Skip to main content
Skip to main navigation
Skip to talk navigation

Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

What we're reading

Bristol Book Club

202 replies

xkcdfangirl · 11/11/2012 08:55

This is the new home of this thread which has now died as none of the active particpants want to operate behind the new local barrier.

For any newbies - we are meeting usually on the last monday of each month (plus or minus a week depending on other things going on). The dates of our next 2 meetings were fixed last time we met but I am not 100% sure of them, hopefully one of the others will be along in a moment to confirm them. Venues are variable and we take it in turns whether they are north or south of the river so everyone has occasions when the meeting is nearer to them.

We are deciding the books 2 months in advance to give ourselves plenty of time to find a copy and read it. We decide which book to schedule by concensus at the end of each meeting - anyone can suggest one.

Our next meeting will be at the end of November and we are reading "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" by Philip K Dick

The next meeting (which will be in mid January) will be looking at "The Magicians" by Lev Grossman.

OP posts:

Report

exexpat · 07/01/2013 20:33

Happy new year everyone, I think we're meant to be meeting up next Monday, aren't we? I have just started reading the Magicians, and have every expectation of finishing it ths week (I have three essays to write, so I expect all the laundry and washing up will be done promptly this month too).

I have a vague memory of someone suggesting the Tobacco Factory bar as somewhere to meet this time, as it is due to be a south-of-the-river month. Does that ring any bells with anyone else? Or are there any other suggestions? In any case, I presume it will be 8pm ish as usual

xkcdfangirl · 09/01/2013 23:24

hello everyone - yes I think we said 14th at 8pm but I have no firm memory of a venue being agreed. The Tobacco Factory is lovely but can sometimes be very noisy of an evening - it's family friendly by day but sometimes has salsa nights and live bands and things so if we are going for that then someone had better phone and check that. I also remember talking about hotwells as a potential location - just as easy to get to from the south and the north I think. I can't remember which specific venues were suggested though - Adam and Eve was one but I think someone else suggested another.

OP posts:

fozmeadows · 11/01/2013 18:30

So, any updates on venue?

MrsWembley · 11/01/2013 23:26

Just had to look under topics for this as it had dropped of my 'I'm on' list.

YY to where and how's everyone getting on? Am I the only one not finished yet?

xkcdfangirl · 12/01/2013 17:08

I've nearly finished book 2 of the series! :-) I've really enjoyed it.

I just phoned the tobacco factory and they don't have live music on monday or anything else stupidly loud so thats OK. They keep the music system volume lower in the "green room" to the right of the bar, and have reserved us a table in there for 8pm.

Hope this is OK with everyone.

OP posts:

MrsWembley · 12/01/2013 22:16

Cool My first visit there, only lived in Bristol 12 years...

Lamazeroo · 13/01/2013 05:12

Great, I've never been either! Really enjoying the book. It's not something I ever would have chosen for myself and I'm surprised how much I'm liking it. Sadly I won't have finished by tomorrow night. Also, must warn you in advance that I will probably be completely useless company and will flake out early. We flew back on Thursday, and the non-sleeping baby has really got into the spirit of jetlag! The lady two days started at 1.30am; today a much more respectable 3.45. Consequently I've been in bed by 7 each night. So please don't be offended if I fall asleep on the table!

MrsWembley · 13/01/2013 14:04

Don't worry, we'll wake you up before we leave.

exexpat · 13/01/2013 15:20

I'll be there tomorrow. Nearly finished the book, just been a bit distracted by the huge piles of academic books threatening to crush me in an avalanche (I'm mid essay-crisis at the moment). Has anyone PMed any of the other regulars or people who expressed an interest at the Christmas do, in case they haven't seen this thread?

fozmeadows · 13/01/2013 19:37

Have finished the book and am planning to come, but might be kept home on account of the fact that my husband is having dental work done tomorrow and might need looking after in the evening. Will see how it goes!

