Recently read

So what have we recently read at Book Clurb?

Over the summer we read Rebecca Skloot's book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks which is about a poor black tobacco farmer whose cells were taken without consent in 1951 and became one of the most important tools in medicine. I personally found it fascinating, though I think the group had mixed views.

To keep us going over the summer we also chose Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese, which again I absolutely loved. It was hard going at first, but one of those books that rewards the effort you put in. I'd recommend this to other book clubs, but you might have to put in some effort to finish it in the month!

Next up was The Earth Hums in B Flat by Mari Strachan about a girl who decides to turn detective and is oblivious to the consternation she leaves in her wake as she goes about her investigations. Poor Gwenni is a bit of an oddball who doesn't really seem to fit into 1950s Wales at all. I found the ending to this a bit unsatisfactory - I wanted it all nicely wrapped up!

November's book was The Guilty One by Lisa Ballantyne. I missed the meeting that discussed this, so am not totally sure what everyone else thought of it. I enjoyed reading it, but had worked out the ending and found it all a bit depressing! There seems to be a bit of a trend for reading depressing books at the moment - I think we need something uplifting soon! In fact if I have to read one more book that includes murdered or murderous children I might go mad!

We're currently reading Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell (my pick) and I know that some have already finished it and loved it, while others have already given up having hated it! I've only just started it, so I'll reserve judgment.