Shadowplay by Joseph O'Connor

Review from Goodreads:  1878 - The Lyceum Theatre, London. Three extraordinary people begin their life together, a life that will be full of drama, transformation, passionate and painful devotion to art and to one another. Henry Irving, the Chief, is the volcanic leading man and impresario; Ellen Terry is the most lauded and desired actress of her generation, outspoken and generous of heart; and ever following along behind them in the shadows is the unremarkable theatre manager, Bram Stoker. Fresh from life in Dublin as a clerk, Bram may seem the least colourful of the trio but he is wrestling with dark demons in a new city, in a new marriage, and with his own literary aspirations. As he walks the London streets at night, streets haunted by the Ripper and the gossip which swirls around his friend Oscar Wilde, he finds new inspiration. But the Chief is determined that nothing will get in the way of his manager?s devotion to the Lyceum and to himself. And both men are enchanted by the beauty and boldness of the elusive Ellen. This exceptional novel explores the complexities of love that stands dangerously outside social convention, the restlessness of creativity, and the experiences that led to Dracula, the most iconic supernatural tale of all time.

But what did we think of it?  On the whole most of us couldn't get past the over flowery writing, the descriptive text was too much to digest and got in the way of the characters and story.  Many didn't finish the book, perhaps too much for a holiday read.  Those who know the theatre loved the descriptions and insight into Victorian la la land, but not enough to enjoy the book.

Marks out of 10:  4 - 5 so not high

Words used to describe it: interesting historically, camp, overwritten

Next book

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Next meeting:

Friday 20th September at 127 Harbord St

Machines Like Me by Ian McEwan

Machines Like Me occurs in an alternative 1980s London. Charlie, drifting through life and dodging full-time employment, is in love with Miranda, a bright student who lives with a terrible secret. When Charlie comes into money, he buys Adam, one of the first batch of synthetic humans. With Miranda’s assistance, he co-designs Adam’s personality. This near-perfect human is beautiful, strong and clever – a love triangle soon forms. These three beings will confront a profound moral dilemma. Ian McEwan’s subversive and entertaining new novel poses fundamental questions: what makes us human? Our outward deeds or our inner lives? Could a machine understand the human heart? This provocative and thrilling tale warns of the power to invent things beyond our control. (Goodreads)

This received a mix reception by the book club readers.  Some really enjoyed the moral aspect of when is an AI robot a machine, and when does it become someone?  The slow inevitable telling of the story was interesting. The book did generate a good discussion about the rise of technology in our lives, who uses and likes 'Alexa' and what comparisons can we make with AI.

Marks out of 10 - between 3 - 8

Words used to describe it:  alien, uncomfortable, difficult, moral

Next Book

Shadowplay by Joesph O' Connor