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Book Club

107 replies

bettys · 01/08/2002 09:52

Would anyone be interested in a book club thread?

The vague idea at present would be to choose a book at the start of the month, and then discuss after a couple of weeks or so. I have no previous experience of Book Clubs so if anyone has, or has any pointers about how it could work virtually, they'd be very welcome!

The first book suggested is 'When We Were Orphans' by Kazuo Ishiguro.

What does everyone think?

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SoupDragon · 03/08/2002 21:05

I've read the Dark Materials trilogy - a few months ago now. Thoroughly enjoyed it & found it gripping but I found the style a bit, um, odd? I can't quite put my finger on what bothered me about it though.

I'm butting in here I guess...

SoupDragon · 03/08/2002 21:06

I've read the Dark Materials trilogy - a few months ago now. Thoroughly enjoyed it & found it gripping but I found the style a bit, um, odd? I can't quite put my finger on what bothered me about it though.

I'm butting in here I guess...

SoupDragon · 03/08/2002 21:07

Butting in twice in fact... Oops!

ks · 04/08/2002 10:29

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ks · 04/08/2002 10:40

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emsiewill · 04/08/2002 11:19

ks, The Book People have been mentioned before on a few other threads (one I remember was about party bags), they are brill for cheap books for adults and kids, but as you say, you can only order what's in the catologue. But surely it could be possible to find out what's in and have a choice from there? (although I think they may only have limited stock - I can imagine 50 mumsnetters clearing their shelves LOL)

janh · 04/08/2002 16:36

Soupdragon, emsiewill and bettys, I have just started Northern Lights so I'm a bit behind you! But I'll be up for a discussion when I've finished all 3...how long have I got?

ks, one of the best deals from The Book People is a set of (usually) 10 quality paperbacks for £9.99 - most catalogues have an early reader set, older reader set and adult set. Often £5.99 Penguins - £60 worth! Even if you don't want them all and give some away it's a huge bargain.

Enid · 04/08/2002 19:46

I read the Dark Materials trilogy on holiday and thought they were amazing - although a bit, err, 'trippy' at times. Would love to discuss those at some point...

lilibet · 04/08/2002 20:37

I read the first in the Pullman trilogy without really knowing what they were about, it took me a while to realise that they were set in another world,(being careful here, as I dont want to spoil anything for anyone who hasn't read them, I have had 24 spoiled by finding out who was the mole on the message board, would hate to do that for someone with these books!) so the daemon thing puzzled me, but once things had clicked in my mind,I loved them. I found that some of the writings regarding original sin were probably a bit deep for the audience the books were originally aimed at by his publishers, but that is one of the signs of a talented writer, being able to layer your writing so that readers of different ages can still appreciate the books and get different things from them. Although they are compared to Lord of the Rings a lot, I don't think that they are up to that standard.

Original poster
bettys · 04/08/2002 22:16

janh - I think the idea is to discuss the Pullman trilogy this month while everyone is reading next month's books. How fast can you read??

I found the books operated on several levels. I know a 9 yr old who really enjoyed them, although I don't think he understood all the religious references, just thought they were cracking good stories. Northern Lights is slightly disorientating, until you buy into it. I was very keen to get on to the second book though, as I knew it was more based in our world.

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janh · 04/08/2002 22:54

thanks, bettys, I am about 1/3 of the way through Nothern Lights and am finding it v un-put-down-able - but unfortunately am also decorating the front room (involves a lot of furniture rotation) at the same time and we are going on holiday next Monday so may not catch up in time...

Currently Lyra is in hiding with the gypsies in the Fens and is hoping to escape to the North with them to rescue Roger and her dad but DON'T TELL ME!!!!!! (I haven't caught any religious references yet???)

janh · 04/08/2002 22:58

lilibet, btw, there was a ref in the Guardian Guide this week which mentioned that the satellite prog is a week ahead of the rest and that something crucial happens this week and NOBODY SHOULD SPOIL IT!!!!!

