Hearthstone Book Club: Spring
'A House to Call Home' by Christie Purifoy
“Places are not static. They are more like people, more like trees, and they have a life of their own that must be tended so that they in turn can take care of us.”
Christie Purifoy, A House to Call Home
Welcome! Whether you’re a longtime friend or a new kindred spirit here (I recommend visiting the Village Green to get your bearings), I’m delighted to be a companion to you through the liturgical year.
Peek back at our previous book selections & discussions to catch up or revisit some of the incredible books, authors, and co-readers we’ve enjoyed together!
Pax+bonum, Kristin.
Woven throughout all my work in researching & reflecting on the liturgical year is a devotion to incarnational theology - a focus on the intersection of God with matter…in Christ most perfectly, and whispered throughout all of creation.
The art of placemaking - discovering and nourishing the unique beauty & challenges of our time and place - is a natural extension of that devotion. It’s an ongoing curiosity about the way God shows up where we are….and the way we can participate in that beauty.
Over the years, I’ve found Christie Purifoy to be one of the clearest voices on the topic of placemaking…and, just recently, her newest book - A House to Call Home - has come into the world. It’s a beautiful intersection of artistic vision and theology, of place and of people…as we’re all journeying through Lent and our own variations of ‘spring cleaning’, I thought this would be the perfect book to explore together…
…plus, we’ll get to explore it with Christie herself!
Christie’s new book is a sweet combination of practical tips (which I always love…they help me refresh my eyes for my landscape), as well as beautiful reflections. Especially as we’ve been weaving At-Home Days into our routine, the ways of grafting a spirit of hospitality into our approach to our given place are particularly helpful to me these days. A House to Call Home continues deepening and broadening hospitality (I’m constantly surprised by how many of my preconceived notions exist in really rigid boxes!), and I find myself returning to Christie’s reflections regularly.
So, this spring, let’s explore placemaking with Christie!
Christie Purifoy is a writer, gardener, and photographer who loves to grow flowers and community.
Christie earned a PhD in English Literature from the University of Chicago but eventually traded the classroom for an old Pennsylvania farmhouse called Maplehurst.
GATHERINGS
Everyone is invited to read along with Book Club! All subscribers can share their questions and thoughts in the HF Chat and in the comments thread here.
Additionally, paid members can join for live online gatherings - including a discussion with the author herself!
Spring Book Club Gatherings:
LIVE DISCUSSIONS
For paid members.
Details and a Google Meet link will be sent the week of each discussion, and a reminder (with link) will be posted in Chat. If you can’t make it to these gatherings live, no worries; they’ll be recorded and posted for you to watch on the re-play.
Saturday, March 28 at 11 am Pacific Time
Just an informal welcome gathering & time for chatting!Saturday, April 25 at 10 am Pacific Time - WITH THE AUTHOR!!
Author Christie Purifoy will be joining us for our discussion of her book…I’ve loved Christie’s work for years, so this is an absolute treat!
SUBSTACK CHAT
For all subscribers.
As you read, feel free to hop into our Chat space to discuss with other subscribers!
Christie introduces her book, and offers some suggested retailers, here:
A House to Call Home via Christie’s web site
Will you be joining us for book club? Christie is an artist through & through - in every aspect of life - and I’m so excited to learn from her this spring.
Pax et bonum,
Kristin
Yay! I’ve been following Christie for years. ❤️❤️
I look forward to reading this book. You are a voice for our times, Kristen, much needed. I read your post a few weeks ago about “at home” time and hospitality. Appreciate you sharing your own journey. I have community in my church, such a blessing. But I’m reflecting how I can create more in my home and surrounding neighborhood.