Over The Fence

January - The Long Song by Andrea Levy

2012-02-02T16:30:00.001+11:00

July is a slave girl who lives upon a sugar plantation named Amity and it is her life that is the subject of this tale. She was there when the Baptist War raged in 1831, and she was also present when slavery was declared no more.

My son says I must convey how the story tells also of July’s mama Kitty, of the negroes that worked the plantation land, of Caroline Mortimer the white woman who owned the plantation and many more person besides – far too many to list here. But what befalls them all is carefully chronicled upon these pages.

This month’s book The Long Song by Andrea Levy has started our year off in great style with a stimulating discussion, on the book itself and the many issues found within.

We could all be forgiven for our first reaction, ‘another story of slavery’. We have read plenty covering this topic over the years, but as all good book clubs do, we uncovered more than the usual heartbreak and injustice … humour being a major contributor to our club’s enjoyment.

This is not to say we felt the author took her theme lightly. It is more the narrative approach, that of July, in her impatient, slightly defiant senior’s voice that had us chuckling through this biographical memoir that her son has persuaded her to write. The tricks and antics of her forbearers revealed comic insubordination and rebelliousness that is rare in a slavery novel.

However, we did have some conflicting opinions. Nancy read on only through a feeling of guilt, … she felt she should feel empathy and remorse, yet the book left her with no such feelings, and she found the narrative tiresome. Tera could remember little about the story, yet she did remember enjoying the subtle humour, and Anne again was left with nothing more than a few notes that she jotted down simply to keep track of who was who, and what was what.

But overall the comments were positive. It was thought to be a well researched and beautifully told novel. Clever and possibly written for the screen. Viti and a few others would have liked a little more historical background of the place and time, but we all agreed the purpose of the story was more in the form of a personal account of native Jamaicans and plantation slavery.

Regardless which view point you took, we ended up discussing social and economic wealth and distribution, historical and contemporary injustices and what they all mean today. Not bad for the start of a new year.

Were we suitably impressed? Levy’s previous books have all been noted down for further reading. Always a good indication with our group!

2011-12-22T11:12:00.001+11:00

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is the coming-of-age story of young, sensitive and idealistic Francie Nolan and her bittersweet formative years in the turn-of-the century Williamsburg slums of Brooklyn. This poignant and moving tale is filled with compassion and cruelty, laughter and heartache, crowded with life and people and incident.

From the moment she entered the world, Francie needed to be made of stern stuff, for the often harsh life of Williamsburg demanded fortitude, precocity, and strength of spirit. Betty Smith has artfully caught this sense of exciting life in a novel of childhood, replete with incredibly rich moments of universal experiences.

As a book group, we are no strangers to American classics. We’ve delved into more than a few over the 10 years we have been meeting, and on no occasion have they been described as ‘saccharine’. But there is a first time for everything, and this is exactly what approximately half of our group thought of Smith’s A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.

Francie was too good to be true and many of the outcomes in the story lacked in the reality stakes. Others believed the story was devoid of intensity and some of the more interesting issues were glossed over.

There were of course references made to McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes (which everyone had read), but as A Tree was written in the early 1940s, it was accepted that Smith had obviously written a book of her time, which we generally agreed was to some extent biographical.

On the positive side, others believed it to be a wonderful read and historically correct. There was a strong sense of place and Francie’s character was exactly what the book’s protagonist needed to be. We then proceeded to have a great discussion on the book’s many characters and it was mentioned that there was a clear depiction of pride written into them. Something that everyone felt and agreed was common among Smith’s social class of the time.

It was about here that we began some reminiscing, as several of us could recall similar childhood memories of a time when space and money was short. Growing up stories are always entertaining and a wonderful way of rounding off a great discussion. For, regardless of a book’s original intent, if it inspires thoughtful and enjoyable discourse, it is always a winner with us!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our readers. We look forward to another great year of reading and sharing with you!

The Alchemist by Paul Coelho

2011-12-02T11:15:00.001+11:00

An Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the direction of his quest.

No one knows what the treasure is, or if Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles along the way. But what starts out as a journey to find worldly good turns into a discovery of the treasures found within.

Lush, evocative and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts.

How many self-help books does the world really need? This and other probing questions were inspired by this month’s book The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.

A few of us had read this before, some a few times before, and in true Tuesday Book Club tradition we had plenty to say of its content and what it all might possibly mean. Deep and meaningful? Not completely, there were plenty of laughs thrown in, mostly to do with the self-help market and its promotion strategies. Many thought it to be a well written fable/biblical telling of life’s lessons. Viti searched for symbolic meaning, such is her way, but came up with no ground breaking insight, just that she had enjoyed it more with each reading, which to date has been three, and that it was a metaphor for life. We all tended to agree, but not sure exactly what the metaphor was telling us other than the obvious; learning of life’s lessons through experience and travel; be true to yourself; grass is always greener; own backyard; life’s real treasures, the journey …. etc.

Anne was the biggest fan and found it to be a wonderful story full of beautiful language, innocence of youth and an uplifting coming-of-age tale.

On the negative side were comments such as under-whelming, repetitive, and lacked involvement. We discussed the time, place and setting aspects and also whether anything was lost in translation from its Spanish origins. This we thought could be a possibility.

Unanimously we decided this story had certainly been told before under the guise of new-age literature, which there is no shortage of, and that in all probability The Alchemist is more adhesive to the young, inexperienced mind. And as there is an unlimited supply of such, there will always be a place for this type of literature.

Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey

2011-10-31T18:35:00.003+11:00

Late on a hot summer night in 1965, Charlie Bucktin, a bookish boy of 13, is startled by an urgent knock on the window of his sleep-out. His visitor is Jasper Jones, an outcast in the regional mining town of Corrigan. Rebellious, mixed-race and solitary, Jasper is a distant figure of danger and intrigue for Charlie. So when Jasper begs for his help, Charlie eagerly steels into the night by his side, afraid but desperate to impress.

Jasper takes him through town and to his secret glade in the bush, and it's here that Charlie bears witness to Jasper's horrible discovery. With this secret like a brick in his belly, Charlie is pushed and pulled by a town closing in on itself in fear and suspicion. In the simmering summer where everything changes, Charlie learns to discern truth from myth and why the truth of things is so hard to know, and even harder to hold in his heart.

More often than not, small town fiction seems to work. There is something about the dynamics of a small community that rattles our literary cage; that is certainly true with our group anyway! Jasper Jones was generally enjoyed by everyone, finding it more or less realistic and probable, particularly the relationship between Charlie and Jasper. A few of us brought up the issue of Charlie's mature views and articulation skills, but we were willing to forgive this small point for the well manufactured plot's sake.

