September meeting - November book
News from Ros re the September meeting which I was unable to attend, being in Japan - and too much to do to connect in by Skype - or even read the book, I have to admit.
However, I gather there was a lively mixed reaction - always good - and that the November book is to be American Rust by Phillip Meyer. October meet is at Maggie's place you will recall, for the Clare Messud, which I had better read quick start or be drummed out of the group.
Look forward to a good roll-up and the usual great discussion.
Patricia
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Sunday, August 25, 2013
August meeting: October book
Today we met at Sue Wood's place, so many people we had to put the folding table to work! Sue had catered magnificently and we all enjoyed the Leichhardt Ricotta Cake in particular.
Most were positive about the book Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Stroud. A novel made up of a series of stories, loosely linked by the presence of Olive, but a big cast of well drawn characters. Liz didn't like the small town claustrophobia of the setting. We agreed that Olive herself wasn't entirely a likeable character, but do we alway want to read about nice people! Some great writing.
The October book will be Claire Messud's The Woman Upstairs. Margaret has read it and liked it, so there is high praise.
Remember that the September book group meeting is at Stella's place, and the book is The Orphan Masters Son by Adam Johnston.
Cheers from Patricia
Today we met at Sue Wood's place, so many people we had to put the folding table to work! Sue had catered magnificently and we all enjoyed the Leichhardt Ricotta Cake in particular.
Most were positive about the book Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Stroud. A novel made up of a series of stories, loosely linked by the presence of Olive, but a big cast of well drawn characters. Liz didn't like the small town claustrophobia of the setting. We agreed that Olive herself wasn't entirely a likeable character, but do we alway want to read about nice people! Some great writing.
The October book will be Claire Messud's The Woman Upstairs. Margaret has read it and liked it, so there is high praise.
Remember that the September book group meeting is at Stella's place, and the book is The Orphan Masters Son by Adam Johnston.
Cheers from Patricia
Sunday, July 28, 2013
July Meeting at Jane's - September book will be The Orphan Master's Son at Stella's place
We managed to have an almost perfect attendance record today - just Pat R who is travelling and Liz who is welcoming a traveller couldn't be there. Three - yes 3 - new babies! A grandson for Sue W, and two new granddaughters to Maggie. Congratulations to all. We marvelled at the lovely foodstuffs they have at Wollstonecraft - beautiful charcuterie spread! And a yummy cake too.
Didn't get to The Reluctant Fundamentalist till 3pm as a result - too much to tell. But when we got there, we had much to admire about this pithy book in the form of a dramatic monologue.
A few of us had seen the film too and liked it too, but it was of necessity less subtle than the book.
The next book is the Pulitzer Prize winner - a recent one - The Orphan Master's Son, by Adam Johnson, set in North Korea.
We have worked out the places for the new few book group meetings:
August - Sue W - Olive Kitteridge
September - Stella O'R - The Orphan Master's Son
October - Maggie H - TBA
November - Moy - TBA
Cheers to all
Pat
We managed to have an almost perfect attendance record today - just Pat R who is travelling and Liz who is welcoming a traveller couldn't be there. Three - yes 3 - new babies! A grandson for Sue W, and two new granddaughters to Maggie. Congratulations to all. We marvelled at the lovely foodstuffs they have at Wollstonecraft - beautiful charcuterie spread! And a yummy cake too.
Didn't get to The Reluctant Fundamentalist till 3pm as a result - too much to tell. But when we got there, we had much to admire about this pithy book in the form of a dramatic monologue.
A few of us had seen the film too and liked it too, but it was of necessity less subtle than the book.
The next book is the Pulitzer Prize winner - a recent one - The Orphan Master's Son, by Adam Johnson, set in North Korea.
We have worked out the places for the new few book group meetings:
August - Sue W - Olive Kitteridge
September - Stella O'R - The Orphan Master's Son
October - Maggie H - TBA
November - Moy - TBA
Cheers to all
Pat
Sunday, June 30, 2013
June Meeting; August book
Thanks to you all for coming to my place today for book group. I thought The Rosie Project was fun. Not everyone liked it - and it was lightweight - but still it gave us plenty to talk about. Most of us did the quiz to see which character we are like - there were lots of Claudias and a few Dons! Those who weren't there can check it out at:
http://quiz.therosieproject.com.au/character.html
The important thing - the next book... It is Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Stroud, a Pulitzer Prize Winner from a few years ago.
Next book, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, will be at Jane's place, and the one after, in August, at Sue Woods. See you next month.
http://quiz.therosieproject.com.au/character.html
The important thing - the next book... It is Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Stroud, a Pulitzer Prize Winner from a few years ago.
Next book, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, will be at Jane's place, and the one after, in August, at Sue Woods. See you next month.
Sunday, May 26, 2013
May meeting and July book
Today we met at Clare's, feasted on lovely food in Clare's elegant dining room and created conversational chaos! Missed Margaret in Canberra, Moy on the Coast, and Pat who is en route to Iran, and Liz - come next time if you can (Maggie can't I know)!
Today's book was Elizabeth Harrower's The Watch Tower. We found so much to talk about! It wasn't universally liked - Sue Woods loved it enough to read it twice. Jane didn't like it very much at all. We all HATED Felix Shaw, the male protagonist, and wondered where Elizabeth H. found that character - in her life or in her imagination? Our research showed that all her writing seems to focus on controlling men and trapped women - except where women are the controlling characters, ruining the lives of other women. Indeed the mother in The Watch Tower was a pretty awful character. The writing was excellent - 'austere, intelligent, ruthless in its perceptions...'. It was published in 1966 - how did we miss it all this time? I have the job of writing to Elizabeth Harrower and asking her to a meeting -yes, she is still alive and lives in Sydney.
Next book is The Rosie Project at my place on 30 June - and then on July 28th, we read The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid at Jane's place.
Today we met at Clare's, feasted on lovely food in Clare's elegant dining room and created conversational chaos! Missed Margaret in Canberra, Moy on the Coast, and Pat who is en route to Iran, and Liz - come next time if you can (Maggie can't I know)!
Today's book was Elizabeth Harrower's The Watch Tower. We found so much to talk about! It wasn't universally liked - Sue Woods loved it enough to read it twice. Jane didn't like it very much at all. We all HATED Felix Shaw, the male protagonist, and wondered where Elizabeth H. found that character - in her life or in her imagination? Our research showed that all her writing seems to focus on controlling men and trapped women - except where women are the controlling characters, ruining the lives of other women. Indeed the mother in The Watch Tower was a pretty awful character. The writing was excellent - 'austere, intelligent, ruthless in its perceptions...'. It was published in 1966 - how did we miss it all this time? I have the job of writing to Elizabeth Harrower and asking her to a meeting -yes, she is still alive and lives in Sydney.
Next book is The Rosie Project at my place on 30 June - and then on July 28th, we read The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid at Jane's place.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
April meeting - June Book
We had a great meeting at Ros's place, with lots of conversation about Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. A rich and complex book to discuss, framed entirely through the voice of the narrator, the Reverend John Ames. The extent of his unreliability as an informant was debated. It was a topic that raised many others, and we can now read another version of the events in the book, if we read Robinson's book Home, singing Verdi and Pat R getting ready for a big trip.
Our June book was decided from several contenders - including Kate Atkinson, Life after Life, Toni Jordan's Nine Days and Drusilla Modjeska's The Mountain. None of these got the nod this time, it's to be Graeme Simsion's current bestseller, The Rosie Project at my place in June. Clare's place in May.
We had a great meeting at Ros's place, with lots of conversation about Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. A rich and complex book to discuss, framed entirely through the voice of the narrator, the Reverend John Ames. The extent of his unreliability as an informant was debated. It was a topic that raised many others, and we can now read another version of the events in the book, if we read Robinson's book Home, singing Verdi and Pat R getting ready for a big trip.
Our June book was decided from several contenders - including Kate Atkinson, Life after Life, Toni Jordan's Nine Days and Drusilla Modjeska's The Mountain. None of these got the nod this time, it's to be Graeme Simsion's current bestseller, The Rosie Project at my place in June. Clare's place in May.
Friday, April 19, 2013
March 2013
I missed this one, at Stella's place, but am told that Middlemarch proved hard work for some people.
The May book was decided - a 1960s Australian publication that is having another lease of life - The Watch Tower by Elizabeth Harrower and that will be at Clare's place. Ok I'm up to date now. See you at Ros's place for Gilead at the end of April.
I missed this one, at Stella's place, but am told that Middlemarch proved hard work for some people.
The May book was decided - a 1960s Australian publication that is having another lease of life - The Watch Tower by Elizabeth Harrower and that will be at Clare's place. Ok I'm up to date now. See you at Ros's place for Gilead at the end of April.
