The Earthsea Quartet

Oh no another bad book! We have had a run of them! Most of us only managed to read the first of the quartet feeling that it really was too childish to continue with the other three. Ursula le Guin did aim the book at the 11 year old boy, when written in the 70's. I remember reading it as a 12 year old and loving them. Not so good coming back as a 40(ish) year old! Words used to describe it - impenetrable, unreadable, childish, not as much fun as Harry Potter! Marks out of 10 1 - 5

Next Book

The Code of Woosters by P G Wodehouse
If you click on the picture of the book it will take you to Waterstones.

Next Meeting

17th December at 127 Harbord St

NB. For a bit of fun we have decided to theme this meeting - 20's, so dig out your old flapper outfits (if you have any!) bob you hair, Chrissie put the champers on ice and get ready to Charleston! Rona to teach us!

Solar Lottery

Well, what can we say about this book. Many good ideas - almost too many for the story. It was not well written, the storylines were not easy to follow. Those coming to Si-Fi for the first time thought it was dreadful. Those of us who have read Si-Fi before thought that it was not one of the best of it's genre. The author was an 'interesting' man, the style of writing showed 'autistic' tendancy. Generally not a good book. Sorry folks! Words used to describe it: too many plots, interesting concept, unemotional/detached, converluted, a few good ideas badly executed. It scored between 1 - 6.

Next Book

The Earthsea Quartet by Ursula Le Guin
if you click on the picture it will take you to the amazon secondhand book list

Next Meeting

Wednesday 12 November
at 99 Wardo Avenue
(Cindy's Flat)

Next Event

Date to be confirmed:
Sing-a-long a Mamma Mia at Mandy's House!

Inside the Whale

Firstly, Welcome to our new member Diane Noel - I hope you enjoy the club.
Back to the book: A love story told through characters in narrative flashback. It described well the 'buttoned up' era of the 30/40's. Very sad in it's telling. Many felt the characters were quite shallow and not fully drawn and consequently understanding their motivation was difficult. Although generally liked, no one was particularly entranced with the book/story. Some found the character per chapter quite disorientating. Words used to describe the book: depressing, good first attempt, best on radio, a good story, contrived, could try harder (better editor perhaps), sad, poignant. Marks out of 10 ranged from 5 - 7.

Next Book

Solar Lottery by Phillip Dick
(no smutty jokes please Mandy & Rona - how old are you?)
Si Fi to take us out of comfort zone!

Next Meeting
Amanda 128 Harbord St
on
Wednesday 15 October

The Bellini Card

Tuesday 13 July

Book: The Bellini Card by Jason Goodwin

An intriguing book, more complex than perhaps it needed to be. The descriptions of place and time were very enjoyable. The author's knowledge is obvious in the details. It was not an easy book to read following all the people and various sub plots made it hard to keep all in mind when picking up and putting down - which is how many of us read now. Not a long session all in one go. Words used to describe it: atmospheric, authentic but confusing, difficult to follow, intriguing, too episodic. It scored quite highly between 6 -8.

Next Book

Inside the Whale by Jennie Rooney
(Giles is purchasing a number of books for distribution)

Next Meeting

126 Harbord St - Wed 24th Sept

Paradise Overload by Brian Antoni

Wednesday 16 July

Paradise Overload by Brian Antoni

Firstly, welcome to our new member Judy. We do hope that you enjoy our book club and the eclectic range of literature that we read. This website was started last Sept, not all books have reviews although there is a list of books at the bottom for reference.

Review of the book: Nikki, having lived in the Bahamas and knowing the author read and enjoyed the book which evoked and brought back memories of her time there. Generally those of us who couldn't use those kind of memories while reading this book thought it was 'cheap airport paperback fodder'; too much bad sex and not enough good writing. It scored a low 0 - 4 on the marks and words used to describe it were: crass drivel, seedy - but good storyline, could do better, hustler on coke.

Next Book

The Bellini Card by Jason Goodwin

Next Meeting
Tuesday 12th Aug at 49 Finlay St

A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle

This book was enjoyed by some and found to be difficult to get into by others. It has two very separate parts - the first sets the scene and the second and enjoyable and fast paced tragic love story which links into the Watson/Holmes story. As the beginning of a genre it was very interesting, you can see the emerging CSI from Holmes's obsession with detail. As characters they were much more interesting than their TV/movie incarnations. Words used to describe the book were - gripping second half, ripping yarn, clipped, absorbing, disjointed. It scored between 3 - 9.