MrsWembley · 13/01/2013 19:52

I've just PM'd Spero and Abigail, as I'm now allowed to do that sort of thing on my app.

exexpat · 13/01/2013 20:54

Well done. What about Bookwormthatturned - she hasn't been on lately, shall I PM her?

exexpat · 13/01/2013 21:02

Right, have PMed her - is there anyone else?

bookwormthatturned · 13/01/2013 23:00

Hi all and happy new year.

I've finished the book and to be honest enjoyed it much more than I was expecting to. I didn't realise it was part of a series xkcdfangirl so shall have to look out for the rest.

I'm unfortunately treble-booked tomorrow - one of which I just can't rearrange - so will have to give my apologies, but enjoy the Tobacco Factory, and, if you're looking for recommendations for our next book, the one I was trying to remember the title of when we met at The Social before Christmas was 'Woman on the Edge of Time' by Marge Piercy here's the Amazon write-up.

'Twice Born' by Margaret Mazzantini is also well worth reading here's its write up too.

Have fun tomorrow and hope to see you next time.

QueenofWhatever · 14/01/2013 16:32

Hello, I met many of you at the Christmas do and am keen to start coming. I won't come tonight as I haven't read the book and have my other book and wine club this Friday.

Look forward to hearing what the February book is and seeing you next month. I know someone told me when we were at the Watershed but it's fallen out of my head.

exexpat · 14/01/2013 16:45

Fozmeadows - how did the dental work go? Hope you manage to come along this evening.

bookworm - sorry you can't make it. Thanks for the book recs - shall we try and agree on a definite February book and a possible March one this evening, so we can get back into the swing of knowing the next two months' books?

Queenofwhatever - as you can see, we haven't picked February's book yet, but should be able to put it up here tomorrow. Look forward to seeing you next month.

Lamazeroo · 14/01/2013 20:12

So sorry, have flaked out in bed with the baby. Bastard jetlag. And I was so looking forward to tonight :(
Would be interested to hear a summary if the discussion if anyone has time, and if course what our next two books will be. Have fun!

xkcdfangirl · 15/01/2013 08:34

Sorry you had a grim evening Lamaz - hopefully by next time you'll be back to normal-not-sleeping rather than jet-lagged-not-sleeping!

fozmeadows I hope your DH's teeth are OK! We looked out for you but stopped short of doing a conga around the room waving our copies of the book to attract the attention of anyone who might not recognise us.

We've set up the following dates, books and venues and MrsWembley exexpat and I agree to let others choose the next couple after that!

25th February 2013 - The Grain Barge - Lightning Rods by Helen Dewitt
8th April 2013 - Robin Hood's Retreat - Salmon Fishing in the Yemen by Paul Torday
13th May 2013 - Venue TBA (southish) - The Death of Bees by Lisa O'Donnell

OP posts:

MrsWembley · 15/01/2013 09:19

Excellent round-up, fangirl!

Great seeing everyone last night and looking forward to getting my teeth into the next book.

Lamazeroo · 15/01/2013 10:48

Ooh, new books to hunt the charity shops for! Exciting! Hope you had a good discussion last night. I'd love to talk about the book - is anyone around for a coffee during the week to recap?

exexpat · 15/01/2013 22:45

I'd be very surprised if you found Lightning Rods second-hand already, but I have just ordered my copy, so if I read it as soon as it arrives (well, after I've handed my essays in) I can drop it off for you to read next.

Spero · 17/01/2013 15:01

May I congratulate the group on its efficiency! Next time I hope to have read the book but if I haven't it is all exexpat's fault as I find myself watching rather too much 30 Rock

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Email address

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

exexpat · 17/01/2013 18:11

Apologies. Shall I come round and confiscate the DVDs, to be replaced with some improving literature?

exexpat · 17/01/2013 18:12

Apologies. Shall I come round and confiscate the DVDs, to be replaced with some improving literature?

Oh, and Lamazeroo, I can't do coffee this week or next (essay crisis...) but maybe the week after?

Spero · 17/01/2013 23:06

yes, please come and confiscate series one, and replace it with series 2. then I'll get right onto the literature. i promise.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.