February 2013 - Dear Life by Alice Munro
This was another winner, and prompted a very lively discussion and it wasn't just that we related to the well-told stories that dealt with ageing. We don't always do well with short stories, but these worked well.
The April book was decided - Gilead by Marilynne Robinson.
This was another winner, and prompted a very lively discussion and it wasn't just that we related to the well-told stories that dealt with ageing. We don't always do well with short stories, but these worked well.
The April book was decided - Gilead by Marilynne Robinson.
January 2013
Still catching up - I missed the discussion of The Dark Room by Rachael Seiffert, a collection of 3 stories linked in theme. I'm sorry I missed it because I loved these stories, and I hear that was pretty much the unanimous view. The March book was set - George Elliot's Middlemarch as our annual classic.
Still catching up - I missed the discussion of The Dark Room by Rachael Seiffert, a collection of 3 stories linked in theme. I'm sorry I missed it because I loved these stories, and I hear that was pretty much the unanimous view. The March book was set - George Elliot's Middlemarch as our annual classic.
November 2012
I've been hopelessly remiss with keeping the blog up to date so will do a quick catch up.
November book at Maggie's place was The Garden of Evening Mists. Ken didn't go to Namibia after all as he was recuperating from an injury! Maggie did a great job as first time host, and the discussion was lively, even if the book was flawed. The places and themes it covered resonated with many of us.
We decided on the February book - Dear Life by Alice Munro, a book of short stories.
I've been hopelessly remiss with keeping the blog up to date so will do a quick catch up.
November book at Maggie's place was The Garden of Evening Mists. Ken didn't go to Namibia after all as he was recuperating from an injury! Maggie did a great job as first time host, and the discussion was lively, even if the book was flawed. The places and themes it covered resonated with many of us.
We decided on the February book - Dear Life by Alice Munro, a book of short stories.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Booksnthings: October 2012 meeting, January 2013 book.Lovely da...
Booksnthings: October 2012 meeting, January 2013 book.
Lovely da...: October 2012 meeting, January 2013 book. Lovely day at Sue W's place, lively discussion of Hemingway's The Moveable Feast , comparing the 2...
Ladies
I have now attended 4 of the Book Club meetings and I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I felt a little nervous at the meeting on Sunday when Pat S handed me the hallowed note book and told me to scribe. Apparently it is the person whose home is designated next month's venue to write the notes on the discussion of the day. Re-reading my notes - I am sure I haven't summarized very well the great discussion on EH's book and I can hardly read my own writing. My excuse is that its was my first time and I almost never write these days, not even Christmas cards, but use my computer to type everything. So apologies, I will endeavour to do better next time.
With kind regards to all,
Maggie
Lovely da...: October 2012 meeting, January 2013 book. Lovely day at Sue W's place, lively discussion of Hemingway's The Moveable Feast , comparing the 2...
Ladies
I have now attended 4 of the Book Club meetings and I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I felt a little nervous at the meeting on Sunday when Pat S handed me the hallowed note book and told me to scribe. Apparently it is the person whose home is designated next month's venue to write the notes on the discussion of the day. Re-reading my notes - I am sure I haven't summarized very well the great discussion on EH's book and I can hardly read my own writing. My excuse is that its was my first time and I almost never write these days, not even Christmas cards, but use my computer to type everything. So apologies, I will endeavour to do better next time.
With kind regards to all,
Maggie
Sunday, October 28, 2012
October 2012 meeting, January 2013 book.
Lovely day at Sue W's place, lively discussion of Hemingway's The Moveable Feast, comparing the 2 published versions and discussing the many drafts. We had the Paris Wife version of the story to refer to as well. And Sue and I had had a recent look at The Sun also Rises as well. We were very pleased that we had taken the time for a look at this ground-breaking writer, and think about the importance of this time in art and literature, and of Paris.
Stella - you will be pleased to hear that Pappa's had run out of Ricotta cheesecake, so you didn't miss out. But you did miss out on the yummy apple tart that replaced it.
Maggie took notes because the November book is at her place and Ken is heading off to Namibia to get out of the way - Ken, really you didn't have to!
No meeting in December as usual. The January meeting will look at The Dark Room by Rachel Seiffert, which has been in the news as one it's 3 stories is the basis for the recent Cate Shortland movie, Lore. I've read the book and seen the movie and am recommending it far and wide - though it was Sue W's suggestion. Sue E volunteered to host in January.
Cheers Pat
Lovely day at Sue W's place, lively discussion of Hemingway's The Moveable Feast, comparing the 2 published versions and discussing the many drafts. We had the Paris Wife version of the story to refer to as well. And Sue and I had had a recent look at The Sun also Rises as well. We were very pleased that we had taken the time for a look at this ground-breaking writer, and think about the importance of this time in art and literature, and of Paris.Stella - you will be pleased to hear that Pappa's had run out of Ricotta cheesecake, so you didn't miss out. But you did miss out on the yummy apple tart that replaced it.
Maggie took notes because the November book is at her place and Ken is heading off to Namibia to get out of the way - Ken, really you didn't have to!
No meeting in December as usual. The January meeting will look at The Dark Room by Rachel Seiffert, which has been in the news as one it's 3 stories is the basis for the recent Cate Shortland movie, Lore. I've read the book and seen the movie and am recommending it far and wide - though it was Sue W's suggestion. Sue E volunteered to host in January.
Cheers Pat
Saturday, October 13, 2012
September meeting at Sue E's and November book.
I was an apology for the meeting, but I have a report from Ros. The November book - on my recommendation, apparently - is The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng, at Maggie's place. I did rave about the book based on the first 3rd, before the plot developed a life of its own, so I will have to be responsible. I enjoyed it to the end but in the cool clear light of day, I fear that it is not going to win the Booker Prize. It touches on lots of ideas that interest me. There are no cowboys. I have a copy to share anyway.
Ros also said there was a suggestion that we could read The Sun also Rises as well as The Moveable Feast at the October meeting, which will be held at Sue W's place. There was a review in the SMH Traveller today of a Spanish restaurant we might visit as part of our research!
Cheers
Patricia
I was an apology for the meeting, but I have a report from Ros. The November book - on my recommendation, apparently - is The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng, at Maggie's place. I did rave about the book based on the first 3rd, before the plot developed a life of its own, so I will have to be responsible. I enjoyed it to the end but in the cool clear light of day, I fear that it is not going to win the Booker Prize. It touches on lots of ideas that interest me. There are no cowboys. I have a copy to share anyway.
Ros also said there was a suggestion that we could read The Sun also Rises as well as The Moveable Feast at the October meeting, which will be held at Sue W's place. There was a review in the SMH Traveller today of a Spanish restaurant we might visit as part of our research!
Cheers
Patricia
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
August meeting. October book
Lovely meeting at Jane's place at Wollstonecraft. Six of us there and we made up for smaller numbers with energetic discussion. Lots to say about the book Beyond the Shallows - quite an achievement by a very young writer. We will hear more from her.
Next meeting is at Sue Ellyard's place, when we look at The Paris Wife.
Then the October meeting, we will do a Hemingway: A Moveable Feast.
Venue TBC for October.
Regards
Patricia
Next meeting is at Sue Ellyard's place, when we look at The Paris Wife.
Then the October meeting, we will do a Hemingway: A Moveable Feast.
Venue TBC for October.
Regards
Patricia
Sunday, July 29, 2012
July meeting - September book
Historic event - a full roll-up at book group today! Salvage the Bones was a popular choice, a powerful piece of writing showing a window on a world we don't otherwise have access to.
The August book group meeting is at Jane's place - at Woolstonecraft, that is. The September book group is at Sue Ellyard's place in Beecroft.
The September book is The Paris Wife by Paula McLain. We took a while choosing it, with lots of good possibilities. And here is the recipe for the Persian Love Cake, thanks to Annabelle Crabbe.
Historic event - a full roll-up at book group today! Salvage the Bones was a popular choice, a powerful piece of writing showing a window on a world we don't otherwise have access to.
The August book group meeting is at Jane's place - at Woolstonecraft, that is. The September book group is at Sue Ellyard's place in Beecroft.
The September book is The Paris Wife by Paula McLain. We took a while choosing it, with lots of good possibilities. And here is the recipe for the Persian Love Cake, thanks to Annabelle Crabbe.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
June meeting - August book
The June meeting went well at Stella's with a spirited discussion of Mateship with Birds by Carrie Tiffany, as some enjoyed the book more than others - too much information for some. But everyone found something to like in the descriptions of the animal world and evocation of a 50s country town.
