Book Group
We meet on the third Wednesday of each month at 11am. Currently meeting at a member’s house in Bridstow and on Zoom if weather unsuitable.
Recently renamed Book Group 1 there are currently six members. The session starts with tea, coffee and cake or biscuits. One book is chosen each month and then discussed - we talk about the story, the characters, the writing style, our likes and dislikes and the effect the book has had. There is no shortage of opinions and lively discussion follows.
A wide variety of books are chosen - biographies, thrillers, classic, historical and contemporary fiction. Members appreciate that the variety of books and genres can stretch and challenge them!
Here are the group’s ratings of recent choices.
SEVEN BRIEF LESSONS ON PHYSICS by Carlo Rovelli. A non fiction, factual book which explains the basics of modern physics in short, manageable chapters. It has good illustrations and examples and an excellent index. This was a challenge to most of the group and although it was an easily readable style it was quite difficult to grasp. It was agreed it was a worthwhile choice and we all learned something. We were unable to discuss the book in the same way we can discuss a novel but enjoyed comparing educational systems in the US and the UK.
Satisfaction 7; Writing Style 8; Keep/Charity Shop: Keep; read more by author: No
SNAP by Belinda Bauer An original, pacy and entertaining crime thriller. Well plotted, clever and entertaining with some brilliant but authentic characters. It did raise some questions about credibility at times but even members of the group who were not fans of crime novels enjoyed this book. A mother’s car breaks down on a busy main road; she leaves the three children in the car for safety and walks to an emergency phone to get help but never returns. And this is apparently based on a true story.
Satisfaction 8; Writing Style 8; Keep/ charity shop: Charity shop; Read more by author: Yes
LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY by Bonnie Garmus Funny, thought provoking and charming novel about a female chemist in the 1950s and 1960s. Elizabeth is a cracking protagonist - single minded, socially awkward and fiercely determined to challenge sexism. Forced to resign from the chemistry lab she reluctantly hosts a tv cookery show and attracts the attention of a nation. It has some strong and serious messages but is an enjoyable and different book.
Satisfaction 8; Writing Style 8.5; Keep/Charity Shop: Charity Shop; Read more by author: Yes
WIDE SARGASSO SEA by Jean Rhys. Described as a prequel to Jane Eyre this gives the background story of the mad woman in the attic, Bertha. A story of oppressive, colonialist society in the Caribbean the book is written in three parts with three different narrators. At times this is confusing, the writing style is atmospheric but moves around a lot and is sometimes difficult to follow. It was also described as claustrophobic. Our group was divided generally on this classic and felt it was a 'love it or hate it' book.
Satisfaction 6; Writing Style 5; Keep/charity shop: 2/6. Read more by author: 3/6
TAKE MY HAND by Dolen Perkins-Valdez. Based on the true story of a birth control clinic in Alabama in 1973, this moving and memorable novel exposes the sterilisation of teenage girls without consent. It goes on to describe very well a unique court case about it. At times it was felt that the main character’s actions were questionable and we had to suspend credibility! This is a very readable but shocking account about poverty, race, class and rights. The group felt it was an important book and needs to be widely read.
Satisfaction 8; Writing Style 7; Keep/charity shop: keep; Read more by author: Yes
THE MAGICIAN by Colm Toibin. A biographical novel about the writer Thomas Mann. It explains the background to the two World Wars in Europe and in particular Germany's stance. It explores the changes in Germany and the effect on music and the arts. It covers three generations of Mann's complicated, eccentric family and their unusual relationships.
The group was quite divided on this book and struggled with the realistic but flat style while really appreciating strong female characters
Satisfaction 6; Writing Style 5; Keep/charity shop: charity shop; Read more by author: Yes
KLARA AND THE SUN by Kazuo Ishiguro. Clever but disturbing book about an Artifical Friend who is a sophisticated robot. Ishiguro writes in a spare, simple style this time which makes it easy to identify with Klara. The book raises so many questions about our future and our social attitudes. There are teasers which the reader doesn’t understand - sometimes later explained, sometimes left to the reader to interpret. The group appreciated the book on the whole and much time was spent exploring it.
Satisfaction 8; Writing Style 7; Keep/charity shop: 50/50; Read more by author: yes
THE PARIS LIBRARY by Janet Skeslien Charles. Set in occupied Paris and eighties Montana a story of a young girl’s life and her work in the American Library in Paris then her later life as a war bride in the US. Based on a true story and some actual characters this is potentially a really interesting account of how this library started and developed. Then what it was like to relocate to Montana. However, the writing itself didn’t do justice to the story and disappointed some members of the group. It was felt that the characters and storylines lacked depth and authenticity. Others really enjoyed it!
Satisfaction 7; Writing Style 5; Keep/charity shop: Charity shop; Read more by author: No