31 May meeting (The Ghost Estate)- July book is H is for Hawk by Helen MacDonald

May meeting - The Ghost Estate
In a first for the book group, John Connell the writer of our book (aged 29) came to book group. It was wonderful to have such a charming, accomplished and respectful visitor to join us for the afternoon discussion. He talked most generously about the book and his writing process and seemed to enjoy his time with us. We have a richer understanding of his book and look forward to seeing his upcoming book, Avalon, not yet published. Thanks Sue for organising and suggesting the book and Jane for hosting - beautiful spread with gorgeous baked cheesecake to follow.

June meeting is at Maggie's place - we will talk about The Strays by Emily Bitto (winner of the Stella Prize).


July meeting is at my place (can't compete with today). Book is H is for Hawk by Helen MacDonald.

Good reading! Happy travels to Pat. Get well and strong Moy.

April meeting: June book is The Strays by Emily Bitto

April 26 meeting so Anzac Day acknowledged with Laminations and Anzac Biscuit. Thanks Ros.

Not a word about the book till well after 3pm.  But once we started, it proved a lively discussion. A novella, a fairly light piece, but well written. Plenty to talk about. Sue (and the Random House questions) had issues with the title of the book, The Children Act, putting too much emphasis on this point of law. Others thought the title to be appropriate. Different opinions about the relationship with Jack, who seemed to be taken back too early after his adventure. Unusual of McEwan to allow a happy ending, with the couple reunited at the end, without irony. Despite some quibble, all enjoyed the book and would recommend to others. It was a small group with Sue E and Stella in Melbourne, Margaret L in Canberra, Pat R in New York (we looked at her travels on the Queen Victoria). Liz and Moy were unable to attend.

Jane took the notes. She will be the host for the May book, The Ghost Estate, which  I am loving.

The June book will be The Strays by Emily Bitto, The Stella Prize Winner 2015.

Kindle edition $8.29 from AMAZON or check with the library. I won't be likely to get a digital edition.

Patricia

March meeting - May book

March meeting discussed Only the Animals by Ceriden Dovey. Beautiful autumn day at
Margaret's place. New rule- start discussing the book by 3 pm.
Bit of reluctance about the discussion. Yes, she can form a sentence. Some of the animal stories worked, eg the mussels channeling Jack Kerouac. Her research was thorough, eg the elephant behaviour. However the concept was ambitious, telling key moments of history not only in animal voices but in reference to famous writers.
When it didn't work it was annoying. It then seemed pretentious. It had a serious moral message,about humans relationship with animals. This could be very disturbing. Quote on p 179 suggested that only the animals know what it is to be human.
An interesting if not entirely successful book that at least some of us will pass on to others.

April meeting is at Ros's place on Anzac weekend. Ros wants us dressed appropriately, she says. Book is The Children Act.

May meeting at Jane's. The new book is The Ghost Estate by John Connell, an Irish writer who was mentored by David Malouf. You are going to have to buy or borrow the book, I don't have a copy to share.

Regards
Patricia

February meeting, April book: The Children Act by Ian McEwan

Madame Bovary was a very satisfactory book group selection as it prompted much discussion, which enriched our experience of reading the book - which is the point of a reading group, I think. Moy wasn't able to attend because she is recovering from surgery (best wishes Moy), Pat R / Margaret/ Liz not able to be there because of other commitments. Not everyone enjoyed the book per se. Some found Madame B a bit boring. Some worried about Emma's motivations. But most did admire the writing and the characterisation. We compared translations and found distinct differences.  Did a bit of research and found that Madame B is considered the beginning of the modern novel. We compared it with Dickens and 19th C contemporaries, and we tended to agree. Characters not likeable, a distance in the viewpoint of the author that wasn't there in Dickens. Not to write the whole discussion out here - have a look at the notes, ably taken by Sue E.

Thanks Sue for hosting and for the traditional Pappa's Pasticceria ricotta cake.

Next book didn't come easily and we've decided to repeat one of our old favourite writers. We will be doing 'The Children Act' by Ian McEwan in April. Note change of venues. March 29th meeting (Animals, Ceridwen Dovey) will be at Margaret Lackenby's place, while Ros will host on 26th April, when Anzac biscuits have been requested.

January meeting & March Book - Only the Animals by Ceridwen Dovey

Hi
We met at Stella's - Sue E and Sue W, Pat R and Pat S, Maggie and Ros attended.

Stella and Pat particularly liked The Railwayman's Wife, and found it dealt well with the issue of grief.  Others generally liked the book well enough, but not always well enough to recommend to others. Trying a bit too hard?  Sue took copious notes, I didn't so better have a look in the book!

Next month (Feb) is early in the month - 22 Feb, so hurry up with your reading of Madame Bovary. We will be meeting at Sue W's.