July meeting is at my place, and Ros has contributed a review to listen to beforehand:
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/booksandartsdaily/jesmyn-ward27s-award-winning-novel/4076882
Radio National interview with Jesmyn Ward 'Salvage the Bones'.
August meeting is at Jane's at Woolstonecraft. The book is Past the Shallows by Favel Parrett, a debut novelist who Sue W caught up with at the Writer's Festival.
A film outing is planned for Wednesday 11th July so if interested, call Sue W or Ros for where to meet, etc.
The June meeting went well at Stella's with a spirited discussion of Mateship with Birds by Carrie Tiffany, as some enjoyed the book more than others - too much information for some. But everyone found something to like in the descriptions of the animal world and evocation of a 50s country town.
July meeting is at my place, and Ros has contributed a review to listen to beforehand:
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/booksandartsdaily/jesmyn-ward27s-award-winning-novel/4076882
Radio National interview with Jesmyn Ward 'Salvage the Bones'.
August meeting is at Jane's at Woolstonecraft. The book is Past the Shallows by Favel Parrett, a debut novelist who Sue W caught up with at the Writer's Festival.
A film outing is planned for Wednesday 11th July so if interested, call Sue W or Ros for where to meet, etc.
Monday, May 28, 2012
THANK YOU
Dear Ladies
A formal thank you to you all for accepting me into your
rather special book club. I
thoroughly enjoyed meeting you all in March and hearing your individual
thoughts on The Memory of Love. I do apologise for not attending the
May meeting. I have to also admit to
not reading the book selection for that month. However I am whipping through Mateship with Birds at present whilst on a working holiday in
Perth. I look forward to discussing this novel on the 27th and
enjoying your afternoon teas to which I will aspire!
Regards to all
Maggie Hayes
Email: maidenhayes@gmail.com
Mobile: 0413 316
260
Sunday, May 27, 2012
May 2012 meeting, July Book
Great meeting again at Moy's place. Everyone got straight into talking about Julian Barnes' A Sense of an Ending, and we were still talking about it hours later. What a fascinating book that led us a merry dance. We will still be talking about it next month, I'm sure.
Don't forget the next book day on the 24th June is at Stella's place - Mateship with Birds.
July book is Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward, which was one of the most popular books at the Sydney Writers Festival, at least in terms of books sold after the talk. We took ages to agree on the book - nothing seemed to jump out at us, or we'd already done the author, or... Hope this lives up to the standard of the Julian Barnes. Oh, July is at my place.
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Don't forget the next book day on the 24th June is at Stella's place - Mateship with Birds.
July book is Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward, which was one of the most popular books at the Sydney Writers Festival, at least in terms of books sold after the talk. We took ages to agree on the book - nothing seemed to jump out at us, or we'd already done the author, or... Hope this lives up to the standard of the Julian Barnes. Oh, July is at my place.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
April meeting, June Book
Thanks Margaret for your hospitality - lovely day, great outlook, yummy food, specially the home-made cakes. Recipes please.
While The Memory of Love wasn't the most popular book we've done - but it provoked plenty of discussion. The book took an age to get interesting, and despite great story potential, it didn't leave us knowing much about Sierra Leone, or caring about the characters.
We welcomed new member Maggie Maiden and had a good roll up on the day.
After The Sense of an Ending at the May meeting (at Moy's), we will be reading Mateship with Birds by Carrie Tiffany, meeting at Stella's place in June.
See you all soon. Have a good Writers Week.
Thanks Margaret for your hospitality - lovely day, great outlook, yummy food, specially the home-made cakes. Recipes please.
While The Memory of Love wasn't the most popular book we've done - but it provoked plenty of discussion. The book took an age to get interesting, and despite great story potential, it didn't leave us knowing much about Sierra Leone, or caring about the characters.
We welcomed new member Maggie Maiden and had a good roll up on the day.
After The Sense of an Ending at the May meeting (at Moy's), we will be reading Mateship with Birds by Carrie Tiffany, meeting at Stella's place in June.
See you all soon. Have a good Writers Week.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
March meeting, May book.
Great discussion of Welcome to the Goon Squad at Ros's place on Sunday, thanks to Sue W for some questions, research and notes that enriched the discussion.
May book is the Booker Prize Winner Julian Barnes - The sense of an ending.
April book group meeting is at Margaret's place. See you there! I'm looking forward to bringing my friend Maggie as a new member. And Maggie, Moy remembers you from camping at Woolgoolga.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
February meeting, April Book.
Thanks Jane for your hospitality at Woolstonecraft when we did our classic, Kim by Rudyard Kipling. What a robust discussion, with the group fairly evenly divided between those who'd welcomed the change to catch up with a classic and those who found it hard going to the point of annoyance. A great coming of age story, set in its time, grounded in Kipling's great knowledge of Indian cultures, politics and religion but carrying his assumptions as a man of his time, a British Colonial. A spiritual quest, too, which ends interestingly - shows great insight into the philosophies - Buddhism, Islam particularly - and their place in the politics. A spy novel, the forerunner of writing about 'The Great Game'. Yes I liked it, that's why I'm rattling on!
We had a full roll up too.
March meeting - Welcome to the Goon Squad is the book. We are meeting at Ros's place.
April meeting is at Margaret Lackenby's place and the book is The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna, set in Sierra Leone. Click here for a review.
Monday, January 30, 2012
January meeting, March book.
We met at my place where there was a pretty good rollup, missing Sue E, Moy and Clare.
My sister in law Liz visited.
We looked at The Gate at the Stairs, by Lorrie Moore which was very well liked, and provoked discussion of the language, the playfulness of it, the poetry of the descriptions, the good depiction of the age of the protagonist. The irony was appreciated and the themes of birth, death etc made it quite a serious book repaying close reading.
With almost no discussion, we decided on Jennifer Egan's A Visit from the Goon Squad for our March book. We will be meeting at Jane's place in February for Kim.
Cheers
Patricia
November meeting. February book.
Woops, forgot to post in November, when we talked about Anna Funder's book All that I am at Clare's place. Quite a lively discussion and we liked the book. In fact it came through our end of year voting as the book of the year after a rather - well, random - voting process. More people gave it the thumbs up than any other book for the year anyway.
We also decided to do a classic book in February, to give people a better chance at getting it from the library. Hence, for February we are looking at Rudyard Kipling's book Kim.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
October meeting - January book
Hi
We met at Sue Woods place - a good roll-up - didn't break up till 5.45pm! Lots to talk about with Annabel by Kathleen Winter - the issues raised and the book itself. We are mostly recommending the book to friends.
November book is by Anna Funder - All that I am. I'm looking forward to it very much. We meet at Clare's. There is a review at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/sep/16/all-i-am-anna-funder-review
The January book is Lorrie Moore's A gate at the stairs at my place. It as been on our list of possibles for a while. We have a new policy in choosing books - we are trying to get away from choosing the book that every other book group is choosing this week!
I saw 2 reviews of the Lorrie Moore, one positive, one not positive at all! But we like a bit of controversy.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/apr/11/lorrie-moore-gate-stairs-interview
http://conversationalreading.com/lorrie-moores-sad-decline/
Cheers all
Patricia
Friday, September 02, 2011
October book - Annabel by Kathleen Winter
We had a lovely meeting at Jane's with Ros, Sue W, Clare and me in attendance as well as hostess Jane, who put on a beyoootiful spread. Lots of people had good reasons not to be there, I know, - congratulations to Sue E on the arrival of grandson Arthur born to Rachel. We did talk about babies a lot and can legitimately do so at the October meeting, where we can talk about Annabel by Kathleen Winter. It is a first novel by a Canadian Author, has won lots of prizes in Canada and was shortlisted for the Orange Prize.
You can read more at:
http://sites.google.com/site/kathleenwinterauthor/
Kathleen Winter keeps a journal, quite a nice one:
http://kathleenwinter.livejournal.com/
Regards
Patricia
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
September book: Bright and Distant Shores by Dominic Smith
Everyone knows the book for September, as above - but you might not know the September venue - Sue E's place. The August venue is Jane's at Willoughby, when we will discuss The Tiger's Wife.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
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.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
May meeting - July book
Lovely meeting at Moy's place, good discussion of lots of things including Five Bells by Gail Jones, a contender for book of the year.
The June meeting will be at Ros's house. The book is Bereft By Chris Womersley,
The July Meeting will be at my place at Cheltenham. The book is The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund De Waal.
The July meeting will celebrate 25 years of the bookgroup. Moy is making a cake.
Woo Hoo. Please see if you can be there!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
April meeting, June book
April meeting was on May 1 this time, at Margaret Lackenby's home.