Our discussion took a few turns, but basically centred on small town prejudice, injustices and hidden abuse; were they really so prevalent in small isolated communities and are they still? These issues do seem to come up often in fiction, which we do not find surprising nor unrealistic (I think we are all realists at heart). But we did detect a small amount of superficial Hollywoodifying in Jasper's case and some of us went so far as to say the story as a whole was a little far-fetched.

We did agree that this did not lessen the story's impact for our club's purposes though, and the well written visual descriptions, character development and conclusion made the reading journey more than satisfactory. Mockingbird it is not ... but then we don't believe the author ever intended it to be.

2011-09-29T13:16:00.002+10:00

Jack is five and excited about his birthday. He lives with his Ma in Room, which has a locked door and a skylight and measures eleven feet by eleven feet. He loves watching TV and the cartoon characters he calls friends, but he knows that nothing he sees on screen is truly real - only him, Ma and the things in Room. Until the day Ma admits that there's a world outside ...

Told in Jack's voice, Room is the story of a a mother and son whose love lets them survive the impossible. Unsentimental and sometimes funny, devastating yet uplifting.

This prize-nominated novel created a bit of a challenge to some of our readers. Not because of its level of literary complexity ... more due to the narrative style. I believe we heard more comments relating to this than ever before. Telling such a confronting and thought provoking story through the eyes of a five year old is not just difficult, it is extremely courageous!

There were those of us that believed Donoghue had done a brilliant job on the narration, others believed not so well and frankly found it tedious, implausible, tiresome and inconsistent.
Everyone found the plot well developed though, and there were some comparisons to The Road, but it was agreed that it did not hold up well beside McCarthy's brilliance, and this is where most of us felt that the writing lacked something instrumental in making this story truly enthralling.

However, there is no doubt that this book left us with enough material for a great discussion. Particularly on childhood development and this story's real-life counterparts; some recently reported abductions. But generally the view was that Room was missing something very important ... that special something that demands and gets total involvement from the reader.

2011-09-08T14:20:00.002+10:00

D.H. Lawrence's controversial novel written in 1928, which tells the story of an aristocratic woman, Constance (Lady Chatterley) who has an affair with the estate's gamekeeper when her husband is paralyzed and rendered impotent. Central to the theme of the novel is the need for physical as well as mental stimulation in order to feel complete as a human being.

Due to the offensive language and subject matter of the book, a charge of obscenity was brought against it in a famous 1960 trial in the UK. The novel and Lawrence were cleared of the charges and for the first time the book was allowed to be published without restriction.

This month our group was to acknowledge yet another positive for book clubs; they can force your hand and get you reading that one book you know you should read, but have never got around to.
After 10 years, our club now purposely works on rounding out our reading experiences and includes many of the classics that we know should be read. Hence last month's book Lady Chatterley's Lover, the controversial classic that spent many years underground and banned from library and bookstore shelves.

Our views were on the conservative side with the term 'over-rated' being mentioned, but that seemed to be more of a comment on the years of hype that the book enjoyed than anything else.

Many found the descriptive passages wonderfully written and Lawrence's social comment within the book brilliantly done. We believe the theme of 'class' was sorely missing from the film versions and felt the explicit sexual references stole much of this book's main subject matter.

Regardless, our entire group felt it was worth the reading and enjoyed a lively discussion of D.H. Lawrence and his times. And we got to tick off another classic from our list!

A Mercy by Toni Morrison

2011-07-26T16:28:00.003+10:00

Jacob is an Anglo-Dutch trader and adventurer, with a smallholding in the harsh North. Despite his distaste for dealing in 'flesh', he takes a small slave girl in part payment for a bad debt.
This is Florens, 'with the hands of a slave and the feet of a Portuguese lady', who can read and write and might be useful on his farm. Florens is hungry for love, at first from the older servant woman at her new master's house; but later, when she's 16 from the handsome blacksmith, an African, never enslaved who comes riding into their lives.
A Mercy reveals what lies under the surface of slavery, but at its heart, it is the disturbing story of a mother and a daughter in a violent ad-hoc world - a world where acts of mercy, like everything else, have unforeseen consequences.

First comment ... 'This should be renamed A Misery'.

That just about summed up our club's view of Toni Morrison's latest novel. There were few of us who found anything but heartache, despair and injustice in the lives of Morrison's characters, and felt that they had heard it all before, the wretchedness of slavery.

But several of us did try and struggle to the other side of this book and found a powerful vehicle for female relationships (particularly mother and daughter), and saw the place of pure vulnerability that all social levels found themselves. Then followed a discussion on choices and freedom, what they were, both within the book and in general. Very interesting and engaging talk that involved even those that decided not to read this book.

It was also mentioned that the prose lacked fluidity, was jerky and hard to read, but in contrast to this ... 'paints a vivid, powerful picture', 'interesting historically' and very believable, to the extend of being distressing.

We have read two other Morrison novels throughout the years and knew that she can present a challenge. She demands the readers' full attention, which is the only way to get the most of her stories.

So, looking for a challenge? A Mercy will give it to you!

The Road Home/Trespass by Rose Tremain

2011-07-01T11:44:00.005+10:00

In a silent valley stands an isolated stone farmhouse, the Mas Lunel. Its owner is Aramond Lunel, an alcoholic so haunted by his violent past that he's become incapable of all meaningful action, letting his hunting dogs starve and his land go to ruin.
Meanwhile, his sister, Audrun, alone in her modern bungalow within sight of the Mas Lunel, dreams of exacting retribution for the unspoken betrayals that have blighted her life. Set among the hills and gorges of the Cevennes, the dark and beautiful heartland of southern France, this is a thrilling novel about disputed territory, sibling love and devastating revenge.

Like so many others, Lev is on his way from Eastern Europe to Britain, seeking work. He is a tiny part of a vast diaspora that is changing British society at this very moment. But Lev is also a singular man with a vivid outsider's vision of the place many call home. In his innocence, his courage and his ingenuity, he is perhaps Rose Tremain's contemporary version of Candide.
In front of Lev, lies the deep strangeness of the British; their hostile streets, their clannish pubs, their obsession with celebrity, their lonely flats. London holds out the alluring possibilities of friendship, sex, money and a new career - but, more than this, of human understanding and a sense of belonging.

We followed a slightly different format last month with the reading of two books by the same author. Members could read both or just one, depending on availability and personal time and taste.
As it turned out, Tremain scored high with our group, with most of us lamenting her well developed characters, insight and believable study of relationships, and life as an immigrant. The strength of the female characters in both stories was mentioned and applauded. No surprise there! And Eleanor summed up beautifully by saying that the author had the ability to take an ordinary story and turn it into something brilliant.

There were some negative comments however, Anne thought the writing not strong enough for the emotional issues tackled, Tera was surprised at the lack of communication problems immigrant Lev had in a new country. This did not feel realistic to her. And Carol thoroughly enjoyed The Road Home, but found Trespass and its characters completely unlikable, finding it hard to believe they were written by the same author.

