Book Choices - March 2016

Our next meeting is THURSDAY 24th March 8pm at The Hundred of Ashendon. We will be discussing All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.

Book choices for our next read are as follows - please email me (Sian) if you can't make the meeting and have a preference.

The Art of Being Brilliant by Andy Cope and Andy Whittaker

This short, small, highly illustrated book will fill you to the brim with happiness, positivity, wellbeing and, most importantly, success! Andy Cope and Andy Whittaker are experts in the art of happiness and positive psychology and The Art of Being Brilliant is crammed full of good advice, instructive case studies, inspiring quotes, some funny stuff and important questions to make you think about your work, relationships and life.

You see being brilliant, successful and happy isn t about dramatic change, it s about finding out what really works for you and doing more of it! The authors lay down their six common–sense principles that will ensure you focus on what you re good at and become super brilliant both at work and at home.

A richly illustrated, 2 colour, small book full of humour, inspiring quotes and solid advice.

A great read with a serious underlying message how to foster positivity and bring about success in every aspect of your life

Outlines six common–sense principles that will help you ensure you are the best you can be.

Friday's Child by Georgette Heyer

Rejected by the incomparable Miss Milborne for his unsteadiness of character, wild Lord Sheringham is bent on avenging Fate and coming into his fortune. But the very first woman he should see is Hero Wantage, the young and charmingly unsophisticated chit, who has loved him since childhood ...

Friday's Child is a typically sweeping historical romance by the queen of the genre, who for fifty years won the hearts of readers worldwide and has found a new devoted readership in the twenty-first century.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

A phenomenal international bestseller (that inspired the Oscar nominated film) by Kathryn Stockett.

Enter a vanished and unjust world: Jackson, Mississippi, 1962. Where black maids raise white children, but aren't trusted not to steal the silver . . .

There's Aibileen, raising her seventeenth white child and nursing the hurt caused by her own son's tragic death; Minny, whose cooking is nearly as sassy as her tongue; and white Miss Skeeter, home from College, who wants to know why her beloved maid has disappeared.

Skeeter, Aibileen and Minny. No one would believe they'd be friends; fewer still would tolerate it. But as each woman finds the courage to cross boundaries, they come to depend and rely upon one another. Each is in a search of a truth. And together they have an extraordinary story to tell...

Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel García Márquez

8 members of our group met to discuss this very short book.  Because I struggled to find anything about the book that inspired conversation I expected we would have an equally short meeting. I should have known better as the shared experience of reading rarely leads to predictable discussion and this meeting was 'book group' at its very best.

The opening comment: "I hated the Glass Castle BUT I thought this book was really good!" met with a howl of (dismissive) laughter from the far corner BUT then a conversation began to flow that turned out to be significantly longer, and to a greater depth, than I thought possible.

The story is of the short period of time surrounding an event that occurred in a small (Columbian) village. It is, apparently, loosely, based on a real event that took place in the 1950's and yet is more akin to Mediaeval times!

A narrator who did not witness the event tells the story. Through research and interview (he) pulls many threads together so that, eventually, he can claim 'I saw it in my memory'.

There is an of illusion simplicity. The book isn't long and it's certainly no mystery. The reader knows the ending from the outset. It is though, we concluded, extremely clever to write a book having disclosed the ending and yet, keep the reader unaware of what happens.

There is no scene painting and no real background provided of the characters. We couldn't name a favourite character as we didn't get to know any of them. We were not supposed to get to know them, we were 'simply' supposed to know the story of an event that lasted about an hour and a half. Readers can draw their own conclusions about what happened and think about 'why?' it was allowed to happen. This story is richer on reflection. It is not as it appears, a simple piece of writing.

The story is a brilliant illustration of community failing to take responsibility. It is gory. Some of the group found it 'boring' and others of us (including me) just didn't 'get it' until...we talked it through. My failing was that I read it in short bursts, a few pages at a time. This is a book to read in one or two 'sittings'.  I felt I was going two steps forward and three steps back as I continually re-read sections in order to remind myself of who was who - It is easy to lose track. I will one day give it another go on a holiday 'readathon'!

After a long and enlightening conversation the perfectly put closing comment was: 'I'm glad it wasn't longer - it was exactly enough!'

Would we recommend this book? yes - to friends that we think would 'get it' and enjoy it.