The June book is Bereft by Chris Womersley. I finished reading our May book Five Bells this morning, loved the language and the characters but ended a little disappointed in where it went. It will be worth further discussion so expect a lovely day at Moy's.
Until next time.
Patricia
Sunday, March 27, 2011
March Meeting, May book
We met at Stella's - Sue Woods, Moy Gamblin, Margaret Lackenby, Me and Stell for most of the meeting, then Ros from coffee time on. Very productive discussion of the book, The Vintage and the Gleaning, which we found repaid reflection and second reads and was generally liked.
Clare was missed and we wish her well. Hope all has gone well for Sue and Rachel in Melbourne too.
Remember that the April meeting has been postponed to May 1 and will be held at Margaret Lackenby's. The May meeting will be held at Moy's place at Long Jetty.
We agreed to go ahead with the Gail Jones book, Five Bells for the May bookgroup meeting, so this is what we will be doing at Moy's. Sounds good.
Cheers
Patricia
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
February meeting: April Book
Sue hosted the meeting where we talked about 'Home' by Emma Donoghue.
The decision about the April book had to be put to the vote. The contenders were 'We had it so good' by Linda Grant and 'Five Bells' by Gail Jones. The winner was 'We had it so good' and 'Five Bells' is a tentative book for May, to be confirmed at the next meeting.
So there are 3 messages to remember
The April Book is 'We had it so good' by Linda Grant. See Review
The date of the meeting is NOT in April - it is on 1 May
The venue of the meeting has been changed again - it is now at Margaret Lackenby's place.
Lastly, best wishes to Clare during her operation and recuperation, it's a time to hope to many good books and many good discussions to come,
And truly last - Peter and Kana are feeling more comfortable and assure us that the situation in Japan is settling. They are in Niigata with Kana's parents and saw their baby's face on the ultrasound yesterday, so are looking to the future.
Cheers
Pat
Sunday, January 30, 2011
January meeting; March book; vote on 2010 books; change of date for April.
We met at Jane's gracious and roomy new home in Woolstonecraft. If this is downsizing, it looks very comfortable! Thanks Jane for your hospitality and many tours.
Vote on best and worst of 2010:
Best was February book Wolf Hall by Hillary Mantell (5 votes for best) ; Worst was May book The Museum of Innocence by Orhan Pahmuc (5 votes for worst). 2010 was pronounced a strong year. Other books with more than one vote for best book were Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey and Let the great world spin by Colm McCann.
January Book: The Finkler Question
The book under discussion was The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson and we didn't get to say a word about it for at least 20 minutes. Lots to catch up with after the break.
Ros liked the book for its cerebral arguments and its humour - but most others were not as positive.
There were things to like, but the characters were not engaging and not clearly drawn - specially the female characters. Julian Treslove, the central character, suffered a lack of identity and character - and this was the point of the book - but in the end he was just a self-indulgent racist bore.
I for one wouldn't have perservered if it wasn't a book group book - it was quite dense, and without a plot as such, couldn't be skimmed. But it won the Booker Prize. It put us in the central dilemma dealt with in the book - what were we non-Jews doing batting about our opinions on these Jewish questions anyway. Should we? Did we want to?
It certainly threw up does ideas but all the same, Sue had trouble filling a page with her review as we spoke. Perhaps she was searching for meaty points in our discussion and not finding them!
In the end the topic of circumcision got us to the end of the page.
March book.
Here it is: The Vintage and the Gleaning by first time writer Jeremy Chambers. Margaret Lackenby recommends it.
Next meeting will be at Sue W's house on 27 February.
The following one is at Stella's place on 27 March.
The April one would be on Easter Sunday so we have taken the unusual step of putting the date forward one week to 1 May - so Mayday at my place in Cheltenham.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Summary for 2010
January: The Road by Cormac McCarthy
January: The Road by Cormac McCarthy
February: Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantell
March: Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann
April: On-Nibus by various authors
May: The Museum of Innocence by Ohran Pahmuc
June: Diamond Star Halo by Tiffany Forgettable
July: Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey
August: Truth by Peter Temple
September: Trespass by Rose Tremain
October: The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet by David Mitchell
November: Freedom by Jonathan Franzen
Vote for your best and worst at the January meeting.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
November Super-Meeting, February Book
We had an early start at Moy's and a long discussion of Jonathan Franzen's Freedom over a beautiful lunch. Moy finally got to make the quail with rose petals we heard about in Like Water for Chocolate all those years ago. Then she stuffed a duck, just for a follow up. Discussion was spirited, as is usual when the group splits. There were those like Ros who loved the irony, others who didn't like a book full of unlikeable characters. Jane took notes because we are at her place in January, when we are reading the Booker Winner, Harold Jacobson's book, The Finkler Question.
For February, 2011, we chose Room by Emma Donoghue (see above). There is a write up on a site called 'good reads', so hope it is.
If you want to compare prices, have a look at the Booko blog,.
Recently, though, I realised that the Coop bookstore will mail to you very quickly and give great discounts if you are a member, which you probably are from your university days - its a lifelong membership. Then you don't have to feel bad about buying overseas either. I got $10 off an already good price on the Stephen Fry autobiography, delivered to a friend in hospital in Brisbane.
Cheers
Patricia
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
August meeting, October book We decided on the October Book:: The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell. It's set in Japan. Yes, We've read Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell before, but not many people read it, those who did loved it, and we decided he could have another turn. Rules are made to be bent. October meet will be at Jane's new house. We are reading Trespass by Rose Tremain for the September book group and that's at Sue E's place.
We had an excellent, fiesty discussion re Truth, with just about everyone in attendance. Sue E sadly didn't get back in time, but it was pretty much a full house otherwise. All in good voice with as Ros commented 'much overtalking'. It was pretty hard reading, tough subject matter, coarse language, demanding in terms of plot and exposition.There were those who didn't like the genre at all, those who embraced the genre and the book and those who found it an interesting excursion into a different world and certainly a different language from our usual book group reading. It is the first entry in our new book group diary - we've filled the old book and I'm holding it safely for posterity.
Friday, July 02, 2010
June meeting - August book
Hi there, June meeting at Stella's was spirited - Moy, Sue W, Ros, Sue E, Jane and of course Stella in attendance. Missing Clare, Margaret and Pat.
We were divided about Diamond Star Halo, as Jane and I enjoyed it, thought it was fun, but most others thought it lightweight, and I think the word 'rubbish' was used.
After Craig Silvey's Jasper Jones at Pat's Potts Point address, we will do Peter Temple's latest book, Truth, which has just won the Miles Franklin Award, remarkably for a crime novel. I'm the venue for August and Sue E has her name down for September. Jane's new place in October and Moy's place in November, so that's the whole year sorted!
Plenty of reviews of Truth online, and an ABC book show podcast at the following site:
I've just realised that Truth follows on with characters from The Broken Shore.
Good as I picked up a copy of that yesterday.
Regards and enjoy
Patricia
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
Hi
We met at Jane's - last time at her beautiful home, because next time it will be in her new place in Woolstonecraft - beautiful too, I'm sure.
We had little to say about the book. No one had liked it sufficiently to engage.
We did have plenty to say on related topics though!
Next book - June - we have at Stella's place. Jane was already reading the book, Diamond Star Halo, and loving it.
We decided on a new book, Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey for July which we think is at Pat's place in Macleay Street - will need confirmation and details, please Pat.
That's the news for now.
We met at Jane's - last time at her beautiful home, because next time it will be in her new place in Woolstonecraft - beautiful too, I'm sure.
We had little to say about the book. No one had liked it sufficiently to engage.
We did have plenty to say on related topics though!
Next book - June - we have at Stella's place. Jane was already reading the book, Diamond Star Halo, and loving it.
We decided on a new book, Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey for July which we think is at Pat's place in Macleay Street - will need confirmation and details, please Pat.
That's the news for now.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
June book -
Book is Diamond Star Halo, by Tiffany Murray, Portabello, $29.99.
It was the Pick of the Week in SMH Spectrum today, if you want to read a summary. Sounds like fun. We rejected lots of other options to settle on this! It sounds like it will take us in another direction - See the Guardian review of it here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jan/09/diamond-star-halo-murray-review
The May meeting is a Jane's and the June meeting at Stella's.
We had a lively meeting - we got stuck into today's book, On-Nibus straight off, and found plenty to say about it. It was judged a good choice for book group, but we've done our ration of non-fiction for now. Sue made her authentic Anzac Biscuits! (as well as a carrot cake).
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
MARCH BOOK: LET THE GREAT WORLD SPIN, by Colum McCann. This comes heavily recommended:2009 National Book Award Winner
Amazon.com's "Book of the Year"
Oprah.com's "Books You Can't Put Down" Summer Reading Selection
Amazon.com's "Book of the Year"
Oprah.com's "Books You Can't Put Down" Summer Reading Selection
And more importantly, Margaret L is reading it and says we'll love it.
