The Informers

As I wasn't at the meeting on Thursday night I haven't got full notes of what was discussed, so enclose some comments sent to me:
Mandy - Re The Informers - Interesting and atmospheric but in the end over long, suffering from being a translation.
Rona - didn't enjoy last book at all lost the entire plot several times doubt if it would make any more sense in Spanish, but willing to believe it might be , I am by nature an optimist!
Cindy: I agree with Mandy about The Informers. Intriguing at first, but I lost the plot, literally and figuratively, toward the end. I haven't managed to make it to the end yet.
Rowena: I also haven't made it to the end, not sure I have the will to make it there!
Boos: Sorry!
(No need to apologies - you haven't read some of the ones we've selected - much worse, Love of Stones anyone?)

Lovely Thai at 209 Munster Road - definitely one to recommend, love the owner! Mandy got on famously, I really want to try her version of bread sauce!

Next book based on the fact that 3 out of 5 voted for it:
Toast by Nigel Slater

Next Meeting
126 Harbord Street
(to be confirmed that Amanda and Peter can hold it)
on either
Friday 15 or 22 January.
Please advise.

Midaq Alley by Naquib Mahfouz

An intimate story of the various characters within a generic street in Cairo. With no sympathetic characters it was a difficult book to warm to. The characters seemed be symbolic of types rather than characters in themselves. It may have been the translation but the prose lacked some lyricism. Of those that finished the book it was liked, but generally rather a luke warm reception. Marks out of 10 between 3 - 7. Comments: a portrait rather than a story, good but didn't rock my world, post war Coronation Street on hashish, not as much fun as Twilight!

Next Book
The Informers by Juan Gabriel Vasquez

Next Meeting
Thursday 17th December

Meet at 234 Munster Road to talk about the book
and then out to a restuarant for a Christmas get together.

Grapes of Wrath

We finally managed to meet to discuss this book. It generated much discussion even if we didn't all enjoy the book. The three of us who saw the play, appreciated the shock of the ending - which on stage and on page caused a sharp intake of breath. Most enjoyed his prose but found the characters difficult. It was interesting seeing the beginnings of unionisation with the desciptions of man exploitation of an other's hardship. No quarter given, no charity handouts, a hard hard life.

Rona, was unable to make the meeting but saw the play and sent these comments "My comments for book club on Steinbeck's Nobel prize winning epic mmmmmmmmm, I loved reading it although it was at times a bit like eating sensible salad rather than delicious full fat cheese. What I mean is that the quality of writing and descriptions of such harrowing times were superlative, but not easy to read. I knew quite a bit about the Highland clearances which affected families in a similar way but we were not taught anything about American history when I was at school,so I feel informed and moved by the plight of the fictional family portrayed, my three words would be harrowing,epic,poetic.......particularly the last scene." Rona's precis encapsulates the discussion we had.

Words used to describe the book: beautifully descriptive, haunting, labouring, remarkable, bloody boring (Anneka). The book was marked highly between 7 - 9 out of 10.

Next Book

Midaq Alley by Naquib Mahfouz

Next Meeting

Thursday 19th November
at
234 Munster Road

(please let Boos know if you are coming as space is limited - no prams!)

The Other Hand

Thank you Mandy for holding the meeting at such short notice - Amanda we've volunteered you to hold the next one in September! No cricket matches then........... Thanks to Eloise for setting up all the delicious bits and fabulous table.

The book: an interesting premise; what would you do if cutting off a finger meant saving the life of an African child that you had never met before - would you do it? The rest of the book was concerned with the central character's life and the girl. How the main character and her husband had got to that point and the consequences of this event on their lives. Giles hated the book even though he hadn't read it, didn't know what it was about and wasn't going to try it. The rest of us were underwhelmed. It would have made the most amazing short story a taut, demanding and interesting moral story. We didn't really discuss the story although picked the construction of the book apart. Absent members (Amanda & Peter) critic "We both read the book. Can't say either of us liked it. The plot was implausible. Characters not well drawn. Unsure why anyone would call this book a thriller as it lacked the necessary pace". Words used to describe it: misrepresented, good not great, oversold, shoot the editor, interestingly divisive. Marks out of 10 between 4 - 7.

Next Book
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

Next meeting
Wednesday 16th September
at
128 Harbord Street

sWine Flu - symptoms!

I suffer from this quite often: I always knew it was a real disease, at last it has been recognised!. I went to Book Club a couple of nights ago, where I, and other guests, enjoyed copious amounts of alcohol. I awoke the other morning not feeling well, with what could be described as flu-like symptoms: headache, nausea, chills, sore eyes etc. I have unfortunately tested positive for what experts are now calling Wine Flu. This debilitating condition is very serious - and it appears that mine is not an isolated case. Reports are flooding in from all around the neighbourhood of others diagnosed with Wine Flu.

