The morning after 10 May 2013

Thanks Ruth for hosting a very lovely book club on Friday.

Also thanks for choosing a great book, I think we had all found A Severed Head a pretty exhilarating read with all the surprising plot twists, including who Alexander would sleep with next and what Honor was up to.  Iris kept us guessing on what would happen with each of the characters, who they would end up with, and whether Martin would actually do any work.  Great characters, from creepy Palmer to tragic Georgie, and wonderfully written with some fantastic turns of phrase.  Those of you not too exhausted by that and ready to try another Iris might want to read An Unofficial Rose, recommended by Gillian.  John has a copy of the play, so a GGBC dramatisation may be on the cards, pick your parts now.

Reading for June has been chosen by Sean: A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O’Connor.  Meeting at Sean’s house on Friday 14th June.

For July, Sian has chosen Henderson the Rain King by Saul Bellow.  And then I’ll be selecting the usual fabulous read for August.

The morning after 12 April 2013

Thanks Kathleen for hosting a very mellow meeting on Friday night.

We enjoyed The Overhaul, especially after reading some of our favourite poems out loud and discussing the meanings behind them.  Although some of these were quite dark in their themes, her use of language and description of the landscape around her in Scotland was lyrical and beautiful.  Special thanks to Candida for her reading of the Scots language poems and helping our understanding of them.  Nice to have poetry at book club for a change, Kathleen, it may just have been a successful choice!

For May, Ruth has chosen A Severed Head by Iris Murdoch, we meet again at Ruth’s flat on Friday 10th May.

For the June meeting Sean has chosen a book I think many of us can relate to: A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O’Connor, a collection of 9 short stories.

Sian is next to choose for the July meeting.

And is anyone interested in coming to see Marc Almond sing songs about the plague in Wiltons Music Hall?  I think it might be better than it sounds…. Random date suggestion – Thursday 2nd or Friday 3rd May.  Cheapest tickets are £15.

The morning after 8 March 2013

Thanks all for a very fine meeting last night.

Most of us had quite enjoyed Underground, Overground, at least in parts.  We liked his very personable and chatty style, some of the anecdotes and stories were great, like the fake houses at Leinster Gardens and the disused Bull and Bush station at Hampstead.  The book did get better later on once you got past the excessive technical detail and all the different train companies which was a bit tedious at the beginning.  Some of this history was interesting though, knowing all the different lines were in competition, and mostly followed the public roads above explains the random nature of parts of the tube.  Overall some interesting stories written by someone who is clearly very enthusiastic about his subject.  Anyone who liked it may be interested in watching this Culture Show programme on art on the tube, which also covers some of the history and stories in the book, available here on iPlayer.

Next month your reading has been chosen by Kathleen, the beautifully compact The Overhaul by Kathleen Jamie.  Meeting on Friday 12th April at Kathleen’s flat.

Then for May, Ruth has chosen A Severed Head by Iris Murdoch – less gruesome than it sounds I believe.

And Sean is choosing next for June book club.

There was also a suggestion that we have December book club in Vienna, taking advantage of the Christmas markets and Ruth’s opening night in a show (sorry can’t remember the name of it!).  I think this sounds like a marvellous idea, so who is in?

The morning after 8 February 2013

Thanks Emma and Candida for hosting an excellent 10th anniversary meeting last night, a fine celebration of our first decade. It was a packed agenda so straight on with business….

Farewell, My Lovely was a big hit – very different to this year’s other books, some might even say refreshing. The atmosphere and sense of place came across brilliantly in his short, vivid descriptions, and the way he made the characters come to life in a few words was really well done. There was some confusion as to what was going on in a few places, partly due to Ray’s spare writing, and we also found some of his language and attitudes a bit difficult, but very much of its time (published 1940). His animal similes were well liked, and some lovely set pieces — the medium’s house, the boat in the harbour and the Grayle’s house being particular favourites. All in all, excellent choice, and interesting to read an author who has inspired so many other authors and film makers. Fans of Ray may also like The Big Sleep, written the year before.

So on to anniversary business, and congratulations to Emma on winning the raffle, your book token will be with you shortly.

The best and worst books of the year turned out to be less contentious than usual, we didn’t even have one fight over it. I am happy to report that the book of the year was The Songs of the Kings by Barry Unsworth, with The Mayor of Casterbridge the runner-up. At the other end of the scale, in joint last place, were The Transit of Venus and The Git.

