Since the last post we've read:
One Plus One by Jojo Moyes
Daughter by Jane Shemilt
A Song for Issy Bradley: A Novel by Carys Bray
The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton
Us by David Nicholls
Not a bad haul there actually. I loved Us, which I wasn't expecting to, as I've not been hugely enamoured with some of David Nicholls' other books. It made me cry at one point, which isn't usual for me! I didn't expect to enjoy The Miniaturist, as it's not really my "thing", but I did. A Song for Issy Bradley and Daughter were both readable books. One Plus One was chick-lit par excellence, and although it was soppy and twee, I actually really enjoyed it. So there.
Friday, 10 April 2015
Thursday, 18 September 2014
Recent reads
We've been going since March 2011 and we're still reading away. We haven't quite managed a book a month in recent times, but we're doing alright! Next month we are off to try out the newly opened Kaspas Desserts in Catford, which just looks completely amazing. The book we're reading for that is The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North.
What else have we read since the last post? Well, one I didn't manage (shame on me) was Shotgun Lovesongs by Nickolas Butler. Ones I did read: Paper Aeroplanes by Dawn O'Porter, enjoyable enough - thoroughly readable, and A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon. That was great, but what is it about irritating 60-something male characters who need a good kick up the backside? Or maybe I'm just an unsympathetic type...
Onwards!
What else have we read since the last post? Well, one I didn't manage (shame on me) was Shotgun Lovesongs by Nickolas Butler. Ones I did read: Paper Aeroplanes by Dawn O'Porter, enjoyable enough - thoroughly readable, and A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon. That was great, but what is it about irritating 60-something male characters who need a good kick up the backside? Or maybe I'm just an unsympathetic type...
Onwards!
Thursday, 15 May 2014
What we've been reading SPOILER ALERT
Since the last update we haven't quite managed a book a month. We read Life After Life, which I enjoyed. Then a nice easy read in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.
This month's book is Kill Your Friends which I've read before, and I can't make the meeting, so I shall share my view here (c&p from my goodreads review...):
One of the most horrendous books I've ever had the misfortune to read. And he doesn't even get his comeuppance in the end, which is about the only thing that could have saved this book for me, though I doubt even that would have done it. Grim grim grim, revelling in the worst kind of racist, sexist awfulness. Someone will no doubt now tell me it's satire and I've missed the point but I don't care! Horrible.
This month's book is Kill Your Friends which I've read before, and I can't make the meeting, so I shall share my view here (c&p from my goodreads review...):
One of the most horrendous books I've ever had the misfortune to read. And he doesn't even get his comeuppance in the end, which is about the only thing that could have saved this book for me, though I doubt even that would have done it. Grim grim grim, revelling in the worst kind of racist, sexist awfulness. Someone will no doubt now tell me it's satire and I've missed the point but I don't care! Horrible.
Friday, 28 February 2014
Latest reads
Since my last update, we've read:
The Casual Vacancy
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
Lady Chatterley's Lover (I didn't read this, as I'd already re-read it last year for my other book club...)
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
My favourite of those was probabaly Harold Fry, although I did find his character irritatingly wet.
Our latest book is:
Life After Life
The Casual Vacancy
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
Lady Chatterley's Lover (I didn't read this, as I'd already re-read it last year for my other book club...)
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
My favourite of those was probabaly Harold Fry, although I did find his character irritatingly wet.
Our latest book is:
Life After Life
Tuesday, 24 September 2013
Recent reads
Since Looking for Alaska, which I really enjoyed, we've read
Gone Girl
The Taming of the Shrew
The Tale of Raw Head and Bloody Bones
The Leftovers
No one ever has sex on a Tuesday
I don't think we enjoyed Gone Girl as much as we'd expected to given the hype, though it was readable enough. We went to see the Taming of the Shrew at the Globe, which was brilliant. I hated Raw Head and Bloody Bones, but I think everyone else enjoyed it... I thought the Leftovers was quite entertaining and No one ever has sex on a Tuesday was standard, but pretty readable, chick lit.
Gone Girl
The Taming of the Shrew
The Tale of Raw Head and Bloody Bones
The Leftovers
No one ever has sex on a Tuesday
I don't think we enjoyed Gone Girl as much as we'd expected to given the hype, though it was readable enough. We went to see the Taming of the Shrew at the Globe, which was brilliant. I hated Raw Head and Bloody Bones, but I think everyone else enjoyed it... I thought the Leftovers was quite entertaining and No one ever has sex on a Tuesday was standard, but pretty readable, chick lit.
Wednesday, 20 March 2013
Latest books
What have we read since last time?
Well. we took two months over Cloud Atlas, and who can blame us? After all it was Christmas and it's a long book.
