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.

[TheRealXkcdfangirl]

a step ahead of me there MrsW I'm still waiting for someone to confirm what the next book is - wasn't paying attention. Did we decide a date?
Were we all happy with the Tobacco Factory again for the May meeting?

[EggsEggSplat]

Sorry, I think I was assigned the job of doing the update, wasn't I?
Yes, I think we agreed on Tobacco Factory for May 13th, to talk about Death of Bees.

But we didn't come to any firm conclusion about the following session, either exact date or which book to read. Spero I think proposed The Wife (because she's already read it...) but there seemed to be a few dissenting voices after reading the reviews. Any counter-proposals?

I think potential dates were June 10th or June 17th; after checking my diary, I'd vote for the 17th, as I have a tranche of my dissertation due on June 14th, so may be a bit distracted on the 10th, but I will bow to the majority view.

[MrsWembley]

No no no, I was ordering Death of Bees (coz I'm slovenly and late...)

[Lamazeroo]

Sorry I've been absent for MONTHS. Really hoping that the hideous early toddler phase passes quickly. I don't feel I have any right to a voice in the next book discussion as I haven't been participating in proper discussion!

[Campaspe]

I love the fact that my own city seems to be the only place on MN that has a thriving bookclub. Go, Bristol readers!

[MrsWembley]

Helloooo!

Just noticed this thread had dropped off the radar again, so I thought a little post from me might wake everyone up.

Where are we meeting on Monday? Did we say the Tobacco Factory again?

(Btw, I've actually finished the book!)

[Lamazeroo]

Hello! Yes, I believe we are due to meet at the Tobacco Factory. I'm pretty optimistic I'll finish the book over the weekend - and things have improved so much with Mr Non-Sleeper that I'm more than 90% sure ill actually be present this time.

[exexpat]

I'll be there, even though I'm mid essay-crisis. Keeping fingers crossed that non-sleeping baby behaves for you, Lamazeroo.

[Lamazeroo]

Okay I may have been a little over enthusiastic in my earlier statement about things improving. Still optimistic though!

[FreckledLeopard]

I've just seen this thread. I moved to Bristol in October. Please can I join the bookclub? I'd love to meet new people and read more!

[exexpat]

FreckledLeopard - sure, I think we're always open to new members. Do you want to come along tomorrow to meet us? 8pm in the Tobacco Factory bar. Last time we were in the green room, which is the slightly quieter room through a door to the right of the main bar.

I'm going to PM reminders to a few people who haven't been on the thread for a while. Hope to see lots of you tomorrow.

[QueenofWhatever]

Thanks for the reminder PM exexpat. I'm coming tomorrow and have read the book, enjoyed it much more than I expected.

Have we agreed future dates and titles? If not, can we agree a few tomorrow night? Forward planning works best for me.

[FreckledLeopard]

I have to go to London for work so can't make tomorrow but will be at the following month's meet if that's ok and we have a confirmed book!

[slightlysoupstained]

Oh whoops. Forgot...erm, hopefully I'll make it along to one eventually. Erm - did you all decide on a book/date for the next one?

[exexpat]

oh, sorry slightlysoupstained - did I not PM you? I thought I'd done everyone who was on the thread but hadn't been seen for a while. I must make a proper list. Not that I'm actually appointing myself organiser or anything, but it seems like a good idea if someone sends out reminders...

Hope to see you and & freckledleopard at the next one.

Anyway - the next few books/dates as agreed on Monday are:

Monday June 24th, 8pm, Hope & Anchor, Jacobs' Wells Rd: To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee. Most of us haven't read it since doing it at school when we were about 12, and thought it might be interesting to revisit from an adult perspective.

Monday July 22nd, 8pm, venue TBC (but possibly Tobacco Factory? That seems to work quite well as a south-of-the-river venue - lots of space, easy parking etc): we provisionally agreed to read The Lighthouse by Alison Moore (Booker shortlist this year), but there wasn't such overwhelming enthusiasm that we wouldn't be open to other ideas, I think. But if anyone objects, it would probably be good to swap pretty soon to allow for book-buying.

We decided to give August a miss, because of bank holidays and people being away, so the next one after that will be on September 2nd. Book and venue TBC.

[mutley1]

Hello
I have finally been directed to this thread, thank you everyone. I would love to join you all on Monday 24th June. Would that be ok. I will have a stab at reading as much of TKAMB as poss before then

[TheRealXkcdfangirl]

Hello mutley1 yes it would be lovely to have you come and join us on 24th June - if you've not met any of us before just hold your copy of the book in a nonchalant sort of way while you order your drink and it's quite likely that one of us will notice and say hello. If that doesn't work, there probably won't be many all-female tables so it won't take too long to find us. We shall look forward to seeing you.

I'm not sure I'll have finished TKAMB by then myself - as I've read it before I thought I'd just whizz through it relatively close to the meeting, but having started now I'm not whizzing and am still very close to the beginning!

[MrsWembley]

Bollocks, this thread keeps dropping off my list!

Just caught 5 minutes of the Woman's Hour book of the week and, judging by the write-up on Amazon, it could be an interesting one for us: The Testament of Jessie Lamb by Jane Rogers.

What does everyone think?

[Orangesarenottheonlyfruit]

Hello, please could I join you? I'm sure I could have a stab at Mockingbird by next week and I remember it pretty clearly from school, wonderful book.
Hope and Anchor at 8pm, right?

Also, just heard the Woman's Hour book - The Testament of Jessie Lamb - I agree it was brilliant and I thought I'd like to read it too!

[exexpat]

Hello Oranges - sure, come along - more the merrier, I think - though I guess there is a size beyond which it is hard to have a group discussion in a pub, but we'll have to see if we ever reach it - there are always one or two regulars who can't make it each time.

The Jane Rogers book sounds interesting - good one for after the Lighthouse?

See you all next week. Shall I send out a few reminders as usual?

(gets back to To Kill a Mockingbird)

[MrsWembley]

Middle-of-the-night thoughts - my DM is visiting this weekend til Tuesday for DS's birthday, so I won't be able to come Monday night.

[exexpat]

Oh no - and you're the one who suggested the book! Can't you even sneak out for an hour to join us?

[MrsWembley]

I didn't suggest Mockingbird. I arrived late and it was already out there!

[exexpat]

Oh sorry, misremembered - maybe it was XKCD? Shame if you can't make it in any case. Shall I make sure the Jane Rogers book is up for discussion for next-but-one?

[TheRealXkcdfangirl]

No it wasn't me. I think it might have been Lamaz, or perhaps QueenOf?

I'm excited by how many new people have said they will join us for Monday's meeting - I count FreckledLeopard, slightlysoupstained, mutley1 and Orangesarenottheonlyfruit - is that everyone or have I missed one? - it will be excellent to meet you all.

See you Monday then.