Forge Your Own Book Club for Mrs. Plansky’s Revenge by Spencer Quinn!

By Ariana Carpentieri:

Mrs. Loretta Plansky, a recent widow in her seventies, is settling into retirement in Florida while dealing with her 98-year-old father and fielding requests for money from her beloved children and grandchildren. Thankfully, her new hip hasn’t changed her killer tennis game one bit.

One night Mrs. Plansky is startled awake by a phone call from a voice claiming to be her grandson Will, who desperately needs ten thousand dollars to get out of a jam. Of course, Loretta obliges—after all, what are grandmothers for, even grandmothers who still haven’t gotten a simple “thank you” for a gift sent weeks ago. Not that she’s counting.

By morning, Mrs. Plansky has lost everything. Law enforcement announces that Loretta’s life savings have vanished, and that it’s hopeless to find the scammers behind the heist. First humiliated, then furious, Loretta Plansky refuses to be just another victim.

In a courageous bid for justice, Mrs. Plansky follows her only clue on a whirlwind adventure to a small village in Romania to get her money and her dignity back—and perhaps find a new lease on life, too.

Mrs. Plansky’s Revenge is an excellent choice for your next book club discussion. Here’s a breakdown on what to watch, what to eat, what to drink, what to listen to, and what to discuss while you read it!

WHAT TO WATCH

Mrs. Plansky’s Revenge is a story about an older woman who loses everything and must go on a physical, emotional, and mental journey to get her life back. It’s a tale of redemption and finding oneself along the way. A movie with a similar plot-line is Hayao Miyazaki’s acclaimed Studio Ghibli film, Howl’s Moving Castle, which is about a girl who’s turned into an old woman by a powerful witch and must go on a journey in order to get her youth back. Along the way she forges friendships, experiences new things, faces hardships, and ultimately discovers a new appreciation for life. Both stories portray little old ladies who are actually anything but—they’re strong, determined, and must embark on a journey to reclaim their lives!

WHAT TO EAT

Mrs. Plansky is a kind grandmother who’s tricked into losing all of her life savings. Law enforcement informs her that it’s hopeless to find the scammers behind the heist, but Loretta Plansky refuses to be just another victim. In a courageous bid for justice, Mrs. Plansky follows her only clue on a whirlwind adventure to a small village in Romania to get her money and her dignity back—and perhaps find a new lease on life, too. With her trip whisking her off to Romania, I think this book calls to be paired with a classic Romanian dessert! Papanași, or Romanian cheese donuts, are by far the country’s most popular and beloved dessert. Papanași can be fried or boiled – both are delicious, and the boiled variation generally has a breadcrumb and sugar coating!

WHAT TO DRINK

It’s no secret that Mrs. Planksy is a sweet but strong old woman. She’s got a lot on her plate and is determined to get her life back after everything was unjustly stolen from her. I think a drink that’s sweet, but also packs a punch, would be a perfect fit for Mrs. Plansky. So I’d say a Long Island Iced Tea is the way to go! But if alcoholic beverages aren’t your thing, then a plain iced tea would also do the trick. Plus, both are perfect summer drinks to sip on if you read this with your book club during the upcoming warmer months!

WHAT TO LISTEN TO

The song Float On by Modest Mouse is a great song to pair with this book because it’s all about pushing through what’s bad in order to make it through. The lyrics paint a picture that you can still find light even in the darkness, and serves as a reminder that the hard times will eventually pass. There’s even a mention in the song about getting scammed (which is exactly what happens to poor Mrs.Plansky), saying they “took every last dime with that scam.” But looking on the bright side, it continues with: “Bad news comes, don’t you worry even when it lands / Good news will work its way to all them plans.” I think Mrs. Plansky would appreciate listening to a song like this because it would help keep her motivated as she strives to get her money and dignity back!