There was also comment on a slightly slow section in the middle of The Road Home, and Viti was challenged by the moral dilemma in Trespass - 'an innocent person paying for the wrongs of others'.

So, a new author has certainly been brought to our attention through these two titles, and a few of us are interested in reading more of Tremain's work. Opening our reading experience that little bit more.

And that's why we belong to a book club!

2011-06-09T15:14:00.004+10:00

An aging writer makes notes in his diary: he has opinions about everything from Guantanamo Bay to the creative truth of dreams, from democracy in Australia to the meaning of dishonour.
His mesmeric voice, deeply concerned with contemporary politics, is challenged by Anya, the smart, irreverent young woman whom he hires to type his diary notes.
Meanwhile Alan, Anya's money-making boyfriend, scorns everything the writer believes in, and schemes against him.
With its three dynamic and charged voices, this may be the most original work of fiction to appear for years.

Nobody likes a challenge more than a book club, and this month's book provided just that! J.M. Coetzee managed to take the simple task of reading a novel to new heights with his Diary of a Bad Year. But rather than be put off by a series of narrative tricks, our group embraced this book as a remarkable, intelligent and thoroughly satisfying read.

It was noted by more than a few of us that Coetzee did a brilliant job of creating an entertaining, yet thought provoking novel in a format that cleverly worked as a vehicle for some of his own beliefs and observations.

As the narrative jumps from character to character within each page, the decision on how to read this book is the first step ... all but a few of us went with a page by page approach, although there were times when reading ahead was near on impossible not to do. Multiple bookmarks were then called for! Even with these restrictions, it was agreed that this book literally screams out for a second reading.

Looking for something a little different? This is it!

My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin

2011-05-03T14:55:00.004+10:00

In this ironically titled and exuberant first novel by Miles Franklin, originally published in 1901, Sybylla tells the story of growing up passionate and rebellious in rural New South Wales, where the most girls could hope for was to marry or to teach.
Sybylla will do neither, but that doesn't stop her from falling in love, and it doesn't make the choices any easier.

Our first classic for the year found us, unsurprisingly, in an interesting discussion on the role of women in the 1800s. Sybylla, it was agreed, was cut from a different cloth than most young girls of the time, so created a wonderful character with which to base this very Australian story around.
Most of us had read this book at least once during our youth and some found it just as entertaining and enjoyable as the first time, while others saw the story through more mature and even slightly cynical eyes. The melodramatic style surrounding Sybylla and Harry Beecham's relationship found a few of us rolling our eyes, but most of us could see the maturity in the writing style from Franklin, considering she was but 16 when she penned this classic.

The description of the Australian bush and lifestyle was appreciated by all and Jeanette commented on the wonderful colloquial language that we hear so little of in today's Australian fiction.

Research into Miles Franklin herself was just as interesting as the book for some of us. She was quite an enigma in her later life and some of us wondered if she struggled with her sexuality in an era when women rarely admitted to such a thing.

Regardless of Franklin's age or preferences, My Brilliant Career has been held in high esteem internationally for many years, and we as a group are happy to include it on our list of very enjoyable reads.

February Book Something Wicked This Way Comes

2011-04-01T11:05:00.004+11:00

It was just after midnight when the carnival train bringing Cooger & Dark's Pandemonium Shadow Show to Green Town, Illinois announced its arrival, the engine's whistle shrieking, the show's steam organ playing.

For two young friends, Jim Nightshade and Will Halloway, the siren call of the carnival is irresistible. But these are no ordinary sideshows, no ordinary mazes and mirrors. In Ray Bradbury's incomparable masterpiece the Shadow Show has come to destroy every life it touches with its sinister mysteries.

We really went outside our square this month with our first ever fantasy title! Grant it Ray Bradbury is considered one of the masters, but it was still a stretch for some of us, and not all together an enjoyable experience.
As often happens with our group, we were divided in our praise and criticisms. Some found it disturbing, too negative, distasteful and simply unnerving. Although, interestingly enough, these same voices were quick to add that the writing was very good! Maybe a little too good one might think ... is this why they were so uncomfortable with the story?

The remaining views were of a more positive nature. The theme was intriguing, the writing style wonderfully imaginative, and a first line grabber that had even Anne reading on. Viti found the circus theme drew her in and brought back memories of the travelling shows of her youth. She also found much symbolism throughout the story which is to her liking (and ours, we can always depend on Viti for these references!).

Similarities to Stephen King's style was mentioned and many of us agreed that the popular fantasy author no doubt read Bradbury as a young, promising writer.

Some were inspired to read more Bradbury, in particular Fahrenheit 451 and to also do a little research on the author. It was remarked that his wonderfully imaginative works may be attributed to his lack of higher education and not having his creativity educated out of him.
Certainly food for thought. Maybe we need more writers with a freer style. Then again, maybe someone as unique as Bradbury would then fail to stand out.

2011-02-22T15:01:00.002+11:00

Emmett Brown is as dark as Heathcliff, and as unpredictable. Sometimes he's an inspiration, but not often. Frequently he's a man of booze and obsessions and when the lottery numbers and horses fail him, so do love and reason and he becomes an ogre to his wife and children.
For the innocents - Louisa, Rob, Peter, Daniel and Jessie, the bonds formed hiding in hedges at the end of the street, waiting for the maelstroms to pass, are complex and unbreakable.
A powerful story of familial ties, where love - however imperfect - is the best defense against pain.

It is always interesting to see the emotion and passion a book can generate. It makes for a great meeting and wonderful discussion. So delivered the Deborah Forster novel The Book of Emmett with our group this month. We had a big turn out for this meeting, thirteen of us around the table, so there were plenty of opinions to get through. Generally this book was, for want of a better word, enjoyed, although most admitted to finding it disturbing and confronting. Domestic violence is not a pretty topic, ever, so the pain and abuse suffered within these pages was felt deeply by the majority of us. The atmosphere of dread and tension within the house was strong, written well enough to bring back memories of violence experienced by some of us in childhood. It was thought very Australian, relevant and believable. Tera commented that she had a love/hate relationship with this book; a human condition that ironically could be found throughout the story.

There were a few who were not impressed with Forster's writing. Anne and Carol felt it to be clearly journalism writing that ticked all the boxes needed for the 'complete' novel. There was no solid story foundation and they wanted more background on Emmett's history and why he became an abuser.

Regardless of the differing opinions, we still managed a wide ranging and rewarding discussion on many topics with an overall view that this was a worthwhile book addressing an all too real problem, both today and in the past. Looking for something that will pull at you heart-strings? This is it.