We decided to do Ceridwen Dovey's book, Only the Animals in March. Ros will host. Thanks Ros.

Patricia

November meeting, February book - Madame Bovary

November meeting, February book

I'm writing this us way beyond the time, just to make the blog complete. We met at Moy's place for a delicious lunch -  thanks to Moy for making such creamy lovely quiches, served with salad. The traditional cheesecake I can still remember months later. Most liked the Kate Atkinson book, Life after Life. We decided it is time for the classic, so we will be reading Madame Bovary by Flaubert for the February book.

Cheers
Patricia

October meeting - January book - The Railwayman's Wife

Once again I missed the meeting - I'd really hoped to attend, but didn't get round the 7 Bridges walk in time. And was totally wrecked after the walk. However, apparently there was lively discussion re A Girl is a Half Formed Thing with a divided group. Look forward to reading the report.

The January book will be The Railwayman's Wife by Ashley Hay. Enjoy!

September meeting - November book - Life after Life by Kate Atkinson

In September we met at Sue E's and talked about Stoner, which I have subsequently recommended to lots of friends. I wasn't at the meeting so will have to catch up on discussion. But I do know that finally (after rejecting it several times) we are reading Kate Atkinson's Life after Life for the November meeting at Moy's.

August meeting, October book: A girl is a half formed thing

Seven of us met at Jane's place today, to consider The Night Guest by Fiona McFarlane. It was generally well received, in spite of material that was a bit close to the bone for some of us. Would a bank really allow the transfer of $700,000 by a frail elderly customer? - well, it happened in our street, this month! And what's elderly? Anyway, Fiona M can certainly write a sentence, we said. Sue E, Liz, Pat R and Moy were missed. They missed a great spread and stupendously rich chocolate cake. Thanks Jane!

We decided on the October book: The girl is a half formed thing, by Eimear McBride.in October we'll be at Ros's house (not at Moy's). I made a mistake last month, Moy is hosting us in November.

The September book is Stoner and is at Sue Ellyard's. I will be in Japan but have a great meeting.

July meeting - September book: Stoner by John Williams

Thanks to Maggie for her hospitality on Sunday. A particularly yummy slice went down very well. Recipe please? Congratulations to the Ellyards who are grandparents again, with another little girl, Grace, born to son Sam and his wife Caroline.

We talked with animation but without consensus about Harvest by Jim Crace. It stimulated lots of ideas. But Sue W, we needed your classroom management skills!  I hope the birthday party went well.


Discussion re next book was also quite lively. In the end we chose Stoner by John Williams.

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/dec/13/stoner-john-williams-julian-barnes

Julian Barnes says in this review that Stoner was his unexpected best book of 2013 and that's high praise from him! Colum McCann and many others were also effusive in praise.  Moy has given it a try and found it a bit of tough going, so be warned; but we trust it repays the effort.


The August meeting will be at Jane's home. Then in September, we are at Sue Ellyard's and October is at Ros's place. November we will visit Moy ( yes, I've corrected this).
Cheers
Patricia

June meeting - August book - The Night Guest by Fiona McFarlane

Hi - Thanks to Pat R for her hospitality on Sunday, when we were a select group of 5 at her Kings Cross residence. Jane, Sue W, Stella and I were the visitors, with Pat making up the group. Nasty weather caused troubles of various kinds for some of us.

We had plenty to talk about with The Signature of All Things. Ros had controversially called it a 'souped up Mills and Boon' - she excused herself to attend a Philosophy weekend (enough said).
Margaret Lackenby loved it - she excused herself with an OS trip. Pat and Stella loved it too, unreservedly. Pat had done some thinking on how the characters were cast to demonstrate survival and adaptation - interesting. Sue W started off liking it, but felt it did soup up after the cupboard orgasm - and the sex in the cave. So though Sue was positive, she had her reservations. Me too.

Next book is another Miles Franklin Award short-lister - The Night Guest by Fiona McFarlane. Sue W saw here at the Writers Festival and was impressed. People are going well with Harvest so if you haven't read it yet, get cracking ready for Maggie's place at the end of July. The August meeting will be held at Jane's place.

Congratulations to Sue Ellyard who has baby news - will be emailed.

Regards from Patricia S.

May meeting (The Narrow Road to the Deep North), July book: (Harvest by Jim Crace)

Amazingly warm May day - can't believe we had a fire on a month ago! What's happened to the autumn chills?

I'm modelling the meeting where we took ages to talk about the book - 3.15pm indeed, before we left our talk of the budget behind us. When we did, it was a round-table. Sue W, Sue E, Jane and Pat R were all apologies. Liz hadn't managed to get the book - but now she will.

