Update - March 2016
The year has started with a French theme: our January choice was Clochemerle, by Gabriel Chevallier, a humorous story of intrigue in a French village; our February choice, Five Quarters of the Orange, deals with a traumatic wartime childhood in France, and its consequences when, as an adult, Framboise decides to open a small restaurant in the village where she grew up, using the recipes found in the notebook inherited from her mother. While both books were enjoyable and provoked a good deal of conversation, it was generally agreed that Five Quarters of the Orange had resulted in an unusually long discussion, and that the descriptions of the delicious-sounding recipes added to the pleasure of the book.
Many thanks to Sheila Westcott on whose newsletter article this piece is based
The year has started with a French theme: our January choice was Clochemerle, by Gabriel Chevallier, a humorous story of intrigue in a French village; our February choice, Five Quarters of the Orange, deals with a traumatic wartime childhood in France, and its consequences when, as an adult, Framboise decides to open a small restaurant in the village where she grew up, using the recipes found in the notebook inherited from her mother. While both books were enjoyable and provoked a good deal of conversation, it was generally agreed that Five Quarters of the Orange had resulted in an unusually long discussion, and that the descriptions of the delicious-sounding recipes added to the pleasure of the book.
Many thanks to Sheila Westcott on whose newsletter article this piece is based
Update - June 2016
The book for March, The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, tells the story of a Baptist missionary who, accompanied by his wife and four daughters, travels to the Congo in 1959. The story is told in a series of monologues – unusual, but it worked very well. Our April choice was Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh; a well-known novel which has also been the subject of a TV series and a film. In May, we read Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey. It concerns an elderly woman, descending into dementia, who is convinced her friend Elizabeth is missing, and who attempts to find her. There were many amusing moments but also many descriptions of the distress caused by this condition.
Future titles are The Heart of the Matter by Graham Greene; The House on the Strand by Daphne du Maurier, and The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins.
Many thanks to Sheila Westcott on whose newsletter article this piece is based
Update - December 2016
We have once again almost reached the end of the Book Club year. December's choice, and our last book for 2016, is "Completion' by Tim Webster.
The book choices have been very interesting and diverse, provoking much discussion within the group.
Attendance has been very good at each meeting. It has been enlightening to hear each member's opinions on various topics and issues raised within the books. We have read book on religion, comedy, the problems of age-related illness, survival against all odds, fantasy, thrillers, prejudice in the southern states of America, farming in the Lake District and two classics.
We have lost and gained members this year through illness and other circumstances. Currently, we have a place for one new member.
Our book choice for the next three months : -
January 2017 Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
February The High Mountains of Portugal by Yann Martel
March The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Many thanks to Valerie Macaulay on whose newsletter article the foregoing is based.
We have once again almost reached the end of the Book Club year. December's choice, and our last book for 2016, is "Completion' by Tim Webster.
The book choices have been very interesting and diverse, provoking much discussion within the group.
Attendance has been very good at each meeting. It has been enlightening to hear each member's opinions on various topics and issues raised within the books. We have read book on religion, comedy, the problems of age-related illness, survival against all odds, fantasy, thrillers, prejudice in the southern states of America, farming in the Lake District and two classics.
We have lost and gained members this year through illness and other circumstances. Currently, we have a place for one new member.
Our book choice for the next three months : -
January 2017 Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
February The High Mountains of Portugal by Yann Martel
March The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Many thanks to Valerie Macaulay on whose newsletter article the foregoing is based.
Update - Spring 2017
We have enjoyed another three months of interesting reading and stimulating discussion. Discussion covers not just the books themselves but also other related ideas and experiences.
Our book choices for the next three months are:
April The Snow Child, by Eowyn Ivey
May Penguins Stopped Play, by Harry Thompson
June Birds Without Wings, by Louis de Bernieres
We have enjoyed another three months of interesting reading and stimulating discussion. Discussion covers not just the books themselves but also other related ideas and experiences.
Our book choices for the next three months are:
April The Snow Child, by Eowyn Ivey
May Penguins Stopped Play, by Harry Thompson
June Birds Without Wings, by Louis de Bernieres