The Guernsey Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaver

2011-01-28T15:46:00.005+11:00

It's 1946, and as Juliet Ashton sits at her desk in her Chelsea flat, she is stumped. A writer of witty newspaper columns during the war, she can't think of what to write next. Out of the blue, she receives a letter from one Dawsey Adams of Guernsey - by chance he's acquired a book Juliet once owned, and because of their mutual love of books, they begin a correspondence. Dawsey is a member of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and it's not long before the rest of the members start writing to Juliet.

As letters fly back and forth, Juliet comes to know the extraordinary personalities of the Society and their lives under the German occupation of the island. Entranced by their stories, Juliet decides to visit the island - and unwittingly turns her life upside down.

A moving and gloriously honest tale of post-war friendship, love and books.

The Christmas break can be a challenging time to get a book read. There always seems to be so much more to concentrate on. Thankfully, last month's book was perfectly placed in our reading list to give us all a nice light read for the inevitable end of year mayhem. Shaver's delightful Potato Peel Pie Society was enjoyed by our whole group, on varying levels. There were those of us who found it completely charming and engaging - the perfect holiday read; loved the letter writing as a way of telling the story. We even discussed the probability of being able to use the postal service as a dependable way of communicating. We came to the conclusion that there was a time when the post was considered a most satisfactory form of keeping in touch. My, how times change!

But alas, there were a few of us who found the Guernsey tale just a little too tedious for their liking. They lost track of the many characters and did not find themselves getting involved in the plot (or lack of) at any point. Some also wanted more descriptive passages of the island and its way of life. Most of us knew little of Guernsey before reading this novel, so as a group we do feel that something has been learned and a few members have already carried through with a little more research on this intriguing part of the world. It was also suggested that 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff would be a good book to follow this up with, as it is written in the same 'letter' format, and in some opinions, a better read.

Everything aside, this captivating, light-hearted tale is a must read for those times when all you want is simply an enjoyable book.

Favourites for 2010

2011-01-07T10:50:00.018+11:00

What a reading year we had in 2010! We enjoyed some fantastic books during the last year and after a vote by our members the top three titles were separated by only one or two points. The top honours went to Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro. We loved his writing style and subtlety of this story.

Next came the classic The Painted Veil by Somerset Maugham. We love our classics and this one was popular with all of our group. It drew a few of us to read more of Maugham's books.

And number three, down the ladder by only a few points, was Lionel Shriver's We Need to Talk About Kevin. This contemporary novel challenged us in many ways. It is confronting and emotional to a point where our discussion became totally absorbing and raw, but certainly not to the point that we would shy away from it.

Lower down the scale foundered The Wanting by Richard Flanagan and Tuscan Rose by Belinda Alexandra. Far from our favourites, these books helped to round off a great year of reading. We take pride in the variety of genres that we are willing to try and this year we will continue to challenge ourselves with a mix of classics and newer fiction. 2011 here we come!

The 39 Steps by John Buchan

2010-12-16T13:28:00.003+11:00

When Richard Hannay returns from a long stay in Africa, he becomes caught up in a sensational plot to precipitate a pan-European war.

After the discovery of a corpse in his flat, Hannay flees the attentions of both the conspirators and the forces of the law, and the pursuit turns

into a thrilling manhunt.

Set against the hot summer which precedes the outbreak of the First World War, The 39 Steps is one of the finest and most highly admired thrillers ever written.

We rarely fail to please with our classics. As a group we can see the merit in most of these literary gems, even if it does not fall into our preferred genre. The 39 Steps was seen for what it was; a boy's own adventure with quick, punchy episodes written to entertain. The hero, Richard Hannay, delighted us as he skipped his way through the country side as a more than competent espionage agent dodging enemies and much of the humour was not lost to us.

On a more serious note, we found the descriptive passages, particularly of the Scottish landscape beautifully written and believe Steps to be a book of its time that ticked many of boxesd for an engaging adventure novel in 1915.

A few of us were not quite so impressed, finding the writing a little amateurish with too many coincidences and an unbelievable story line. Old-fashioned it may be, but as a forerunner to the modern-day, adventure espionage novel, you are not likely to get anything better.

November Book - Tuscan Rose by Belinda Alexandra

2010-12-03T15:02:00.004+11:00

A mysterious stranger known as 'The Wolf' leaves an infant with the sisters of Santo Spirito. A tiny silver key hidden in her wrapping is the one clue to the child's identity ...

Rosa's only family is the nuns who have raised her. When she turns 15, she must leave them and become governess to the daughter of an aristocrat and his strange, frightening wife. Their house is elegant but cursed and Rosa is torn between her desire to know the truth and her fear of its repercussions.

And all the while the hand of Fascism curls around the beautiful Italy and none of her citizens is safe. Rosa faces unimaginable hardship; her only weapons are her intelligence, intuition and determination ... and her extraordinary capacity for love.

It is safe to say that our group is paying the price for reading good fiction, because once you have turned down that road there is no going back! Popular fiction just does not make the cut anymore and such has been the fate of this month's book Tuscan Rose by Belinda Alexandra.

There was a long list of complaints; characters underdeveloped, errors, too long, too many coincidences and full of mawkish sentimentality. And a number of us found the main character's psychic ability very annoying!

Thankfully this did not impede the discussion and our sense of humour saw us through. A few relented and admitted that Rose was not all that bad, for an easy, light read. And the war history component edged on the interesting.

Alexandra has a number of titles released, much along these same lines, but I don't think you'll find any of our group reaching for them in a hurry.

Noah's Compass by Anne Tyler

2010-10-25T17:47:00.004+11:00

Widowed, re-married, divorced and the father of three daughters, Liam is a man who is proud of his recall, but something occurs to jolt him out of his certainty. Obsessed with a frightening gap in his memory, he sets out to uncover what happened.

His ex-wife and daughters worry about him so his teenage daughter Kitty is sent to stay - though it's not clear who is minding whom.

Noah's Compass is about memory and its loss, about incidents and relationships which open up sight lines into a painful past long dead for a man who becomes aware that merely trying to stay afloat may not be enough.

Considered a favourite author for many of our group, Anne Tyler has done it again. Her realistic characters and their relationships, if a little on the banal side, always seem to spawn a discussion that satisfies. This, her latest novel scored high with us and there were some who went back and read Noah for a second, even third time, finding more in the characters and their predicament with each reading. Now that's a dedicated novel reader!

If you have yet to try Tyler, why not add one to your summer reading list. A perfect choice for holiday reading is our recommendation.

August - Wanting by Richard Flanagan

2010-09-03T15:01:00.002+10:00

Bass Strait, 1839. A young Aboriginal girl, Mathinna, runs through the wet wallaby grass of a wild island at the edge of the world to get help for her dying father. Eighteen years later in Manchester, the great novelist Charles Dickens is a sensation, starring in a play that more and more resembles the frozen landscape of his own inner life.

