The Complete Poems by Emily Bronte

Despite a less than enthusiastic reception, this months choice served to enhance the book groups' credentials as literary critics. The beauty of a collection of poems is that it can be savoured over months and years, dipping in and out as the fancy takes you. For those with a love of all things 'Gothic' these poems will provide pause for thought but for those who enjoy the sunnier side of life they may prove to have a depressive effect . As one of our group noted, reading a collection of poems is like a visit to an art gallery, Bronte's work is the dark subdued, heavy oil paintings, too many and you're left longing for the brightly coloured Vincent van Gogh'. Rather like a fine wine, it's best to savour one poem,  rather than read the book cover to cover. 

Emily Bronte's poems are unique in their evocation of the wild and wonderful moors surrounding her home town of Haworth. She weaves natures beauty, power and ferocity into her work. She draws her inspiration from the dark tempestuous storm clouds of autumn and winter, tending to overlook the gentle breezes of a sun kissed summer meadow. As she herself would say 'Cold in the earth - and one hundred and seventy three wild Decembers' since her death the author  retains the power to move the reader. Her poems are generally preoccupied with death and grief and the pain of loss and for those grieving they are particularly poignant. Emily Bronte's short life was defined by tragedy and loss, her mother died when she was a young child and was closely followed to the grave by her two eldest sisters. It is not surprising then that most of her poems speak of the pain of separation and eternal suffering. She returns again and again to the tortured grief of those left behind to mourn, haunted by the memory of those they have loved and lost. These sentiments are magnified and made incarnate in her only novel 'Wuthering Heights' .

Our next book is a complete change, we will be reading "The Reluctant Fundamentalist" by Mohsin Hamid

The Nightingale By Kristin Hannah

A nostalgic trip through time and space ....

To be continued ......

And now for something completely different :

The night is darkening round me

The wild winds coldly blow

But a tyrant spell has bound me 

And I cannot cannot go 

Next months book takes us to the wind swept moors around Haworth, West Yorkshire and 'The Complete Poems' of Emily Bronte.

Golden Hill by Francis Spufford 

A well written romp through18th century New York 

Combining historical and geographical fiction, Golden Hill by Francis Spufford transported us back to the 18^thcentury, and across the Atlantic to New York. 

 

The story – definitely more of a tale – centres around the mysterious Mr Smith, a young man from London who arrives in New York with a bill of exchange valued for around one thousand pounds.  Understanding more about Mr Smith, who he really is, the nature of his business, and the source of his wealth fuels the plot and ensures that we readers are compelled to keep turning until the very last page.

 

Did our group think that the romp with Mr Smith was time well spent?  Our reluctant verdict was that this was worth reading but probably not a book we would wholeheartedly recommend.   

 

Any hesitance to criticise Golden Hill stems from our admiration for the quality of the writing.  Spufford’s way with words is impressive.  He convincingly leads us back in time to the early years of a somewhat provincial and parochial New York with marked contrasts to the scale and diversity evidence in London at that time.  The portrayal of a young New York was interesting and we were fascinated to learn how influential the early Dutch settlers had been. 

 

However, these strengths were offset by a tendency for the story to move into slapstick territory with pantomime characters acting out a series of unlikely and unfortunate events including a robbery, a murder, a jail sentence, a love affair and a play.  Whilst peripherally entertaining, these colourful events did little to move the plot forward. 

 

Perhaps the swashbuckling approach was a deliberate intention to add levity to the rather weighty themes underlying this tale?  Themes of diversity, inequality, judgement, society, justice and charity. 

 

The long awaited reveal is made in the final paragraphs.  In the end – maybe inevitably given the structure of the tale - it was somewhat of an anti-climax failing to live up to the expectations we had built up over the course of so many pages and frolicking episodes. 

 

We dined at The Blackbird, Ponteland and can heartily recommend that experience.  It was one of our earlier indoor meals after the UK opened up after lockdown and business was booming.  The restaurant was buzzing, we felt safe, and both the food and the service were excellent.  

And so we moved on to the next book of the summer : The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

The King's General by Daphne Du Maurier

A swashbuckling Cornish adventure with an unlikely heroine, as usual Daphne Du Maurier did not disappoint!

Published in 1946, The King's General' weaves a fictional love story around the real people and events of the English Civil War. Set in seventeenth century Cornwall, Du Maurier crafts her characters from real people and sets them in their ancestral homes, many of which still exist today. It was the history of her own home 'Menabilly'  that provided the inspiration for the story, a skeleton and a pair of Cavalier's shoes found hidden in a secret passage way, the perfect backdrop for the unfolding drama. 

The novel opens on a rather melancholy note, Honor Harris, who at thirty eight years old is weighed down by the sadness of her earlier life, reflects upon her current circumstances. Now reduced to living on the charity of others, Honor looks back over the events that led her and her brother, Robin, to such a low ebb. Narrating her own story Honor takes the reader back to the family home of Lanrest, where as a ten year old girl she is preparing to meet her new sister in law, a person already shrouded in suspicion. The youngest child in a large and hitherto happy family, Du Maurier skilfully weaves fiction around historical fact.

The dreaded Gartred Grenville is everything Honor hoped she would not be, formed, perhaps, in the same mould as  Du Maurier's most famous creation, Rebecca. A deep  animosity develops between Honor and Gartred, with the latter making several malign appearances, seemingly bent on smiting Honor's happiness to further her own ends. Disappointingly this rivalry never reaches a climax and the much hoped for revenge is never served, the increasingly toxic relationship between Honor and her sister in law just seems to wither. 

