Yes, we meet every month We've had about 4 meetings so far, so we're a relatively new group, but it's been going well! Everysinglestar, I've emailed you, let me know if you've received my email. DandyLioness, I've send you a message through CAT

Hi, I'm interested in joining too. I'd appreicate if someone could CAT me, or if you'd prefer, I'll put my email address on here

/wave

Are there any other meetings going on at some point?

please e-mail me at everysinglestar@live.co.uk (never know when I next will happen upon the same thread, but check my e-mail obsessively )

Thanks Maria - I love reading and have participated in online and real life reading groups in the past, and would like to again - at least in this group I know others are probably in the same position, and maybe it will get easier as I return to work in central London next month and my little ones grow up a little.

Hi Elkiedee, yes you could email me & we can go from there We have a facebook group which we've set up & members can see which book is coming up to read, where we're meeting etc, and they can RSVP. So it's not that you have to come to each & every meeting, if that doesn't suit you (or if the book doesn't interest you).

I'm interested in theory, maybe I'll try to join you some time this autumn/winter? Am posting to bookmark, will email tomorrow.

Maria, maybe so re author's intention. Like you I don't mind an open ending, but it did annoy me in this case!

I think we can all agree that the doctor had something to do with the whole thing... but I do believe the author left things open for us to judge / interpret as we wish. Which can be frustrating or rather nice, depending on how each one of us sees it (I personally usually like open-ended endings, but sometimes they do frustrate me: not this time though, for some reason).

Coco, don't worry about the august meeting. I think there's bound to be fewer of us since it's mid august. In the june meeting there were 6 of us. In the july meeting 9 of us. Both times it felt a good number & the chat was contained (i.e. the group didn't splinter in 2 or 3). I hope to meet you in september!

I did wonder if the doc had somehow unconsciously sparked off the scene with the dog - as that put paid to any romance between Caroline and that visiting young man with the couple... but maybe the house itself and any associated malevolent spirit (!) prompted his attraction to Caroline?

Frustratingly I think I'm away the date of the next meeting. Shame as I am looking forward to meeting everyone, especially Tilly as we've known each other on MN for ages!

I thought that too but then that was one of the frustrating things about the book for me, that there were all these ideas that were never really resolved! Even the dr's motivations for marrying Caroline (love? social standing? the house?) were vague, all presented as a possibility but left unfinished.

Coco, that's exactly what I thought!!!! then thought maybe I was being to obvious at it was somehow house that triggered it?
Hopefully see you next time

Hi Cocodrillo: Yes! Almost all of us thought the doctor had something to do with the poltergeist activity. We didn't know what exactly, but we all felt his part in the whole thing was quite fishy.

did anyone think the doctor might have sparked off the poltergeist activity (he coveted the house from chilhood, had class anxieties re fact his mother used to work there, may have had latent hostility towards the family, and had thwarted sexual feelings)?

Hi Coco and tilly

Was a good meeting. Some enjoyed the book, others I thought it was a bit pants. Most people really liked her writing style but there was some feeling that the ending was a bit vague (like you, tilly) and the middle lost its way a bit. But lots of interesting talk about their relationship (did he love her? or just the idea of the house and being the squire?); about the changing class structures of the time (why were they being matey with a doctor?! was he a bit chippy about rising up to become a doctor?); about the fact that everyone was sent off to an asylum as soon as they had a bad day; and whether the GP member of the group felt she would be able to sew up a face on a kitchen table!

Hope to see you at the next one!

I missed it too! Dh is usually home by 6.30pm but the one night I go out & he's stuck there till 8pm!

I did enjoy the book but felt the ending just fizzled out a bit.

Anyway, looking forward to the next one!

how was meeting? what was the consensus on the book? sorry to have missed it - I loved this book

I am in the FB group, tho as it so secret I have difficulty finding it each time! I rsvp'd to say I would be there on Thurs... will try to finish book but is long and it arrived late...

Don't worry about it... There'll be many meetings to come if you don't make this one! Btw have you signed on to the fb group which includes details for next meetings, rsvps etc? (sorry for the daft question, it's just that I'm getting confused with who has emailed me & who hasn't).

I am looking forward to Thurs in theory - but worried I'm not going to finish book in time...

Hi Sallypuss, I've emailed back with all the details. I think the July 16 meeting is probably a bit overcrowded...but you're welcome to come along to the meeting after that.

