Gionvanni's Room by James Baldwin (182 Cindy)

The central protagonist of this novel is David, an American and Giovanni an Italian bartender. In the Guardian review, Garth Greenwell says 'the whole novel is a kind of anatomy of shame, of its roots and the myths that perpetuate it, of the damage it can do. And also of its arbitrariness, since as rebuttal to any claim that shame might be some natural accoutrements of queerness – the belief that lies at the heart of David’s malaise – the novel offers the fact of Giovanni, who seems immune to shame, or at least to the shame that plagues David. And it is this freedom that makes him available to the joy and love David finally believes men can’t share with one another.' This shame permeates the whole novel as it passes backwards and forward through time. A classic novel, James Baldwin writes eloquently about the psychological difficulities of being gay in a time when there was no acceptance. It discusses what it is to be white American abroad, and once you've left how you never feel quite so comfortable back in America - as Helga says  “Americans should never come to Europe,” she says. “It means they never can be happy again. What’s the good of an American who isn’t happy? Happiness was all we had.” An interesting book with layers.

Words used to describe it:  tortured, melancholic, nuanced, tragic, painful

Words out of 10: between 6 - 9.5 so a mixed reception

Next Book

I am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes

Next Meeting

7th April Brighton Carolyn's

A Spy Alone by Charles Beaumont (181 Emma)

An exciting and interesting spy thriller. Some of the time is spent trying to work out which character most closely represents which politician. The main protagonist, Simon Sharmon - recruited out of Oxford, now a freelancer, finds that the tentacles of spy industry wind their way through his alumni, Russian money, and corruption in high places (nothing new there then). Slow initially as the bones of the story are laid down, the pace picks up. A thriller in the true meaning of the word. This book generated great discussions about politics, how money corrupts and corruption in high places. 

Words used to describe it:  interesting, intriguing, clever, enjoyable, inciteful, compelling read, modern Le Carre

Marks out of 10: between 7 - 9 so highly rated by the group

Next Book

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin (Cindy)

Next Meeting

29th February at Naila's

A Sting in the Tail by David Goulson (180 Olivia)

 A fascinating book full of interesting facts and details about bees; bumble bees, honey bees and the other 26 different variety of Bombus, UK bees. Many of whom are under threat of extinction. It details Professor Goulson interest in these intriguing and astounding insects - without whom our food chains would be completely f##ked. The facts and figures details are all amazing, the calorific intake of a bee - they are only 40 mins from starvation. They burn as much as a man running on Mars for 30 mins in 30 seconds. He writes clearly and concisely of the integral part they play in the pollination of plants, flowers and the general ecosystem.

This book generated an interesting discussion about ecology, conservation and bees. 

Words used to describe it:  inspiring, could have done better, informative, formidable, galvernising, eye opening.

Marks out of 10:  between 6 - 7

Next Book

A Spy Alone by Charles Beaumont

Next Meeting

Thursday 25 January at Cindy's