Alice Munro article

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/oct/11/alice-munro

Dear All
As you know I am having a short story phase. The above article on Alice Munro is really interesting and written by Margaret Attwood. I will post a list of the short story books I have read in case anyone is interested. I am also trying to write some short stories so if anyone is interested I might post those as well. A bit of editing needed so comments will be welcome.
An interesting meeting last night and the first time that there has been universal approval for some time - good old Thomas Hardy.

Would be good to see some posts on our favourite and least favourite books. I will try to post 2008 books in the next few days.
Paula

The Mayor of Casterbridge

I have finished reading The Mayor of Casterbridge and enjoyed it alot. After reading Hardy's biography last month there is quite alot of Hardy himself in the book. Some lovely sections where he describes things like the horses tails swishing the schoolboys' faces really made me wonder if this was a childhood memory of his. Henchard also had alot of regret in his life which has parallels with Hardy's treatment of Emma and his subsequent poetry about her. After Terrible Tess on the telly we now have Little Dorrit perhaps we should read some Dickens the next time we have room for a classic.

Come on reading group - gentle reminder post a blog!!

Paula

Thomas Hardy

Hi everybody
It was a really good meeting last night and as well as a good discussion on Thomas Hardy A Time torn Man by Claire Tomalin. It also raised lots of issues about the nature of biography. I will be very interestied to hear how you all approach the Mayor of Casterbridge after reading Hardy's biography. I certainly feel that it will make me read it differently.. Especially now that I am used to reading with two bookmarks one for the book and one for the notes.

Clive - If you read this perhaps you can post the list of books to be read on the blog.

See you all soon
Paula

Great to hear from another blogger

Jill,
It's great to see someone else blogging.Confession - I didn't read Northern Lights - I know it's not in the spirit of the reading group and I promise not to do it again but I really couldn't face it.I agree with you about The Tenderness of Wolves I liked the characters and descriptions of life in that bleak landscape very much.I have recently read Small Wars Permitted by Christina Lamb. She was really interesting at Ways with Words as well and this book is a collection of articles and recollections from her career as a war corerespondent in almost every conflict in the last 20 years.I have also really enjoyed Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. this would make a great reading group book. I am also renting the dvd this week so hopefuly that won't be too disappointing. Paula

Hello From Jill

I was so sorry to miss July' s meeting as I would have liked to hear views on Northern Lights. I re-read it and was again bound up in it all, and ended up reading the trilogy again. Loved the first part, enjoyed the second even more, but do find part three too long in parts.

Why is there a tendency for sequel books to get longer as these multi-part sagas develop? It's the same with Harry Potter. A good editor's red pen would have helped hold the Dark Materials trilogy together better at the end, I feel. But these are three wonderful imaginative books, and really poignant on several occasions. For those who stopped after Northern Lights, the real hero of the books for me is Will, who is introduced in The Subtle Knife, a good foil to Lyra. And I will confess to an abiding affection for Lee Scorsby. Oh well....

On the topic of length, the same is true of some biographies, including Claire Tomalin on Hardy, I fear. Her recent books are much fatter than the earlier ones! Like Paula, I am keeping that to read again in September. I saw Claire Tomalin at Ways with Words as one of four biographers, with Patrick French amongst others. Thought she was a bit conscious of her position as the "elder statesman" of biography there, but liked Patrick French very much. I enjoyed reading him on Younghusband - his first book, I think, on one of the participants in the Great Game carried out by Russia, GB etc in places like Afghanistan and Tibet at the end of the 19th Century. Seems we still haven't learnt the lessons of history.

My faourite speaker at Dartington? Gavin Menzies, who wrote 1421, which is subtitled The Year China Discovered the World. It too is rather fat, and I am still to get round to actually reading it.

Some recent reads:
The Tenderness of Wolves, Stef Penney.
This is a page turner, it really reeks of the period and place, as far as I can judge anyway. One of the best books I've read in ages. Highly recommended.

Bless'Em All, Allan Saddler.
Cathy mentioned this local author, who might be wiling to come and talk to us as a group. This is a novel of the second world war, set in the Blitz in London. I enjoyed it, it is quite evocative of the period too, lots of authentic detail, but ultimately unmemorable. Probably good as nostalgia, or social history even, but I did not warm to any of the characters or really care about what happened to them, which is why it hasn't stuck with me.

