venue: McCarter Theatre - Matthews Theatre
• Address: 91 University Place, Princeton, NJ 08540
• Phone: (609) 258-2787
• Total investment: $36-97 ticket + book + your meal = great conversation with fellow book lovers!
• LIMITED ENGAGEMENT - one week only!

STEP 2: RSVP | ⚠️ IMPORTANT: Purchase your ticket FIRST, then RSVP on Meetup. Limited to 6 members

STEP 3: READ the book
📚 Touched with Fire: Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament by Kay Redfield Jamison

• Available: $9.65 Amazon
• Pages: 384

STEP 4: Join us for the Events! Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 5:30 PM ET
🍽️ Pre-Show Gathering at The Dinky Bar & Kitchen Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 5:30 PM ET

• Address: 94 University Pl, Princeton, NJ 08540
• Phone: (609) 423-2188
• Menu

🎨 300 Paintings at McCarter Theatre 7:30 PM ET

• Address: 91 University Place, Princeton, NJ 08540
• Phone: (609) 258-2787

About the Book
Touched with Fire: Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament by Kay Redfield Jamison
The definitive work on the profound and surprising links between manic-depression and creativity, from the bestselling psychologist of bipolar disorders who wrote An Unquiet Mind.
One of the foremost psychologists in America, "Kay Jamison is plainly among the few who have a profound understanding of the relationship that exists between art and madness" (William Styron).
The anguished and volatile intensity associated with the artistic temperament was once thought to be a symptom of genius or eccentricity peculiar to artists, writers, and musicians. Her work, based on her study as a clinical psychologist and researcher in mood disorders, reveals that many artists subject to exalted highs and despairing lows were in fact engaged in a struggle with clinically identifiable manic-depressive illness.
Reading connection: "Touched with Fire" explores the scientific and historical connections between manic-depressive illness and artistic creativity, providing psychological context for understanding Kissajukian's "manic whirlwind" of creating 300 paintings and how mental health states can fuel extraordinary creative output.

About the Event
300 Paintings at McCarter Theatre Be sure to purchase the Saturday, November 1st 7:30 PM showing
Direct from a critically acclaimed off-Broadway run – LIMITED ENGAGEMENT, one week only!
In 2021, Sydney comedian Sam Kissajukian quit standup, rented an abandoned cake factory, and spent six months in a manic whirlwind, creating 300 large-scale paintings, unknowingly documenting his mental state through the process. In this hilarious, fascinating, and wildly original show, Kissajukian brings audiences on a rollercoaster ride that explores the ties between art, mental health, and creativity.
Stay after the show to meet Sam and view his incredible paintings in a curated lobby exhibition.

LET'S TALK ABOUT...
To get us started:

• The creativity-madness connection: What evidence does Jamison present for the link between manic-depressive illness and artistic achievement - which historical examples were most compelling, and do you find her scientific arguments convincing?
• The treatment dilemma: Explore Jamison's discussion of whether medication might diminish creativity - what are the ethical implications of this debate, and how should society balance artistic genius with individual wellbeing?
• Patterns of manic creativity: According to Jamison's research, what characteristics define manic creative periods versus "normal" creative work - how does she describe the intensity, productivity, and quality of art created during different mental states?
• Your own reactions, questions, and observations!

🌟 WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS

• Experience stories in multiple dimensions
• Meet fellow literature enthusiasts
• Gain deeper appreciation for both mediums
• Enjoy thought-provoking conversation over great food
• Make connections and friendships
• View Kissajukian's actual paintings in the lobby exhibition

QUESTIONS?
Check our Rules of Engagement before signing up. Message Heather with any questions.
See you there!