Callisto Crate is a subscription box that features a book monthly centered around a female protagonist. Along with the monthly selection, the box includes complimentary items centered around the theme or moments from the book. 1% of Callisto Crate’s profits goes back to Kamloops Y Women’s Emergency Shelter to support strong women and children find safety from violence. I love experiences like this, so let’s dig in!
Bright red tissue with the subscription’s logo on a sticker is the first thing you see!
There is a card with beautiful artwork by box co-founder Tara featuring the dragonfly motif that is one of the recurring images in the book.
The reverse of the card features information about the month’s theme — September is Radical Rebels! — as well as the items included and why they were included. I really appreciate small details like this, as it brings the box’s contents together in a more cohesive way.
A magazine is also included with some word puzzles, additional info about the subscription, AND a teaser for the next month’s box. I’m excited!
Women Talking: A Novel, by Miram Toews
The sun rises on a quiet June morning in 2009. August Epp sits alone in the hayloft of a barn, anxiously bent over his notebook. He writes quickly, aware that his solitude will soon be broken. Eight women–ordinary grandmothers, mothers and teenagers; yet to August, each one extraordinary– will climb the ladder into the loft, and the day’s true task will begin. This task will be both simple and subversive: August, like the women, is a traditional Mennonite, and he has been asked to record a secret conversation.
Thus begins Miriam Toews’ spellbinding novel. Gradually, as we hear the women’s vivid voices console, tease, admonish, regale and debate each other, we piece together the reason for the gathering: they have forty-eight hours to make a life-altering choice on behalf of all the women and children in the colony. And like a vast night sky coming into view behind the bright sparks of their voices, we learn of the devastating events that have led to this moment.
Acerbic, funny, tender, sorrowful and wise, Women Talking is composed of equal parts humane love and deep anger. It is award-winning writer Miriam Toews’ most astonishing novel to date, containing within its two short days and hayloft setting an expansive, timeless universe of thinking and feeling about women–and men–in our contemporary world.
Just the description on the book flap tells me this is going to be a pretty intense read.
The author’s note helped me get a better idea of what I was about to dive into. Though the families portrayed in this book are fictional, their stories are based on these awful true-life events.
I curled up with the book on a rainy day and made it through about 60 or so pages before taking a break. The story is told mostly through dialogue by the narrator, August Epps, who is taking “minutes” as the women cannot read or write. As the book focuses on women of the Mennonite community, I found it hard to connect to as I am not religious and their plight, to me, wouldn’t seem a difficult decision to make. Nonetheless, I found the writing to be engaging, the personalities of the women come through and shine even just through dialogue and the observations of August. Ona in particular was my favourite, as she seemed to be the most logical-minded of the two families involved. The book is short, only around 250 pages, so I don’t think it will take me more than another day of reading to finish.
Notebook and Pencil — Since the story is framed in the narrative of someone taking minutes, having a notebook and pencil is a wonderful and practical set of items to include in the box!
The notebook is lightly lined and has a spot for a date.
Chocolate Coffee Beans — Coffee beans coated in chocolate are one of my weaknesses, and these beans by Zach’s Coffee are packed with flavour! A great snack to nibble on while reading.
Dragonfly Bookmark — Another gorgeously drawn dragonfly bookmark. An essential item for a book subscription!
Dragonfly Scarf — This is absolutely stunning, the photo doesn’t do it justice! The dragonflies are metallic and catch the light in such a captivating way. Tie it around your neck, your hair, or even on the handle of a handbag.
I really enjoyed the Radical Rebels theme this month. The book is definitely not something I would choose for myself but I’m enjoying it even if I’m making my way through it a bit slowly. The accompanying items are also thoughtfully chosen and really help bring the theme together. I think Callisto Crate is doing a great job focusing on books featuring strong women, and based on their book selections for previous months the curation is spot-on! Perfect for the book lover in your life.
Are you a bookworm? What do you think of this subscription?
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