Our next meeting is THURSDAY 24th March 8pm at The Hundred of Ashendon. We will be discussing All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. 

Book Choices - January 2016

We are meeting at 8pm in The Hundred of Ashendon on Thursday 21st January and will be discussing A Chronicle of Death Foretold by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. 

Book choices for our next read are as follows - please email me (sian) if you can't make the meeting and have a preference. 

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

A beautiful, stunningly ambitious novel about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II

Open your eyes and see what you can with them before they close forever.’

For Marie-Laure, blind since the age of six, the world is full of mazes. The miniature of a Paris neighbourhood, made by her father to teach her the way home. The microscopic layers within the invaluable diamond that her father guards in the Museum of Natural History. The walled city by the sea, where father and daughter take refuge when the Nazis invade Paris. And a future which draws her ever closer to Werner, a German orphan, destined to labour in the mines until a broken radio fills his life with possibility and brings him to the notice of the Hitler Youth.

In this magnificent, deeply moving novel, the stories of Marie-Laure and Werner illuminate the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another.

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

Widely regarded as one of Edith Wharton's greatest achievements, The Age of Innocence is not only subtly satirical, but also a sometimes dark and disturbing comedy of manners in its exploration of the 'eternal triangle' of love. Set against the backdrop of upper-class New York society during the 1870s, the author's combination of powerful prose combined with a thoroughly researched and meticulous evocation of the manners and style of the period, has delighted readers since the novel's first publication in 1920. 

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou's seven volumes of autobiography are a testament to the talents and resilience of this extraordinary writer. This is arguably her best. Loving the world, she also knows its cruelty. As a Black woman she has known discrimination and extreme poverty, but also hope, joy, achievement and celebration. In this first volume of her autobiography, Maya Angelou beautifully evokes her childhood with her grandmother in the American south of the 1930s. She learns the power of the white folks at the other end of town and suffers the terrible trauma of rape by her mother's lover.

'I write about being a Black American woman, however, I am always talking about what it's like to be a human being. This is how we are, what makes us laugh, and this is how we fall and how we somehow, amazingly, stand up again' Maya Angelou

The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls

Five of us enjoyed discussing our latest read: a memoir that tells the story of Jeanette’s upbringing by Rex, her alcoholic father, and Rose Mary, her mother who is an artist and a hoarder. Our mutual enjoyment of this book set the tone for our discussion which was quite ‘exploratory.’

We welcome 'virtual' members to our group and, for this meeting, we had email and text input from two members who at last minute couldn’t make the date. One loved the book (as did everyone else) and one didn’t. Here’s what they had to say:

Incoming text during our meeting

e-mail received before our meeting

The story tells of a family of six and from the very start it is clear there is something ‘different’ about the parenting. First impressions led some of us to believe they had a life of adventure, freedom, ideology. Possibly in many ways it was all that and more. The ‘more’ is the bit that Jeanette recalls and most of us feel she did that very well. Perhaps though, as our ‘text’ member feels, she may have overdone the hard-life bit and glossed over happier times? Life in the 60’s and 70’s was poorer, harder, simpler, colder, and hungrier after all. Most of us feel that Jeanette chose to present her childhood as she did for good reason, and that she did it very well.

As the tale unfolds it becomes clear that Rex, though highly intelligent (even intellectual), has gambling and alcohol issues. Rose Mary is a qualified teacher who chooses not to teach but to focus instead on her art. Neither of the parents prioritise income, home comforts, feeding or clothing the children. Rex does, however, dream of one day ‘getting’ enough money to build a ‘Glass Castle’ in which they can all live and he has even drawn the plans. Rose Mary is going to be a sought after artist, if only she can bear to part with some of her paintings!

Running from debt or simply needing a new adventure the family travel from state to state living in trailers, cars, an old station, Rose Mary’s mother’s home, Rex’s parent’s home and a dilapidated wooden shack. It is hard to imagine that any of these places could be regarded as home for the family. The children are poorly clothed. Their clothes (and bodies) are dirty and they frequently resort to scavenging to feed themselves. Of necessity they are a highly self-sufficient, mutually supporting group who share what they have and survive.