A book that Amanda recommends for good summer reading is City of Dark Hearts by James Conan.

Recipe for the delicious cheese biscuits see separate posting.

Next Book

Paradise Overdose
by
Brian Antoni

Next Meeting

at 53 Finlay St Wednesday 16 July

The L Shaped Room by Lynne Reid Banks

A book of it's time. Set at the begining of the 60's in depressed and bombed out London. An unmarried pregnant woman, sets up home in an attic room in a shabby boarding house in Fulham. The book discusses in the first person the problems associated with and perceptions of unmarried pregnancy at this time. Everyone enjoyed the book, words used to discribe it - influencial, preiod piece, prim yet provocative, seminal, nostalgic yet gritty. It was marked quite highly from 7 - 9. The book reflected the age in which it was written: with it's now unacceptable illustration of jews, blacks and unmarried mothers and the prejudice that prevailed. An interesting book.

Link to a synopsis of the film. http://www.britmovie.co.uk/genres/drama/filmography/029.html

Some one suggested that along side this we should read 'A Taste of Honey' by Shelagh Delaney http://www.britmovie.co.uk/genres/drama/filmography/090.html

Next Book

A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle

Next Meeting

Wednesday 18th June
at
124 Harbord Street - Nikki's

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

Firstly, what a fabulous shed! Wood fire, faux fur lined benches, wine, nibbles and lovely delicious brownies. What more can a book club ask for. A venue to be recommended. Thanks Rona.

The book was generally liked although some found that there were a number of loose ends. A good Gothic read which entertained although slightly lost it's way at the end. An editors meddling someone suggested. It scored between 5 - 8. Words to describe it -imaginative, a compelling read, rollicking yarn, fascinating drama, shallowly Gothic.

Our member from Japan also managed to read the book in time to make a contribution from her blackberry while on the sun drenched shores of Saipan. Are we jealous? As she made her contribution in the face of such hardships I thought I would quote it in it's entirety!

"Wow I finished a book. Not sure if you will get this mail as James's blackberry is having trouble
here in the middle of the pacific ocean. Well I finished the book and enjoyed being under pressure to finish. Quite a good story but not brilliantly written got a little confusing at times maybe that was my falling asleep reading it or was it the sun and beach! I did enjoy it though and would give it a 7/10. Your next job is to find Saipan and where your long distant bookclub member is! Keep choosing recent books and I may be able to read another book!
Not sure what is happening about the house in France but may well be there in August.
Don't drink too much its only Wednesday!!!!!

Love Jackie"

Who would like to host the next meeting? Please email me.

Next Book

The L-Shaped Room by Lynne Reid Banks

Next Meeting

Wednesday 21 May
at

Regeneration by Pat Barker

Due to loo problems at the shed the Book Club was held at Mandy's - Thank you Mandy. We are looking forward to squeezing into the shed once wc problems are sorted - next month perhaps?

The book was well received by those of us there. Most really liked it even if it took a little to get into and to remember who was who. A brilliantly evocative novel about the psycolocgical issues of the men who fought in WW1 - the begining of psychology as 'treatment' of the shellshocked warriors of horror.   The harrowing descriptions and use of factual material only made the restraint of the book more evocative.
Words used to describe the book were: guilt/survival, tragically valiant, poignantly brilliant, devastating.
Marks out of 10  8 - 9, one of the highest marks for any book we've read.

I recommend that those who did enjoy the book read the next two in the trilogy:
The Eye in the Door and The Ghost Road, both extremely interesting explorations of WWI and the psychological effects on those involved.

Next Book
The Thirteenth Tale
by
Diane Setterfield
(as recommended by gay best friend)

Next Meeting
Wednesday 23th April
at
The Shed
31A Palliser Road,

Cocaine Nights by JG Ballard

Book: Cocaine Nights by JG Ballard

This book generated completely different responses from the members of the club - with no general concensus. The distopian view of the coming 'leisure' society that we will enjoy. The mind numbing boredon, security paranoia and general insularity that will only be enlivened by crime, sex and drugs.
The words given to describe the book were: flacid, discriptive, shite, tennis whites not cocaine nights, disappointing, cynical, badly written, compelling and distopian.
Marks awarded between 2 and 7.