Jill T

Claire Tomalin was great

The Claire Tomalin event at Ways with Words was fantastic. Claire was a very accomplished and interesting speaker and gave an insight into the life of a historical biographer. The extensive research and how it took over her life for months or even years making her - in her words - difficult to live with. She had a real passion for Hardy and read poems from the book of Hardy poems that she edited. In the environment of the Great Hall this was very evocative of Hardy's assocaition with both landscape and human emotion. I sat next to a lady who told me that in her younger days she had a boyfriend that used to read her Hardy poems and how even though they went their seperate ways it inspired her to pursue a career in literature. She could obviously remember him very clearly and some - but not all of Hardy's poems are very romantic. Claire is now working on a biography of Dickens.

I am saving The Time-torn Man to read in September so that its fresh in my mind for the meeting.

I spoke to Claire and she signed my book and she was very flattered that we had chosen her book as one of our reading group choices.

I will make sure I bring the poetry book along and perhaps we can read some of them.

Paula

Alexander Solzhenitsyn

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7540821.stm

After the sad news of the death of Alexander Solzhenitsyn on Saturday how about adding one of his books to our list. I used to love Russian literature when i was a teenager but have not read much recently. Does anyone have a favourite they would like to share. I think there would be alot to talk about, not least the way the world has changed. Also how Alexander Solzhenitsyn is now seen in contrast to the years he spent incarcerated in Stalin's camps.

See the bbc link above.

Paula

Claire Tomalin at Ways with Words

I am going to the Claire Tomalin event at Ways with Words tomorrow where she will talk about her biography of Thomas Hardy the Time torn Man. I have also bought a copy of Thomas Hardy poetry which Claire has edited and I am looking forward to reading both of the books soon. I will write a post after the talk for those who coul;d not make it to dartington but I hope I may see some other reading group people there tomorrow.

Ways with Words has been a bit mixed for me this year. I really enjoyed the Christina Lamb Martin Bell session where Christina talked about her life as a foreign correspondent and the problems in countries likes Zimbabwe, Iraq and Afghanistan that have made free reporting so difficult. She also talked about her early career in the 1980s when she was invited to Benazir Bhutto's wedding and was free to explore both the cities and rural areas of Pakistan and made to feel very welcome. Now of course this is not possible for a female british journalist.

Less successful was a journal writing workshop which I felt was just a pile of quotes from other people's journals and no opportunities for interaction - quite dull.

I also attended a session on the St Ives artists which although interesting and illustrated did not include any of their work. I can appreciate the reasons but not sure if I would have gone if I had known this.

Tomorrow I am going to a talk about the Buddhist way of life which I have developed an interest in since reading a book called "The Miracle of Mindfullness" which I would strongly recommend. I will try and post a review of this as well.

Happy reading - Anyone started/finished Northern Lights yet?
Paula

Northern Lights

How is everyone getting on with Northern Lights. Sorry but I am not looking forward to this book so have treated myself to "Love in the Time of Cholera" first. What a wonderful book I am sure many of you have already read it. Sensitive and beautifully written but I am nearly at the end so will have to read Northern lights soon.
Is anyone else going to Ways with Words this weekend. i will put a post up for th events I attend and hope that sonme of you will too.

Paula

Am I still the only blogger

The Orange prize was won by one of my favourite authors Rose Tremain for The Road Home which is a great book and I would recommend it both as a personal read and perhaps for the reading group once there are copies in the library system. Has anyone else read this one yet?

http://www.orangeprize.co.uk/home

Paula

some suggestions for reading

Dear All
I have recently completed an Open University course called Approaching Literature and thought the rest of you might like to see the raeding list as it was an eclectic but interesting choice

Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen
Great Expectataions Charles Dickens
Fathers and Sons Turgenev
Frankenstein Mary Shelley

Romantic poems Byron, Blake Shelley Keats etc as well as some more obscure ones

The Color Purple Alice Walker
Other gender related writing by Virginia Woolf, Charlotte Perkins Gilman and others

A Doll's House Henrik Ibsen

The Rover Aphra Behn
Henry V, Othello and As you Like it Williams Shakespeare

So as you an see I have not had much time for other reading in the last few months. It might be interesting to include one of these books on our list and I would e interested to hear other people's views and preferences, favourites etc
See you all on Wednesday
Paula

