We met in a very busy and, at times, noisy Lounge at Westlands Entertainment Venue. What a happy buzz!
Some of us could not make it due to all sorts of life’s little irritations, but we were a happy band of readers. As usual we had some very interesting books to discuss.
New Barolo Lounge Book Swap
Liz shared that the Barolo Lounge had invited her to start a lunchtime Barolo Book Swap Group, where we’ll meet on the last Wednesday of each month from 12noon until 2pm. An area by the Book Swap Case was reserved and a group of us met up and chatted, naturally, about all the books we have been reading. Yes, some swapping of novels took place!
Back to the YCAA Book Club!
Our books of the month to read were ‘The Silence of the Girls‘ by Pat Barker (always a popular author) and ‘The Nightingale‘ by Kristin Hannah.
Book One: ‘The Silence of the Girls’
Ruth read it about 7 years ago, so thought she would refresh it – but ended up reading the whole book again! She enjoyed it.
Chip and Bob thought they would read it after our conversation. Liz read it, having seen Pat Barker launch it at the Hay Festival a few years ago. How women suffered in those days is horrifying. Slavery at any stage in history is abhorrent. Well written, but Liz will not be tempted into those Greek stories for a while.
Sally read it but did not like it at all. Sharon thought it very violent and cruel illustrating their dreadful lives. She thought it well written though.
Jenn hated it, having reached page 110 and given up. It was not a pleasant read but Pat Barker has given a voice to the women. The reader could imagine the cruelty!
Mark read it about five years ago and now will read it again as he loves Pat Barker’s writing.
Alan scored it a six as he also read it about five years ago.
Overall, we were glad we read it to understand what women had to put up with in history. It makes you appreciate where we are today!
Book Two: ‘The Nightingale’
Liz loved it and had read it before, but once she started turning the pages this time she was gripped. The cruel hardship suffered in occupied France during the last War, as seen from a family situation, was so difficult to tolerate with bravery. Two sisters – totally different in their outlook on life – endured suffering on so many levels. The search for a man called The Nightingale ended in an act of love. Liz thought it an excellent book and has since read ‘The Women’ by Kristin Hannah as well.
Jenn read it and thought it was well written. The stories of the residents were believable, and we lived their lives through this book.
Sharon enjoyed it and quoted how brave they were at that time. The actions of the Police really riled our readers.
Mark loved it. Two twists. How the Nightingale fooled the Germans! One sister was a born rebel and her cunning kept a reader engrossed, while the other sister endured so much while protecting her child.
Sally also highly recommended this book.
Alan really enjoyed this book last February
Chip will read it as it was donated for him to enjoy.
Ruth thought the characters were well created and enjoyed reading our Book of the Month.
Other Books Read in March
We started off with Jojo Moyes’ ‘Me Before You‘. It was decided the book is better than the film. We often discuss this aspect of interpretation and generally the books win!
Bob highly recommended ‘A Beginner’s Guide to Breaking and Entering‘ by Andrew Hunter Murray. This sounded so unusual that we decided to make it our Book of the Month for April.
He read another LJ Ross book – ‘Seven Bridges‘ – and thought the writing was good but the plot implausible. ‘Hamnet‘ by Maggie O’Farrell was passed on to Sharon as he couldn’t get into that novel. Next, he read ‘A Case of Life and Limb‘ by Sally Smith KC. Set in the Temple Inns of Court in 1910 and thought it really good.
Liz read three books this month and all were engrossing.
Sharon has been really busy reading:
- ‘The Final Wife‘ by Jenny Blackhurst.
- ‘Outcast Dead‘ by Ely Griffiths, another Dr Ruth Galloway novel and really recommended.
- ‘The Heights‘ by Louise Candlish about a son drowning and the mother obsessed by blame.
Jenn read two more LJ Ross books and ‘Strangers in the Car‘ by Chris Ewens which was well written. Also, Jenn read the collection of short stories by Daphne du Maurier, ‘The Birds and Other Stories‘. She thought it very thought provoking, she then read Paula Hawkins latest book. ‘The Blue Hour‘, which she found tedious and would not recommend.
Eddie read Anne Applebaum and, since telling us about her writing, Liz has been listening to her comments on social media. A woman who knows what she is talking about! Brilliant.
Mark read a book written by Lucy Brazier, the ghost writer for Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, entitled ‘The Honesty Box‘. Recommended. His second book was an Inspector Singh Investigates. There are seven books in this series and he really enjoyed it as he was visiting Singapore at the time of reading. This author comes highly recommended.
Sally read two sci-fi books and ‘Holy Island‘ by LJ Ross. Sally told us how she enjoyed ‘London‘ by Edward Rutherfurd. He has also written ‘Sarum‘ and it’s equally enjoyable.
Sandra sent in details of her latest ‘good read’ and it’s Claire Douglas’ ‘The New Neighbours‘. We decided to read that for next month as it sounded really good.
Alan read several, starting with ‘The Hundred-Year House | Rebecca Makkai‘ by Rebecca Makkai. Next, he told us about ‘The Tainted Cup‘ by Robert Jackson Bennett – a series of murders to keep you on your toes! He also read:
- ‘The Great Gatsby‘, which he found sad. He will now watch the film.
- ‘The Power‘ by Naomi Alderman about a woman who developed an electrical power to zap people.
- ‘The House on the Lake‘ by Nuala Ellwood.
- ‘The Fifth Season‘ by N. K. Jemisin.
Ruth read ‘The Ghosts of Rome‘ by Joseph O’Connor following the escape route from the Vatican through occupied Rome in 1942. She enjoyed this one even more than ‘My Father’s House‘, which was the first one by Joseph O’Connor.
She also read ‘Is a River Alive?‘ by Robert MacFarlane, which is beautifully written, and she really enjoyed it.
Chip read ‘Platform 7‘ by Louise Doughty, which he says is very different to the TV programme interpretation. Chip also enjoyed ‘Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China‘ by Jung Chang whom he met 25 years ago. He really enjoyed this book.
There was time to discuss The Scottish Play as a play, and ‘Hamnet’ as a book and film. Also, the television version of ‘Lord of the Flies‘ by William Golding. There is always something to talk about when we all love books and the written word.
Next Month
The books chosen for April are:
- ‘The Beginner’s Guide to Breaking and Entering’ by Andrew Hunter Murray.
- ‘The New Neighbours’ by Claire Douglas..
We look forward to meeting again in The Lounge at Westlands Entertainment Venue on Tuesday 14th April from 12noon until 2pm.