(I don't watch it at all but just thought I'd mention that.)

lilibet · 04/08/2002 23:21

thanks janh, its been compulsive viewing for me for the last 22 weeks, just had this weeks fix! I think that there are going to be problems with spoiling the Pullmans for people if we continue to discuss them on here. There are quite a few jaw dropping moments esp in books 2 and 3 and I wouldn't want to ruin things for others. Unless we can be very wary and coded with references?
Did anyone else cry at the end of book 3 or am I just a real softie?

SoupDragon · 05/08/2002 10:49

We could start a separate "Pullman" thread so people who've not read them don't look? If we did this when discussing the books, it wouldn't spoil them for anyone who didn't want to look. This Book Club one could be for an introduction and good for choosing the books?

Original poster
bettys · 05/08/2002 10:54

Good thinking SoupDragon, will do that now, and keep this thread for organisation.

JanH, what satellite prog are you talking about? Is is a Pullman dramatisation?

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janh · 05/08/2002 13:16

bettys, I wish, unfortunately they haven't done that yet (but what a good movie it would make!)

lilibet was talking about 24 - have you heard of it? I haven't seen it and don't really know much about it, but I believe there are 24 episodes, of an hour each, and it is supposed to be in real time and all happening in one day - but what is happening I couldn't tell you!

It's being shown on satellite and BBC2(?) but satellite is a week ahead and people who don't have satellite keep hearing spoilers from people who do. Very naughty.

Fionn · 05/08/2002 22:17

Here are my suggestions for September reading:

Regeneration by Pat Barker -
the first in a trilogy of novels set during the period of the First World War

Last Orders by Graham Swift -
a group of middle-aged Londoners meet to carry out the last wishes of a friend

The End of the Affair by Graham Greene -
speaks for itself!

lilibet · 05/08/2002 22:28

Really good choices! I have read The End of the Affair and loved it and have just started Last orders, while waiting for the August choices to come and Regeneration has been recommended to me. Looking forward to this, only prob is I may not get my nose out of a book for long enough to go on mumsnet.

Original poster
bettys · 05/08/2002 22:59

Great choices - thanks Fionn! Have been meaning to read Pat Barker for ages, and loved Waterland by Graham Swift. Haven't read any Graham Green for ages so that'll be interesting too.

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SueDonim · 06/08/2002 10:46

This is my choice for October's books, chosen from my somewhat limited personal 'library' here in Jakarta.

"Bad Blood" by Lorna Sage - memoirs of a post-war provincial upbringing in Britain

"The Last Time They Met" by Anita Shreve - two writers meet again for the first time in 26 years....

"Lost Geography" by Charlotte Bacon - a Scotsman flees to Canada from where his family is dispersed; a rich portrait of the migrant in us all.
-----

I haven't read any of them, so please don't shout at me if they are horrible!!

Batters · 06/08/2002 12:53

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bundle · 06/08/2002 13:01

SueDonim & Batters, started Bad Blood but found it dragged and never finished...I assume you both think it's worth persisting!

pamina · 06/08/2002 13:30

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Lois · 06/08/2002 14:18

Just found this thread and would love to join in too please! I've been meaning to read Atonement for ages so I'm off to Amazon for a copy now.

Also, think it is a top plan to have wines to compare and have a put a bottle of Wolf Blass Cabernet Sauvignon Yellow Label on my shopping list (which considering I forgot to put loo rolls, toothpaste and butter on the last one will tell you where my priorities are).

SueDonim-dh has just read Fast Food Nation. I'd be happy to read it sometime.

And what about historical biographies? Does anyone else out there read them? Surely I am not alone!

allatsea · 06/08/2002 14:19

Atonement, When we were orphans and Philip Pullman trilogy £4.99 each at Waterstone.
Thanks bettys, I would never have selected a book like 'when we were orphans', but I'm really enjoying it.

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