Book reviews 2019
December
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Synopsis from Amazon
It's 1946 and author Juliet Ashton can't think what to write next. Out of the blue, she receives a letter from Dawsey Adams of Guernsey - by chance, he's acquired a book that once belonged to her - and, spurred on by their mutual love of reading, they begin a correspondence. When Dawsey reveals that he is a member of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, her curiosity is piqued and it's not long before she begins to hear from other members. As letters fly back and forth with stories of life in Guernsey under the German Occupation, Juliet soon realizes that the society is every bit as extraordinary as its name.
Discussion
The book was well received, most of us had managed to finish and enjoy it. We were spilt on the style of writing, there was some dislike of the story being in letter form, it was not always easy to work out who the letters were from and to without referring back as they were in a similar style.
Lack of depth with the story led to some of us not feeling we had got to know and like the characters
We discussed;
Wartime poverty and how resourceful people were
The German occupation of the Channel Isles
Were all the Germans bad?
Elizabeth's relationship with the German soldier, in reality would the islanders be so accepting of Elizabeth and her child?
Would we send our children away if war was to break out today? can we really say what we would do when under pressure and orders from the government?
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November
The 21/2 Pillars of Wisdom by Alexander McCall Smith
Synopsis
Von Igelfeld inhabits the rarefied world of the Institute of Romance Philology at Regensburg, a world he shares with his equally tall and equally ridiculous colleagues, Professors Florianus Prinzel and Detlev Amadeus Unterholzer. Their unlikely adventures are described in three deliciously funny instalments: Portuguese Irregular Verbs, The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs and At the Villa of Reduced Circumstances.
Discussion
Not a popular choice unfortunately, one of us loved it, a couple of us thought it good in parts and rest did not think much of it at all.
We discussed the main character Von Igelfeld, not very socially apt, got himself into difficult situations, was he on the spectrum? there was some discussion on academics, comparing modern day university professors to the three portrayed in the novel
Some of us had previously enjoyed reading other works of the author, e.g. the 44 Scotland Street series and the Number One ladies Detective Agency so had been disappointed by this book.
After finding out about the good work the author does for others, we wished we could have been more charitable about his book!
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October
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Synopsis (From Amazon)
Paulo Coelho's masterpiece tells the mystical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure. His quest will lead him to riches far different—and far more satisfying—than he ever imagined. Santiago's journey teaches us about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, of recognizing opportunity and learning to read the omens strewn along life's path, and, most importantly, to follow our dreams.
Discussion
Most of us managed to finished the book, it was a short easy read. There were mixed reviews, some felt it was to "preachy" did not live up to the hype about it. There was much in the book relating to the meaning of life so relative to us all. Despite being preachy we agreed parts of the story were enjoyable for example Santiago's early life as a shepherd and his time working for the crystal merchant.
We discussed how the story reflected a lot of the author's life, he had a difficult childhood, parents committed him to a mental institution, he suffered torture and imprisonment took drugs and led a hippy style life in the sixties, later made a good living but on 500 mile pilgrimage walk realised he needed to follow his dream of being a writer.
We went on to discuss is it right to follow your dreams at any cost or is it selfish?
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September
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
Synopsis (From Amazon)
Shocking and controversial when it was first published in 1939, Steinbeck's Pulitzer prize-winning epic remains his undisputed masterpiece. Set against the background of dust bowl Oklahoma and Californian migrant life, it tells of the Joad family, who, like thousands of others, are forced to travel West in search of the promised land. Their story is one of false hopes, thwarted desires and broken dreams, yet out of their suffering Steinbeck created a drama that is intensely human, yet majestic in its scale and moral vision; an eloquent tribute to the endurance and dignity of the human spirit.
Discussion
We hadn't all managed to finish the book, it had taken some us longer than anticipated due to the language making it necessary to take it slowly. We all enjoyed the read and had been amazed at the resilience of the Joad family in keeping going and staying positive despite their extreme hardships.
We looked at the role of Ma and how she was key in keeping the family together.
Despite having very little, the characters in the book were usually more than happy to share what they had and to help others out. More so than the better off. This generated some discussion.
We had a discussion on migration and made comparisons with the Joads and families of today, was it really very different?
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August
The Water Babies by Charles Kingsley
This was our summer lunch get together with book groups one and two, the Classic choice was The Water Babies
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July
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Synopsis - From Amazon
Eleanor Oliphant leads a simple life. She wears the same clothes to work every day, eats the same meal deal for lunch every day and buys the same two bottles of vodka to drink every weekend.
Eleanor Oliphant is happy. Nothing is missing from her carefully timetabled life. Except, sometimes, everything.
One simple act of kindness is about to shatter the walls Eleanor has built around herself. Now she must learn how to navigate the world that everyone else seems to take for granted – while searching for the courage to face the dark corners she’s avoided all her life.
Change can be good. Change can be bad. But surely any change is better than… fine?
Discussion
Good read, enjoyed by all. Likable characters especially Raymond. The story showed the power of kindness and human interaction. Sad and funny, lovely to see Eleanor emerging from her solitary repetitive life. Can people change with the right influences in their lives? This led to a discussion on Asperger's Syndrome and Autism, was Eleanor on the spectrum?
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June
Toast by Nigel Slater
Synopsis (from Amazon)
Toast is Nigel Slater’s award-winning biography of a childhood remembered through food. Whether recalling his mother’s surprisingly good rice pudding, his father’s bold foray into spaghetti and his dreaded Boxing Day stew, or such culinary highlights as Arctic Roll and Grilled Grapefruit (then considered something of a status symbol in Wolverhampton), this remarkable memoir vividly recreates daily life in 1960s suburban England.