Stella read it with an interruption in the middle - but her interest didn't flag, even when reading about the most awful content - she has recommended the book to many people. She's sure it will be her book of the year. Superb descriptions.

I admired the writing, and found myself highlighting sentences and thoughts that pleased me right throughout. Loved the fact it tried to get into the heads of the Japanese guards, with some understanding of their belief systems. But I thought that the attempt to tie up the story at the ends was unnecessary, with too many coincidences weakening the narrative. An important book.

Maggie found the diggers realistic, showing their weakness as well as their cameraderie. She had heard Richard Flanagan's address at the Writers Festival on the radio. Margaret attended his session there and was interested in the link with Weary Dunlop - Flanagan claimed it was not modelled on him, that there were 12 other doctors like him. Flanagan relied on his father's reminiscences. Margaret was squeamish about some passages, eg the amputation scene, which Flanagan was asked to read at the festival.

Moy found it a great book but not a good romance, agreed the coincidences were unnecessary.

Ros thought it a complex book but with flaws. Flanagan didn't write women well - only the war bits worked. Plot lines like the bushfire were extraneous, Amy was cliched, but this didn't ruin the book.

Strong book, good discussion.

July book - Harvest by Jim Crace, shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize last year.

Readers Guide is here. We will be meeting at Maggie's house.

Remember that in June we meet at Pat Rayner's Kings Cross studio apartment, to look at The Signature of all things.

April meeting: All the birds, singing by Evie Wyld; June book: The signature of all things by Elizabeth Gilbert

Hi to everyone after a lovely afternoon at my place with the first fire of the season. It was also the first meeting after Clare's death so we spent a bit of time talking about Clare, her funeral, her voice, her life and so on. We shared round some of her books that her son Jonathan gave us for the book group. We have some set aside for you, Maggie and Jane. Missed you and Liz. We had a good roll up though on a wintry afternoon.

There was a lively discussion about the book, All the Birds, Singing which was liked by most people (I was  a dissenting voice - I was annoyed to the point of fury by small factual inaccuracies!). Stella and Ros weren't wild about the book either, though both found much to admire in the writing. Thanks to Sue W for drawing the book to our attention.

The May book, as you know, is the Richard Flanagan, The Long Road to the Deep North, at Stella's place.

The June book is The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert. We will be meeting at Pat R's town residence in Kings Cross.

March meeting (Burial Rites); May book (The Narrow Road to the Deep North)

Hi all. We met in Lady Jane's garden on a perfect day, with Princess Stella, Lady Margaret Hayes, Lady Susan Wood, the Crown Princess Margaret, The Lady Rosalind, The Hon Patricia (Bunty) Strauss and her sister in law Elizabeth, the Maharani of Bonnells Bay. The champagne was by appointment, poured by Sir Keith himself. Cook managed a wonderful feast of ripe cheeses and oat crackers, with a rich rum chocolate cake to follow. What fun!

Seriously, Sue reported in on Clare who is in palliative care, with her son Jonathan in attendance until tomorrow. We were in awe of her organisation and command of the situation. She knew it was book day and that we would be discussing Burial Rites.

Jane was able to share a book and great photos of a trip to Iceland a few years ago, with landscapes and houses like those in the novel. The book was greatly appreciated by all of us. The main idea was 'doing the right thing'.  Agnes was a flawed heroine but most of the characters showed growth throughout the story - even Toti, who disappointed some by not being the one to hear Agnes' story at the end. Margret, the mother was the key, setting the tone. Others thought it fitting that she was the one to hear the story.

We spent time casting the film based on the book - but heard that the film is already in production.

The May book is to be The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan, at Stella's place. I have the April meeting - on the long weekend - when we look at the Evie Wyld. We have some apologies already, with Jane, Sue E, and Maggie all travelling. But looks like we will still have a quorum. See you then.

PS

February meeting - April Book

Hi to Clare, Moy, Maggie and Liz who weren't able to be at Margaret's place for the meeting today. We used the round table technique again, revealing that only Margaret has read the book right through - and even she admitted to skimming some pages. Sue W and Ros performed very strategic scans focusing on 'The Golden Notebook' section. (I scanned too after dutifully reading 13% of the book.) They declared the book interesting - but that view wasn't generally shared by those who had tried to read right through from beginning to end. Repetitious, boring - those words were spoken round the table. We had lots to talk about though  - the characters, the structure, the politics, the reception of the book in its day, the prefaces, Lessing's other work...

The discussion about the next book didn't take long as we agreed to read All the Birds, Singing, by Evie Wyld, which has been on our back burner for a little while. That will be at my place on the Anzac day long weekend.

Next time, March, we will be at Jane's place, reading Burial Rites by Hannah Kent.

Sue E will be an apology for March, April and May so I hope she will participate remotely! She has some good news by the way!

