Welcome to Scarlet Summer!

A three-month reading adventure that is open to all.

There's no official sign-up for Scarlet Summer, but your participation on Goodreads or social media or attending the Zoom discussions and Biblio Adventures will help make Scarlet Summer exciting.

JULY: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

  • We plan to start reading the weekend of July 1st. 

  • Fun fact: Hawthorne was born on July 4, 1804.

  • On July 12th we are taking a day-long Biblio Adventure to Concord, MA to see Hawthorne-related sites, ending with a 4:30 pm ET discussion of The Scarlet Letter at the Concord Public Library. There is a Zoom option for those not in New England. Send an email to participate and let us know if you’ll be there in person or via Zoom. 

AUGUST:  Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese

  • We are not planning a Zoom discussion, but Laurie will be a guest on the podcast so send us any questions you’d like us to ask her.

  • We’re recording with Laurie on August 16th so aim to have read Hester by the 15th.

  • On Sunday, August 27th at 7PM (ET) we are hosting a watch party of the 1934 movie adaptation of The Scarlet Letter. What does this mean? It means that we will be "screening" the movie on our own computer and provide you with a link so that you can watch the movie with us, together in real time. Please send an email if you would like to join and we will send you instructions on how to log-in and watch along. 

  • On Wednesday, August 30th we have a day-long biblio adventure in Salem, MA, Hawthorne’s hometown.

Th

SEPTEMBER: The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman (pub date Aug 15th)

  • The Zoom discussion is September 10th at 7 pm ET, email us to save your spot.

  • In September we’ll have a day-long biblio adventure in Boston to see literary sites and eat a meal at the Chipotle inside the Old Corner Bookstore / home of Ticknor and Fields, Hawthorne’s publisher. Date to be announced in early August.

BINGO!: We’ve created a Scarlet Summer Bingo! Card

  • Download the Official Scarlet Summer Bingo Card - click here.

  • Mark your boxes however you like, and when you get BINGO! email us a photo of your card and you’ll be entered to win the Scarlet Summer Grand Prize. The winner will be chosen on September 19, 2023.

Goodreads Discussion Threads:
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese
The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman