Activities: TWENTY
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Suggested Activities & Ideas for a Twenty-themed Get-Together
Twenty is the kind of book that becomes even more meaningful when you share and discuss it with people you care about. Whether you’re part of a book club or like to talk about your favorite books with friends, you can use these ideas to make your Twenty-themed gathering extra special.
Make a playlist for reading or discussing Twenty:
- “I’ll Never Find Another You,” by The Seekers
- Note: This is the most important song on a Twenty-themed soundtrack. In the novel, Meg remembers hearing her mom play this song after her father died. Recorded by The Seekers in the 1960s, it’s the kind of folk ballad that Lillian would have liked. And the lyrics combine a sense of grief, longing, and hope that seem perfect for both Lillian and Meg. You can listen to it on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/4Ga9Bs4fzSY
- “I Will Remember You,” by Sarah McLachlan
- “How Do I Live,” by LeAnn Rimes
- “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” by Eva Cassidy
- “How Can I Help You Say Goodbye,” by Patty Loveless
- “I Will Always Love You,” by Whitney Houston
- “If You Get There Before I Do,” by Collin Raye
- “Missing You,” by Diana Ross
- “Love Can Build A Bridge,” by Wynonna Judd
- “Tears in Heaven,” by Eric Clapton
- “To Love Somebody,” by The Bee Gees
- “Fields of Gold,” by Eva Cassidy
- “I’m Alive,” by Celine Dion
- “If Tomorrow Never Comes,” by Garth Brooks
- “One Moment in Time,” by Dana Winner
Put out flowers:
Since the women in Meg’s family were named after flowers, you could gather Marguerite daisies for Meg and lilies for Lillian. Or make a bouquet from sprigs of holly for Meg’s sister, or black-eyed Susans (aka rudbeckia hirta) in honor of Meg’s niece. For a bright splash of color, arrange a bouquet of flowers in the same beautiful hues as the cover of the book.
Snacks to serve:
To serve something special at your gathering, you’ll find a recipe for Lillian’s Coconut Cake at the back of Twenty. Enjoy it with coffee labeled “A Cup o’ Joe” in honor of Meg’s ex-husband Joe. Or make cupcakes with gummy worms in them, reminiscent of the scene in which Meg’s daughter, Rose, brings worms into the kitchen when Meg is baking cupcakes. A worm falls off of Rose’s finger and…splat—right into one of the cupcakes!
Activities:
In addition to discussing Twenty (you’ll find special discussion questions in the back), you and your friends can borrow activities based on the book, such as:
- A scavenger hunt like the ones Joe set up for Rose.
- Making a list of 20 things you’d do in your last 20 days.
- Wearing something red (as Meg does on her last evening with Joe).
- Cutting up old Christmas cards, writing notes, and sending them.
Giveaways:
Use your imagination to come up with small souvenirs of your Twenty discussion, such as packets of flower seeds and small watering cans, or paints and paper to make colorful swirls like the ones Meg painted on her kitchen wall.
