Our monthly Minneapolis book club met for the second time and #RiveterNation got down to discuss style and prose.
by Claire Butwinick
The Riveter teamed up with Anthropologie at the West End last Wednesday for our second book club event to discuss Issue 5’s featured read, The Girls by Emma Cline. In between sips of glass bottled Coca-Cola and munches on Cracker Jacks, we indulged in the twisted parallels of the novel to the Charles Manson cult, the clash of tradition versus counterculture and, of course, 1960’s fashion.
The lyrical and fantasy-like world written in Cline’s debut novel had us in disbelief that it was based on the infamous Charles Manson cult of the late 1960’s. In fact, the beginning of our meeting was spent playing ‘fact versus fiction’ as we paired characters from the novel with real members by using archived photographs. The haunting reality of the novel had us confess that it was an intense read, yet we were always reeled back in. Similar to the main character Evie, we were not drawn to the charismatic leader, Russell, but instead the girls who followed him. Through Evie’s admiring gaze, we became entranced with the girl’s spellbinding, carefree lives, and sympathized with her desire to belong in the community. However, we were struck when Evie sacrificed her innocence and safety and fell into the danger of the cult.
The Girls brought us on a time travel whirlwind to 1969 when the residue of 1950’s glamour clashed with the rise of counterculture that brought free-flowing garments, higher hem lines, and a shock to tradition. Cline’s rich descriptions of the female characters allowed our imaginations to run wild as we envisioned their vintage garb. The mannequins that were styled above for the discussion were decked out in Anthropologie’s take on 1960’s “boho chic” with airy crocheted tops and floral patterned shorts and maxi skirts – perfect for any Grateful Dead themed dance party.
Join us for our August book club meeting where we will feature Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler. The story follows Tess, a young woman who lands the lowest position at the finest restaurant in New York City. Through her struggle to navigate the restaurant industry and a love triangle, she grows into an adult and matures her palate to appreciate elegant cuisine. Interested? email WestEndMinnPS@anthropologie.com to sign up!
Claire Butwinick is an intern with The Riveter. She recently moved out West to study journalism at The University of Washington – Seattle. Claire loves singing loudly, funky sunglasses, and all things iridescent. Check out what she’s up to on Instagram.