This is at Ros's house.
BRIEF UPDATE: At our February 2010 meeting, there was a request to update the blog.
Six people can write in the blog - Sue E, Sue W, Margaret L, Pat R, Ros M and me, according to the settings. If anyone else wants to, I will add their names.
Anyone can read the blog - anyone who knows the address that is, I have set it so it won't be found with a google search, to minimise spam.
Thanks for contributions - books for last half of 2009 in short were:
August: White Tiger (Aravind Adiga)
Sept: Man Gone Down (Michael Thomas)
October: How to Paint a Dead Man (Sarah Hall)
November: Love and Summer (William Trevor)
January: The Road by Cormac McCarthy at Sue W's
Six people can write in the blog - Sue E, Sue W, Margaret L, Pat R, Ros M and me, according to the settings. If anyone else wants to, I will add their names.
Anyone can read the blog - anyone who knows the address that is, I have set it so it won't be found with a google search, to minimise spam.
Thanks for contributions - books for last half of 2009 in short were:
August: White Tiger (Aravind Adiga)
Sept: Man Gone Down (Michael Thomas)
October: How to Paint a Dead Man (Sarah Hall)
November: Love and Summer (William Trevor)
January: The Road by Cormac McCarthy at Sue W's
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Sunday, May 31, 2009
JULY BOOK
We decided on Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates as the July book, which will be at my place on 26 July.
Apparently The Times voted Richard Yates as one of the best 100 writers in English from 1923 to the present. This book was written in 1961.
See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolutionary_Road
The June book will be at Stellas, that's the Obama Dreams for my Father.
Clare excelled with the Plum Crumble cake today, but we didn't have much to say about Leave to Remain. Sue commented on how cursory our notes are getting recently and we have resolved to lift our game!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
May book - Leave to Remain - Abbas El Zein.
Abbas El Zein's latest book, Leave to Remain, is a memoir about growing up in civil-war Lebanon and migrating to the west. He is a featured writer at the Sydney Writers Festival. If you are planning your Festival trip, he is in a free group presentations: Lived Lives on May 21, 10 to 11am, and Conflict and Childhood, on May 23 1.30 to 2.30 SDC4. He is also free at Ashfield Library on May 21, 6.30-7.30, but you have to book on 97161810.
We had a good time discussing The Boat at Sue's place on Sunday and decided that the April bookgroup - The Elegance of the Hedgehog will be held at Margaret's place.
Congratulations to Pat on her new grandson.
Abbas El Zein's latest book, Leave to Remain, is a memoir about growing up in civil-war Lebanon and migrating to the west. He is a featured writer at the Sydney Writers Festival. If you are planning your Festival trip, he is in a free group presentations: Lived Lives on May 21, 10 to 11am, and Conflict and Childhood, on May 23 1.30 to 2.30 SDC4. He is also free at Ashfield Library on May 21, 6.30-7.30, but you have to book on 97161810.
We had a good time discussing The Boat at Sue's place on Sunday and decided that the April bookgroup - The Elegance of the Hedgehog will be held at Margaret's place.
Congratulations to Pat on her new grandson.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Interview: Christos Tsiolkas and Sophie Cunningham on The Slap.
http://www.themonthly.com.au/tm/node/1356
http://www.themonthly.com.au/tm/node/1356
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Jane's Cherry Cake
250g tin cherries drained
125 g dried apricots chopped
125 g dried figs chopped
125 g chopped nuts (walnuts, almonds or pecans)
150 g plain flour
2 ¼ tsp baking powder
165 g sugar
3 eggs
1 egg white
¼ cup vegetable oil
60 ml brandy
½ tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp almond extract
Combine cherries, apricots, figs, nuts, flour, baking pdr and half the sugar. Beat egg & egg whites with remaining sugar then stir in the oil, brandy, almond & vanilla extracts. Stir egg mixture into the fruit mixture. Bake in a lined & buttered tin @ 180 for 40 – 45 mins. Cool on a rack for 15 mins before turning out. Keeps up to 4 days in the fridge……………if you can resist eating it for that long!
Enjoy!
Jane
250g tin cherries drained
125 g dried apricots chopped
125 g dried figs chopped
125 g chopped nuts (walnuts, almonds or pecans)
150 g plain flour
2 ¼ tsp baking powder
165 g sugar
3 eggs
1 egg white
¼ cup vegetable oil
60 ml brandy
½ tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp almond extract
Combine cherries, apricots, figs, nuts, flour, baking pdr and half the sugar. Beat egg & egg whites with remaining sugar then stir in the oil, brandy, almond & vanilla extracts. Stir egg mixture into the fruit mixture. Bake in a lined & buttered tin @ 180 for 40 – 45 mins. Cool on a rack for 15 mins before turning out. Keeps up to 4 days in the fridge……………if you can resist eating it for that long!
Enjoy!
Jane
Monday, January 26, 2009
March book
Title: The Boat
Author: Nam Le
Location: Sue Ellyard's house
I'm the fifth reserve through Hornsby library, which means I'll have to buy the book, I fear.
There's a transcript of a Peter Mares ABC interview at:
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/bookshow/stories/2008/2273652.htm
Blurb from Penguin is
The Boat will take you everywhere.
In 1979, Nam Le's family left Vietnam for Australia, an experience that inspires the first and last stories in The Boat. In between, however, Le's imagination lays claim to the world.
The Boat takes us from a tourist in Tehran to a teenage hit man in Columbia; from an aging New York artist to a boy coming of age in a small Victorian fishing town; from the city of Hiroshima just before the bomb is dropped to the haunting waste of the South China Sea in the wake of another war.
Each story uncovers a raw human truth. Each story is absorbing and fully realised as a novel. Together, the make up a collection of astonishing diversity and achievement.
'Nam Le is extraordinary, a writer who will be heard. The Boat will be read for as long as people read books. Its vision and its power are timeless.' - Mary Gaitskill
'Wonderful stories that snarl and pant cross our crazed world... and extraordinary performance. Nam Le is a heartbreaker, not easily forgotten.' - Junot Diaz
'A fearless new Australian voice that accepts no geographical limits; these are stories of leaping power and the most breathtaking grace and intimacy.' - Helen Garner
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Monday, October 06, 2008
November book choice confirmed:
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Scheiffer
You remember that the October book is the 25 year Booker of Bookers Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie.
At the September meeting, The Household Guide to Dying stimulated lots of discussion, ranging beyond its literary merits. We all enjoyed reading the book but found the plot/ situation unravelling a bit under scrutiny. We would recommend it to others though.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Scheiffer
You remember that the October book is the 25 year Booker of Bookers Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie.
At the September meeting, The Household Guide to Dying stimulated lots of discussion, ranging beyond its literary merits. We all enjoyed reading the book but found the plot/ situation unravelling a bit under scrutiny. We would recommend it to others though.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Moy's Birthday Bash
It was a great evening with the star looking spectacular in black and red witha red chapeau and ostrich feather perched jauntily on mass of curls. All guests dressed for the occasion.
Unfortunately the star of the show does not appear here due to technical problems (I dropped my camera). Hopefully this can be rectified.
It was a great evening with the star looking spectacular in black and red witha red chapeau and ostrich feather perched jauntily on mass of curls. All guests dressed for the occasion.
Unfortunately the star of the show does not appear here due to technical problems (I dropped my camera). Hopefully this can be rectified.
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Happy 70th Birthday to Moy
Ros has turned the Book Group's halting rhymes into a great little poem, entitled:
IRREPRESSIBLE
Moy, you are arty,
Life of the party.
We’re dressing up tarty
For your food that is hearty.
You’re a bloody great cook;
We should write a book.
May you never get crook
In your Long Jetty nook.
How long have you been
On our lit’rary scene?
At our book group so keen
And so frequently seen.
Together we’ve shared,
Our souls we have bared,
Books, we’ve declared,
For each other we’ve cared.
Together we pen,
So, women and men,
On her three score and ten
Le’s drink to our fren’.
The Book Group
September 6 2008
Ros has turned the Book Group's halting rhymes into a great little poem, entitled:
IRREPRESSIBLE
Moy, you are arty,
Life of the party.
We’re dressing up tarty
For your food that is hearty.
You’re a bloody great cook;
We should write a book.
May you never get crook
In your Long Jetty nook.
How long have you been
On our lit’rary scene?
At our book group so keen
And so frequently seen.
Together we’ve shared,
Our souls we have bared,
Books, we’ve declared,
For each other we’ve cared.
