Hexham Book group has had a year of many great reads and discussions we started 2011 with ‘Rupture’ by Simon Lellic and ended this month with a special screening of ‘The Hours’ linking to our last book of 2011 of Virginia Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway; two more different books you could not find but a good illustration of the breadth of reading we have covered this year. In January and February next year we have a change of date for both meetings; Our first meeting for 2012 will be on Tues 10th January when we’ll be discussing ‘the Tiger’s Wife’ by Teá Obreht; the youngest author at 25 to win the Orange prize for fiction, the book is described by some as both intriguing and bewildering by others as a ‘surprising ‘choice so I have no doubt the group will dissect it accordingly! Those of the group or any new members (always welcome) who come to our January meeting will be lucky enough to receive a free copy, from Hodder Publishing, of our next book; ‘Water for Elephants’ by Sara Gruen. Our February meeting will be on the 14th of the month when we will meet the editor of this book Lisa Highton, Lisa currently describes herself as a ‘travelling editor’ as she has covered nearly 5,000 miles talking to book groups about her experiences as an editor. This will be a fascinating evening not only for an in depth discussion about the book but for anyone with an interest in the journey from author to published work. Meanwhile I look forward to another year of lively debate and varied opinions on a host of new books, but first I have to get through my pile of Christmas books! Happy reading.
In October the group has been reading a Scandinavian thriller; ‘Betrayal’ by Karin Alvetegen and we met on 2nd November to discuss this slim but chilling novel. Alvetegen is one of Sweden’s most popular and acclaimed crime writers and this new publication of her 2003 novel, is a compulsive read which most of us consumed in one go, being particularly hard to put down. Meanwhile this month the Durham Book Festival has provided lots of food for thought particularly in the field of non-fiction; Melanie Challenger’s talk about ‘On Extinction’ was fascinating and illuminating; the book is based on her visits to abandoned whaling stations in South Georgia, the reducing icescapes of Antarctica and the Inuit camps in the Arctic. Through the story of her journey she traces the links between human activities and environmental collapse, weaving together ideas about cultural and biological extinction. Meanwhile there is a veritable feast of films based on books (that most book groups have read) with ‘We need to talk about Kevin’, ‘The Help’ and a new ‘Wuthering Heights’ all soon to be released, so lots to keep us all talking about literature through the winter months.
It was great to see everyone after the summer break and we all enjoyed discussing Rupert Thomson’s book ‘This Party’s got to Stop’; interesting fodder for discussion and a book that was generally approved by the group particularly in regard to how people deal with family relationships after the loss of a parent. I’m looking forward a completely different read for this month with the The Possessions of Doctor Forrest by Richard T Kelly this is available at a 15% discount from Cogito Books, Hexham and ties in with Richard’s appearance at the Durham Book Festival on Tues 18th October.
We met on the 5th July to discuss ‘Grace Williams Says it loud’ by Emma Henderson. A challenging read and a profoundly moving story of the life of a disabled girl brought up first by her family and then in a home in 1950s/60s Britain. This was a great choice and gave rise to some brilliant discussions with the majority of the group really enjoying the book and it shows the value of a book group as most of us said it was not something we would have picked off the book shop shelf but were delighted we had read it!
Our next book is ‘This Party’s Got to Stop’ by Rupert Thomson, don’t forget we have no meeting in August so the next date is Tuesday 6th September.
Happy summer reading!
