The Snapper by Roddy Doyle (Moira Nov 189)

 The Snapper by Roddy Doyle is a humorous and heartfelt novel centered on the Rabbitte family, particularly 20-year-old Sharon Rabbitte, who becomes unexpectedly pregnant. Living in a working-class neighborhood in Dublin, Sharon refuses to reveal the father's identity, leading to gossip and speculation in the community.

As Sharon navigates the challenges of pregnancy, her father, Jimmy Sr., struggles between his old-fashioned views and his growing support for his daughter. Despite the initial shock, the Rabbitte family, with their lively banter and strong bond, gradually rally around Sharon.

Filled with Doyle’s trademark witty dialogue and warmth, The Snapper is a story of resilience, family, and acceptance, capturing both the struggles and joys of working-class Irish life.

When we discussed this book the themes of family, the lack of religion, how shadowy the mother was in her daughter's life. Although humerous, there were deeper levels - was it rape, how the child was concived. 

Words used to describe it: brazen, a laugh, nostaligic, jaunty effervecent, slippery

Marks out of 10: between 6 - 9

Next book 

Orbital by Samantha Harvey

Next Meeting 

January Rowena at Naila's

Abroad in Japan by Chris Broad (Naila Oct 188)

 

Abroad in Japan by Chris Broad is a travel memoir that chronicles the author’s journey from being an English teacher in rural Japan to becoming a successful YouTuber exploring the country's culture, history, and quirks. With humor and keen observation, Broad shares his experiences as a foreigner navigating life in Japan, from the challenges of cultural differences to the wonders of its food, landscapes, and traditions.

The book blends personal anecdotes with insightful reflections on Japan’s unique aspects, including its work culture, social etiquette, and hidden gems beyond the usual tourist spots. Along the way, Broad encounters fascinating individuals, embarks on unexpected adventures, and overcomes personal struggles, making his journey both entertaining and inspiring.

The book generated an interesting discussion about living in another country, but divided us with its writing.

Words used to describe it:  informative, inconsistent, c'ava, endearing, sparky, a book of 2 halves, unfinishable, annoying, interesting

Marks out of 10:  between 6 - 8 

Next book

The Snapper by Roddy Doyle (Moira)

Next meeting

Wednesday 27th November at Cindy's

Christmas Do 19th December at Chelsea Arts Club

The Growing Summer by Noel Stretfield (Emma Sept 187)

 

The Growing Summer by Noel Streatfeild is a children's novel about the Gareth family—four siblings (Alex, Penny, Robin, and Naomi)—who are sent to stay with their eccentric Great-Aunt Dymphna in rural Ireland when their mother falls ill. Used to a comfortable life in London, the children struggle to adapt to their aunt’s unconventional ways and the challenges of the countryside.

Their summer takes an unexpected turn when they discover a mysterious boy hiding in their aunt’s house. The boy, whose name is Stephan, is on the run and refuses to reveal much about himself. The children decide to help him, leading to various adventures as they try to keep his presence a secret while uncovering the truth about his situation.

Through their experiences, the siblings grow in confidence, independence, and resourcefulness. The summer transforms them, teaching them valuable lessons about resilience, kindness, and the importance of family.

Next book

Abroad in Japan by Chris Broad 

Next meeting

Moira at Mandy's 30th October 

Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier (Jackie June 185)

 "Jamaica Inn" by Daphne du Maurier tells the story of Mary Yellan, a young woman who travels to the isolated Jamaica Inn on Bodmin Moor to live with her aunt and uncle after her mother's death, only to discover that her uncle, Joss Merlyn, is involved in a sinister smuggling ring that uses the inn as a cover, forcing Mary to navigate a dangerous world of violence and decieit as she uncovers the dark secrets of the inn and the treacherous moor surrounging it. 

This book was interesting in its brooding evocation of danger. The moors are an essential part of the story, goloming over the story. Generating an interesting discussion about shipwrecks, smuggling and the harsh necessities of life as a young woman in that era.