And finally the very exciting new addition for this year’s anniversary, the quiz, which I think turned out to be more difficult than expected. So well done to Gillian on a very worthy win, hope you enjoy your prize. Also congratulations to John for his creditable second place in a closely fought contest. Special mention to Emma for getting the last question completely right! Quiz questions and answers available here for anyone who wants to have a go.

After all that excitement we still had to reveal books for next time and here they are:

Friday 8th March
Underground, Overground by Andrew Martin

Friday 12th April
The Overhaul by Kathleen Jamie

Choosing next time for the May book club: Ruth.

The morning after 11 January 2013

Thanks Candida for hosting book club last night, nice to see some old faces.

Most of us had enjoyed Ladder of Years, an understated and well written story of a woman’s breakdown as she leaves her family, builds a new life and finds herself and ultimately returns to her family. Some of us had found the ending, when she returns to her family and fits back into her previous place, a bit disappointing, but it seemed inevitable and she is clearly not the same person who left. The portrayal of family life and the close observations on the minutiae of everyday life were well done, although there was somewhat of an old fashioned feel to the story and writing. In particular, the very first page with the report of her disappearance said everything about why Delia left and how she was perceived by her family (or not). A tip: don’t get the large print version or you may think you’re reading Mills & Boon. John did and as a result didn’t like the book, but he’s wrong.

Next month Emma has chosen Farewell, My Lovely by Raymond Chandler, we meet on Friday 8th February at Emma’s flat.

For March, John is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Tube with Underground, Overground by Andrew Martin.

Kathleen is next to choose for the April book club.

As next month is our anniversary and we will be 10 there will be lots of exciting activities:
* the annual book token raffle (please bring your £2)
* review of the year in reading and a vote on best and worst books of the year
* new for 2013 – book club quiz. John suggests everyone writes 5 questions and send them to me before the meeting and I will be quizmaster for the night. I’ll have some questions ready anyway in case no-one bothers… There may even be a small prize for the winner.

If that wasn’t enough we have book club new year lunch this Sunday 13th January, anyone who can make it, meet at the gates at 1:30pm and we will head off for lunch, probably to the Defoe.

The morning after 14 December 2012

Thanks Gillian for hosting a small and mellow meeting on Friday, much enjoyed by all.

Housekeeping was hotly anticipated, but the short but not quick read unfortunately failed to live up to its promise. The book described the life of two sisters growing up in a remote part of north America and their unconventional and sometimes very sad lives. There was a wonderful sense of place and the lake, trains and their house were all described beautifully, but a lack of emotional engagement with the characters really failed to make the book compelling. Marilynne’s other two books however are highly recommended: Home and, in particular, Gilead. You might also be interested in this programme, on Radio 4 yesterday and now on iPlayer, about life riding the rails like Ruth and Sylvie.

For next month, your festive reading has been chosen by Candida: Ladder of Years by Anne Tyler. We meet again on Friday 11th January 2013.

For February, Emma has gone noir and chosen Farewell, My Lovely by Raymond Chandler.

Choosing next for March book club is John.

Happy Christmas!

The morning after 9 November 2012

Thanks for coming round on Friday, a vintage meeting I thought, reminded me of the early days of book club all those years ago.

Firstly a little apology from me, I didn’t realise the book was quite so violent or depressing so sorry to anyone who found it unremittingly bleak and horrible.  Not a massive success, although discussion of the way of life which was so medieval, and the light relief of the policemen and the stories of Mercedes were interesting.  Mercedes’ return to Tomasito at the end was a matter of debate, cheesy or romantic?  The book didn’t really give an insight into the Shining Path, see here for more details, most active in Ayacucho and Huancavelica (setting for the book). 

This then led on to a wider discussion of cultural practices and beliefs including circumcision and FGM, topics to be avoided by next month’s book hopefully.

So Gillian has chosen Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson for December, we meet again on Friday 14th December at Gillian’s flat.

Then for January, Candida continues our run of lady authors with Anne Tyler’s Ladder of Years.

Emma chooses next for February book club, Emma if you will be away for the December meeting just let me know your choice before you go so I can pass on to everyone.