Next up was Tigers in Red Weather by Lisa Klaussmann. I missed the meeting that discussed this, which was a real shame (but then I was at the launch of The Poisoned Island by Lloyd Shepherd at the time, so at least I was doing something book-related....) I for one really enjoyed Tigers. I found the Ed character and his part of the story quite disturbing though, to say the least, he wasn't a sympathetic character at all. I also found Helena somewhat irritating (understatement of the year). Nick and Hughes were my favourite characters and their story was fascinating - I could have read a whole book just about their relationship. Recommended.
This month's pick is Looking for Alaska by John Green. It's young adult fiction, or teen fiction or whatever that's called these days and I'm pretty sure I'd never have picked it up were it not for book clurb.
Well. we took two months over Cloud Atlas, and who can blame us? After all it was Christmas and it's a long book.
Next up was Tigers in Red Weather by Lisa Klaussmann. I missed the meeting that discussed this, which was a real shame (but then I was at the launch of The Poisoned Island by Lloyd Shepherd at the time, so at least I was doing something book-related....) I for one really enjoyed Tigers. I found the Ed character and his part of the story quite disturbing though, to say the least, he wasn't a sympathetic character at all. I also found Helena somewhat irritating (understatement of the year). Nick and Hughes were my favourite characters and their story was fascinating - I could have read a whole book just about their relationship. Recommended.
This month's pick is Looking for Alaska by John Green. It's young adult fiction, or teen fiction or whatever that's called these days and I'm pretty sure I'd never have picked it up were it not for book clurb.
Tuesday, 4 December 2012
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.
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.
Saturday, 30 June 2012
Another catch up
Since the last post we've read 50 shades of grey (who hasn't?) and Painter of Silence. I think it's fair to say that views on 50 shades were mixed, with some loving it and some hating it. I personally think it's atrociously written, almost to the point of being unreadable, and I am flabbergasted that it's made so much money, but each to their own and all that.
I loved Painter of Silence, and devoured it in two sittings on my way to and from a trip to Belfast. I thought it was beautifully written and very evocative. Not everyone agreed though, with others struggling to get into it, or to imagine the setting of the book.
Next month we are reading the Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, which has already provoked much discussion and we haven't even started it yet!
Friday, 27 April 2012
Catch up!
Managed to get ridiculously behind on this blog again!
Since the last post, we've read Silas Marner, of which mixed reviews - I personally really enjoyed it, but others weren't keen at all, Call the Midwife, which was universally enjoyed I think, not least because it is about a subject that is close in recent memory for all of us and last month's book was The Wicked Girls. Those of us who'd read The Wicked Girls all enjoyed it - the story was very well worked and clever, even though you knew what had happened, the details weren't revealed until right at the very end. I think we all found it quite disturbing too, not least because the little girl in the story was a similar age to our own children.
Next month's book is 50 Shades of Grey.
Since the last post, we've read Silas Marner, of which mixed reviews - I personally really enjoyed it, but others weren't keen at all, Call the Midwife, which was universally enjoyed I think, not least because it is about a subject that is close in recent memory for all of us and last month's book was The Wicked Girls. Those of us who'd read The Wicked Girls all enjoyed it - the story was very well worked and clever, even though you knew what had happened, the details weren't revealed until right at the very end. I think we all found it quite disturbing too, not least because the little girl in the story was a similar age to our own children.
Next month's book is 50 Shades of Grey.
Sunday, 22 January 2012
The Night Circus
January's choice (from Sally) was the Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. Quite a few of the group hadn't been able to finish the book before our get together, but I think it is testament to the book that all were planning to finish it asap after the meeting!
I really enjoyed it - it wasn't the kind of book I would normally choose at all, but I suppose the beauty of a book club is that you get to read things you wouldn't normally choose and hopefully find something you like.
I did think the book had a sinister side though, but that for me made it all the more intriguing and though I found it hard to get into, once I'd got about a quarter of the way through I was well into it and by three quarters of the way in I could hardly put it down as I was desperate to find out how it ended. But of course, it ends as it begins, bringing you full circle, and that encouraged me to look again at the book as a whole rather than as a series of events.
Highly recommended.
Thursday, 5 January 2012
Latest books
Just realised I haven't updated this since we read One Day!
September's book was The Summer Without Men by Siri Hustvedt. This book was not universally enjoyed I'm afraid. It's the first one I've failed to finish and I was not alone! I got up to the point where she thanks you, dear reader for sticking with it and thought, "nah". Life's too short to waste time reading books you aren't enjoying.
Which leads me on to December's pick. This was, I'm ashamed to admit, suggested by me. I thought it would be nice to have something easy and Christmassy.... The book in question was The Twelve Days of Christmas by Trisha Ashley. It was one of the most predictable books I've read in a long time. I have now finished it, however, so it beats The Summer Without Men. It was also only 99p on Kindle.
November's book was The End of Everything by Megan Abbott. This was a good read, but hard to get your head round at times.