At the tender age of eighteen, Honor meets Gartred's brother, the swashbuckling, Richard Grenville and a life long love is born. A tragic accident prevents a happy ending but the catastrophic events of the civil war dwarf the personal struggles of the main characters. Moving to Menabilly, built and owned by the Rashleigh family, Honor sees and feels at first hand the horror and destruction of civil war. The novel covers the main events of the period outlining the struggle of  Cornwall's Royalist's to resist the Rounhead's attempts to capture the County for Parliament. The large cast of characters detracted from the central plot as it was hard to remember who was who or to feel any empathy for those involved. Interesting from a historical point of view but the plot lacked the author's usual rigour, the characters remained firmly on the page. There is a short interview with Daphne Du Maurier, ( Menabilly 'You Tube') during which she reveals that a film company bought the rights to "The Kings General" but it was never made, such a shame as it would have been perfect for Errol Flynn as Richard Grenville, Bette Davis as Honor Harris  and Merle Oberon as Gartred Grenville. If nothing else it was agreed that this novel, although not one of our favourite Daphne Du Maurier novels, did at least ignite the spark of our historical curiosity.

Nestled in the shadow of Hadrian's Wall, The Twice Brewed Inn offers a welcome rest to weary hikers, exhausted from a days trek through the magnificent Northumberland countryside. Steeped in history this welcoming spot seemed the perfect venue to discuss "The King's General". A limited menu offered traditional wholesome pub grub, a hearty filling meal at a reasonable price. In fact as pub grub goes it was better than expected. Despite the relaxation of Covid rules, masks and queues were still the order of the day but the bar was busy with most tables full. The staff were helpful and efficient but clearly very busy. A great place to sate your appetite and quench your thirst after a strenuous hike but not so great for the casual diner. The drive along the military road, however, makes the small gripes worth it, Northumberland's wild and rugged landscape basking in the evening sun is quite a sight to start the night.

We will meet again in early September to discuss .......... 

 

Scoff by Pen Vogler

 Apparently a romp of a book. We will be the judge of that. 

Scoff  !!!  We tried and tried to scoff this down quickly, but we were choking on the content.  Extension after extension found us nibbling away on bite sized pieces which we found more manageable and more digestible.  

Scoff was looking like the perfect choice during lockdown.  A chance to thoroughly investigate the history, social aspect, tradition, trends, etiquette and culture through food from every angle possible.  It touches on every food and the journey of the food through popularity, social class and snobbery.  So in-depth looking at health, changing of laws or simply smiling whilst reminiscing about the favourite snacks of our youth.  Old fashioned recipes still alive today and others buried in the past never to be seen again.  But, sadly it proved  too much of a mouthful for the book group ladies having to dive into another book alongside Scoff to ease the burden.

A little indication and example to show the thoroughness of each topic in this book was the journey of Gin.  Gin has a lengthy journey up and down the social ladder.  Juniper came over from Holland with William of Orange in 1688.  Landowners were encouraged to dump their excess corn on the ever growing numbers of distilleries.  Gin drinking became a duty and pushed aside French Brandy.  But, what turned out to be a social drink also turned out to be a social blight as everyone was self medicating cheaply causing lower classes to lose their jobs, their health and their children.  Even a series of Gin laws couldn’t stop the rot.  Gin was revived in the war periods thanks to the cocktail culture arriving from the U.S  and only very recently Gin is enjoying another revival with hand crafted gins becoming ever more popular still being made in the old copper stills with the marketing and reviving of  all those botanicals aimed at a new young crowd.  It seems to have cast off the old name of ‘Mother’s Ruin’ only to be replaced with the trendy gin bars in 2021 which are now back up and running with gusto after the easing of the Covid Lockdown. 

It is worth a read and makes you think about food during other period books you may be reading.  But, and it’s a big but, it needs to be in small bite sized chunks and possibly in book form, not on a kindle.  Definitely not a summertime read so be warned  ……

With lockdown lifting, at long last, we were able to meet up in one our favourite haunts, The Rat Inn.  Limited menu and table service made for a lovely relaxing night.  We had a lovely starter of Serrano Ham, Fresh Peaches and a drizzle of Olive Oil, followed by an old favourite of Confit of Duck. So lovely not having to cook at home or do the washing up.  

The book we read alongside the never-ending Scoff was The Kings General by Daphne Du Maurier which will be reviewed very soon.  

 

The next read to be reviewed in early September is Golden Hill by Francis Stufford.  

Both books will make you think about the food aspects after reading Scoff.  

Happy Reading

26.07.2021

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

 

Definitely worth a read! 

 

We can finally – and unusually - recommend  a highly acclaimed novel worthy of its hype.   

 

The story is based around a single protagonist  - Count Rostov – who is sentenced to house arrest at the famous Moscow Hotel Metropol.  As the years pass we become close friends with Rostov as he recounts his memories and interacts with the hotel staff and visitors.  We learn a little about Russia and its history and we luxuriate in the gift of Towles’  beautiful writing. 

 

Without giving away any spoilers, this story is exquisitely crafted and the plotting is both clever and delightful.  

 

But it is the writing which makes this book a joy to read.  Each sentence, description and anecdote to be treasured and savoured.  They all coalesce to create a memorable tale, with memorable characters in a realistic setting.  The descriptions are so well delivered, that weeks after completing the book, the Hotel fixtures and fittings are still visible, the conversations endure and each meal lingers on our palate as if we had somehow inhabited the Metropol Hotel at the same time as the Count. 

