Booklovers
We started Booklovers because we wanted to talk about the books we’ve been reading and to introduce those we’ve enjoyed to others.
We each take turn to speak about our chosen book and this invariably leads to discussion of broader topics. Four times a year we agree on a shared title to maintain the value of close reading and to hear each other’s interpretations of different aspects of those works.
We are a friendly group of people, meeting on the third Thursday of each month in a member’s home. You’ll find you’re never short of ideas for a new book to read and we warmly welcome others to join us.
For further details, please contact Christine Roberts.
For upcoming meetings, please visit our events page.
We each take turn to speak about our chosen book and this invariably leads to discussion of broader topics. Four times a year we agree on a shared title to maintain the value of close reading and to hear each other’s interpretations of different aspects of those works.
We are a friendly group of people, meeting on the third Thursday of each month in a member’s home. You’ll find you’re never short of ideas for a new book to read and we warmly welcome others to join us.
For further details, please contact Christine Roberts.
For upcoming meetings, please visit our events page.
Notes from Booklovers Meeting, 19th December 2019
Present: Mary, Denise, Sue, Di and Christine
Mary read: Washington Black by Esi Edugyan (2018). The author, unknown to Mary, was born in Canada of Gahnanian immigrant parents. The novel is apparently based on a true story. It is an intriguing, well-written tale, told in the first person, of a young, black slave who was born on a sugar plantation in Barbados in the 1830s.
The story tells of the cruelty that slaves had to endure under their British master Erasmus Wilde. The latter’s brother Christopher ‘Titch’ disapproves of slavery and borrows some of his brother’s salves, including the eponymous Washington, to help him beat a path through young to the top of a hill so he can launch his ‘Cloud Cutter’ – seemingly an early hot air balloon. ‘Wash’ because he was young and light in weight, was one to be one of the first to fly in it. Titch becomes friends with Wash and discovers that the slave is not only very intelligent but also a very talented illustrator. Erasmus has to return to England and is replaced by his cousin Phillip who orders Wash to collect something near the balloon. When the latter is ignited, Wash is severely burnt and scarred for life. Cousin Phillip shoots himself in front of wash Wash tells Titch what happened and Titch decides they should both escape in the Cloud Cutter as Wash is bound to be blamed for the accident. They escape in the balloon which ends up crashing onto a ship in a storm and this is the start of many journeys for Wash and Titch, to America, the Arctic, across to England, Amsterdam and Morocco.
Throughout the book you are made aware of the prejudices against black people, and how difficult it was for them, even after slavery had been abolished for any of them to make their way successfully within a largely white population. Mary thought this book was a really good read.
Mary also enjoyed a documentary she found a link to on YouTube: The Hut Six Story which is about a book that destroyed the life of the unknown genius, Gordon Welchman, who helped to crack the Engima Code at Bletchley Park in WWII. Only now when Edward Snowden’s revelations about the ‘the powers that be’ snooping on all our lives, has Gordon Welchman’s part at Bletchley Park been revealed. You can watch this fascinating documentary at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnr4pM-ntdc
Denise read: Never Cry Wolf by Farley Mowatt (1963). Denise was enchanted by the details in this book of Mowatt’s time spent watching and interacting with wolves in the far north of Manitoba. At the time (1948) Mowatt accepted an assignment to investigate the regions dwindling population of caribou, believed to be caused by the Tundra’s most notorious predator, the wolf. He expected to find the bloodthirsty beasts of popular conception but instead over the course of a summer spent observing them, he discovered an animal species with a remarkable capacity for loyalty, virtue, and playfulness. This book is celebrated as a classic of nature writing and has been praised for the way it has turned the widespread narrative of the “savage wolf” on its head and inspiring many governments to enact protective legislation for these mysterious creatures.
Denise read: The President Is Missing by Bill Clinton and James Patterson (2018). A political thriller which Denise found very scary not least because of the authenticity lent by having a former president as one of its co-authors who is able to give unique inside information on the workings of the White House. As the novel opens, a threat looms. Enemies are planning an attack of unprecedented scale on America. Uncertainty and fear grip Washington. There are whispers of cyberterror and espionage and a traitor in the cabinet. The President himself becomes a suspect, and then goes missing. Set in real time, over the course of three days, The President Is Missing has been described as one of the most dramatic thrillers in decades. And it could all really happen.
