This month we convened at Margaret's house to discuss our two books. We were few in number this time, though two members sent some comments by email. Of those of us who were there just over half had read a book this month, let alone one of the books we were supposed to read. One of us had read numerous books and couldn't remember most of them. Another said she had read two beginnings, two ends and no middles, I'm not sure how many books the beginnings and ends involved. Were they from the same books or were they from four different books? These are the questions that keep me awake at night.
Regardless of who did and didn't read what, it was nice as always to see each other and catch up. We enjoyed a lovely cake made by one of our members with a unique but very tasty topping. We learned that there is apparently an adult version (by which I mean grown up, not x-rated) version of 'Janet and John' and we thought we would look into that. We universally agreed that grubby library books are disgusting. We discovered that there are terrapins in Barking Park lake - well there is at least one, as Margaret saw it. When I was at school, some of the boys used to skinny dip in that lake at lunchtime (yes I was in the audience). I wonder if the terrapins were there then. I also wonder if they bite!
The Sunrise by Victoria Hislop had mixed reviews. One loved it, one enjoyed it and found it an easy read and most other people didn't enjoy it though there were positive comments about the social history and that it made us aware of what went on in Cyprus at that time. Some people found the book overly descriptive and the characters not very sympathetic, one person said it was depressing. We felt it was historically very well researched and there was a lot of attention to historical detail. We also appreciated the fact that although there was some violence, it was not too graphic and so not too uncomfortable reading. The two people who did enjoy the book made it sound really fascinating, and at least one person might have another go at reading it (that would be me!)
Now for the J D Salinger books. The voice of the author was found to be annoying in Catcher in the Rye and it was felt that the book wouldn't be interesting to young people today. One person read Franny and Zooey and said it was interesting to re-read it having read it before as a teenager, and that there was practically a cult of J D Salinger and she didn't understand why anymore!
Our book choices for next time are The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessey by Rachel Joyce and 44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith. We also would like to read the adult version of Janet and John that we heard about but I can't find anything on the internet, so we need more information about that one!
We will be meeting again on Wednesday 14th October, details by email nearer the time. We also set the date for our Christmas meal, Friday 11th December.
Happy Reading!