 

We all enjoyed this book.  Some more than others.  It’s timing might have shaped our views as there were more than a few echoes of UK winter lockdown life - house arrest (effectively), relative social exclusion, and a slower pace of life.  

 

The slowness was mirrored by the structure and pace of the writing.   In normal circumstances, this slowing down would have been very obvious, and perhaps a welcome escape from the seemingly relentless busyness.   During lockdown it was somehow less welcome as we were already well primed to identify almost too deeply with Rostov’s plight . 

 

There were lessons for life too  - both during and beyond lockdown.   The value of the simple things, memories of happier days, daily structure, making the most of any situation and  -as we later learn – being clear about our priorities and planning accordingly. 

Unusually,  we are now reading two books in parallel.  Since we can’t dine together we can read about food  in Pen Vogler’s Scoff: A history of food and class in Britain.  We can also delight our imagine with a story, The King’s General, from one of our favourite authors, Daphne du Maurier

. 

 

Platform 7 by Louise Doughty

 A novel ghost story ?

If you pick this book in the hope of a chilling thriller you'll be sadly disappointed.  However if you enjoy the domestic noir genre then this is a perfect choice for you. Narrated by a ghost, the story should send chills down your spine but this ghoul is a friendly spirit, more 'Rent a Ghost' than 'Poltergeist'.  Watching over the mixed bag of characters who work at Peterborough station, the narrator gives a brief insight into the mundane workings of a major interchange, setting the scene for what is to come. The emergence of a man on Platform 7 piques the readers interest as it becomes clear that he is intent on suicide, the ghostly narrator has no power to alert the living to the impending tragedy, she can only watch. In the ensuing  chapters we discover that the ghost is that of Lisa Evans, initially Lisa can't remember anything about her earthly life and how it ended but gradually her memory returns until suddenly we are thrown back into the months preceding her demise. This adds an interesting dimension to the structure of the story but it is not well executed, it seems like a totally separate narrative. Her life as a ghost is poorly defined, does she have form, can she communicate with others, why can she read some people's thoughts and not others? The sudden switch back in time to her life before death does little to connect with her ghostly form. In fact as the reader becomes engrossed in her love affair with Matty it would be easy to forget that the story began with a supernatural protagonist. If she was given powers to intervene like Clarence the angel in 'Its a Wonderful Life' then her ghostly presence would be validated. Similarly after her untimely death we return to her life as a ghoul, hoping that this may mark the beginning of the end of the tale is just far too optimistic. The story follows a large cast of characters and with each character a new theme or social issue emerges. From coercive control to paedophilia, murder, illegal immigration to drugs and homelessness. Is the unifying theme love or life or death ? This is the underlying problem with this book, it is a blob, it is undefined it is a melting pot of ideas and issues. 

The central theme of the book is coercive control, Lisa narrates her gradual descent from successful, independent thirty something professional, to a terrified neurotic victim. Our group felt that Lisa's character was weak and wet and allowed herself to become a victim, this may have been the authors intention. At one point the author claims that many women make the dangerous mistake of confusing romantic love with possessiveness. There were many points in the story when the reader wills Lisa to toughen up and tell the manipulative Matty to sling his hook but to no avail. All the usual red flags were there, back handed compliments meant to undermine confidence, choosing what she should wear, separating her from her group of friends. The relationship did not go sour gradually but seemed to be quite flawed from the beginning, raising the question of why a woman like Lisa would allow it to continue. There were no twists, no great moments of reckoning, perhaps because Doughty thought it important to reflect the reality of abusive relationships, but if gritty realism is what such a sensitive topic requires why wrap it up in a fantastical ghost story?

The opening section of the book draws the reader in, picking up pace as the repercussions of the man's suicide ripple out through the station into the wider world. The story races along as we discover how Lisa met her death but just like the passenger train slows for the station, so the story slows again then slows again as Lisa becomes the ever predictable victim.  For the last third of the book  the author strings out the ending almost to the point that you are left wondering if she just can't decide what the finale should be. When finally it comes, it comes with no closure, no satisfaction, no revenge, only a long list of goodbyes, goodbyes that cover almost all causes of suicide and death that you can imagine. The horror and waste of drugs, the  woman murdered by her partner. Still the story rolls on and on and on with little reason, it  is unclear why we are treated to a minor characters band practice, perhaps just to ask philosophical questions about suicide. 

Doughty is a very talented writer and can hold the readers attention, recreating settings and believable characters. Using a ghost to narrate  her own sad story is not a new idea but it does add an interesting dimension to the well trodden topic of toxic relationships. There were a few chances to really make this a gripping read but they were not taken. There were so many different themes covered in this book that they all failed to be developed fully.  In its present form it is at least two books rolled into one. A good edit could produce a modern classic. Perhaps when it comes to the small screen it will have been trimmed down to a truly chilling ghost story.

Again Covid 19 has put a stop to a good night out at our local Italian, hopefully things will be much improved for next months discussion of ......

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

                                    

                             

                   P o i n t  l e s s  .  .  .  .

Or  Senseless, Futile, Hopeless, Fruitless, Needless, to name a few..... if you want to stay with the theme of this book. 

This book, and we will be referring to it as ‘this book’ has shot to the top of our list of ‘Worst Book Ever’ and we don’t say this lightly. 