Susie Troup
At our meeting on Tuesday we all enjoyed our discussion about Rona Jaffe’s novel ‘The Best of Everything’. We also voted on various books chosen by you for our June read and the result was as follows;
The one we chose; ‘Grace Williams Says it loud’ by Emma Henderson
Some of you asked if I could post the other choices that we discussed they were;
The Cellist of Sarejevo by Steven Galloway, Ophelia in Pieces by Clare Jacob, Norwegian Wood by Haruk Murakami, Room by Emma Donahue, and the Little friend by Donna Tartt
Look forward to seeing you all at our July meeting on Tues 5th at 7.30pm
NB no meeting in August
Susie Troup
Our May read for the meeting on 7th June is a republication of a 1958 novel by American author Rona Jaffe. The title ‘The best of everything’ speaks of a New York in the 1960’s and the struggle of young working women to establish themselves in the city. Re printed first by US Penguin thanks to an episode in Mad Men where Don Draper is seen reading the original publication in bed. Now published in the UK with a cover quote by Julie Burchill; “It harks back to a saner time, when choosing progress and modernity was as straightforward as ordering dinner – ‘Two scotches with water on the side, and two steaks’.” Comparisons with Muriel Spark and ‘The Girls of Slender Means’ are inevitable and although this is not of the same literary stable it is an absorbing and entertaining read, with an eternal resonance for anyone who has struggled to make their place in the working environment of city life, regardless of the decade. So mix yourself a dry martini, get your feet up and enjoy! Copies are available at special book group discount from Cogito Books.
Our June read is your choice so please bring your suggestions to the meeting or email them in to me , or post onto this site!
Susie Troup
The group met to discuss the popular Alexander McCall- Smith’s novel 44 Scotland Street. Personally having just finished the wonderful ‘Freedom’ by Jonathan Franzen; a long, witty and poignant indictment of contemporary American life, the jolt into the trappings of life in an Edinburgh Newtown house made for an interesting contrast. The group was divided in its praise for this book, some enjoying it as an amusing anecdotal read, some finding it rather smug and inconclusive with no real depth or satisfying narrative. We’re all excited about our next read; Andrea Levy’s ‘The Long Song’.
Due to the terrible driving and public transport conditions today, which are due to continue into tomorrow, we’ve decided it’s best to postpone tomorrow’s (30 November) Hexham Book Group meeting.
Susie’s on holiday next week so we’ll move it to Tuesday 14 December, at 7.30pm.
I hope it doesn’t inconvenience you too much, and that you’re all warm inside in this weather.
Liv
We had a last minute change of venue for this week’s meeting – thanks to the Beaumont Hotel for looking after us and for giving us shortbread with our coffee! Our next meeting is rather soon so you’ll need to get reading;on Tues 5th of October we’ll discuss ‘Small Wars’ by Sadie Jones this is a follow up to her best-selling book ‘The Outcast’ and is a gripping and thoughtful book set during the battles for Enosis in Cyprus in the 1950s. On Sunday 24th October Sadie will be appearing with her sister and fellow author Melissa at a special event for the region’s book groups as part of the Durham Book Festival. Melissa’s most recent book; ‘The Hidden Heart of Emily Hudson’, takes the real-life story of Henry James’s cousin Minny Temple and considers what might have been if such a young and creatively driven woman had had the financial means to match her artistic ambition. There’s time to read either or both books and come along to join in the discussion and meet the authors.
The group met to talk about East of Eden by John Steinbeck, this book was chosen by all of us at our ‘summer choice’ meeting in June from various titles. What a wonderful and inspiring book to read, discuss and enjoy definitely one of the greats! We are having a break from meeting in August due to summer holiday so our next meeting is on Tues 14th September ( a week later than usual) for which we’ll be reading ‘The Blind Side of The Heart’ by Julia Frank. Discounted copies will be available from Cogito Books for group members. Other summer news; Read Regional will be holding a stall at Hexham Farmers Market on Sat 24th July promoting eight regional authors and poets, some of whom will be present to sign copies of their books. Then on Sat 31st July as part of the Continental Market, Hexham Book Festival and Read Regional will join forces to promote these authors and local author Harry Pearson who will be signing copies of his new book ‘Slipless in Seattle’ at 11am . Look out for our stall opposite the Queens Hall on the Sele Park in Hexham , for more information on all the Read Regional authors please go to http://www.readregional.com/page32/page32.html