Together we pen,
So, women and men,
On her three score and ten
Le’s drink to our fren’.
The Book Group
September 6 2008
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Sunday, May 18, 2008
I wondered if the MS fundraiser had received our application, as I haven't received the trivia questions yet. When I signed on, I called us the Sunday Arvo Book Club, as we had to have a name..
This article was in Spectrum in the SMH on Saturday May 17, Page 26, and look, we got a mention! Click on the article to make it bigger.
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Throw the Book at MS
I had a letter from the Good Reading mazazine, encouraging book groups to run their June meeting into a fund raiser for MS. They have a book trivia quiz running with book-related questions, so you can take part in that, or just do whatever you want to support MS research. For deatils have a look at www.goodreadingmagazine.com.au.
There is a also a public Trivia Night at the Paddington Town Hall on Wed 4th June if people are interested. I have signed up to get the trivia quiz and maybe we can do something extra. What do you reckon?
Regards
Patricia
I had a letter from the Good Reading mazazine, encouraging book groups to run their June meeting into a fund raiser for MS. They have a book trivia quiz running with book-related questions, so you can take part in that, or just do whatever you want to support MS research. For deatils have a look at www.goodreadingmagazine.com.au.
There is a also a public Trivia Night at the Paddington Town Hall on Wed 4th June if people are interested. I have signed up to get the trivia quiz and maybe we can do something extra. What do you reckon?
Regards
Patricia
June Book:
The Good Parents by Joan London
Have a look at the review by Michael McGirr in Spectrum on 3 May, which starts' 'Joan London writes wonderfully about intimacy between strangers.'
http://www.smh.com.au/news/book-reviews/the-good-parents/2008/05/02/1209235136463.html
By the way, the May bookgroup is at Sue Ellyard's place and apparently I missed a top turnout and discussion at Margaret's last time for Salmon Fishing.
cheers till next time,
Patricia
The Good Parents by Joan London
Have a look at the review by Michael McGirr in Spectrum on 3 May, which starts' 'Joan London writes wonderfully about intimacy between strangers.'
http://www.smh.com.au/news/book-reviews/the-good-parents/2008/05/02/1209235136463.html
By the way, the May bookgroup is at Sue Ellyard's place and apparently I missed a top turnout and discussion at Margaret's last time for Salmon Fishing.
cheers till next time,
Patricia
Monday, March 31, 2008
Books to come:
May book is What I Loved by Siri Hustvedt.
Watch Siri Hustvedt speaking at the Adelaide Festival recently, with an intro by JM Coetsee.
http://www.themonthly.com.au/tm/video (thanks to Ros for the tip).
Reminder: April Book is Salmon Fishing in the Yemen by Paul Torday at Margaret L's place.
May book is What I Loved by Siri Hustvedt.
Watch Siri Hustvedt speaking at the Adelaide Festival recently, with an intro by JM Coetsee.
http://www.themonthly.com.au/tm/video (thanks to Ros for the tip).
Reminder: April Book is Salmon Fishing in the Yemen by Paul Torday at Margaret L's place.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
We discussed the book over breakfast. Only Moy actually had a copy of the book on hand. Moy put us on our mettle with some strong criticisms, that drove the rest of the party to defend the book. Interesting discussion - The Boy in The Striped Pyjamas turned out to be a good book group book after all.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
February sleepover bookgroup - Lobsters at Moys
More pics tomorrow, but just a reminder that next bookgroup is at my place, reading Patrick Gale's Notes from and Exhibition.
The following bookgroup on the April long weekend we will be reading Paul Torday's book, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen.
Cheers
Patricia
More pics tomorrow, but just a reminder that next bookgroup is at my place, reading Patrick Gale's Notes from and Exhibition.
The following bookgroup on the April long weekend we will be reading Paul Torday's book, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen.
Cheers
Patricia
Monday, January 28, 2008
January 2008 meeting - The Gathering
We met at Sue's house - great roll-up with 9 people in attendance. Anne Enright's "The Gathering" was an excellent book group book, stimulating lots of discussion and many perspectives. The sort of book that gains much from reflection and examination. Not an easy book - emotionally engaging.
The February meeting will be at Blue Bay/ Long Jetty at Moy's, with accommodation at Moy's and Stella's. Meet on Friday afternoon at Moy's, dinner there on Saturday night will involve lobster at $25 per head, brunch on Sunday morning from 8.30 for book discussion. Next book is 'The Boy in Striped Pyjamas' (by John Shand I think).
The March meeting will be at my place at Cheltenham and the book will be "Notes from an Exhibition' by Patrick Gale.
Ros had put together a new contact list of bookgroupers. Ask her for a copy if you haven't got one yet.
Regards
Patricia
We met at Sue's house - great roll-up with 9 people in attendance. Anne Enright's "The Gathering" was an excellent book group book, stimulating lots of discussion and many perspectives. The sort of book that gains much from reflection and examination. Not an easy book - emotionally engaging.
The February meeting will be at Blue Bay/ Long Jetty at Moy's, with accommodation at Moy's and Stella's. Meet on Friday afternoon at Moy's, dinner there on Saturday night will involve lobster at $25 per head, brunch on Sunday morning from 8.30 for book discussion. Next book is 'The Boy in Striped Pyjamas' (by John Shand I think).
The March meeting will be at my place at Cheltenham and the book will be "Notes from an Exhibition' by Patrick Gale.
Ros had put together a new contact list of bookgroupers. Ask her for a copy if you haven't got one yet.
Regards
Patricia
Sunday, October 28, 2007
September & October meetings
Picture is of our January book: The Gathering by Anne Enright.
In the meantime, sorry to have got at bit behind. We met last month at Sue's new place to talk about Infidel, which stimulated quite a bit of discussion.
The month, we met here at Cheltenham to talk about Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky. What a wonderful book, wryly observed. We were four members - Stella and Ros, Sue and I, and we were pretty much in agreement about the book. So the discussion was not as lengthy as it might have been. We had a great review by Andrew Reimer, but he thought it was wonderful too, so we noted his observations with interest but it was just more agreement!
We had a question about the cover of the book - where did that photographic image come from.
Well, its from a collection of photos called the Rogerviollet collection - have a look at:
http://www.topfoto.co.uk/aboutus/pdfguides/rogerviollet.pdf It's worth a look at the series if you have the time. Great pic of people leaving Paris in 1940.
Next meeting is at Jane Roberts place - the Christmas meeting, so be ready fto begin deciding the best and worst for the year. The book will be Shakespeare's Women by Germaine Greer.
Then in January, we will do the Booker Prize winner: The Gathering by Irish woman Anne Enright. The Booker site says it is 'exhiliratingly bleak'. We should love it.
Monday, September 03, 2007
October book:
Thanks Margaret for your hospitality - it was great though we had little to say about the book, Carpentaria. Marg was the most advanced, having read 4 chapters. The rest of us failed to engage even earlier.
Better luck next time with Infidel, when I am sure we will have something to say. Then in October, here is the book:
Suite Francaise Irene Nemirovsky Chatto & Windus $23.95
The first English publication of Suite Francaise - sixty five years after it was written. Already a bestseller in France, it has captured reader's imaginations, not only for the tragic story of its author, and the circumstances of its rediscovery, but for its brilliantly subtle and compelling portrait of France under occupation.
Description of the Book SUITE FRANCAISE has all the ingredients of a major bestseller: the story behind its rediscovery is extraordinary; the life of the author is fascinating and moving; but, most importantly, it is a hugely compelling work of literature, elegantly, subtly and simply written, with astounding insight into the moral complexities of the human condition. It comprises two parts of what might have been a four or five-part work had Irene not been taken to Auschwitz. She conceived of it as a symphony - or her WAR AND PEACE. In the first part, Storm in June, she tells of the exodus from Paris on the eve of the Nazi invasion. Bourgeois and working-class characters alike pack up their belongings and flee, forced to rub shoulders in traffic-jams on the crowded roads south, some behaving with dignity, others with nauseating selfishness. In Part Two, Dolce, we meet several of them again in a small French village where Nazi soldiers are billetted, and watch Lucille's story unfold as she tries to resist the attractions of a sensitive German officer, and takes the risk of defending a young farmer who joins the resistance. The intertwining stories of all these utterly engaging and vivid characters combine to produce a unique portrait of France at that time, and of the subtle calibrations that exist between collaboration and resistance.