This time next year it will be on the cracker charade note as ‘a book’. ‘a play’. ‘a film’. ‘a pantomime’  unfortunately!

This book is set in a so called idyllic, sleepy retirement village where a group of elderly residents with colourful pasts meet up on a Thursday, to try their hand at investigating unsolved murders.  They then find themselves caught up in a real live case and decide to combine their lifetime expertise with that of the local detective and a recently transferred new-by, all of which have a story to tell.  In fact, throughout this book everyone has a story to tell and their stories are told in every finite detail imaginable.  Nothing is left to chance or the imagination. You are hand led through ever decreasing circles throughout the whole book until the guilty emerge, but at the same time the characters, plots and story line are so very very dull and unimaginable, even incredulous at certain points.  You get that Scooby Doo, Miss Marple feeling with a touch of Columbo. I feels almost childish, but childish from another era because children from the 2020 era may call it ‘lame’ 

 Normally my other counterparts would throw in a one-liner critique but not this time, it was pretty full on no Holes barred.  See below:

1.  This book is formulaic, with a boring plot full of stereotypes  far too much detail and if he is trying to reflect the pace of life in a retirement home he has succeeded and then some, laying it on thick  no suspense, no twists, no thrills, no interest in whodunnit no angle was left uncovered at every stage .......

2.  A shameful reflection on all those who gave this book a rave review.  The reviews can only be on the basis of the names and connections of the author.  I challenge any of those who gave a positive review to admit having actually read the book.  It achieves nothing - the plot is pants, the setting is dull and poorly described (I still can’t visualise it).  And the characters - god help me - too many and too poorly developed pantomime characters.  The murder finally happens 20% into the book, 20% of the excruciating hard work.  The only reason I read on was because it was a book group book.  I had no investment in the murdered character and no desire to find out whodunnit.  One of the worst books I have ever read.  Yet, yes, I can already see it could be ok on screen, but as a book it fails miserably.  A waste of money, time and effort, barely worth a review.  Avoid like the plague.  Crap from start to finish  words fail me  

3.  This book dragged on from start to finish.  The odd analogy was amusing but only because of the reader being a similar age to the writer.  The writer seems to portray that he knows a little but of something about everything and by god, in one way or another, he was going to incorporate every quip, analogy or witticism in this book.  Save some for book two.  Omg there is a book two to pre-order   The chooser chose badly based on the hype of other authors, the tv interviews, the radio plugs and the man himself.  Sorry folks.  

It’s the Christmas of 2020 and never to be forgotten as a mutant strain of covid sweeps through the country resulting in a severe lockdown.  Nothing is quite working to put it mildly.  However, our hopes are hanging on a recently developed vaccine which is being rolled out.  Follow the covid story alongside our reviews and we will be reviewing our next book hopefully near the end of January.   All things being well,  join us to review 

                                               Platform Seven by Louise Doughty

27.12.2020

The Road Home by Rose Tremain

A long and bumpy road home? 

This is the story of Lev, an economic migrant, who comes to England with the aim of making money to provide for his family.  As readers, we follow Lev through all his ups and downs on a rather long and bumpy road home. 

 

All of the characters in this book are well portrayed and original, most are fairly unattractive though a few have some redeeming features.  We get to know Lev so well (even down to his toilet habits) that it’s hard to imagine we could ever forget him.   

 

We also get to see England from the perspective of a financially strapped foreigner - a stranger in many ways.  Lev sleeps rough, rents a room and even lives in a crumbling caravan whilst doing a variety of “gig economy” cash in hand work  - picking vegetables, washing dishes, delivering leaflets.  It is not a pretty picture but perhaps, a historically valuable snapshot of pre Brexit Britain.  

 

If none of us are perfect, we can probably take comfort from Lev– he has quite a few flaws and treats women particularly shamefully.  Despite his numerous shortcomings, he does have a strong value base and is, arguably, a product of his previous socio economic environment. 

 

We don’t really get to know what he thinks about England, although he is no fan of the pretentious art scene.  Most of the time he is too preoccupied with all the wonderful people he has left behind – his sadly deceased wife, and his best friend and hero, Rudi.  Indeed, he is so steeped in the past he fails to make the most of the present or future.

 

Lev’s road home is a path littered with references to Hamlet (which none of us fully understood or appreciated  - cultural philistines that we must be), interactions with other minority or socially excluded groups, and complex family relationships.  

 

Lev’s story is a hard journey of self discovery and maturity which, after plummeting the depths, eventually becomes more positive in the final quarter.   His prospects improve as he develops more self knowledge,  self awareness,  self confidence and self determination.  A rite of passage for Lev with variable lessons for readers’ own lives  – “to be or not to be”?. 

 

In non pandemic England, this would be a great book group book – there are so many topics and controversies to explore and debate.  Politics, religion, equality, crime, abuse, ageism, sexism, communism, capitalism etc etc.  Indeed, it’s hard to think of an “ism” which wasn’t included.  Despite this, there is no preaching nor judgement.  With considerable skill, the author expertly ensures that the reader can draw their own conclusions about what or who is good or bad, and then only if they choose to so engage rather than simply turn the pages and enjoy the tale. 

Throughout the book, there is a strong focus on food and restaurants (remember those?)  - plenty of dining experiences which, in a pre-pandemic life, we could have recreated and, no doubt, thoroughly enjoyed. 

 

Instead, during another UK lockdown, this was something to consider alone, eating a bacon sandwich whilst texting the group and reflecting on how lucky we are to speak English, to have a roof over our heads, to live in a democracy and not to have Lev as a sexual partner.  

