Book Club Kit for The Royal Nanny by Karen Harper includes book club discussion guide and party menu.
Is anyone else obsessed with Netflix's original show The Crown??
We've been watching it over the last few weeks.
Combined with our recent discovery that Handyman Tim is actually British according to his DNA tests and a love for all things Will & Kate, I couldn't resist picking The Royal Nanny by Karen Harper for our March book club selection.
Peanut Blossom Book Club
This book was our official March 2017 pick for the Peanut Blossom Book Club.
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What is The Royal Nanny About?
Check out the full book description for The Royal Nanny here:
"Based on a seldom-told true story, this novel is perfect for everyone who is fascinated by Britain’s royal family—a behind the scenes look into the nurseries of little princes and the foibles of big princes.
April, 1897: A young nanny arrives at Sandringham, ancestral estate of the Duke and Duchess of York. She is excited, exhausted—and about to meet royalty. . . .
So begins the unforgettable story of Charlotte Bill, who would care for a generation of royals as their parents never could. Neither Charlotte—LaLa, as her charges dub her—nor anyone else can predict that eldest sons David and Bertie will each one day be king. LaLa knows only that these children, and the four who swiftly follow, need her steadfast loyalty and unconditional affection.
But the greatest impact on Charlotte’s life is made by a mere bud on the family tree: a misunderstood soul who will one day be known as the Lost Prince. Young Prince John needs all of Lala’s love—the kind of love his parents won’t…or can’t…show him.
From Britain’s old wealth to the glittering excesses of Tsarist Russia; from country cottages to royal yachts, and from nursery to ballroom, Charlotte Bill witnesses history. The Royal Nanny is a seamless blend of fact and fiction—an intensely intimate, yet epic tale spanning decades, continents, and divides that only love can cross."
Go grab a copy of The Royal Nanny here so you can join us for our book club discussion!
The Royal Nanny Book Club Questions
I believe the best book club questions to spark a lively discussion in your group help readers make personal connections to the story.
You can read about how to write the best book club questions on your own here, but hopefully these will get you started!
Question 1:
What did you think of this month's pick? Would you have picked it up on your own?
Question 2:
How familiar with the royal families in the book were you before reading the story?
Have you been watching The Crown on Netflix or Victoria on PBS?
Question 3:
Do you agree that "The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world"?
What does that imply about how the royals allowed their children to be raised by servant women?
Question 4:
Charlotte / Lala chooses a life of service over self-interest.
What did you think of her choice?
Question 5:
Did you see the movie The King's Speech featuring a grown up Bertie overcoming his stuttering?
Did you think David or Bertie were more fit to be king from the hints we got during this book?
Did you know how history played out before reading?
Question 6:
Did you find yourself searching up historical information on Wikipedia or other sites while reading The Royal Nanny?
I ended up reading more about epilepsy treatments, Faberge animals, and the Russian royal family.
What perked your interest the most?
Question 7:
I found the ending of the book to be fairly depressing.
At one point (without spoiling it in the question) I wanted to throw my book against the wall.
But now that I've had time to think about it, I have more mixed feelings.
How would you describe the book to a friend?
Were you frustrated with the ending, too? Or did it makes sense to you.
Question 8:
Would you want to be part of the British royal family if you had the choice?
Would you choose the time era from the book or today's modern family? Why?
Question 9:
If you had to work as a servant in the royal household, which position would you prefer?
Nanny like Lala, in the kitchen, a lady's maid, the wardrobe keeper, a gardener, something else?
Book Club Party Menu
For the book club party menu, obviously a Royal Tea Party is in order!
Why not serve a platter of blueberry scones and a simple tea bread like my almond poppy seed bread.
You May Also Enjoy
If you enjoyed this book, you'd likely enjoy these other fun book club picks from through the years:
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