To anyone that starts to exhibit the aforementioned tell-tale signs, experts are recommending a cup of tea and a bit of a lie down. However, should your condition worsen, you should immediately hire a DVD and take some Nurofen (Nurofen seems to be the only drug available that has been proven to help combat this unusual type of flu). Other are reporting that a McDonald's Happy Meal can also help in some cases. Wine Flu does not need to be life threatening and, if treated early, can be eradicated within a 24-48 hour period. If not, then further application of the original liquid in similar quantities to the original dose has been shown to do the trick!

The Books of Rachel

Almost a full complement of the book club members! Including our youngest member and her parents, she was so lovely and well behaved - where does she get it from? Welcome also to our newest member Boos (Amanda) Meader, we do hope you enjoy our eclectic book club. A thin title for a gossipy evening!

The book - most of us found the book interesting historically as it flitted through time, at speed, with each change of Rachel and her turn with the diamond. As the book covered so much history characterisation was thin and story lines slightly contrived. As someone said - this book is definitely 'of it's time, you can feel the late 70's in the way it is written'. About half of us finished the book, with the other half struggling to finish.
Marks out of 10 - nothing higher than a 4, words to describe it: too Jewish, dated, shallow, lacking depth.

Next Book
The Other Hand by Chris Cleave

Next Meeting
As our new member cannot make 16th July let's see if we can find another date.
At
128 Harbord Street

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Those delicious cheesy bites with added pepper crunch - yum yum. See side for Nikki's recipe! The book: an easy, enjoyable, interesting read. Some found the characterisation to be slightly shallow especially the child Kit, who was always perfect and lovely? What child is that? Atmospheric and even handed in it's portrayal of the island under the German Occupation. We all enjoyed the book and the literary society it portrayed. It has kindled an interested in some of the authors and books mentioned - Charles Lamb anyone. One of our absent members emailed her comments (thanks Amanda) "The book was great, very Jane Austen. Characters well drawn. It felt like unwrapping slowly a present, as the story unfolded."
Words to describe it: enjoyable, atmospheric, charming, let down, interesting. Marks out of 10: between 6 - 8, so quite a high scoring book which we would recommend others read.

Next book

The Books of Rachel by Joel Gross

Next Meeting

Thursday 11 June at 126 Harbord Street - Rowena's

The Seige of Krishnapur

The Shed is fabulous, the little eats were delicious and the log fire fantastic. We want to come again. Recipe for the seasoned nuts to come. Thank you Rona. PS. forgot to take some brownies with me, Jack very cross.
To the book: JG Farrell used contemporary diaries, letters and writing for the basis of this book about a fictional town under attack during the Indian Mutiny. The book was an attack on the British Empire and all it stood for. The gradual disintegration of 'civilization' when under attack and the idea that art, society, class and all that the British held dear really meant nothing. Although bits of black comedy did come through most found the book hard going and many did not finish. Words used to describe it: long but interesting, convoluted sweaty, colonial version of a Jane Austen novel, satirical breakdown of an Empire. Marks out of 10: between 5 - 8.

Next Meeting
Wednesday 6th May at Nikki's, 124 Harbord Street

Next Book
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society
by
Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Burrows

Running with Scissors

Augusten Burroughs has written about his weird and shocking childhood with the family of his mother's psychotherapist. The camp and well observed details bring the true strangeness of this part of his upbringing to life. His accurate observations about life in the US in the 70's struck a cord and the people were well characterised. Most people enjoyed the book, although there were a couple cynics amongst us who wondered at the extremeness of the events portrayed. Words used to describe it: heart breaking, dystopia dysfunctional, psychotic psychotherapy, bizarre, bohemian, pubic, self indulgent, American therapy and shit! Marks between 2 - 8.

Next Book
The Siege of Khrisnapur by J G Farrell

Next Meeting - change of date
Wednesday 1 April in Rona's Shed

A Spy in the House of Love

A woman looking for affection through sexual gratification. Thought to be a semi autobiographical account of part of her own life. Scandalous at the time. Some found it wonderful loving the lyrical prose and enjoyable use of words. The character engendered differing views - some thinking her shallow and unsympathetic, other finding her an interesting character using sex like a man - without emotion. Most felt the characterisation was not brilliant. Words used to describe it: disjointed, lyrical beauty with a shallow plot, beautiful vignettes, poetically shallow, confusing but poignant, kaleidoscopic. Marks out of 10 ranged 4 - 9.

Next Book
Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs
Don't buy the DVD of the same name by mistake!

Next Meeting
Wednesday 25th February
at 12 Lysia Street