Back to the beginning… for me! A year ago, I participated in the Birthstone Book Covers meme — hosted by Leslie at Books Are the New Black — for the first time, and liked it so much that I’ve kept it going every month since.
And now, I’m back to where I started, ready for even more birthstone book covers! The challenge going forward will be to see if I can come up with NEW books to feature…
Want to join in this fun monthly meme?
The rules are simple:
Mention the creator (Leslie @ Books Are The New Black ) and link back so she can see your post! Pick 5+ book covers that match the current month’s Birthstone. Have fun!
August’s birthstone is peridot. According to the American Gem Society:
Though peridot is widely recognized for its brilliant lime green glow, the origin of this gemstone’s name is unclear. Most scholars agree that the word “peridot” is derived from the Arabic faridat, which means “gem;” however, some believe it’s rooted in the Greek word peridona, meaning “giving plenty.” Perhaps that’s why peridot was, according to lore, associated with prosperity and good fortune.
Peridot is the rare gem-quality variety of the common mineral olivine, which forms deep inside the Earth’s mantle and is brought to the surface by volcanoes. In Hawaii, peridot once symbolized the tears of Pele, the volcano goddess of fire who controls the flow of lava. Rarely, peridot is also found inside meteorites.
Peridot’s signature green color comes from the composition of the mineral itself—rather than from trace impurities, as with many gemstones. That’s why this is one of few gemstones that only comes in one color, though shades may vary from yellowish-green to olive to brownish-green, depending on how much iron is present.
Onward to the books! Here are the peridot (or peridot-adjacent) book covers I’ve found on my shelves:
- Heartstopper, volume 6 by Alice Oseman
- The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
- Under the Lilacs by Louisa May Alcott
- Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman
- Lost Boy by Christina Henry
Do you have any peridot books on your shelves?
Bookshelf Fantasies 
I love this color! And your books really capture the shade of green😁 The Secret Garden is my favorite.
I really need to find my old copy again! It’s been so many years since I read it.
Peridot is such a pretty cover! Britt-Marie fits it so well.
Thank you!
This is such a fun idea. I LOVE the green colors. So pretty ❤
Thanks! This has been a fun meme to join!
The secret garden is still my favorite. Love this book cover theme.
It’s been so long since I read The Secret Garden! I really need to pick it up again 🙂
It’s my birthstone. My birthday was yesterday.
Happy birthday!
Happy Birthday
This is fun, Lisa! I’m glad you got The Secret Garden in there 🙂
Thanks, Barbara! I really do need to reread The Secret Garden 🙂
I loved that book. Speaking of children’s fiction, I just read March by Geraldine Brooks (based on the father in Little Women) and I’m ashamed to say I never read Little Women. So maybe I will read that soon.
March was terrific… and I love Little Women. I’ve read it a few times by now, and would be happy to read it again!
Fun! The Secret Garden is perfect for this one. The peridot is my gemstone…something I was sad about when I was younger; I would rather have had emeralds or sapphires or at the very least garnets. But I appreciate it more now. ;D
Peridots are so pretty! Happy birthday! 🙂
Well done on completing a year of birthstone book covers 🥰 you have some great choices here and they all look lovely together. Ive never seen that edition of The Secret Garden before although I’m not surprised as there are so many different variants on classic covers out there. I find peridot the hardest one to do, so few books on my shelves seem to be in this kind of shade.
I used to have that exact copy of The Secret Garden! No idea where it may have ended up over the years, but I remember it fondly. Thank you!
Ooh, I love seeing The Secret Garden on here. Lovely cover.
Lynn 😀
Brings back childhood memories!