Review"Every page shines with a ravishing delight in the surfaces of life, and a profound empathy for the souls of its characters" - Canberra Times 18/03/06
"Even in its incomplete form Suite Francaise is one of those rare books that demands to be read" - Sun Herald 26/03/06
"Suite Francaise will become a classic" - Courier Mail 25/03/06
The French press:'A masterpiece. saved from oblivion.' Le Monde 'The most important novel of the year.' Livres Hebdo ' 'It is hard to find a comparable book in French literature.' Lire
The British press:'A book of exceptional literary quality. it has the kind of intimacy found in the diary of Anne Frank.' TLS 'Remarkable as the story of the publication of SUITE FRANCAISE is, it will finally be of anecdotal interest compared with the importance of the book. Here is the work of a fine novelist at the top of her form, writing about the fate of her adopted country with a pitiless clarity.' Patrick Marnham Evening Standard 'An heroic attempt to write a novel about a nightmare in which the author is entirely embedded.' Anita Brookner, Spectator
Thanks Margaret for your hospitality - it was great though we had little to say about the book, Carpentaria. Marg was the most advanced, having read 4 chapters. The rest of us failed to engage even earlier.
Better luck next time with Infidel, when I am sure we will have something to say. Then in October, here is the book:
Suite Francaise Irene Nemirovsky Chatto & Windus $23.95
The first English publication of Suite Francaise - sixty five years after it was written. Already a bestseller in France, it has captured reader's imaginations, not only for the tragic story of its author, and the circumstances of its rediscovery, but for its brilliantly subtle and compelling portrait of France under occupation.
Description of the Book SUITE FRANCAISE has all the ingredients of a major bestseller: the story behind its rediscovery is extraordinary; the life of the author is fascinating and moving; but, most importantly, it is a hugely compelling work of literature, elegantly, subtly and simply written, with astounding insight into the moral complexities of the human condition. It comprises two parts of what might have been a four or five-part work had Irene not been taken to Auschwitz. She conceived of it as a symphony - or her WAR AND PEACE. In the first part, Storm in June, she tells of the exodus from Paris on the eve of the Nazi invasion. Bourgeois and working-class characters alike pack up their belongings and flee, forced to rub shoulders in traffic-jams on the crowded roads south, some behaving with dignity, others with nauseating selfishness. In Part Two, Dolce, we meet several of them again in a small French village where Nazi soldiers are billetted, and watch Lucille's story unfold as she tries to resist the attractions of a sensitive German officer, and takes the risk of defending a young farmer who joins the resistance. The intertwining stories of all these utterly engaging and vivid characters combine to produce a unique portrait of France at that time, and of the subtle calibrations that exist between collaboration and resistance.
Review"Every page shines with a ravishing delight in the surfaces of life, and a profound empathy for the souls of its characters" - Canberra Times 18/03/06
"Even in its incomplete form Suite Francaise is one of those rare books that demands to be read" - Sun Herald 26/03/06
"Suite Francaise will become a classic" - Courier Mail 25/03/06
The French press:'A masterpiece. saved from oblivion.' Le Monde 'The most important novel of the year.' Livres Hebdo ' 'It is hard to find a comparable book in French literature.' Lire
The British press:'A book of exceptional literary quality. it has the kind of intimacy found in the diary of Anne Frank.' TLS 'Remarkable as the story of the publication of SUITE FRANCAISE is, it will finally be of anecdotal interest compared with the importance of the book. Here is the work of a fine novelist at the top of her form, writing about the fate of her adopted country with a pitiless clarity.' Patrick Marnham Evening Standard 'An heroic attempt to write a novel about a nightmare in which the author is entirely embedded.' Anita Brookner, Spectator
Friday, August 24, 2007
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Sunday, July 22, 2007
The Scandal of the Season
Since I won't be at the Book Group meeting, I won't be able to tell you that I have visited the Blount home at Mapledurham. See history here:
http://www.mapledurham.co.uk/history/manorhouse/index.php
Also if you want to look up The Rape of the Lock, here is a link to the complete poem. But a warning, it would be 55 pages to print out.
http://www2.hn.psu.edu/faculty/jmanis/a~pope/rapelock.pdf
Since I won't be at the Book Group meeting, I won't be able to tell you that I have visited the Blount home at Mapledurham. See history here:
http://www.mapledurham.co.uk/history/manorhouse/index.php
Also if you want to look up The Rape of the Lock, here is a link to the complete poem. But a warning, it would be 55 pages to print out.
http://www2.hn.psu.edu/faculty/jmanis/a~pope/rapelock.pdf
Capricornia by Alexis Wright.
Ros says that that the book is on long waiting lists through public libraries and sold out at lots of bookstores. I did manage to get a copy at Hornsby Borders. It was the only one in sight. I haven't started it yet (yes I know I should).
There is an article about Alexis Wright here, and a link to her PEN speech
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/07/13/1977989.htm
Ros says that that the book is on long waiting lists through public libraries and sold out at lots of bookstores. I did manage to get a copy at Hornsby Borders. It was the only one in sight. I haven't started it yet (yes I know I should).
There is an article about Alexis Wright here, and a link to her PEN speech
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/07/13/1977989.htm
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Hi all, home from book day at Stella's where Margaret, Ros, Moy, Sue, Stella and I talked about Dreams of Speaking and lots of other things. We admired the language, specially the descriptions - eg of Perth, though Moy was a bit annoyed by the poetics. We quite enjoyed the book except Ros, who thought it was weak, but not enough to get into an argument about! So while we found quite a bit to like, discussion flagged and couldn't compete with Stellas 3 cakes, and Pat Rayner's letter to the Editor and her municipal gift of bantam eggs.
Anyway, the July book is at Ros's house - the Sophie Gee re Alexander Pope: The Scandal of the Season.
And the August book is the new Miles Franklin winner, Carpentaria by Alexis Wright. Here is a brief SMH review:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/book-reviews/carpentaria/2006/09/18/1158431619821.html
Anyway, the July book is at Ros's house - the Sophie Gee re Alexander Pope: The Scandal of the Season.
And the August book is the new Miles Franklin winner, Carpentaria by Alexis Wright. Here is a brief SMH review:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/book-reviews/carpentaria/2006/09/18/1158431619821.html
Monday, May 28, 2007
Thanks for the update on the May meeting - I was recovering from Emma's engagement party. We have a lot happening, Emma and Andrew are off to London to live in July, back next March for a wedding and Chris and Leesa's baby is due in August.
However today I went to the Sydney Writer's Festival at Katomba and heard a wonderful conversation with Andrew O'Hagan, on his new book Be Near Me, which I bought, Hazel Rowley on Beauvoir and Sartre which I recommend, Frank Brennan and the launch of Emily Ballou"s book Aphelion
However today I went to the Sydney Writer's Festival at Katomba and heard a wonderful conversation with Andrew O'Hagan, on his new book Be Near Me, which I bought, Hazel Rowley on Beauvoir and Sartre which I recommend, Frank Brennan and the launch of Emily Ballou"s book Aphelion
May meeting was at Sue Wood's new rented place, where Margaret L, Sue E., Stella and I heard the news that Sue has bought a new unit in Russell Lea, in a dramatic competitive bid that sounded the very stuff of drama. We were impressed by Sue's Ricotta Cake, bought from Pastaceria Papa (I think that's the name) in Haberfield. Will still be available at Russell Lea.
We were divided on the book, Company by M Ward. Those who were suffering under restructures recognised its humour, but Margaret and Stella had little patience with it. I thought it was cleverly written, but thought it a bit undercooked, with a cliched plot. Nevertheless, it was an easy amusing read. It sparked some sharing of our own restructure experiences, so was therapeutic too.
Then we got to choosing the July book: Sophie Gee's The Scandal of the Season on 29 July.
The June book is Gail Jones' Dreams of Speaking. It will be at Stella's house on 24 June 2007. Gail Jones is a featured writer at the Sydney Writers Festival. Lots of us are going to the festival at various times, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Patricia
We were divided on the book, Company by M Ward. Those who were suffering under restructures recognised its humour, but Margaret and Stella had little patience with it. I thought it was cleverly written, but thought it a bit undercooked, with a cliched plot. Nevertheless, it was an easy amusing read. It sparked some sharing of our own restructure experiences, so was therapeutic too.
Then we got to choosing the July book: Sophie Gee's The Scandal of the Season on 29 July.
The June book is Gail Jones' Dreams of Speaking. It will be at Stella's house on 24 June 2007. Gail Jones is a featured writer at the Sydney Writers Festival. Lots of us are going to the festival at various times, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Patricia
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Monday, March 26, 2007
Sunday, March 11, 2007
April book
Mothers Milk
Author : EDWARD ST AUBYN
Here are the details from the Abbey bookshop online site.