As for other people who're interested, I think we'll have to wait to see how many people come on July 16 (10 have said they will, but lets see what the actual numbers are, they may be more or fewer)... and then after that we can perhaps add new members or not, according to how many we are. Please do email me if you're interested & I can keep your details, but at the moment there's already about 17-18 of us (I've lost count) so we're trying to not get overenthusiastic because if we do the meetings will soon be unmanageable! I do expect that some people will drop out gradually so we'll be recruiting new members in the near future (MN has turned out to be a fantastic recruiting place!!... really recommend it for others who're thinking of starting book clubs).

Room for one more? I've been dithering about starting a book club for ages and so would love to join.

Doubt I'll have read this month's book by the 16th but will try and would love to come along anyway or alternatively I could wait until August....

Will drop Maria an email today as well.

I would love to be a member, if you'll have me, will try & send e mail tomorrow.

Yes I took out all the spaces (insulted and wounded emoticon)

but my email to Maria hasn't been bounced back yet, so maybe before was just a glitch.

I am phillimore sarah @ hotmail.com

thanks!

You did take out all the spaces didn't you?

Or put your email up or CAT me and I'll try to email you!

I tried you both! and I got a reply saying that neither of you had yahoo accounts.

I will try again. I am beginning to find washing the kitchen floor strangely compelling so clearly need outlet asap.

I don't think so Spero - I'm sure not all of us will be able to make every month so I think a few more members would be a good thing.

Don't know why my email isn't working but I'm only this month's book chooser rather than founding member anyway so try emailing Maria at maraki1998 at yahoo dot com instead.

Hello, I've tried emailing, but they bounced back.

Are you full up yet? If not, i would love to come along in September (suspect I will be away in August).

Let me know!

spicemonster, just emailed you

I've emailed the selection for August to the email addresses I have and also posted them on the Facebook group. If you would like to have the list, please drop me an email at bailey beyond @ yahoo dot co dot uk (no spaces) and I'll forward it on and will forward your email on to the group admins to get you added.

Hiya, I said ages ago I'd be interested but real life got in the way! Anyway, I've emailed Maria2007 now so would still like to come along.

Okay I'm coming. i've ordered the book into my library and get it on Thursday, hopefully it will make good sunny weekend reading

Definitely there's a bar, and also a coffee shop with sandwiches, desserts, salads etc.

thanks Arti.

re the venue, is there a bar?

Yes - cheapest we seem to have found is on Amazon (about £8/9). I think WHSmiths also have it for about a tenner.

Am I right in thinking Little Stranger is only out in hardback at the mo?

Hahhaaaa

(reveals self as dim loon)

(Doesn't expect invitation)

In case I'm still allowed, hehe, I can make 16th, will look forward to it.

Oh no I'm busy next Thursday, sorry thought you said the 16th July. I'll come along next time though.

Will email.

Yes - we're next meeting Thursday 16th July. Send Maria an email or me a CAT and you'll get all the info

Are you still meeting in RL? I'd be interested In joining in.

(am normally TheDevilWearsPrimark)

Coco - send Maria2007 an email at maraki1998 at yahoo dot com and she'll add you to the list. I'm a bit wary of posting my email address on here I'm afraid. If that fails, send me a CAT when you're up and running again

Will sort tomorrow

Bugger my CAT has expired.

I'd like to join in please, will email.

For those of you that read The Road last month, come and discuss the ending (again!) here:

Hmmm that ending is a bit dodgy, non?

Hi all

Just to let you know that I will be choosing the selection of books for next month (on the grounds that my surname is earliest in the alphabet!). I will be sending out the long list of books for you all to choose from on the 9th ie a week before we meet so we can discuss on the night (and if you are unable to make it you can email me with your choice). If you're not on the mailing list and would like to come along, please CAT me and I'll add you to the club

Next book: Little stranger by Sarah Waters. We'll meet on the 16th July... If you want to join (or even if you want further info) please do drop me an email

What is your next book?

Bumping this up again, in case others are interested. Just to let you know, we had our first meeting yesterday which went well. There's now 11 of us involved (and possibly 12 from next time) but new members are welcome for now.

Just to bump this... and to let anyone else interested know that we're now a group of 11 ladies (haven't met yet- only 3 of us have. first meeting this wednesday, yikes!!) If anyone else is interested, please do come along & join us. I think next meeting is going to be July 16, again somewhere in central london, & we're in the process of choosing the next book to read. So as I said, please do send me a msg through CAT (or through email, I've given my email at the beginning of this thread)...

I can't do 17th but would love to join you if you've still got space. I'll try and work out the CAT thing.

Spicemonster, hi!