Anthony Lane, a reviewer for The New York, was scurrilous in his comments about James Patterson’s writing skills in this and his many other books. However, his summary of this book suggests that was not immune to its charms, writing: “Let’s be fair, though. Somehow, “The President Is Missing” rises above its blithely forgivable faults. It’s a go-to read. It maximizes its potency and fulfills its mission. There’s a twist or two of which Frederick Forsyth might be proud. So, if you want to make the most of your late-capitalist leisure-time, hit the couch, crack a Bud, punch the book open, focus your squint, and enjoy.”
Sue read Their Eyes Were Watching God, a 1937 novel by African-American writer Zora Neale Hurston. It is considered a classic of the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s, and it is likely Hurston's best known work. Set in central and southern Florida in the early 20th century, the novel was initially poorly received. Since the late 20th century, it has been regarded as influential to both African-American literature and women's literature. TIME magazine included the novel in its 2005 list of the 100 best English-language novels published since 1923.
The epic tale of Janie Crawford, whose quest for identity takes her on a journey during which she learns what love is, experiences life’s joys and sorrows, and come home to herself in peace. With haunting sympathy and piercing immediacy, Their Eyes Were Watching God tells the story of Janie Crawford’s evolving selfhood through three marriages. Sue writes: “Love has different expressions – five love languages: Words of Affirmation, Acts of Service, Receiving Gifts, Quality Time and Physical Touch. Although love is the driving force of Janie’s story, her need to be free to make her own choices and the way she learns to use her own voice are equally important.” And a comment from the website norazealehurston.com states that though Jaine’s story does not end happily, it does draw to a satisfying conclusion. Janie is one black woman who doesn’t have to live lost in sorrow, bitterness, fear, or foolish romantic dreams, instead Janie proclaims that she has done “two things everbody’s got tuh do fuh theyselves. They got tuh go tuh God, and they got tuh find out about livin’ fuh theyselves.”
Di read Elinor Oliphant Is Completely Fine: The website Good Reads comments “Elinor struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she’s thinking. Nothing is missing in her carefully timetabled life of avoiding unnecessary human contact, where weekends are punctuated by frozen pizza, vodka, and phone chats with Mummy. But everything changes when Eleanor meets Raymond, the bumbling and deeply unhygienic IT guy from her office. When she and Raymond together save Sammy, an elderly gentleman who has fallen, the three rescue one another from the lives of isolation that they had been living. Ultimately, it is Raymond’s big heart that will help Eleanor find the way to repair her own profoundly damaged one. If she does, she'll learn that she, too, is capable of finding friendship—and even love—after all. Smart, warm, uplifting, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is the story of an out-of-the-ordinary heroine whose deadpan weirdness and unconscious wit make for an irresistible journey as she realizes. . .”
Di thoroughly enjoyed the book and felt that it deserves its popular acclaim.
Mary read: Washington Black by Esi Edugyan (2018). The author, unknown to Mary, was born in Canada of Gahnanian immigrant parents. The novel is apparently based on a true story. It is an intriguing, well-written tale, told in the first person, of a young, black slave who was born on a sugar plantation in Barbados in the 1830s.
The story tells of the cruelty that slaves had to endure under their British master Erasmus Wilde. The latter’s brother Christopher ‘Titch’ disapproves of slavery and borrows some of his brother’s salves, including the eponymous Washington, to help him beat a path through young to the top of a hill so he can launch his ‘Cloud Cutter’ – seemingly an early hot air balloon. ‘Wash’ because he was young and light in weight, was one to be one of the first to fly in it. Titch becomes friends with Wash and discovers that the slave is not only very intelligent but also a very talented illustrator. Erasmus has to return to England and is replaced by his cousin Phillip who orders Wash to collect something near the balloon. When the latter is ignited, Wash is severely burnt and scarred for life. Cousin Phillip shoots himself in front of wash Wash tells Titch what happened and Titch decides they should both escape in the Cloud Cutter as Wash is bound to be blamed for the accident. They escape in the balloon which ends up crashing onto a ship in a storm and this is the start of many journeys for Wash and Titch, to America, the Arctic, across to England, Amsterdam and Morocco.
Throughout the book you are made aware of the prejudices against black people, and how difficult it was for them, even after slavery had been abolished for any of them to make their way successfully within a largely white population. Mary thought this book was a really good read.