Explorer Sir John Franklin, and his wife, Lady Jane, adopt Mathinna as an experiment to prove that the savage can be civilised - only to discover that within the most civilised can lurk the most savage.

Inspired by historical events, Wanting is a haunting meditation about love, loss and the way life is finally determined never by reason, but only ever by wanting.

Last month's book certainly left a few of us wanting. Left us wanting more direction, more continuity and a movie version please!

It has been a while since we have had so many of our group give up on a book with at least half never finishing this novel and for much the same reasons; very disjointed with the story line jumping around too much and tenuously connected characters. Nadine felt that the writer was just trying to be too clever, leaving most readers simply 'not getting it'. There were a few head nods around the table at this comment, so Nadine was not alone.

On the other side, there were a few who could see the book's merit, but would not go so far as to say they enjoyed it. Respected it and its writer would have to be its highest reward. And then Jeanette waked us all from our stupor and announced that she loved this book and proceeded to point out the humour and the wonderfully descriptive passages of London and its characters. She found the writing intelligent and the contrast of civilisation and savagery brilliantly done. Viti agreed with her and we then found ourselves delving into the title's meaning and where it was relevant throughout the book. We discussed Richard Flanagan's other novels, which some of us had read and we marvelled at how each of them seem to be written in a different style. Something very unusual indeed, forcing at least some of us to try him again. But it was universally agreed ... we still want a movie!

We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver

2010-08-10T15:15:00.002+10:00

Two years ago, Eva Khatchadourian's son, Kevin, murdered seven of his fellow high school students, a cafeteria worker and a popular algebra teacher. Now, in a series of letters to her absent husband, Eva recounts the story of how Kevin cam to be Kevin.

Fearing that her own shortcomings may have shaped what her son has become, she confesses to a deep, long-standing ambivalence towards both motherhood in general and Kevin in particular. How much is her fault? When did it all start to go wrong? Or was it, in fact, ever 'right' at all?

As expected this book resulted in an amazing discussion ... not just on the book itself, but also on families, relationships, and the trials and tribulations of having and rearing children. These can be intense and emotional topics, but our group has never shied away from engaging in such. Who needs professional counselling when you belong to a book club!

Group comments included; 'Brilliant writing, couldn't put it down.' 'Disturbing, confronting subject matter.' 'Excellent research, considering author had no first hand parenting experience.'

Scores given were varied, which is often the case with our group, but amongst them were six 9/10. Very high praise indeed from our discerning readers!

Recommendation? Well, if you are looking for something riveting with a moral challenge, Kevin could be your answer.

June Book - The Painted Veil by Somerset Maugham

2010-07-02T12:34:00.003+10:00

Set in England and Hong Kong in the 1920s, The Painted Veil is the story of the beautiful but love-starved and shallow Kitty Fane. When her husband discovers her adulterous affair, in his revenge he forces her to accompany him to the heart of a cholera epidemic.

Stripped of the British society of her youth and the small but effective society she fought so hard to attain in Hong Kong, she is compelled by her awakening conscience to reassess her life and learn how to love.

This classic, tradgic love story was a qualified success in the discussion stakes this month. For although we had plenty to say, with a full table, it took us awhile to get through everyone's comments ... but in the end it proved worth it. With scores ranging from 5 to 9, we came to the conclusion that even though at times it leaned towards the melodramtic, it had most of us captivated from the start.

Some felt it lacked depth and wanted fuller character outcomes, but in the same breath said it was clever writing with a magnificent turn of phrase. This was the first Maugham for some of us, a return for others. It was mentioned by a few that this was a book of its time, considering the views on divorce, adultry and foreign policy, but from the enjoyment that we found in the reading, it would seem that his stories are timeless and still hold a place in today's literature.

The recent movie adaptation also received a positive 'thumbs up' and those who had not seen it were encouraged to do so. Both are available from our library collection. Sounds like a good way to spend a winter's evening?

May Book - Dog Boy by Eva Hornung

2010-05-27T12:10:00.002+10:00

Abandoned in a big city at the onset of winter, a hungry four year old boy follows a stray dog to her lair. There in the rich smelly darkness, in the rub of hair, claws and teeth, he joins four puppies in the warmth of their mother's coat.

And so begins Romochka's life as a dog. Weak and hairless, with his useless nose and blunt little teeth, Romochka is ashamed of what a poor dog he makes. But learning how to be something else ... that's a skill a human can master. Fortunately, because one day Romochka will have to learn how to be a boy.

This book drew a few strong reactions, which, considering the basic survival theme, is not really surprising. The fact that it was a small child who found himself in such circumstances only heightened our groups distaste, so much so that a few could not even read on.

But for those who did, it was an emotional and unforgettable read. Denise found the writing excellent, tense and very edgy. Most found it amazingly believable, which was unexpected. We felt that this age old story of a boy being raised by dogs (or wild animals of some kind) belongs more in the fantasy or fairytale category, with references being made back to Mogali of Jungle Book and as far back as Ancient Rome and the poet Publius Ovidius, which is covered in the David Malouf book An Imaginary Life. But this very contemporary story dwells in the here and now of Moscow, which a few of our members have visited. Tera thought the descriptions of Moscow very well done. She even brought us photos she had taken of the city's subways and train stations that feature so prominently in the book. There is of course a hefty handful of true life feral children, so our suspended believe need not be stretched too far.

Viti found the treatment of the poorer classes and general conditions disturbing and a good deal of our discussion centred on this. The winters in this part of the world are harsh and we reflected on how difficult it would be for the homeless and abandoned.

There were a few points that did not sit right with some of us. We found it out of character for Romochka to kill his uncle, no matter how much he deserved it! Romochka to this point had only been taught to kill for food or in self defence. And the torture scene was hard to bear. Did children really behave in this cruel manner? Again, Tera had had first hand experience with the street orphans of Moscow and she confirmed that the survival instinct is extremely strong and that she did find this event within her realm of believe.

So, if you are not prone to squeamish reactions and like a good, gutsy human hardship tale, Dog Boy could be good choice over these winter months. It will certainly make you appreciate your warm and cozy reading corner!

Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

2010-04-29T13:59:00.004+10:00

At the end of his three decades of service at Darlington Hall, Stevens embarks on a country drive, during which he looks back over his career to reassure himself that he has served humanity by serving 'a great gentleman'. But lurking in his memory are doubts about the true nature of Lord Darlington's greatness and graver doubts about his own faith in the man he served.

A profoundly compelling portrait of the perfect English butler and of his fading, insular world in postwar England.

