 |
| Our read it and swap it pile! |
We were almost a full house at Alison's last night, apologies from three people who couldn't make it and we hope to see them soon. We had a new member, woo hoo!, hope she enjoyed it, and it was also lovely to meet a very gorgeous baby who came along with her Mum.
The secret Santa books. It was amusing to discover that the person who insisted that we all wait until Christmas morning to open our books, put hers in such a safe place she lost it for weeks and couldn't even buy another copy as of course she didn't know what it was.
We enjoyed our Santa books to some degree, some people really liked them, and others found theirs were different to what they would usually choose to read. Sometimes reading someone else's choice can be surprising, and you can end up enjoying a new genre. Other times the experience just confirms why you don't like that genre in the first place, but it's all good fun! We will continue to discuss the Santa books at the next meeting when people who were missing this time will hopefully be there.
As it is the centenary of World War One this year, it was suggested that we read a book or books on that theme. Books put forward in an email to me were
The Lie - Helen Dunmore
The Moonfield - Judith Allnatt
Wake - Ann Hope
None of them appear to be out in paperback yet, so hopefully we might be able to get back to that later in the year. I am listing them here as the hardbacks will be in the library and of course they are on Kindle, if anyone wants to read them now. Someone also suggested war poetry, which wasn't taken up by the group, but I do have a book if anyone wanted to borrow it.
We discussed 'Instructions for a Heatwave'. It was mostly enjoyed, people felt it would be a good holiday read. We thought it was interesting the way the book seemed as though as it was going to be about the man who goes missing, but in fact most of the story was about the rest of the family and their issues and relationships.
We also had chosen to read one of the Narnia books. There were mixed reactions on these, though it was agreed they were very well written. The Horse and his Boy was very much enjoyed. Someone said that it would be better to read them in order than just choose a random volume. It was also mentioned that in the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the idea that it is 'not very sensible to hide in wardrobes' is reiterated so often, it is almost as though it was added in more modern times as a warning.
We discussed doing things a bit differently sometimes. It was suggested that we listen to Book at Bedtime together - I rather liked the idea of all turning up at someone's house in our onesies every evening, but sadly that wasn't the plan. What we could do is listen to the whole week's worth in one go, or split into two occasions, and then discuss. Watching a DVD of a book together was also discussed, but opinions were mixed about both ideas.
Going out to see a film or play together was quite popular - we need to keep an eye out for upcoming events that have a book tie-in. It was suggested that we could visit the Menier Chocolate Factory sometime, at which I became very excited until I found out it's not a chocolate factory any longer, but a theatre -which is still interesting to me, but not as interesting as chocolate.....
One idea that we did decide on is a visit to the ballet. Barking Broadway Theatre are putting on The Little Mermaid on Saturday 12th April at 3pm, tickets £18 or £16 concessions. I am keen to get it booked as soon as possible, so if anyone is interested please let me know asap. I'll also send out an email to this effect. The original Hans Christian Andersen tale of the Little Mermaid is available to read online here
These are the books that we chose to read next. The links go to Amazon, where you can read more about each book, and buy them if you want to, in print or on Kindle. I get mine from the library, their online ordering service is very good.
As always, it's not obligatory to read all the books, we just choose a few as it's a couple of months between meetings, and also to give a choice.
The next meeting will be on Wednesday 19th March, and Eirlys has agreed to hold it at her house.
Happy reading!