Thanks to Margaret for lovely lumberjack cake and chocolate brownie, served on a heritage cloth. Thanks also to Pat R for a contribution of nashi pears for all, picked in her mountains garden that very morning. There are some hard acts to follow in the bookgroup.

Cheers
Pat

January meeting, March book

January meeting was at Ros's place, with a good roll-up, missing Sue E and Liz but otherwise all in attendance. The book was The Namesake by Jhumpa Lampiri. At Sue W's suggestion, we took turns to comment around the table, before opening discussion to the floor. This was deemed a most satisfactory addition to our afternoon's deliberations, to become standard practice in the future. The book was well-received, an easy to read coming of age story for a young man straddling 2 cultures. We liked the way it referred to Gogol's story 'The Overcoat' which added depth. Several of us had sought it out to clarify its relationship to the story.

We voted for the annual best/ worst books of 2013. Everyone agreed that the winner shouldn't really have been The Rosie Project - but 3 people voted for it as their most enjoyable, fun read of the year, and other favourites were split across a range of excellent novels. One person put The Rosie Project as their worst book! We had a fair amount of agreement that the worst book as Claire Messud's The Woman Upstairs, not that it was terrible, but this was a strong year.

The March book is to be Hannah Kent's Burial Rites after quite a bit of discussion and shows of hands. Other contenders were a new novel, All the Birds, Singing by Edie Wyld and Life after Life by Kate Atkinson. We've had a few instances of people reading the wrong book so maybe I shouldn't have mentioned them. Forget them, it's to be Burial Rites. That meeting will be at Jane's home.

The next meeting is at Margaret Lackenby's house at Kirribilli, on 23 February so we don't have long to read The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing.

November 2013 meeting and February 2014 book

Hi all - we missed Sue E, Jane and Pat R at Long Jetty today, as we celebrated with a Christmas lunch meeting, catered beautifully by Moy. Ham and Turkey with gorgeous salads, washed down with plenty of bubbly and topped off by a gloriously sinful cheesecake.

Yes, we did talk about the book, American Rust, by Philipp Meyer. Depressing but not as depressing an end as might have been expected. For those who haven't finished it, definitely worth it. Strong characterisations and some wonderful descriptive writing about the beautiful American countryside, as it reclaims the industrial rustbelt of Pennsylvania. Ros filled up her page with comments quite easily even the group was easily sidetracked onto a great range of other topics!

Next book is of course The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, and we will skip December as usual and meet on 26 January (even though it's Australia Day) at Ros's place.

March book is at Margaret Lackenby's place at Kirribilli. Book is The Golden Notebook, in honour of its author, Doris Lessing, who passed away during the month.

October meeting - January book.

Wonderful get together at Maggie's place with a spirited discussion, because we were divided in our response to the book, The Woman Upstairs. Margaret L  told us that even the author, Clare Messud, didn't like the protagonist. Margaret heard her speak at the Writers Festival where she said she had written a most unlikeable lead character. However, some of us rather liked her and saw in her quite a bit of ourselves and our good friends. And even those who had reservations about the character found the book to be quite well written, within the narrow point of view. Lively meeting. Great cake. Clare managed to get to book group, although jet lagged after a 3 week trip to London and thereabouts. Good rollup.

A reminder that the November book is American Rust - that's the one by Philippe Meyer. It is at Moy's and because its our Christmas meeting, it will commence earlier than usual, and Moy will provide lunch. that will be 24th November from 11.30am. Thanks Moy. We will car pool to get to the Central Coast. Hope everyone can come.

The January book will be The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri. Jhumpa won the Pulitzer prize for an earlier collection of stories, and was shortlisted for her most recent book for the Booker prize. For ease of availability, we have chosen her earlier work, also well received.

September's Summary

Hello Ladies
I have now had a refresher from Pat for achieving a blog entry. So better late than never to summarize September’s book group discussion on The Orphan Master’s Son by Adam Johnson. However just before I go on I would like to mention that we did appreciate Stella’s round up of the Organ Master’s Son, the book she read instead of the former. It sounded like a less controversial read Stella.
First comments on the prescribed read were, it was confusing, tedious, lacked consistency and a bit jumpy. The booked worked in some ways in that it brought up the issue of human rights and the atrocities purported to be carried out in North Korea. A question raised was on what authority did the author speak? It’s difficult to know. A consensus reached was that the book was sinister and brought back memories of books read in the 80’s even if half of what the author wrote is true it was indeed traumatic. The agreed genre was political dystopia, comedic and satirical. Sue W and Clare thought the book warranted the Pulitzer, no one else did.
As Pat S has said, November’s book is American Rust by Philipp Meyer, October’s meeting is at my home.
Cheers,
Maggie

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