Variety goes a long way to creating a satisfying reading experience and we do love our variety! Pulled from the depths of the multicultural contemporary Australian suburb, this month we found ourselves up to our stiffened high collars of England's post-war aristocracy with Ishiguro's fabulous Remains of the Day. Other than the fact that a few of us found it a little slow, it was enthusiastically considered a great read with praise coming across the table on everything from writing style and characterisation to remarkable witticism and humour.
It is interesting that a pedantic, formal, and let's face it, boring character such as Stevens could produce so many opinions and intense scrutiny as he did with our group. Everyone had ideas as to how and why this loyal, stuffy butler marched through his life with blinkers the size of tennis rackets on! His childhood, society, the class system, his birth right, the upstairs/downstairs effect, personality dysfunction ... they were all thrown in and tossed around until poor Stevens had been psychologically studied to death ... What fun!

Viti faithfully (as always) brought us a wonderfully feasible explanation of the title, being the reflections of a day's work (Stevens work was his life), so casting a look back on the remains of his life. Remains could also be considered the wreck of his life. Very profound, we all thought.

There was plenty more to discover in this small but truly enjoyable book, with new insights into a very political time in England between the two World Wars. We all enjoyed the humour of the 'bantering problem' and came to the conclusion that Lord Darlington was probably not anti-Semitic but did cave into the pressures of the time. Not totally forgivable within our group!

We scored it high with nothing under a 7/10, so if you would like a beautifully written, leisurely read with great characterisation and thought provoking themes, Remains of the Day gets our approval this month.

The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas

2010-04-13T10:42:00.005+10:00

At a suburban barbecue, a man slaps a child who is not his own. This event has a shocking ricochet effect on a group of people, mostly friends, who are directly or indirectly influenced by the event.

In this remarkable novel, Christos Tsiolkas turns his unflinching and all-seeing eye onto that which connects us all; the modern family and domestic life in the 21st century. The Slap and its consequences force them all to question their own families and the way they live, their expectations, beliefs and desires.

Nine out of 10 times, a book club discussion will serve up surprises. And not necessarily through opinions alone ... at times the surprise comes from whom those opinions are expressed.

Our March book The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas was always going to prove somewhat of a challenge. The language, violence and sex content were more than what we usually indulge in, and yes, all these issues were included in our discussion. But the acceptance level from some of our readers was amazing. Jeanette in particular thought it to be a remarkable book. She found all the characters believable and especially enjoyed the Monolis chapter, in which we see the goings-on through the eyes of Greek immigrant grandparents.

Nancy found the story to be a very good depiction of our society; with our main motivation being greed and the belief that we are entitled to whatever we want. Something I think we were all generally in agreement with.

There was much talk about the male characters (not surprising in an all female group!) with comments such as despicable, morons and ugly. Not exactly endearing descriptions, but they were spooned out along side comments including clever, well drawn, gritty and honest.

It certainly proved to be a challenging read for our group. Some believed the author took on too much here, but whether you love or hate these characters, they are sure to produce a strong and emotional opinion in all but the most faint-hearted of readers.

The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

2010-02-25T11:52:00.007+11:00

In a dusty post-war summer in rural Warwickshire, a doctor is called to a patient at lonely Hundreds Hall. Home to the Ayres family for over two centuries, the Georgian house, once grand and handsome, is now in decline, its masonry crumbling and its gardens choked with weeds. The owners - mother, son and daughter - are struggling to keep pace with a changing society, as well as with conflicts of their own.

But are the Ayreses haunted by something more sinister than a dying way of life? Little does Dr Faraday know how closely and how terrifyingly their story is about to become entwined with his.

As we start our new list for the year, we have been thrown the challenge of a supernatural theme in The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters. But as we made our way around the table, it was soon clear that most of us found much more than ghosts within the walls of Hundreds Hall.

In fact, a few of us took in little or none of the spirit world and found its basic theme more about class structure, power struggles and human frailties. Was there ever a ghost or poltergeist in Hundreds Hall? Well, we differed in our opinions on this and a few others points. Some found the story slow to start, with predictable character lines and there was also the opinion that the book could have been a few hundred pages shorter!

On the up side, there were those who found the writing style gripping with wonderfully descriptive passages of the old mansion in its post-war deterioration, effortlessly transporting the reader into the halls and ballrooms of the past. Alongside these views, we did all agree on one dominating theme, and that was the presence of the social class structure and how it was eroding during the post WWII era.

By the end of our discussion (and it was unanimously thought to be a good one) we more or less agreed that the story was never intended to have a neatly tied-up conclusion and that the many loose ends are intentionally left dangling. However, two very interesting points were tabled by Nadine and Denise, Firstly, Nadine felt that the book was highlighting the unexplainable, and how we as humans need to have a clear and definite answer to anything that we cannot logically explain. And then, in the end, whose explanation is the correct one ... and correct to who?

And then Denise brought up an idea that I don't think any of us had thought of. Is Waters doing a calculated study of the old established families and their mansions? Why are so many of them supposedly riddled with ghosts of the past? And are these ghosts and demons simply a manifestation of the family's frailties in an insecure world where their position and status is threatened? Is the house simply displaying the family's madness?

We don't really expect there to be answers to these questions, but it was certainly fun rifling through them and then coming no closer to the truth about The Little Stranger.

December book - Breath by Tim Winton

2010-01-19T14:25:00.006+11:00

When paramedic Bruce Pike is called out to deal with another teenage adventure gone wrong, he knows better than his partner, better than the parents, what happened and how.

Thirty years before, that dead boy could have been him.

Breath is a story about the wildness of youth - the lust for excitement and terror, the determination to be extraordinary, the wounds that heal and those that don't - and about learning to live with its passing.

Our last book for 2009 provided a lively discussion for our first meeting of the year. We divided into two camps over Tim Winton's Breath. We had the die-hard Winton fans who, to put it mildly, absolutely loved this book! It was brimming with Australian 'Winton' charm, superb characterisation and a wonderful sense of place ... his much loved West Australian coast.

Then we had the not so converted. This was grounded mostly in the writing style. It is true that Winton's style either works for you or not, with the latter being the case here. A few thought it just a surfing story with too much description and not enough rounding off of the main character's adult life.

His his fans strongly disagreed with these views and our discussion moved onto the other issues covered in the story; teenage recklessness and thrill-seeking, parent/child relationships, simply coming-of-age and something more sinister ... the control of young lives by dysfunctional adults. This particular issue was disturbing for some of our readers, mainly the inclusion of auto-erotic asphyxiation, but then, when has Winton ever shied away from stepping outside the boundaries?

Reagardless of its critics, Breath scored well with our group and I think it will be a contender for a 2010 favourite. All in all, a great start to a new year of reading. If you haven't taken the plunge yet, dive in and see what you come up with!