 

This was neither a light read, nor an easy read, but it was well written.  A clever, memorable and thought provoking picture of humanity. It is easy to see why it has proved popular and why the author has won awards.  

 

Our next read is a bestseller so expectations are running high – Richard Osman, The Thursday Murder Club. 

Invisible Girl by Lisa Jewell

                                                      

Although Lisa Jewell is a very successful and prolific author, this is the first time our book group have read one of her novels. It was chosen by a member who recently discovered her writing and enjoyed "And then She Was Gone' and ' The House We Grew Up In'  both very different subject matter but similar in that the characters were real and relatable as were the settings. "Invisible Girl" was hot off the publishing press and expectations were high. Overall a success, this latest offering from Jewell was well paced, exciting and kept everyone's interest, a book you want to finish. The large cast of characters were well drawn and clearly defined and kept the reader wanting to know more about each one.

Set against the backdrop of an affluent Hampstead road the drama revolves around the disappearance of the 'Invisible Girl.' We are introduced to three main characters who narrate their own part in the story.  Thirty something Owen Pick, a slightly 'creepy loaner', viewed with distrust and shunned by society. Saffyre Maddox, a troubled teenager with unresolved issues from her past, recently discharged by her psychologist . Physiotherapist and married mother of two, attractive and outwardly confident, Cate Fours. Each take turns to narrate the events leading up to and following the disappearance of the girl. Their voices are authentic to their character and make the change in tone and identity clear to the reader. As the mystery unfolds the author addresses sensitive themes asking the reader to look closely beneath the surface of each character's life, highlighting the importance of resisting the urge to judge a book by its cover.  

The narratives switch forward and backwards through time gradually revealing the key events that have shaped each character.  Raising current and problematic topics such as young men being falsely accused of sexual offences. This dimension gave the story more depth, and demonstrated the ease with which one allegation blights lives and makes future allegations much more plausible. It was quite refreshing to hear the man's point of view and realise how quickly and profoundly a life can be affected. Jewell also delved into the dark world of internet chat groups and sexual extremists, highlighting  how a basically decent person can be pushed to the extremes and fall into the wrong company. The character of Owen Pick was multi layered, a boy shaped by the neglect of those closest to him, trying to make his way in a seemingly uncaring world. He appears ill equipped to deal with the complexities of adult life, at one point the author alludes to possibility that he might be on the  autistic spectrum. Owen demanded nothing and got nothing in return, he became exiled from normal society, shunned by his father and held at arms length by his aunt. Despite or perhaps because of his slightly odd characteristics and miserable life  the reader ends up rooting for Owen, hoping he finds the happiness he deserves.

Cate Fours is the polar opposite to Owen, outwardly successful in every area of life. Whilst renting the house opposite Owen, Cate goes on a journey of exploration that results in the realisation that her whole married life is not quite what she thought it was or should be. Again the author touches on issues such as coercive control and one persons ability to undermine the self confidence of another. Through her own voice we gradually learn about Cate's relationship with her husband Roan, a child psychologist who until recently had been treating Saffyre Maddox. Thus the lives of all the main characters are neatly intertwined and a ripping good yarn ensues.

Saffyre Maddox lives a dangerous life for a young girl, discovering the people she thought she could depend on to save her did not live by the high standards they expected of others. Maddox turns the concept of victim hood on its head, eventually realising she must be her own saviour.

As with many contemporary novels, this book would translate well onto the small screen. It reflects the lives of a diverse group of people living and working in modern day London. The reader is kept interested through out. To some of our group the neat ending was a little too neat, the book did not leave us with any unanswered questions. Overall this months choice was a success, easy to read, well written and compelling. although not a classic this book is akin to a bar of chocolate, enjoyable at the time, hard to put down, finished too quickly!

Again because of corona virus restrictions we have been unable to meet up to discuss this book in person. Fingers crossed that by next month we may be able to get together to discuss our next read.....

                                                

Once Upon A River by Diane Setterfield

 Long and Winding Road in River Form!

This was a book recommended by another book group and was listed as a Sunday Times bestseller.

This story followed the analogy of the river.  Long and winding with deep undercurrents pulling you in different directions. Lots of folklore, suspense and romance in a carefully plotted, Chinese whisper, type story involving believable characters with firm ethics and principals making it an enjoyable read. 

A young girl is dragged from the river and taken to the local pub thought to be dead. She miraculously survives and so the story begins, who is she, why was she in the river, why does she not speak, where did she come from, has she come back from the dead, so many unanswered questions and so many answers brewing up from the cider laden clientele.  You are then carried along, rather too slowly at times, on a journey of interwoven stories of romance, hardship, prejudice, disbelief and some good old science to boot. 

A word of caution!  High levels of concentration are required in the early stages as the characters are introduced thick and fast and are a bit difficult to follow at times.  The stories all meander like the river and some take a long time to come together, definitely not a holiday read.  

The writing got mixed reviews, some found it tedious and annoying whilst others found it clever and unique.  It was odd that a time zone wasn’t obvious although there were horses and trains so you can give an educated guess.  

Still in a renewed lockdown our outing was curtailed. Zoom wasn’t very appealing so we decided to plod on to the next read.  

 

Hopefully, an easy, light read for us all to enjoy.  Join us for our review very soon.  

Monday 12 October 202

An absolute delight

Our group had unanimous support for this book  - definitely one of our best reads to date. 