That said, the strength of family bonds shines through and the family remains a strong unit. We talked about how love conquers all. It didn’t matter to the children how badly their parents brought them up, they still loved them. The relationship between Jeanette and her father was of doting father and loving daughter. Lori was the perfect big sister. Brian the fun loving little brother and everyone adored Maureen (including the neighbours with whom she found her own way to survive by spending time in their households enjoying their hospitality – food and warmth was easily found for Maureen.). We were left unsure about how the children felt about Rose Mary – she was, after all a mother who did very little for her children and who put herself first when opportunities arise.

Jeanette had her trust in her father shaken on more than one occasion but, when he asked ‘have I ever let you down?’ she couldn’t tell him what she wanted to say because she loved him. With her mother Jeanette was more honest, direct, frank and open and we were impressed at how she could do this without being over-emotional and how her mother accepted (and we think respected her for it). When you ‘listen’ to the conversations between Jeanette and her mother you can understand the relationship a little better.

And if you want to know more, click on this link. There is a photo of Jeanette with her mum now and the article expands on the relationship between mother and daughter.  

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/26/magazine/how-jeannette-walls-spins-good-stories-out-of-bad-memories.html?_r=0

So, would we recommend this book? Yes. For most of us it is firmly on our ‘Good Read’ list and for some of us it’s on our ‘Must Read’ list.

Our next book is Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel García Márquez. We will be discussing this, our Christmas read, on Thursday 21^st January at The Hundred, 8pm.

Book Choices - November 2015

It's time to choose our Christmas read!

A Street Cat Named Bob by James Bowen: How one man and his cat found hope on the streets

When James Bowen found an injured, ginger street cat curled up in the hallway of his sheltered accommodation, he had no idea just how much his life was about to change. James was living hand to mouth on the streets of London and the last thing he needed was a pet.

Yet James couldn't resist helping the strikingly intelligent tom cat, whom he quickly christened Bob. He slowly nursed Bob back to health and then sent the cat on his way, imagining he would never see him again. But Bob had other ideas.

Soon the two were inseparable and their diverse, comic and occasionally dangerous adventures would transform both their lives, slowly healing the scars of each other's troubled pasts.

A Street Cat Named Bob is a moving and uplifting story that will touch the heart of anyone who reads it.

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

The stunningly original and brilliant first novel from storytelling genius Neil Gaiman. Now a six part radio dramatisation on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 4 Extra.

Under the streets of London there's a world most people could never even dream of. A city of monsters and saints, murderers and angels, and pale girls in black velvet. Richard Mayhew is a young businessman who is about to find out more than he bargained for about this other London. A single act of kindness catapults him out of his safe and predictable life and into a world that is at once eerily familiar and yet utterly bizarre. There's a girl named Door, an Angel called Islington, an Earl who holds Court on the carriage of a Tube train, a Beast in a labyrinth, and dangers and delights beyond imagining... And Richard, who only wants to go home, is to find a strange destiny waiting for him below the streets of his native city.

Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel García Márquez

Chronicle of a Death Foretold is a compelling, moving story exploring injustice and mob hysteria by the Nobel Laureate Gabriel García Márquez, author of One Hundred Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera.

'On the day they were going to kill him, Santiago Nasar got up at five-thirty in the morning to wait for the boat the bishop was coming on'

Santiago Nasar is brutally murdered in a small town by two brothers. All the townspeople knew it was going to happen - including the victim. But nobody did anything to prevent the killing. Twenty seven years later, a man arrives in town to try and piece together the truth from the contradictory testimonies of the townsfolk. To at last understand what happened to Santiago, and why. . .

Our next meeting is THURSDAY 26th November 8pm at The Hundred of Ashendon. We will be discussing The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls.

Rule Britannia by Daphne Du Maurier

Seven of us sat down for what turned out to be an amiable chat over a glass (or two) and a book. A somewhat crazy book!

The story is based around the experience of a wonderfully eclectic (and very likeable) Cornish household at the time of an attempted political, economic and military alliance between Britain and America. The household consists of Mad Grandmother, Foster Mother and a famous, in her time, actress; Emma, Mad's long suffering granddaughter; six fostered/adopted boys of all ages; Dottie the elderly housekeeper (once dresser for Mad) and Pa. Emma's father/Mad's son who drops in from his home in London where he is a cog in the alliance wheel.

The neighbours are a local farming family and a Welsh recluse who lives in a shack in the woods. Other significant acquaintances include the local GP and a pub landlord.

The events that unfold in the story draw this tiny community into situations that beggar belief. Seemingly they will stop at nothing to protect their environment and to protest at the intrusions made to their lives.

