Bristol Book Club

[xkcdfangirl]

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.

[exexpat]

Usually 8pm, though some people are always late because of getting children to bed etc.

Sorry to hear you're feeling grotty, Spero - hope it improves soon.

And I hope the baby decides you need an evening out for a change, Lamazeroo.

[maindoors]

Hello...have failed dismally on the book reading front but thought I might come along anyway, particularly as you are meeting v close to me. I hope Lamazeroo that you are released by your boy and hes feeling better. If you are not there how will I recognise you all?? Anyone want to give a description of themselves?!

[exexpat]

I expect at least one of us will have the book on the table - just look for a group of loud(ish) women. Or if in doubt, carry Pombears.

[Lamazeroo]

Hmm, it's not looking good. Much whingeing and clinging. And possibly conjunctivitis
Will try my best though if I do make it I'll be on high alert for an SOS from a stressed daddy.

[Lamazeroo]

L'enfant terrible strikes again. So sorry :(
Bitterly, bitterly disappointed.

[MrsWembley]

at those that are unavoidably detained. We will pass on the minutes later.

[Lamazeroo]

So what was the general consensus? Dying to know!

[MrsWembley]

Most liked it, though found several problems with the style and subject matter. One (mentioning no names...) disliked it, dare I say, intensely, though more for it's lack of proper structure than for it's content matter. I should say, if this is a common problem for you, don't watch Lost In Transition or Broken Flowers.

I hope the new members of our motley crew enjoyed themselves. Normally the venue is quieter. We are usually the loud party in the establishment. We've been to the next pub before and I do remember it to be sedate, peaceful, cosy, just the place for a group of young(ish) drunkards.

Right, who am I going to bump into this Friday? I'll be looking out for you all...

[exexpat]

I think the idea was interesting, and bits were very funny, but agree with the general consensus that the plot, such as it was, didn't really progress anywhere, and the characters were a little bit two-dimensional. We also wondered if there might have been a certain lack of editorial involvement in the publishing process (it's not exactly self-published, but it seems to have been published through a kind of subscription-based scheme).

My biggest issue was with the basic idea that if men had free access to anonymous sex in the workplace, they would be less likely to sexually harrass their female colleagues - I rather think it would be the opposite. But there's probably not much point in trying to apply logic to satirical plots...

[QueenofWhatever]

I didn't really like it. Just found it unnecessarily improbable and also didn't like the premise that men are governed by their sexual urges but women have no desire. I also found the characters two dimensional and that it fell a bit flat in the last third, no real plot development.

But I did enjoy catching up with you all and we managed to fit a pub quiz in at the same time.

[maindoors]

Yes, it was great to meet you all, thanks for allowing me to play! Hope to see you all again at the April one, when I WILL have read the book

[exexpat]

Just a reminder that Death of Bees (next book but one) is now out in paperback. I've just ordered mine, and will try to read it soon-ish so that I can pass it on to anyone who wants to borrow it, maybe at the next meeting.

[Lamazeroo]

Mine arrived this week. Looks great!

[QueenofWhatever]

Slightly off topic, but we have tickets to see singer-songwriter Tom Baxter at the Tunnels tonight. We can't find anyone to babysit DD but I wondered if anyone here fancied going with me or having the two tickets?

PM me if you're interested. Most of this tour is sold out so it should be a good night.

[EggsEggSplat]

sounds impending book group horn

So - who's going to be at Robin Hood's Retreat on Monday? And has everyone read Salmon Fishing?

It's been a while and I guess this thread has fallen off a lot of people's watch-lists, so I'll try PMing a few people if no one wakes up and answers...

(it's exexpat here, by the way - still in my prizewinning Easter disguise)

[EggsEggSplat]

By the way, those of you who read Lightning Rods might be interested to hear it's been short listed for the Wodehouse prize.

[TheRealXkcdfangirl]

Hello. Yes I shall be there on Monday. I shall have to have a quick revision session on Salmon Fishing as it seems like a long time ago since I read it. I have also finished next month's book (Death of Bees) if anyone would like to borrow my copy let me know and I'll bring it along!

What terrible news about the Wodehouse prize!

[QueenofWhatever]

Yes I'll be there and have read the book. Bit slow catching up with this but currently in Lanzarote - just feel I need to bring that into the conversation as it's lovely and warm.

Thanks for the message eggseggsplat (only just understood your name). Fangirl, can I borrow your copy of the bees book? See you all tomorrow night.

[EggsEggSplat]

Oops, didn't think that people might be onfused about getting messages from someone with a weird name. Sorry, it's probably time I changed back from my Easter name. I just want to show off because I won the Easter name change competition and I never normally win anything haven't quite got round to it yet.

[MrsWembley]

Well done for winning! Yes, I was a little confused at seeing the name at first.

See you all tomorrow...

[EggsEggSplat]

Looks like it should be at least five of us tonight, possibly more depending on sleepless babies etc.

Anyone got any ideas to bring along for the next book after Bees?

[TheRealXkcdfangirl]

May I propose that we try very hard not to have the convo (during the non-book part of the discussions) centring around any recently deceased polititcians? I've found it quite wearing to have (a) my colleagues and (b) the media talk of nothing else today, and it would be nice to have a breath of fresh air.

As for next month - well I was one of the cabal that dictated everything from February to April in one fell swoop without half the group being there so I shall refrain from making suggestions unless no-one else has any ideas.

[EggsEggSplat]

What, so you wouldn't appreciate my suggestions of the Alan Clark diaries/collected cartoons of Steve Bell/economic theories of Friedrich Hayek? Oh well, fair enough.

[MrsWembley]

Actually, fangirl, I was rather dreading hearing a predictably negative view on the current situation, seeing as how I like you all and don't care that I am pretty much in the minority on MN, so thank-you for asking that.

I hope to see you all shortly, even though hopes for finishing the last few pages of the book were dashed today by a monster who has taken over my DS. He howled and screamed and kicked refused tea, howled and screamed and kicked didn't like the idea of Calprofen, howled and screamed and kicked wasn't keen on drinking water, then asked for a pear. So I don't know if he'll settle well...

[MrsWembley]

Just gone to Amazon for the next book and under recommendations for me it listed the film version of Salmon Fishing. Out of curiosity, I looked at some of the reviews and apparently the ending is different!

Might watch it, as the reviews were generally favourable.