Words used to describe it: sinister, evocative, menacing, thrilling, dark and twisty, 

Marks out of 10: between 8 - 10 - highly marked and much enjoyed

Next book

The Growing Summer by Noel Stretfield (Emma)

Next Meeting

Naila's Wednesday 2nd October

The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde (Rowena 184 May)

The Picture of Dorian Gray, tells the story of a beautiful young man, Dorian Gray, who, after seeing his own portrait painted by artist Basil Hallward, makes a Faustian bargin, wishing that the portrait would age and bear the marks of his sins instead of him, allowing him to remain eternally youthful and handsome while indulging in a life of decadent pleasure; as Dorian's morality deteriortes, his portrait becomes increasingly hideous, ultimately leading to his self-destruction when he finally decides to destroy the painting, which symbolically represents his corrupted soul.

Having just seen the play in London, with the Australian actress Sarah Snook, a one woman show, where the interplay of modern social media and the obsession with self was used as a metaphor within the play. The difference between the play and the book was interesting. Wilde was a playwrite, this book seemed formulaic, where the play appears nuanced. Lord Henry comes across as a most unpleasant charachter. Every page a quote.

Words used to describe it:  complex, shallow, cruel, vain, selfish, emotionally draining, killed by his soul

Marks out of 10:  between 7 - 9

Next Book

Jamacia Inn by Daphne du Maurier

Next Meeting

Emma's 4th Sept

At the Table by Clare Powell (Mandy 185 Apr)

 To Nicole and Jamie Maguire, their parents seem the ideal couple - a suburban double act, happily married for more than thirty years. So when Linda and Gerry announce that they've decided to separate, the news sends shockwaves through the siblings' lives, forcing them to confront their own expectations and desires. Hardworking - and hard-drinking - Nicole pursues the ex she unceremoniously dumped six years ago, while people-pleasing Jamie fears he's sleepwalking into a marriage he doesn't actually want. But as the siblings grapple with the pressures of thirtysomething life, their parents struggle to protect the fragile façade of their own relationship, and the secrets they've both been keeping. Set in 2018, Claire Powell's beautifully observed debut novel follows each member of the Maguire family over a tumultuous year of lunches, dinners and drinks, as old conflicts arise and relationships are re-evaluated. A gripping yet tender depiction of family dynamics, love and disillusionment, At the Table is about what it means to grow up - both as an individual, and as a family. *From  goodreads.com  Not many of our group finished it, finding it dull and uninteresting.

Marks out of 10 - between 3- 8

Words used to describe it:

Dull, drab, unfinished, absorbing, well observed

Next Book

The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde (Rowena 186)

Next Meeting

126 Harbord St

I am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes (183 Naila)

 A complex and thrilling read, although long most of us managed to nearly finish by the time of the meeting. With some of us completing shortly afterwards. Intricately plotted, weaving strands of many other stories along with the main plot line this book, about the spy Scott, who is the only person who can stop Saracen from destroying America through the distribution of contaminated vaccines. The descriptions of places, people, torture, casual cruelty and the complex life of the spy underworld was well drawn.

Words used to describe it: 

well exectuted, breathless, rip roaring read, beautifully interworven, compelling interesting, gripping.

Marks out of 10:  between 6 - 8.5

Next Book

Jean and Pierre by Guy de Monpassant 

Next Meeting

Wednesday 1st May at Mandy's 117 Harbord St

Jean & Pierre by Guy de Monpassant (Carolyn 184)

The story explores sibling rivalry, the effects of unexpected wealth on relationships and the tensions that jealousy creates within a family.  The story begins with a fishing trip where tensions between the brothers are apparent. When a family friend leaves his entire fortune to Jean, Pierre's jealousy and suspicions grow, and he begins to doubt his mother's loyalty and his brother's legitimacy. Pierre's thoughts become consumed by his brother's success, and he roams the seaport alone.

The discussion was wide ranging and interesting. It seemed that no one respected the father. The distructive nature of jealousy and familial relationships.

Marks out of 10 - between 4 - 8

Words used to describe it:

Lugubrious, dry, beautifully written, divisive, predictable, distructive jealousy

 

Next Book

At the Table by Clare Powell (Mandy)

Next Meeting 

126 Harbord St

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

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 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