 

It is simultaneously a coming of age tale and a murder mystery plot which brings to life the rich wildlife of the marshlands of North Carolina amidst dark shadows of domestic violence, poverty and isolation.  

 

The characters are richly portrayed and memorable. – none more so than the central character Kya.  Beautiful, clever and feisty, she shows us a life of hardship and rejection warmed and comforted by the beauty and wonder of nature 

 

The plotting is quite slow but the rewards are worth the effort and the descriptive prose is delightful, fluid and unpretentious. 

 

The book is Delia Owens' first fictional novel and it has been widely praised.  The accolades are justified – an alchemic blend of an original and memorable protagonist, and an entertaining and engaging story  underpinned by powerful observations on the enduring themes of inequality and prejudice.  This is a classic which, we understand, is already on its way to the big screen. 

 

As the Covid 19 lockdown continued, albeit less rigorously, we met outside.  Our socially distanced nibbles were vaguely protected from the elements by an overhead canopy.  It was the height of summer and the fresh air and poor shelter were faint echoes of Kya’s shack, but the wet lawn and chilly Northumberland breeze were a far cry from where the crawdads sing. 

Never Greener by Ruth Jones

Lightweight, engaging an excellent diversion from the woes of a pandemic.

This is Ruth Jones debut novel. Fans of Gavin and Stacey, the sit com she co-writes with James Cordon will be drawn to this book. Her excellent writing credentials certainly factored in this months book choice. However, with the exception of  Belinda, Callum's long suffering Welsh wife, there is little in the style or content of the novel to appeal to fans of her on screen creations. This book is not supposed to be a comedy, it examines serious issues such as infidelity, loyalty, forgiveness and family values.

Never Greener follows the lives of two married couples, spanning a seventeen year period. The story jumps between 1985 and 2002 and charts the erotic affair between Callum, a happily married teacher from Edinburgh and an aspiring young actress, Kate, seventeen years his junior. Already the plot has a major flaw, would a happily married man on the verge of becoming a father for the third time really embark on a rampant extra marital affair? Jones portrays Callum as an upstanding dependable man, deeply in love with his wife Belinda, seemingly happy and content. At no point are we offered an explanation for his utterly disgraceful behaviour. He seems prepared to risk everything and yet we never really know why, beyond the obvious. Adam tempted by Eve in the Garden of Eden. Surely an outdated portrayal of the male psyche and more importantly an outdated stereotype of woman as temptress, absolving the man of all blame. Although non of the main characters are particularly appealing we seem to be encouraged to see Kate as the pantomime villain, leading the poor married man astray, wrecking his life and destroying his family. The fact that Belinda and Kate have a face to face stand off for the man they both love with Kate losing the battle reinforces the narrative that Kate is an evil temptress using her youth and beauty to captivate another woman's husband, again absolving Callum of any responsibility.  It could be argued that Kate is young and naive and taken advantage of by the older man who should have known better. 

The story moves between 1985, the first affair and seventeen years later when a chance meeting between Callum and Kate reignites their passionate love affair. Again the hapless Callum seems to have learned nothing from his previous transgression, which almost wrecked his marriage. Jones' characters are well drawn and clearly defined, the reader does feel the raw pain inflicted on poor old Belinda, who having forgiven her cheating husband seventeen years ago must now face the hard truth that she has wasted her life on a man who didn't deserve her. Callum is a strange mix of a dependable loving family man, intelligent and  caring but at the first temptation a cheating, self centred, cad. Is the reader supposed to feel sympathy for Callum because he did what any man in his position would do? A rather outdated unequal view of marriage. In contrast Kate's character was too one dimensional and an opportunity to explore the effect of having her first child adopted would have given depth to both Kate and the plot, the existence of a love child seemed to be  glossed over. 

This book provides an easy page turner that was surprisingly enjoyable. It succeeded in pulling the reader back to find out what happened next, even though on many occasions Jones' writing style made it obvious what was about to happen. Even though the characters were quite flawed they are strong enough to make the reader care. Maybe the result of a long lockdown, free of life's usual little dramas, we were all ready for some salacious tittle tattle, a gossip over the garden fence, and at that level 'Never Greener' was just the book!

As restrictions ease we were able to gather for a socially distanced glass of sparkling mineral water, enjoying the view and the discussions in a beautiful garden buffeted by the late June winds but thankfully no showers!

Maybe our next meeting will be in a pub beer garden where we will be discussing .....  

THE OUTCAST by SADIE JONES

An out and out good read, albeit, a little harrowing at times ...

This book is set in 1950’s middle class England at a time when putting on a good show and keeping up appearances is paramount regardless of the consequences to family and friends.  Although in this book you have to question the word ‘family’ and the word ‘friend’.  A gripping novel which will stay with you long after reading it.

Following the story of a young boy , Lewis, who witnesses the tragic death of his mother, yet finds no solace from his family, friends, neighbours or the church in this very repressed village. The easy to read writing carries you on a journey that covers so many uncomfortable issues in a no nonsense way. What goes on behind closed doors stays behind closed doors. Being a misunderstood adolescent comes with so many misconceptions and consequences. Things could have so easily turned out very differently for Lewis. The army and finishing school must have been a god send for many parents and children alike, departing a boy or a girl and returning a man or a lady.  It also makes it easier to have that 5 o’clock cocktail without any of the guilt whilst avoiding the real issues at heart.