Favourte book for 2009

2010-01-04T15:53:00.006+11:00

Well, another year of reading has come and gone and this has been one of our best for attendance yet. Every year we seem to grow stronger as book clubs become more popular and self-professed bookworms become more enthusiastic about sharing their reading experiences. If you love reading and haven't joined a book club yet, make it a New Years resolution and find a club that suits your needs. You won't regret it!

Here at Dapto we're all looking forward to 2010 and a new list of books to read ... but which was our favourite for 2009? It was a simple exercise this year, as The Book Thief by Markus Zusak won by a clear margin. We read this early in the year, so there is no review post for it, but I can tell you that it was close to unanimous that this is a fantastic read. Comments that were put forward included; wonderful characterisation, good momentum, beautiful language and original narrative. And of course the scores were high, which resulted in its first place among the year's books.

On the negative side a few of our readers thought the writing to be a little on the young level, aimed more at teenagers (although many of us disagreed with this) and it really was just another story about the holocaust, which there are too many of anyway. These few things aside, The Book Thief proved to be a popular choice and the first of its kind for more than a few of our members ... a worthwhile accomplishment for any book club.

December Book - Journey to the Stone Country by Alex Miller

2009-12-17T13:55:00.008+11:00

Betrayed by her husband, Annabelle Beck retreats from Melbourne to her old family home in tropical North Queensland. There she meets and begins work with Bo Rennie, one of the Jangga tribe.

Annabelle is intrigued by Bo's modest claim that he holds the key to her future, and she sets out with him on a path of recovery that leads back to her childhood and into the Jangga's ancient heartland, where secrets are uncovered which have been buried in her family for a generation. The terrible moral force of these secrets will challenge the possibility of happiness with this man.

It is never easy to predict how a book will be received, but the outcome can be surprising never-the-less. Journey to the Stone Country is a good example of this. Disguised as just another Australian novel, Stone gave us all something worth expressing. Our levels of enjoyment and perception varied just enough to make for a great discussion. Not just on the racial or historical issues that pervaded the book, but also on the author's writing skills, research practice and particularly on how and why an author's views can be embedded into a story.

All these angles make for a great discussion, and everyone who read the book contributed. We did have two members who were unable to nab the book in time for our early December meeting, but through listening Denise was keen to have a go whereas Kathy believed it was not going to be on her Christmas reading list.

By and large comments went something like this;

"I connected easily with the characters"

"Well written"

"Good juxtaposing of the white and aboriginal country situation"

"The main character in this novel is the bush itself"

And ...

"Not well written"

"I didn't find the relationships plausible"

"Too much repetitive description about the bush"

This is just a sample of where our discussion led to, so regardless of scores (ranged from 3-10) it would have to be said that this book is bursting with great discourse material and a must for anyone looking for an authentic Aussie read.

November - The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carsons McCullers

2009-11-26T16:30:00.004+11:00

Set in the isolation of a small southern milltown in the 1930s, this sentimental yet powerful story centres around a deaf-mute, John Singer, and Mick, a teenage girl. Mick and Singer become friends, though they are separated by Singer’s lack of communication and Mick’s struggle with teenage traumas.
The lives of the people Singer touches are varied, linked only by him they include a deaf-mute, a drunk, and a doctor. Singer does his best to help those around him solve their problems, but who is there to help him solve his own?
Although the five central characters cross paths continually throughout the course of a year, they are not able to connect with one another, and their loneliness becomes the over-powering theme of this classic work.

Last month’s book, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers produced a mixed bag of opinions. We went from ‘absolutely wonderful’ to ‘rather indifferent’. These comments were directed mostly towards the book’s characters, which we all agreed were the driving force of this novel. In fact, it was the range of characters and their individual isolation which really pulled on some of our heart-strings.
Denise made comment on how she had never read an American novel that dealt so well with the anger of the working class and at the injustices of society. A few of us found similarities with Steinbeck’s work; the struggle and inequities of life tends to overflow in his novels, and Heart seems to find the same space. Here is a story of unique tenderness and love that lacks the ability to share and soar, leaving more than a few souls lost and forlorn. There are few who could not be touched by this exquisitely human dilemma.

Interestingly, Jeanette and Lorna found the character of Singer to be a representation of Christ, and their points were well taken by all of us. He was, to many a confessor, a listener, a sign of hope and a friend. And although this religious slant seems to be generally missed by most critiques that we read, it is a good example of the many diverse views a book club can unearth.

To sum up, we found this book to be beautifully written, considering the young age of McCullers, which was just 23, an incredibly mature book for such a young woman. The adolescent female character of Mick, we are sure, has some biographical foundation, and the supporting roles so exceptional that they certainly must have come from personal life experience.

This was not an easy book to get copies of, so approximately only half of us were able to read it before meeting. But as the others read and offer their views I dare to predict that it will be one of our best loved books this year.

October Book - Orpheus Lost by Janette Turner Hospital

2009-10-29T14:27:00.004+11:00

In the ancient myth, Orpheus travels to the underworld to rescue his lover Eurydice from death. In this compelling re-imagining of the Orpheus story, Leela travels into an underworld of kidnapping, torture and despair in search of her lover. A mathematical genius, Leela has escaped her hardscrabble southern hometown to study in Boston. There she encounters Mishka, a young Australian musician who soon becomes her lover. Then one day Leela is picked up off the street and taken to an interrogation centre. There has been an 'incident', an explosion on the underground; terrorists are suspected. Her interrogators reveal that Mishka may not be all he seems. But as she struggles to digest all this, Mishka disappears ...

This book is the first of Janette Turner Hospital's that our group has read and generally the feed back was positive for her writing style and talent. We all found the story intriguing with a well drawn plot and praised the inclusion of current social and political issues. It was agreed that only a talented writer could pull this one off!

But on the other hand, a few of us had trouble relating to the characters, and in fact did not at anytime find ourselves able to empathise or particularly care much for any of them. This is an issue if you are a lover of character driven novels ... although in saying that, the book's characters are not necessarily meant to be sympathetically attractive. They are an obsessive, intellectual lot (with plenty of emotional baggage) stretched over three wars and three continents, so in actual fact, it would be asking much to connect with any or all of them!

Our scores rated high for this book though; from 5 up to 9, so it would be considered a worthwhile read in our view ... and if you do pick it up, take it to the end ... it may be a little whimsical, but with an interesting twist.

September's Book - Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

2009-09-29T12:42:00.006+10:00

Paris, July 1942. Sarah, a 10 year old girl, is taken with her parents by the French police as they go door to door arresting Jewish families in the middle of the night. Desperate to protect her younger brother, Sarah locks him in a bedroom cupboard - their secret hiding place - and promises to come back for him.

Sixty years later, Sarah's story intertwines with that of Julie Jarmond, a journalist investigating the round-up. Sarah's Key is an emotionally gripping story of two families, forever linked to and haunted by one of the darkest days in France's past.