Likes and dislikes, aversions and sweet-toothed weaknesses form a fascinating backdrop to Nigel Slater’s incredibly moving and deliciously evocative portrait of childhood, adolescence and sexual awakening.
Discussion
A popular choice with the majority. Brought back lots of memories of food from our childhood.
Nigel was quite harsh about his stepmother in the book and we discussed whether she was really this bad or was she doing her best.
The story stops when the author reaches 18 years, we had some discussion re what happened next.
Also discussed issues re sexuality and the author's relationship with his father.
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May
The Rivers Of London by Ben Aaronovitch
Synopsis (From Wikipedia)
The novel centres around the adventures of Peter Grant, a young officer in the Metropolitan Police; who, following an unexpected encounter with a ghost, is recruited into the small branch of the Met that deals with magic and the supernatural.
Peter Grant, having become the first English apprentice wizard in over seventy years, must immediately deal with two different but ultimately inter-related cases. In one he must find what is possessing ordinary people and turning them into vicious killers, and in the second he must broker a peace between the two warring gods of the River Thames and their respective families.
Discussion
This unfortunately was not a popular read with our group, only a few of us managed to finish it, Therefore not much to discuss. Comments included;"boring" "tedious" "much better things I could be reading". However the book has had very good reviews so possibly a hit with lovers of Science Fiction and fantasy novels,
The author himself proved to be more interesting to us and on hearing about his difficult childhood, his struggles with his weight and a poor relationship with his mother we felt sorry for him and wished we had like the book!
Ben Aaronovitch has written a book about his parents called Party Animals: My Family and Other Communists. We thought this might be an interesting read.
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April
Hearts and Minds by Amanda Craig
Synopsis (from Amazon)
Rich or poor, five people, seemingly very different, find their lives in the capital connected in undreamed-of ways. There is Job, the illegal mini-cab driver whose wife in Zimbabwe no longer answers his letters; Ian, the idealistic supply teacher in exile from South Africa; Katie from New York, jilted and miserable as a dogsbody at a political magazine, and fifteen-year-old Anna, trafficked into sexual slavery. Polly Noble, an overworked human rights lawyer, knows better than most how easy it is to fall through the cracks into the abyss. Yet when her au pair, Iryna, disappears, Polly's own needs and beliefs drag her family into a world of danger, deceit and terror.
Riveting, humane, engaging, HEARTS AND MINDS is a novel that is both entertaining and prepared to ask the most serious questions about the way we live.
Discussion
Well received, enjoyed by the majority. Most of us finished the book. We agreed it was hard to read at times especially in relation to the teenagers sold into the sex trade. There was much discussion on human trafficking and slavery. We looked at how the seeming moralistic middle classes can turn a blind eye when employing cheap labour is to their advantage as in the case of Polly the human rights lawyer who employed an illegal worker.
We felt we got to know the characters, there was much respect for Job the minicab driver, who strived to do his best and remained positive about his life despite his hardships
We went on to talk about how big companies used to exploit workers yet indulge the senior managers and ignore their peccadilloes. personal experiences were shared and there was some discussion whether "The Rambler" publication and the goings on in it offices was meant to draw a parallel with "The Spectator"
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March
Everything I never Told You by Celeste Ng
Synopsis (From Amazon)
Lydia is the favourite child of Marilyn and James Lee; a girl who inherited her mother's bright blue eyes and her father's jet-black hair. Her parents are determined that Lydia will fulfil the dreams they were unable to pursue - in Marilyn's case that her daughter become a doctor rather than a homemaker, in James's case that Lydia be popular at school, a girl with a busy social life and the centre of every party. But Lydia is under pressures that have nothing to do with growing up in 1970s small town Ohio. Her father is an American born of first-generation Chinese immigrants, and his ethnicity, and hers, make them conspicuous in any setting.
When Lydia's body is found in the local lake, James is consumed by guilt and sets out on a reckless path that may destroy his marriage. Marilyn, devastated and vengeful, is determined to make someone accountable, no matter what the cost. Lydia's older brother, Nathan, is convinced that local bad boy Jack is somehow involved. But it's the youngest in the family - Hannah - who observes far more than anyone realises and who may be the only one who knows what really happened.
Discussion
This book was popular with group, most of us managed to finish it.
We looked at how childhood experiences affected James and Marilyn's parenting of their three children. This led to much discussion regarding parenting, there was some sharing of our own experiences.
There was much hiding of feelings and misunderstanding of situations in the story, we wondered how different the outcome for the characters could have been if there had been more sharing and honesty.
The story was set in 1977, the characters experienced racism and sexism, we looked at how this affected their lives. Would this still happen 40 years on?
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February
Reservoir 13 by Jon McGregor
Synopsis - (From Amazon)
Midwinter in the early years of this century. A teenage girl on holiday has gone missing in the hills at the heart of England. The villagers are called up to join the search, fanning out across the moors as the police set up roadblocks and a crowd of news reporters descends on their usually quiet home.
Meanwhile, there is work that must still be done: cows milked, fences repaired, stone cut, pints poured, beds made, sermons written, a pantomime rehearsed.
The search for the missing girl goes on, but so does everyday life. As it must.
Discussion
As usual there were mixed views from "couldn't get into it despite trying a few times" to " I loved it"
There was much disappointment about not finding out what had happened to the missing girl and where she was buried.
The repetitive nature of the book was disliked by some of us and enjoyed by others.
There was much agreement re trying to keep track of who was who, there were many characters but we struggled to get to know them. But did it matter to the story?