We still haven't agreed on a date and, speaking for myself, I'd be happy to do thursdays. We're just meeting on the 17th for our first meeting, to get the ball rolling, and I think at that meeting we'll discuss when & where we want to meet from then on. So thursday is very much a possibility! Please do email me, would love to hear from you, & I can add you to the email list, and we can discuss all this with the others...

I'd be interested but I can only do Thursdays as it's the only evening I have childcare (lone parent). If I can join 'virtually' by email then I will come along if you ever meet on a Thursday evening

Littlepollyflinders, great, the more the merrier Send me an email & I'll add you to the email list...

Count me in too!
As only just found this thread not sure I could get through the book by next week (have hectic week ahead - birthday, taking dd to Paris) but definitely interested. I will send email too.

I'd like to join in too! I won't make the first meet-up. I've got a 9-week old DS and a sleepless 4 year old DD and I'm not sure which would be the most impossible, getting out for the evening or reading a book, but I'm pretty sure I won't manage either of those things for the rest of June!

I will e-mail you!

Great! I'm really glad more people are interested, we can gradually build up to a good group, I think. I'm very excited Please do email me (SenseandIrritability, I got your email, will respond just now) & I can add you to the email list & we can get the ball rolling...

As artifarti said, we haven't decided yet on a particular / set day / time / place. We just randomly chose a day. I expect that, as artifarti said, at the first meeting we can decide on something more regular that's suitable to most people in the group.

Hello LadyBee! I think we just chose that date and time because it suited the three of us. I'm sure at the inaugural meeting, such things can be agreed to suit all or most.

Great to have some more on board.

ooh, hello! I would like to do this, but are you thinking of always doing Wednesdays? I need to have a bit of think about that..although I guess if only once a month wouldn't be too much of an impact on our (fairly complicated) schedules.

Have to go vote then pick up DS but will email.

Hi all, sounds like a fab idea. I am not sure I can make June 17 but would love to join in - shall email you Maria...

I'm definitely interested. I'm currently a member of my library one but as it starts at 6.30pm its hard for me to get to now, so a later one would be great.

Have to pop out but will email later.

Bumpity-bump.

Hello! I am the 'third member' who met Maria2007 last week. We are definitely not cliquey and they both seem very nice.

AN Other Londoners care to join us? Don't be shy now.

Have e-mailed you too Maria

Now our group is a bit bigger, that's very good. Anyone else interested in joining?

Have emailed

Btw peachsmuggler, email me too if you want & I'll add you to our email list.
Oh and babbity, thanks so much for the encouragement & ideas.

Great, really glad to see we've got 2 takers . You can email me at maraki1998 at yahoo dot com. Looking forward to hearing from you.

I am a member of a Book Club that originated through an internet forum. Five years later, it's still going. We found having a regular venue, and a regular night (in our case the 2nd Tuesday of each month) and a core of about 15 people, meant that every month you'd get at least half a dozen people often more. At one point we had to "close the list" as we had too many, but it's been fairly steady since then. We used to communicate through email but now we use a FB group.

Good luck! (HTH)

Ooh, I would be interested too. The only thing is I can't make that night but would love to join in for the next one!

Oooh I have wanted to join a book club for ages!

Do you have an email address I could contact you on? I haven't had CAT set up yet and my email is firstname.surname (imaginative!) so would rather not post it here.

(By the way, just to reassure anyone who might be thinking 'oh no, the 3 of them are already friends, don't want to join something like that as will feel cliquey) - it's not like that, 2 of us knew each other before, but the third member we actually met just last week through MN for the purpose of the book club (mentioned in another thread initially).

Anyway, hope that's all not too confusing, just wanted to say we're just getting to know each other as well, so please do come join us!

Hi everyone,

I thought I'd post here to see if anyone's interested in joining me & 2 other friends / Mumsnetters in a new book club which we're setting up, meeting in central London about once a month. Our aim is to get out for one night a month (and get our other halves to take care of any babies / toddlers / pets etc!), choose interesting books to read & talk about, and get to know each other over a glass of wine, beer or whatever.

We've decided we'll be meeting in the evenings in Central London, which hopefully will make it convenient for all of us, as we thought that meeting in each other's houses might be slightly difficult (especially for those of us with young babies / toddlers).

Our first meeting is scheduled for June 17, at 8 pm, near Waterloo. We'll be reading 'The road' by Cormac McCarthy.

If you're interested in joining us (or you just want to perhaps find out more) please send me a message- I'm on CAT, or alternatively just post here, let us know you're interested, and I'll send you a message myself.