2.30 pm, 31 July 2011: Celebration of 25 years of the book group

The July meeting is at Cheltenham and we are celebrating 25 years of the book group.

It's a silver anniversary, so please dress accordingly - a touch of silver perhaps.

Moy is making a cake - I can't wait to see it.

The book The Hare with Amber Eyes has a Japanese connection - and we will be in the Japanese pavilion weather permitting.

We will be issuing some best book awards, looking back over the 25 years. Bring your favourite books, bring your friends who've been members! Looking forward to a lovely day in the sun.

June meeting - August book

June meeting at Ros's went well though some missing faces: Sue E, Sue W, Clare, Jane and Patricia in attendance as well as Ros. We spent a whole HOUR on gossip before we got to the book: Grandchild gossip mostly - with new grand-babies on the way for Sue W (her first) and Ros as well as Sue E. Jane has welcomed a grandson just a few days before my new granddaughter in Tokyo.

When we got to the book - Bereft by Chris Womersley - it was worth the wait. Literary, metaphysical, a fairy tale, perhaps a thriller (we decided no), a historical novel featuring damaged people in WWII and afterwards. It evoked memories of 'bereft' childhoods in small country towns, with or without libraries. Sue has seen the author at the writers festival - he was inspired by Les Carlyon's book on WWII and its aftermath. We won't be buying the book for friends and family, but most enjoyed it and it gave us food for thought. Get it at the library.

August book is The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht, the youngest writer ever to win the Orange Prize for Fiction. She is 25. Click to read an interesting Review which appeared in The Guardian. It is apparently 'a novel which mythologises Yugoslavia's history'. We are loving the July book, The Hare with Amber Eyes. More on July to follow.