Our group wholeheartedly agree that this book is 'NOT what we had expected from a Daphne Du Maurier!'

It's a great concept but it's not a 'good' book though it is very readable. The concept is a good one, though not particularly well executed. It is like a children's adventure book, a gruesome Enid Blyton full of 'cartoon like' characters. We were left wondering what possessed this wonderful writer to write this particular book. We decided that perhaps she saw it as her opportunity to prove she is no 'Jane Austen'!

It was intimated in some reviews that this is a semi-autobiographical story and as a group we felt that Mad could indeed have been Daphne's personal pen-picture. However, I have since found that the book is dedicated to Gladys Cooper, a leading lady of Gerald Du Maurier, Daphne's actor father and Gladys is the basis of the main character in the book: Mad.

So, here is 'Mad' Gladys:

And, it all takes place in (fictional?) Poldrea, Cornwall. We all tried to place Poldrea and decided it was somewhere between Falmouth and Plymouth! However, there is a small place just outside Par named Tywardreath with a street named Poldrea and, though the street comprises social housing the location fits Daphne's description very well indeed.

This is a book that raises many questions and fails to answer, or challenge, any of them.

Would we recommend it - yes, though not for its literary qualities!

Our next book is The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls and we will meet to discuss our reading experiences at The Hundred on Thursday 26th November 8pm when our pub Dominoes team will be playing AWAY to the New Zealand!

Book Choices - September 2015

Let's choose our next read:

The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant

Alessandra is not quite fifteen when her prosperous merchant father brings a young painter back with him from Holland to adorn the walls of the new family chapel. She is fascinated by his talents and envious of his abilities and opportunities to paint to the glory of God. Soon her love of art and her lively independence are luring her into closer involvement with all sorts of taboo areas of life. On excursions into the streets of night-time Florence she observes a terrible evil stalking the city and witnesses the rise of the fiery young priest, Savanarola, who has set out to rid the city of vice, richness, even art itself.

Alessandra must make crucial decisions about the shape of her adult life, as Florence itself must choose between the old ways of the luxury-loving Medicis and the asceticism of Savanorola. And through it all, there is the painter, whose love will change everything.

 

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

This is a sprawling family saga, bursting with life, which spans three generations and crosses several continents. At its core, however, is another unorthodox but exquisite coming-of-age story.

The book's wily narrator and central character, Calliope Stephanides (named after the muse of epic poetry) is a hermaphrodite raised as a girl who comes to realise she is happier as a boy and is now living as a man in contemporary Berlin. Cal's tale begins, appropriately enough, in Greece (or more precisely Asia Minor)--an Aegean Strasbourg whose sovereignty is claimed by Greece and Turkey. In 1922 brother and sister Lefty and Desdemona Stephanides escaped their war-torn homeland and arrived, as man and wife, in Detroit, America. It is this coupling that ultimately begets their grandchild Calliope and her ambiguous sexuality, as she, or rather by then he, sanguinely notes:

Some people inherit houses; others painting or highly insured violin bows. Still others get Japanese tansu or a famous name. I got a recessive gene on fifth chromosome and some very rare family jewels indeed.

As Cal recounts the experiences of the Stephanides clan in their new land, from the Depression to Nixon, he unfurls his own symbiotic odyssey to a new sex. Cal's narrative voice is arch, humorous and self aware, continually drawing attention to its authorial sleights of hand, but never exasperating. This is big, brainy novel.

The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls

This is a startling memoir of a successful journalist's journey from the deserted and dusty mining towns of the American Southwest, to an antique filled apartment on Park Avenue. Jeanette Walls narrates her nomadic and adventurous childhood with her dreaming, 'brilliant' but alcoholic parents.

At the age of seventeen she escapes on a Greyhound bus to New York with her older sister; her younger siblings follow later. After pursuing the education and civilisation her parents sought to escape, Jeanette eventually succeeds in her quest for the 'mundane, middle class existence' she had always craved. In her apartment, overlooked by 'a portrait of someone else's ancestor' she recounts poignant remembered images of star watching with her father, juxtaposed with recollections of irregular meals, accidents and police-car chases and reveals her complex feelings of shame, guilt, pity and pride toward her parents.

Our next meeting is THURSDAY 24th September 8pm at The Hundred of Ashendon. We will be discussing Rule Britannia by Daphne Du Maurier.