The bookclub ladies agreed it was a good read, and as noted  earlier,  a bit harrowing. A theme which carries on throughout the book and a theme which has carried on through our choices of late.  The Outcast was highly acclaimed by the Richard and Judy Book Club and was also awarded The Costa First Novel Award.

Covid 19 still has the UK shut down so no cocktails and meals out for us. A new concept - Zoom - technology allowing us to group chat on a multi screen whilst still in our own houses with our own snacks and drinks. Distance meetings - the new norm. Hopefully the shutdown will be lifted for the next meeting and a social distance evening in a garden will be allowed.

Next months read promises to be  a lighter read, so why not join us for our thoughts ....

Monday 22 June 2020

The Stars are Fire by Anita Shreve

Well crafted, absorbing, and easy to read 

If 2020 is memorable for the coronavirus pandemic, the year 1947 is known as the Year Maine Burned. From October 13 to October 27, firefighters battled 200 fires, which destroyed a quarter of a million acres of forest,  wiped out nine entire towns leaving 2500 people homeless, and physically or psychologically scarred.  

This historical event is the backdrop for this novel.   During the fires, pregnant Grace Holland flees her home and becomes separated from her husband whilst desperately trying to save her two children.   This and her ensuing homelessness is just the start of a series of hardships Grace faces during her transition from an apparently shallow and needy young wife into a formidable  young woman willing to forge her own destiny.

The book title is part of a quote from William Shakespeare’s Hamlet and is apt given the nature of the various loves Grace shares  - her husband, her mother, her children, suitors and friends.  

“Doubt thou the stars are fire;Doubt that the sun doth move;Doubt truth to be a liar;But never doubt I love.”

Still socially isolating amidst the UK response to the Coronavirus pandemic, we discussed this book over Zoom and agreed it was an enjoyable and easy read which had been incredibly well crafted.  Shreve’s skilled writing succinctly yet powerfully conveyed settings, emotions, and character to narrate a gripping plot.  The different attitudes towards gender and marriage of the period were also well observed.  

This is Shreve’s last novel, published in 2017.  She died from cancer in 2018 aged 71. Prior to becoming a full time author of 18 novels, she worked as a high-school teacher and journalist. Her first bestseller  - The weight of water - was published in1997.  

Food did not feature heavily in this story and our shops, restaurants, and  local book shop  are still closed..  

Those of you interested  in learning more about the Maine fires, will find more detailed accounts and photographs at  The New England Historical Society

We highly recommend The Stars are Fire, but you may choose to read our next book along with us.   Also steeped in the post war period and exploring similar themes around the nature of family and love, please join us to read The Outcast by Sadie Jones. 

  

Every Living Thing by James Herriot

The ideal read for lockdown?

"You'll 'ave a cup o' tea, Mr' erriot?'

For those of a certain age this autobiographical novel will evoke found memories of a bygone era full of simple pleasures. The popular novels by James Herriot, real name James Alfred Wight,  were a mainstay of the entertainment world of the 1970's and 80's, being made into a long running T.V. series (1978 - 1990) that made household names of Christopher Timothy, Robert Hardy, Peter Davison, Lynda Bellingham and Carol Drinkwater. The series of books retell some of the situations the vet  found himself in over his long career in the Yorkshire Dales. His writing style is engaging and gently humorous, tinged with nostalgia we learn about the life of a country vet before the innovations of modern veterinary science. Packed full of larger than life characters all living and working in the beautiful Yorkshire dales, each chapter reveals more of the loves, laughter, heartache and  tragedy of life as a country vet. The author's quietly self deprecating style engenders a fondness for the character that has the reader willing him to succeed in his latest endeavour.

Not a page turner or a thriller this book is best read in small bursts. Each chapter tells it's own tale and reading cover to cover is a bit like watching all 90 episodes of the T.V. series at once. A well
written book, penned by an author who can make the mundane interesting and the extraordinary believable. James Herriot is a master of observation, capturing the essence of his characters on the page. He tells stories in a clear and engaging way which appeals to all ages, Sunday evenings watching "All Creatures Great and Small" was a family event in many households in the 70's and 80's  It is perhaps, his simplistic style that made his work accessible to all ages.

Was this a good book for the lockdown?, in some ways it was the ideal escape from the current threat of the Corona virus and all that that entails, the reader can become lost in the rolling hills and narrow country lanes of the Yorkshire dales, curl up next to the warm and welcoming Aga in Skeldale House or shiver in the cow barns 'up top'. But for those who are finding lockdown too constraining and claustrophobic and who long for a faster pace of life, then this book just compounds the feeling of frustration. A hard-hitting thriller it is not, a gentle meander through a seemingly more straight forward time,  but a time when the country was recovering from a  far greater challenge, the Second World War.

Again our meeting had to be held via technology, as the popularity and interest in people's
bookshelves grows with every T.V. Skype interview we can announce that we will be adding ;

to our book shelves. Join us next month for our review of  'The Stars are Fire' by Anita Shreve.

‘Lion’ A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley

The Incredible Journey Starts Here ....


                                                         

            Five year old Saroo from a remote Indian village, ventured out one night with his big brother  hoping to bring back some food for his family only to fall asleep on a decommissioned train and find himself nearly 2000 kilometres away from home.   Reviewers say this is a book of courage and survival but at five years old it’s very difficult to comprehend.