Mary also enjoyed a documentary she found a link to on YouTube: The Hut Six Story which is about a book that destroyed the life of the unknown genius, Gordon Welchman, who helped to crack the Engima Code at Bletchley Park in WWII. Only now when Edward Snowden’s revelations about the ‘the powers that be’ snooping on all our lives, has Gordon Welchman’s part at Bletchley Park been revealed. You can watch this fascinating documentary at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnr4pM-ntdc
Denise read: Never Cry Wolf by Farley Mowatt (1963). Denise was enchanted by the details in this book of Mowatt’s time spent watching and interacting with wolves in the far north of Manitoba. At the time (1948) Mowatt accepted an assignment to investigate the regions dwindling population of caribou, believed to be caused by the Tundra’s most notorious predator, the wolf. He expected to find the bloodthirsty beasts of popular conception but instead over the course of a summer spent observing them, he discovered an animal species with a remarkable capacity for loyalty, virtue, and playfulness. This book is celebrated as a classic of nature writing and has been praised for the way it has turned the widespread narrative of the “savage wolf” on its head and inspiring many governments to enact protective legislation for these mysterious creatures.
Denise read: The President Is Missing by Bill Clinton and James Patterson (2018). A political thriller which Denise found very scary not least because of the authenticity lent by having a former president as one of its co-authors who is able to give unique inside information on the workings of the White House. As the novel opens, a threat looms. Enemies are planning an attack of unprecedented scale on America. Uncertainty and fear grip Washington. There are whispers of cyberterror and espionage and a traitor in the cabinet. The President himself becomes a suspect, and then goes missing. Set in real time, over the course of three days, The President Is Missing has been described as one of the most dramatic thrillers in decades. And it could all really happen.
Anthony Lane, a reviewer for The New York, was scurrilous in his comments about James Patterson’s writing skills in this and his many other books. However, his summary of this book suggests that was not immune to its charms, writing: “Let’s be fair, though. Somehow, “The President Is Missing” rises above its blithely forgivable faults. It’s a go-to read. It maximizes its potency and fulfills its mission. There’s a twist or two of which Frederick Forsyth might be proud. So, if you want to make the most of your late-capitalist leisure-time, hit the couch, crack a Bud, punch the book open, focus your squint, and enjoy.”
Sue read Their Eyes Were Watching God, a 1937 novel by African-American writer Zora Neale Hurston. It is considered a classic of the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s, and it is likely Hurston's best known work. Set in central and southern Florida in the early 20th century, the novel was initially poorly received. Since the late 20th century, it has been regarded as influential to both African-American literature and women's literature. TIME magazine included the novel in its 2005 list of the 100 best English-language novels published since 1923.
The epic tale of Janie Crawford, whose quest for identity takes her on a journey during which she learns what love is, experiences life’s joys and sorrows, and come home to herself in peace. With haunting sympathy and piercing immediacy, Their Eyes Were Watching God tells the story of Janie Crawford’s evolving selfhood through three marriages. Sue writes: “Love has different expressions – five love languages: Words of Affirmation, Acts of Service, Receiving Gifts, Quality Time and Physical Touch. Although love is the driving force of Janie’s story, her need to be free to make her own choices and the way she learns to use her own voice are equally important.” And a comment from the website norazealehurston.com states that though Jaine’s story does not end happily, it does draw to a satisfying conclusion. Janie is one black woman who doesn’t have to live lost in sorrow, bitterness, fear, or foolish romantic dreams, instead Janie proclaims that she has done “two things everbody’s got tuh do fuh theyselves. They got tuh go tuh God, and they got tuh find out about livin’ fuh theyselves.”
Di read Elinor Oliphant Is Completely Fine: The website Good Reads comments “Elinor struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she’s thinking. Nothing is missing in her carefully timetabled life of avoiding unnecessary human contact, where weekends are punctuated by frozen pizza, vodka, and phone chats with Mummy. But everything changes when Eleanor meets Raymond, the bumbling and deeply unhygienic IT guy from her office. When she and Raymond together save Sammy, an elderly gentleman who has fallen, the three rescue one another from the lives of isolation that they had been living. Ultimately, it is Raymond’s big heart that will help Eleanor find the way to repair her own profoundly damaged one. If she does, she'll learn that she, too, is capable of finding friendship—and even love—after all. Smart, warm, uplifting, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is the story of an out-of-the-ordinary heroine whose deadpan weirdness and unconscious wit make for an irresistible journey as she realizes. . .”
Di thoroughly enjoyed the book and felt that it deserves its popular acclaim.
Read the notes from previous sessions here.
