Our bookclub convened for the last meeting of 2010 chez Fleming and while the Christmas tree twinkled in the corner, the discussion sparkled round the table. With as many different interpretations as there were people, we revealed we were moved to tears, laughter, frustrations and boredom by this very Australian novel. Over Japanese fare and mince pies, we discussed the nature of love, togetherness and relationships and can anyone really know someone else? We covered the writing style, the sense of place and time and the descriptions of the bush. And once again the discussion of 'what goes on in your head' when you read was a fascinating insight into how different we all are. We loved the exuberant Mrs O'Dowd and loathed the buttoned-up, social climber Thelma. But was Patrick White a misogynist? And will anyone read another of his novels?
We missed Naomi J (swamped with unreasonable work deadlines) but we celebrated Jen's promotion (go girl!) and the end of another year of stimulating shared reading. See you all in 2012 and may Santa bring you a stocking full of cracking reads. x
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Freedom by Jonathan Franzen, November 10th
We discussed Jonathan Franzen's latest, Freedom, over italianised guacamole, lemony chicken and salad.
Some concluded it didn't reach the heights of his previous work, others felt it was an insightful indictment of modern life, while the rest of us wondered whether its reading would be richer if we were American.
Monday, November 15, 2010
On reading
I came across this quote the other day and loved it. Enjoy your reading this week.
Reading is everything. Reading makes me feel like I've accomplished something, learned something, become a better person. Reading makes me smarter. Reading gives me something to talk about later on. Reading is the unbelievably healthy way my attention deficity disorder medicates itself. Reading is escape, and the opposite of escape; it's a way to make contact with reality after a day of making things up, and it's a way of making contact with someone else's imagination after a day that's all too real. Reading is grist. Reading is bliss. "
— Nora Ephron (I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman)
Reading is everything. Reading makes me feel like I've accomplished something, learned something, become a better person. Reading makes me smarter. Reading gives me something to talk about later on. Reading is the unbelievably healthy way my attention deficity disorder medicates itself. Reading is escape, and the opposite of escape; it's a way to make contact with reality after a day of making things up, and it's a way of making contact with someone else's imagination after a day that's all too real. Reading is grist. Reading is bliss. "
— Nora Ephron (I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman)
So we don't forget
Lovely ladies
For a while we have talked about starting a book about book club; to record what we read, when and maybe even what we all thought about our choices. Then I thought that might be too last millennium. So here is a blog - shall we see how it goes?
First post to get us started - here is what we have read over the last two years:
2008
Julia - Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
Vanda - The Sorrows of an American by Siri Hustvedt
Georgie - The Sea, The Sea by Iris Murdoch
Jules S - The Unknown Terrorist by Richard Flanagan
Olivia - Seven Types of Ambiguity by Elliot Pearlman
Kate - The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy
Jen - A Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz
2009
January
Claire - Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
February
Julia - One Big Damn Puzzler by John Harding
March
Georgie - Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
May
Jules S - White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
Book Club outing to Ruben Guthrie at the Belvoir
June
Kate - The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb
August
Olivia - The Boat by Nam Le
August
Naomi R - The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
September
Jen - The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
November
Claire - All the colours of the town by Liam McIlvanney
2010
January
Julia - Sophie's Choice by William Styron
Feb
Georgie - Measuring Time by Helon Habila
March
Olivia - The Group by Mary McCarthy
April
Kate - The Road by Cormac McCarthy
June
Naomi - The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt
July
Sarah - The Human Stain by Philip Roth
Sept
Jen - Hunting and Gathering by Anna Gavalda
For a while we have talked about starting a book about book club; to record what we read, when and maybe even what we all thought about our choices. Then I thought that might be too last millennium. So here is a blog - shall we see how it goes?