Although this book rated high with our members, there was plenty of criticism on the author's writing style and story structure. On the positive side, many of us found the history compelling and some new knowledge gained around the Jewish arrests in France and particularly of the Vel-d-Hiv round-up by the French police. The sad treatment of Jewish children was a little too much for some, while others found it contrived and soapy.

But overall we had to agree that this was a very readable book and should certainly be suggested reading for anyone who normally finds historical reading not to their liking. It does impart specific knowledge of that time in a 'page turner' format.

Our numbers exceeded the usual complement this month, with 12 attending, so the opinions and ideas were varied to say the least. But it did create a good discussion, particularly about human nature and how anyone would know how they would react given a certain situation. It would seem that we have more than adequately covered the Holocaust of World War II though, and that we will, to the delight of a few of our members, give it a rest next year!

August Book - Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

2009-08-28T11:50:00.007+10:00

In the spring of 1974, teenager Callie Stephanides finds herself drawn to a strawberry-blonde classmate with a gift for acting. The passion that develops between them - along with Callie's failure to develop - leads her to suspect that she is not like other girls. In fact, she is not really a girl at all.

The explanation for this shocking reality is a rare genetic mutation, and a guilty secret that has followed her grandparents from the crumbling Ottoman Empire to Prohibition-era Detroit.

Thanks to this gene, Callie is part girl, part boy. And even though the gene's epic travels have ended, her own odyssey has only begun.

Well, what a great 'toss around' debate we had with this month's book! I was surprised at the huge majority of acceptance Middlesex received from the group. Pretty well everyone agreed that it was a great read, with the history, description and compelling family dynamics being the common points of praise.

Nancy and Jeanette were a little more moderate in their views. Nancy found the subject matter of incest discomforting and the writing style laborious. She gave it 150 pages and then said goodbye to Jeffrey Eugenides! Jeanette who listened to it on audio book commented that it was repetitious and a little confusing. Someone else agreed that it was slightly lecture-like in style when it got into its genetic explanations.

But the majority found this book to be fascinating, especially the historic references of the time and the portrayal of an old world family adjusting to settlement in the new world of America. Viti thought there were many wise observations in the story and many of agreed. It covered more than incest and genetic accidents ... and we all found something that struck us enough to rate this book quite high.

Joan mentioned that she had read it took Eugenides nine years to write Middlesex. There was a brief discussion about whether this book was worth nine years of anyone's life, but the continuing discussion on genetics, personality traits and human make-up, in my opinion, made the book more than worthwhile of 0ur time.

If you've read Middlesex, leave a comment and let us know what you think, we'd love to hear from you.

Book for July - A Room With a View by E.M. Forster

2009-07-31T16:13:00.006+10:00

When Lucy Honeychurch visits Italy with her prim

and proper cousin Charlotte, she is on the verge of an experience

that will throw her neatly ordered life quite off balance.

She is torn between lingering Victorian proprieties, social and sexual,

and the spontaneous promptings of her heart.

In this brilliant piece of social comedy, Forster is concerned with

one of his favourite themes, the undeveloped heart

of the English middle-classes.

The English abroad are observed with a sharp, ironic eye ...

thus there are hidden depths of meaning

in this sunniest and most readable of Forster's novels.

This is our Club's first classic for the year and it certainly was well received. Although a little slow for some of us, overall we commented that it was well written, with great characters and an accurate portrait of the times. We discussed E.M. Forster, as most of us had read some of his other works, namely Passage to India and Howards End, but Mary recommended his biography Maurice which she says throws a little more light on the author and his world.

A Room With a View, we all agreed, did not provide a complex or original story line, but it did give us plenty of fodder for discussion; English society and propriety (one of our favourites), religion, love, life experience. It was all there! We even touched on the meaning of the title and asked, 'Was Lucy, (our heroine), searching for a "life with a view"?

Anne made the very relevant point that we all seem to have perceived the story in much the same way and that nothing in our opinions varied in extremes. We would be the first to say that this is not always a good thing, we like nothing more than a good discussion with differing views.

Then again, the 'classics' are considered as such for good reason, and it could well be this appeal that gives them ... and continues to hold them to this status.

What do other readers think?

Book for June - A Lesson Before Dying

2009-07-02T11:15:00.006+10:00

In a small Cajun community in the late 1940s, Jefferson, a young black man is an unwitting party to a hold up in which three men are killed. The only survivor, he is convicted of murder and sentenced to death. Grant Wiggins, the plantation school teacher is persuaded by his aunt to visit Jefferson in his cell and impart his learning and his pride to Jefferson before his death.

In the end, the two men forge a bond as they both come to understand the simple heroism of resisting, and defying, the expected.

A novel rich with sense of place and a deep understanding of the human psyche.

This short but powerful book was popular with our group last month. A few of us thought it started off a little slow, but once established the story moved along well. From the comments made, all the characters had a strong presence with the time and place clearly and honestly portrayed. This sort of story ... hard times with racial undertones and personal struggle, always leads us to interesting and stimulating discussion. This book provided us with plenty of avenues on that front and the author himself, Ernest J. Gaines, is a more than interesting enough character to research. A highly educated man, he was plantation born in Louisiana and experienced great adversity during his young life, picking cotton from the time he was nine years old.

If you like a book with plenty of depth and emotional turmoil, A Lesson Before Dying would be a good choice. Wollongong Library has two copies available for loan, so give it a go and let us know what you think. We'd love to hear your view on this thought provoking book.

Welcome to our adventure!

2009-05-11T15:11:00.006+10:00

Well it's been a while coming, but Dapto Library is pushing the boundaries into blogging. Our Book Club is just busting to get out there, so here we are, ready to be part of your on-line life! We like nothing more than to share our reading experiences with anyone who'll listen and please comment on anything you read here ... that's what we're all about, discussion.

We read a different book each month, then meet at the library to discuss and well, pull it apart if need be, or praise it to the hilt, which ever it is to be.

And we certainly don't always agree.

Last month's book was a good example. When I picked Sean Dixon's The Last Days of Lacuna Cabal I figured we had a great little book here that would give most of us something to exclaim over. Well... this quirky little book left most of the group unimpressed. Some felt it had promise to begin with but the author soon bailed out half-way through, leaving the reader with nothing to really hold on to. Others found it hard going at first but discovered some light near the end.

The story focuses on a Montreal Book Club and the jostling of its members when the decision to read the ancient story of 'Gilgamesh' is tabled. It heralds the end of the Club and begins a journey for knowledge and companionship. If this book was meant to be an epic of 'Gilgamesh' proportions, our general opinion would have to be one of failure. But if you are looking for something a little off beat ... something with a dash of humour in a surreal form, then you may just be looking for Lacuna Cabal!