Next Book

Regeneration by Pat Barker

Next Meeting

The Shed
31A Palliser Road, W14
Thursday 20 March

Our Man in Havana by Grahame Green

Book: Our Man in Havana - Grahame Green

It was generally agreed that this was an excellent book and that we all enjoyed it. The farcical character and semi-prophetical nature of the hapless hero Mr Wormold created a stagy and interesting comment on the era of the cold war and the shallowness of the secret service.
Words given to describe the book: vacuum, farcical, unputdownable, incomplete, self fulfilling, entertaining, staged.
The book was generally marked high between 7 - 9.

Thank you to Carolyn for all the lovely food.

Next Book

J G Ballard - Cocaine Nights

Next Meeting

126 Harbord St

Wednesday 20 February

The Journal of Dora Damage by Belinda Starling

Wednesday 13th December

Book: The Journal of Dora Damage by Belinda Starling

• A first novel by Belinda Starling, who unfortunately died before the book was published.  This facinating and quirky book evokative and detailed about Victorian life, the book binding business and the restrictions around pornography in its infancy was a fascinating. A complete page turner that most of us read very quickly. 
•  Marks out of 10 - 9 was the norm. Single word descriptions:
• Giles - uniquely binding
• Mandy - liberating
• Rowena - spellbinding
• etc etc. After that things degenerated to a rather drunken level. I know that I didn't feel that good this morning!! Don't know about the others.

Next book:

• Our Man in Havana by Grahame Greene

Mandy also recommends:

• Amazing Disgrace by James Hamilton-Paterson

French Trip 8/9 March

• This has been tentatively booked for w/e 8/9 March. Could people please let Carolyn know ASAP if they are going and give her a cheque.

Next Meeting: Wednesday 23rd January
Venue: 12 Lysia St - Carolyn's house

Frenchman's Creek by Daphne du Maurier

A Frenchman's Creek by Daphne du Maurier

Was discussed briefly before the party. A bodice ripper, fun and entertaining but more suitable for the teenage girl market, which was when a number of us had originally read the book. Enjoyable, lightweight but entertaining - as is Jamaica Inn which one of us had read! Welcome to our new member Rona!

Next Meeting either

12th December - just under 3 weeks away or 17th January 2008
at Mandy's House, 119 Harbord St.

• There is some discussion as to which book we should read.

• Giles's book is
• The Diary of Dora Damage by Belinda Starling

• If we go on the weekend trip to Paris, the book suggested was
• Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell (Mandy's book)

Weekend away in Paris.

• It was suggested that the book club go on a weekend away to Paris at the end January, 26th, leaving early Sat and returning late on Sunday.
• Who might be interested in this? Please let me (Rowena) or Carolyn know ASAP as Carolyn wants to book Eurotrain and hotel ASASP.

• A few photo's of our wonderful evening at Giles's and Violetta's. Thank you to them and the juke box for hosting a great evening.

Shadow of the Wind by Carloz Ruiz Zafon

Shadow of the Wind
by Carloz Ruiz Zafon

As I wasn't there I cannot say whether people enjoyed the book or not, but the feedback that I have received it appears that most liked the book.

Next meeting Friday 23rd November
at Giles's 53 Finlay Street.

• Start 7.30 with friends and other halves coming at 8.30 for safari supper and dancing to the juke box. Early Christmas Party.

• Next books - two for the enthusiastic!

• Frenchman's Creek by Daphne du Maurier

• The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid

Many Masters, Many Lives by Dr Brian Wiess

Many Masters, Many Lives by Dr Brian Wiess

Sceptical, interested and varied discussion about the premise of this book. Even if people don't really believe in reincarnation it generated a good debate. Purporting to detail the many lives lived by one person, who under hypnosis was able to 'remember' them.  An interesting philosophical discussion ensued. The book most felt was badly written and shallow. Chrissie was unable to find out much about the author himself who is apparently still practicing as a psychiatrist? 

• The next book:

• The Shadow of the Wind by Carloz Ruiz Zafon

• Next meeting at Amanda & Peter's, 128 Harbord St: Wednesday 18th October 2007