First post to get us started - here is what we have read over the last two years:
2008
Julia - Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
Vanda - The Sorrows of an American by Siri Hustvedt
Georgie - The Sea, The Sea by Iris Murdoch
Jules S - The Unknown Terrorist by Richard Flanagan
Olivia - Seven Types of Ambiguity by Elliot Pearlman
Kate - The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy
Jen - A Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz
2009
January
Claire - Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
February
Julia - One Big Damn Puzzler by John Harding
March
Georgie - Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
May
Jules S - White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
Book Club outing to Ruben Guthrie at the Belvoir
June
Kate - The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb
August
Olivia - The Boat by Nam Le
August
Naomi R - The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
September
Jen - The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
November
Claire - All the colours of the town by Liam McIlvanney
2010
January
Julia - Sophie's Choice by William Styron
Feb
Georgie - Measuring Time by Helon Habila
March
Olivia - The Group by Mary McCarthy
April
Kate - The Road by Cormac McCarthy
June
Naomi - The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt
July
Sarah - The Human Stain by Philip Roth
Sept
Jen - Hunting and Gathering by Anna Gavalda
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
To Kill a Mockingbird - Tuesday 12th October
The discussion started with pornography and ended with homophobia, and in between we feasted on delicious fish soup and strawberry gateau, and covered a wide range of topics inspired by the choice of this month's host, Kerri.
And what a universally loved choice it was. Most had read the book many years ago, but there was vigorous agreement that time has not reduced the impact of this book. Unlike some other months when we have all agreed on the book, this did not dampen the discussion. Personal tales of encounters with bigotry were shared and a comparison with modern day society concluded that while some things have changed, there is a depressing lack of change in many areas - witness what is currently happening to Obama. We covered themes of class, parenting and law. And of course the remarkable, endearing, non-preaching narrator's voice.
We agreed this book makes you want to be a better person and leaves you changed. Perhaps there is no higher praise.
And what a universally loved choice it was. Most had read the book many years ago, but there was vigorous agreement that time has not reduced the impact of this book. Unlike some other months when we have all agreed on the book, this did not dampen the discussion. Personal tales of encounters with bigotry were shared and a comparison with modern day society concluded that while some things have changed, there is a depressing lack of change in many areas - witness what is currently happening to Obama. We covered themes of class, parenting and law. And of course the remarkable, endearing, non-preaching narrator's voice.
We agreed this book makes you want to be a better person and leaves you changed. Perhaps there is no higher praise.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
So we don't forget
Lovely ladies
For a while we have talked about starting a book about book club; to record what we read, when and maybe even what we all thought about our choices. Then I thought that might be too last millennium. So here is a blog - shall we see how it goes?
First post to get us started - here is what we have read over the last two years:
2008
Julia - Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
Vanda - The Sorrows of an American by Siri Hustvedt
Georgie - The Sea, The Sea by Iris Murdoch
Jules S - The Unknown Terrorist by Richard Flanagan
Olivia - Seven Types of Ambiguity by Elliot Pearlman
Kate - The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy
Jen - A Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz
2009
January
Claire - Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
February
Julia - One Big Damn Puzzler by John Harding
May
Jules S - White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
Book Club outing to Ruben Guthrie at the Belvoir
June
Kate - The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb
August
Olivia - The Boat by Nam Le
August
Naomi R - The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
September
Jen - The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
November
Claire - All the colours of the town by Liam McIlvanney
2010
January
Julia - Sophie's Choice by William Styron
Feb
Georgie - Measuring Time by Helon Habila
March
Olivia - The Group by Mary McCarthy
April
Kate - The Road by Cormac McCarthy
June
Naomi - The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt
July
Sarah - The Human Stain by Philip Roth
Sept
Jen - Hunting and Gathering by Anna Gavalda
For a while we have talked about starting a book about book club; to record what we read, when and maybe even what we all thought about our choices. Then I thought that might be too last millennium. So here is a blog - shall we see how it goes?
First post to get us started - here is what we have read over the last two years:
2008
Julia - Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
Vanda - The Sorrows of an American by Siri Hustvedt
Georgie - The Sea, The Sea by Iris Murdoch
Jules S - The Unknown Terrorist by Richard Flanagan
Olivia - Seven Types of Ambiguity by Elliot Pearlman
Kate - The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy
Jen - A Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz
2009
January
Claire - Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
February
Julia - One Big Damn Puzzler by John Harding
May
Jules S - White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
Book Club outing to Ruben Guthrie at the Belvoir
June
Kate - The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb
August
Olivia - The Boat by Nam Le
August
Naomi R - The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
September
Jen - The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
November
Claire - All the colours of the town by Liam McIlvanney
2010
January
Julia - Sophie's Choice by William Styron
Feb
Georgie - Measuring Time by Helon Habila
March
Olivia - The Group by Mary McCarthy
April
Kate - The Road by Cormac McCarthy
June
Naomi - The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt
July
Sarah - The Human Stain by Philip Roth
Sept
Jen - Hunting and Gathering by Anna Gavalda
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