Saroo, wakes up to find himself on a non-stop train to Calcutta.  A place where he doesn’t speak the language, doesn’t know his surname, doesn’t know the exact name of his hometown and is all alone, hungry and homeless and unable to ask for help.  He miraculously lived on the streets of Calcutta for months, narrowly avoiding people traffickers and drug gangs, whilst hopping on and off trains desperately trying to find his home village. Then, quite by chance, he was found by someone who took pity on him and took him to a police station and luckily, the adoption process began, aided by the infamous Mrs Sood, who was to become his saviour.
Red tape cut and paperwork accelerated, Saroo found himself on an aeroplane bound for Australia. He was to be adopted by the Brierley’s, a couple who chose not to have their own children but to adopt and save a child. Again, unable to speak the language and alone in a strange place he was introduced to his new family but this time he was safe.  After a loving and supportive upbringing littered with outbursts from his adoptive brother, Mantosh, Saroo left home to follow a career in a hotel management. It was during this time he met up with other people from his own culture who persuaded him to look for his birth mother through the newly developed technology of  ‘Google Earth’. For years it consumed him until one night out of sheer frustration he flicked forward along the hundreds of train stations he had investigated to see the water tower that had been imprinted in his mind since he was five. And there where one journey ended, another began. He discovered who he was, where he had lived and all about his long lost family. Now with two families, he was happy and finally at peace.
Saroo, pronounced Sheroo, had been mispronouncing his name all his life, as most children do when they mis-hear names.

The Incognito gang agreed this was a page turner of a book depicting an amazing tale of hardship.  Both uplifting and heartbreaking, the story emphasised the importance of family and roots. It was difficult to assess the quality of the writing because it is a factual true story, but, nevertheless, it was a quick and easy read, whereby the story is more powerful than the writing. An incredible story that will stay with us.

This book is accompanied by a movie which follows the book very well although never in the same amount of detail and imagination as a book delivers. It is also distracted more by Mantosh who was a much tortured soul, but still worth a watch. You cannot help but shed a tear for the cute boy who played Saroo in his early life.

After a three week lockdown and over 10,000 deaths in the UK, Covid 19 has closed all our pubs and restaurants. So again, we are still isolating and sharing at home recipes on-line, longing to have something cooked for us by someone else.

Below is a copy of an Indian street food, sweet treat, Saroo longed for but could never afford. Then at a student gathering in Australia, he bit into a Jalebi which sparked his memory and a longing to find home.

Indian Fried Dough | Jalebi

• (1)
•  30 M
•  55 M
•  Makes 12 to 15

Special Equipment: Deep-fry or candy or instant-read thermometer

INGREDIENTS

Email Grocery List

• For the jalebi
•  1 cup (3 ounces) all-purpose flour (labeled maida in Indian stores)
•  1 teaspoon gram flour (besan) (optional)
•  1/2 teaspoon yeast
•  1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
•  1/2 teaspoon mild vegetable oil, plus more for frying
•  About 1 cup lukewarm water
•  A few drops orange or yellow food coloring (optional)
• For the syrup
•  1 cup (8 1/2 ounces) granulated sugar
•  1 cup water
•  Pinch ground cardamom
•  Pinch crushed saffron threads
•  1 to 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

DIRECTIONS

Make the jalebi

In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, gram flour, if using, yeast, and sugar and mix well. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture. Pour the oil, almost all of the water, and the food coloring, if using, into the well and stir until no lumps remain. The texture should be slightly runny, like pancake batter. (This is also known as “ribbon consistency,” which simply means that when the batter drips from a spoon, it falls like a ribbon onto the batter that remains in the bowl.) If necessary, add a touch more water. Let the batter rest at room temperature for 20 minutes.

Make the syrup

Place all the syrup ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a gentle boil. Cook until the sugar dissolves and the mixture thickens slightly, 5 to 7 minutes. Reduce the heat to the lowest possible setting to keep the syrup warm while you fry the jalebi. 

Fry the jalebi

Place a wire rack over a baking sheet or grab a brown paper bag and place it on your work surface. Pour enough oil into a skillet or a deep-sided pot to reach a depth of about 1 1/2 inches and heat over medium-high heat. The oil is ready when you drop a tiny amount of batter into the oil and it immediately sizzles and resurfaces without changing color. (If the batter colors straight away, the oil is too hot. For those of you who crave certainty, attach a deep-fry or candy or instant-read thermometer to the side of the pot and heat until the oil registers about 350°F (176°C).)

Pour the rested jalebi batter into a piping bag, a plastic squeeze bottle with a pointed nozzle, or a large resealable plastic bag whose lower corner you snipped off with scissors. (We find a plastic squeeze bottle to offer the most control and ease in creating your jalebi squiggles.)

Squeeze some of the jalebi batter into the oil in a squiggly coiled circle or flowerlike shape approximately 2 inches in diameter. Repeat 2 or 3 times to create just enough jalebi so as not to crowd the pan. Fry the jalebi until they’re the color of golden honey on both sides. Using a slotted spoon or tongs, gently transfer the jalebis to the pan of warm syrup. Let soak, turning at least once or twice, for no more than 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the jalebis to the wire rack or brown paper bag. Serve immediately or let cool completely and rewarm in a low oven or in the microwave.

Our next read keeps us somewhat local, just down the road in Yorkshire, where Mr Herriot barely needs to leave his own back yard. Join us for entertaining veterinary shenanigans

Next text along will be Tuesday, 5th May 2020, with a review of James Herriot, plus a new read for May and, hopefully, a report of a slowing of this worldwide pandemic which is currently upon us.



Tuesday, 14 April 2020.