Format : Trade Paperback
ISBN : 033045076X
Publisher : PicadorPublication
Date (AUS) : January 2006
Imprint : Picador
Prizes : Shortlisted for the Booker Prize for Fiction (2006)
Usually ships within 7 to 10 days
Web Price AUD$32.95
Description
The novel's perspective ricochets among all members of the Melrose family – the family featured in St Aubyn's praised trilogy, Some Hope – starting with Robert, who provides an exceptionally droll and compelling account of being born; to Patrick, a hilariously churlish husband who has been sexually abandoned by his wife in favour of his sons; to Mary, who's consumed by her children and an overwhelming desire not to repeat the mistakes of her own mother. All the while, St Aubyn examines the web of false promises that entangle this once-illustrious family whose last vestige of wealth – an old house in the south of France – is about to be donated by Patrick's mother to a New Age foundation.
An up-to-the-minute dissection of the mores of child-rearing, marriage, adultery and assisted suicide, Mother's Milk showcases Edward St Aubyn's luminous and acidic prose – and his masterful ability to combine the most excruciating emotional pain with the driest comedy. Absorb Mother's Milk into your bloodstream and postnatal depression will never seem the same again...
Mothers Milk
Author : EDWARD ST AUBYN
Here are the details from the Abbey bookshop online site.
Format : Trade Paperback
ISBN : 033045076X
Publisher : PicadorPublication
Date (AUS) : January 2006
Imprint : Picador
Prizes : Shortlisted for the Booker Prize for Fiction (2006)
Usually ships within 7 to 10 days
Web Price AUD$32.95
Description
The novel's perspective ricochets among all members of the Melrose family – the family featured in St Aubyn's praised trilogy, Some Hope – starting with Robert, who provides an exceptionally droll and compelling account of being born; to Patrick, a hilariously churlish husband who has been sexually abandoned by his wife in favour of his sons; to Mary, who's consumed by her children and an overwhelming desire not to repeat the mistakes of her own mother. All the while, St Aubyn examines the web of false promises that entangle this once-illustrious family whose last vestige of wealth – an old house in the south of France – is about to be donated by Patrick's mother to a New Age foundation.
An up-to-the-minute dissection of the mores of child-rearing, marriage, adultery and assisted suicide, Mother's Milk showcases Edward St Aubyn's luminous and acidic prose – and his masterful ability to combine the most excruciating emotional pain with the driest comedy. Absorb Mother's Milk into your bloodstream and postnatal depression will never seem the same again...
Monday, November 27, 2006
Sunday, November 26, 2006
VOTE FOR BEST BOOK/ WORST BOOK OF 2006
Make your selections from the following list for best/ worst:
Time Traveller's Wife
History of Tractors in Ukranian
The Accidental
We Need to Talk about Kevin
The Kite Runner
March
Bad Faith
Secret River
Kafka by the Shore
Book Thief
Carry Me Down.
Click on 'comment' to reply - specially our absent friends!
Make your selections from the following list for best/ worst:
Time Traveller's Wife
History of Tractors in Ukranian
The Accidental
We Need to Talk about Kevin
The Kite Runner
March
Bad Faith
Secret River
Kafka by the Shore
Book Thief
Carry Me Down.
Click on 'comment' to reply - specially our absent friends!
Reporting in on the November meeting.No December meeting of course, Merry Christmas to all.
Next book is The Inheritance of Loss, by Kiran Desai, and we will meet at Jane's house, on 28 January 2007.
The copies I have seen of the paper back are green - this must be the hardcover version.
The February book will be Mister Pip by the New Zealand writer Lloyd Jones (text publishing) It is set during the Bougainville blockade.
Here's a review:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20677237-5003900,00.html
The discussion of Carry Me Down went well, with varied responses. Ros voted it her best book of 2006, while some others found the main character unconvincing, and did not believe it was a serious Booker contender. Everyone agreed that MJ Hyland writes well.
Everyone agreed that Stella's food was great, and begged for recipes. These should set us up for the Xmas season:
Katie's Brownies ........... mmmmmmm
180g (3/4 cup) unsalted butter
330 g dark good quality cooking chocolate
3 eggs
270g (1 1/2 cups) caster sugar
90g (3/4 cup) plain flour.
handful of walnuts, raising or currants, chopped in food processor.
Preheat overn to 175. Melt the butter and chocolate together in a double boiler. Place the eggs and sugar into a mixing bowl and whip until they are light, fluffy and pale in colour. Add the melted chocolate to whisked egg & sugar mixture. Stir well to combine. Add the sifted flour and the chopped walnuts/ fruit and stir well.
Pour into a lightly buttered 25 cm x 30 x 30 cm baking tray lined with parchment paper (don't skimp). Smooth out using a spatula or knife. Bake for 30 - 35 mins until skewer in centre comes out clean (often a good deal longer). Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the tray before cutting into squares and serving, sprinkled with icing sugar.
Prunes in white wine
Soak prunes overnight in white wine. Add zest of orange and chopped rosemary. Mix well and serve in with cheese platter.
Cream cheese with Capsicum Jam
Cook chopped red capsicum slowly with vinegar, dash of tabasco sauce and brown sugar until mixture starts to become sticky. Watch carefully!
Allow to cool a little and pour over round of philadelphia cream cheese. Serve with water biscuits or similar.
NOTE: Stella doesn't measure, so you're on your own with the quantities.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
January 2007
The Booker Prize Winner - The Inheritance of Loss by Kirin Desai.
Have a think about your best book of 2006 for next meeting at Stella's place - last meeting of the year.
We all admired Markus Zusak's virtuoso writing in The Book Thief ( even Sue, who thought the Death conceit was a bit overdone in places!) We all admired Markus Zusak himself, interviewed by Caroline Baum on the ABC and videod by Stella. Some are vowing to follow up his Young Adult Fiction titles.
The Booker Prize Winner - The Inheritance of Loss by Kirin Desai.
Have a think about your best book of 2006 for next meeting at Stella's place - last meeting of the year.
We all admired Markus Zusak's virtuoso writing in The Book Thief ( even Sue, who thought the Death conceit was a bit overdone in places!) We all admired Markus Zusak himself, interviewed by Caroline Baum on the ABC and videod by Stella. Some are vowing to follow up his Young Adult Fiction titles.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Emergency Sex - now on the stage at STC.
Only $10 to see a play based on the book we read last year, Emergency Sex and other desperate measures.
Next weekend.
Wharf 2LOUD
Imagine winning a prestigious award then hearing from the custodians of the prize that they refuse to be associated with your work on the basis of its 'pornographic' subject matter.
Imagine your boss sending you into war-torn battlefields, only to threaten you with disciplinary action when you attempt to recount the truth of your time there.
These were the experiences of the writers behind the next Wharf 2LOUD Push.
PUSH #5 STRANGE FRUIT
Writer Juliet Lamont Director Wayne Blair With Patrick Dickson, Jody Kennedy, Bojana Novakovic
3 SHOWS ONLY - Thursday 26 - Saturday 28 October 8:15pm
PUSH #6 EMERGENCY SEX (AND OTHER DESPERATE MEASURES)
Writer Damien Millar Director Chris Mead With Ewen Leslie, Belinda McClory, Rhys Muldoon Based on the book by Kenneth Cain, Heidi Postlewait and Andrew Thomson
3 SHOWS ONLY - Thursday 2 - Saturday 4 November 8:15pm
ALL TICKETS $10 or see PUSH #5 and PUSH #6 for only $15
Wharf 2
Book Now (02) 9250 1777
wharf2loud.com
WHARF 2LOUD is supported by UBS
Only $10 to see a play based on the book we read last year, Emergency Sex and other desperate measures.
Next weekend.
Wharf 2LOUD
Imagine winning a prestigious award then hearing from the custodians of the prize that they refuse to be associated with your work on the basis of its 'pornographic' subject matter.
Imagine your boss sending you into war-torn battlefields, only to threaten you with disciplinary action when you attempt to recount the truth of your time there.
These were the experiences of the writers behind the next Wharf 2LOUD Push.
PUSH #5 STRANGE FRUIT
Writer Juliet Lamont Director Wayne Blair With Patrick Dickson, Jody Kennedy, Bojana Novakovic
3 SHOWS ONLY - Thursday 26 - Saturday 28 October 8:15pm
PUSH #6 EMERGENCY SEX (AND OTHER DESPERATE MEASURES)
Writer Damien Millar Director Chris Mead With Ewen Leslie, Belinda McClory, Rhys Muldoon Based on the book by Kenneth Cain, Heidi Postlewait and Andrew Thomson
3 SHOWS ONLY - Thursday 2 - Saturday 4 November 8:15pm
ALL TICKETS $10 or see PUSH #5 and PUSH #6 for only $15
Wharf 2
Book Now (02) 9250 1777
wharf2loud.com
WHARF 2LOUD is supported by UBS
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
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