book club check in — how’s your Mary Oliver summer going?

Two week check in, suggested reading, and simple prompts to get the most out of book club.

Hi book clubbers!

Just popping into your inbox with a little book club check-in. How has your reading been going lately? Whether you’ve been soaking up Mary Oliver one poem at a time, or just dipping in here and there when the moment feels right — I hope it’s been nourishing.

There’s no rush or pressure to “keep up” — this is a slow and gentle summer practice, after all. But if you’d like a little nudge, this is your sign to pick up your book today, head outside if you can, and take a few quiet minutes to read. Maybe underline a line that moves you, or jot down a thought in your journal.

I’d also love to hear how it’s going for you! You can hit reply and send me a email, or use our community chat to share any book club moments.

I’ve been taking my Mary Oliver Summer quite slowly. Most mornings, I sit down with a poem or two. I reread it once or twice, sometimes out loud, and sometimes jotting down little notes in the margins. Here’s a favourite I’ve read in these last two weeks:

What has been your favourite poem lately? Drop it in the comments or the chat!

suggested reading:

Option 1:
Continue with one poem a day, in any order.
You can go front to back, skip around, or pick a weekly theme (like nature, animals, or mornings) to guide your reading. This part is flexible—follow your curiosity!

Option 2:
Focus on two sections. For these next two weeks, I will be focusing on:

• Swan (starts on page 59)

• New and Selected Poems: Volume One (starts on page 281)

As always, take book club at your own pace! Do a little audit — is your current schedule working for you? Maybe try reading in the mornings, or the evenings, or reading through a couple of poems in one sitting. Get a notebook to jot notes down while you’re reading. Pay attention to how they’re making you feel.

Though I did read through some poems in the morning, I want to get more out of them. I want to soak them up. To read them inside and out. To memorize them like prayers. To do that, I will be reading with a notebook alongside me for the rest of book club, jotting down notes and feelings that arise within me while reading these poems. Maybe you’ll do the same?

homework ideas for a Mary Oliver summer:

Complete none, any or all of these over the next two weeks:

Make your “wild and precious life” list. Inspired by the final line of The Summer Day, write out 10–20 things you want to do with your one wild and precious life. They can be simple, soulful, or slightly wild. Big dreams or tiny joys. Post your list somewhere you’ll see it, or keep it tucked in your journal.

Take a photo that matches your chosen poem. Head outside and take one photo that reflects the mood, message, or image of the poem you chose. Think of it as a visual companion to the poem. You can post it to the chat, on socials, or just keep it in your camera roll.

Revisit your Sit Spot. Keep returning to the same spot once a week. What’s changed since the last time you sat there? What hasn’t? Can you sit a little longer this time?

Underline and respond. Go back to a poem you’ve already read and underline one line that still lingers in your mind. Then write a few lines in response—your own poem, a journal entry, or even a letter to the poet.

Map a memory. Draw, write, or collage a visual map of a place you love deeply. It could be your backyard, a campsite, a trail, or your childhood bedroom. Include textures, sounds, objects, or memories that live there.

Before you go…

Let me know in the comments:

✿ Where have you been reading from lately?

✿ What time of day do you usually pick up your book?

✿ Have you tried any of this week’s “homework”? I’d love to see your wild and precious life list, your sit spot notes, or your poem-inspired photo!

✿ What would you like to get out of this book club moving forward?

Drop a 🌼 in the chat if you’re still reading along—quietly or otherwise. You’re doing great.

Sending love, beauty, and big breaths of fresh air your way!

Thanks for being here <3 I hope you enjoy the rest of your Mary Oliver summer.