January's pick is The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. Which, incidentally, is not held in a single one of Lewisham's libraries. Shame on them!
Monday, 17 October 2011
One Day
October's pick was One Day by David Nicholls. I shall try not to be completely driven by what I thought of this book, because I am not a big fan of David Nicholls. That said, I completed the book within one day, so it's clearly very readable. My beef relates to the small errors that pepper this book and spoil it for me, just like the small errors in Starter for Ten.
I don't think I was the only one to find the characters a little unlikeable, although I think we all felt that made them more realistic than they otherwise might have been. Those that didn't know there was a twist were completely floored by it, whereas those that knew there was, but not what it was, were constantly on the look out for it!
A couple of us felt frustrated by the ending, although others thought it just showed that's what real life can be like, and people do have to get on with things and move on.
Overall this is an easy read, not too intellectual and not earth shattering either. After the previous month's book, which I failed to finish, that was welcome relief!
Thursday, 1 September 2011
The Help
A different take on The Help from most I've seen out there (thanks Sally for sharing the link!):
http://therumpus.net/2011/08/the-solace-of-preparing-fried-foods-and-other-quaint-remembrances-from-1960s-mississippi-thoughts-on-the-help/
Some views from closer to home, which are similar to those we felt when we read the book:
http://lewishambookblog.com/2010/08/13/the-help/
http://lewishambookblog.com/2011/08/04/new-cross-wavelengths-reading-group-news-2/
I must say that reading the link from The Rumpus certainly made me reevaluate my thoughts.
http://therumpus.net/2011/08/the-solace-of-preparing-fried-foods-and-other-quaint-remembrances-from-1960s-mississippi-thoughts-on-the-help/
Some views from closer to home, which are similar to those we felt when we read the book:
http://lewishambookblog.com/2010/08/13/the-help/
http://lewishambookblog.com/2011/08/04/new-cross-wavelengths-reading-group-news-2/
I must say that reading the link from The Rumpus certainly made me reevaluate my thoughts.
Wednesday, 31 August 2011
September and October's choices
September: The Summer Without Men - Siri Hustvedt
October: One Day - David Nicholls
October: One Day - David Nicholls
Friday, 26 August 2011
How to be a woman
August's book was How to be a woman by Caitlin Moran. I think it's fair to say that a number of the group had reservations about reading this book, as they didn't consider themselves to be feminists. As the book was my choice I was more than a little nervous about what everyone would make of it!
We met at Belgo in Bromley, where the food was tasty and the service slow, but it suited us fine and we had plenty of time to discuss the book as well as all the other important things going on right now! In fact we were the last to leave, which I think riled the staff slightly.
I'm happy to say that everyone enjoyed reading the book and thought there were some great funny moments. We could all relate to at least some of the incidents she refers to in the book, as we are all of a similar age to Moran, although we come from a range of different backgrounds. Because the book loosely follows her through her life, some of us were left wanting to know more about the whys and wherefores of the various situations she presents, and what became of some of the people involved. But the book isn't really about that, so we are left to wonder!
The great thing about it for me was that it encouraged all of us to see ourselves as feminists, whether or not we had done before we read the book and made it abundantly clear that feminism is not about burning bras or hating men.
I and others felt the book tailed off a bit towards the end, almost as if she had run out of enthusiasm for it and I wasn't the only one to find the section on abortion hard going.
I would certainly recommend it to anyone.
Here is what goodreads has to say about it.
We met at Belgo in Bromley, where the food was tasty and the service slow, but it suited us fine and we had plenty of time to discuss the book as well as all the other important things going on right now! In fact we were the last to leave, which I think riled the staff slightly.
I'm happy to say that everyone enjoyed reading the book and thought there were some great funny moments. We could all relate to at least some of the incidents she refers to in the book, as we are all of a similar age to Moran, although we come from a range of different backgrounds. Because the book loosely follows her through her life, some of us were left wanting to know more about the whys and wherefores of the various situations she presents, and what became of some of the people involved. But the book isn't really about that, so we are left to wonder!
The great thing about it for me was that it encouraged all of us to see ourselves as feminists, whether or not we had done before we read the book and made it abundantly clear that feminism is not about burning bras or hating men.
I and others felt the book tailed off a bit towards the end, almost as if she had run out of enthusiasm for it and I wasn't the only one to find the section on abortion hard going.
I would certainly recommend it to anyone.
Here is what goodreads has to say about it.
Friday, 12 August 2011
Books we've read so far
March: Inconceivable - Ben Elton
April: The Other Boleyn Girl - Philippa Gregory
May: The World's Wife - Carol Ann Duffy
June: Small Island - Andrea Levy
July: The Help - Kathryn Stockett
April: The Other Boleyn Girl - Philippa Gregory
May: The World's Wife - Carol Ann Duffy
June: Small Island - Andrea Levy
July: The Help - Kathryn Stockett
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