End Of The Affair

Hi

Clive here with a quick comment on this evening's meeting.  It was an interesting meeting with some people loving the book and some hating it.  Most found the central character self-centred and pretty awful.  The fact that the book is supposed to be based on actual events is surprising as the central character was so vile.  Some in the group enjoyed the relationship at the heart of the book although most found the later part of the book rather odd.  The nature of faith and Catholicism was talked about as was the information we had on Greene.  Most people thought Greene's writing style was very impressive and his books were very varied in their subject matter.  Overall, very mixed feelings about the book.  I'm sure other members will explain their feelings about the book in the coming days.  This month's book is William Boyd - Restless.  There are copies in the library. 

Clive

The End of the Affair by Graham Greene

I am writing this as I will not be able to be at the meeting on Wednesday. This is particularly annoying as I asked for a Graham Greene book and I was looking forward to the discussion. Anyway I was pleased to read this book and to remedy an obvious hole in my reading. I enjoyed The End of the Affair. I'd like to know if others thought it was a typical GG book. I liked the way he wrote, the words he used and the way he drew me in from the very beginning. In the first two pages you are given a vivid picture of The Common in the rain, the post war setting and an inkling of how the main characters might be involved. There was even a mention of the damaged door that figures large later on. I found the private investigator very creepy and wondered just how he insinuated himself into the lives of almost all the characters. Towards the end I kept thinking of Tess of the D'urbevilles and how irritated I am when she just lets fate order her life without fighting back. Sarah seemed to follow this path too once she had decided that God had answered her prayer. I am sure there is much to discuss here. I am interested that Monica Ali says that GG intended the book to stretch as far after Sarah's death as it starts before it. The end seemed very rushed to me. Lots of life changing events happened in a short space of time. Perhaps things do happen like that. I look forward to reading a summary of your discussion.

Black Swan Green

Hi, Clive here with a quick comment on our latest book, Black Swan Green by David Mitchell.  Opinions in the group were varied but I loved it.  The book took me back to being a teenage boy and I raced through it in a couple of days.  I want to read Mitchell's other books now.  Clive

Ways with Words

Good afternoon everyone
Just a quick post to let you all know that the Ways with Words programme is now available online

http://www.wayswithwords.co.uk/uploads/festivals/brochures/21.pdf

It all looks great to me I might need some time off work!!

Rufus and the Biggest Diamond in the World

Do you or your children or grandchildren love adventure stories about pirates, fabulous hidden treasure, mysterious submarines, witches and ghosts? Then buy Michael Elsmere's book 'Rufus and The Biggest Diamond in the World,' published by Libros International.Obtainable from your local independent bookshop or AmazonWrite a review on Amazon to support the book!!!!For more info on Michael's writing and courses go to www.michaelelsmere.co.uk

Michael is a good friend of mine and this post is to celebrate the publication of his bookWell done Michael!!!!

Year of Reading Website

I thought you all might like to have a look at the website for "The Year of Reading"

http://www.yearofreading.org.uk/

If anyone finds anything interesting on this site, please add a comment to this post to share your ideas with the other bloggers
Thanks
Paula

new blogger

hello all! It was very easy to join the blog. It took me ages to think up a name for myself: I thought I was perhaps the only keen birder of the Annes in our group, thus the name. I have been reading Khaled Hosseini's ' thousand splendid suns 'which is excellent. Has anyone else read this? It is thought-provoking and saddening at the same time, though it ends on an optimistic note.

Black Swan Green

The book for April 2008 was Black Swan Green by David Mitchell. Who would like to start the discussion?
Post your comments please

The Other Side of the Bridge by Mary Lawson

Has anybody else read this book.
I have had it for a while on my list of books to read and the rain at the weekend meant I finished it quite quickly. Set in Canada and following the lives of two characters in the 1940's and then the late 50's and early 60's it give an insight into the lives of people in remote Northern Canada and their experience of the second world war with many young men going to war and not returning. It is beautifully written and the way the characters are gradually revealed is fery cleverly done. My favourite part was the atmosphere created and the descriptions of the landscape and lives of the people. The ending was a little disappointing but that seems to be quite common. All in all a lovely book escapist but not sentimental

readitswapit

I thought that it would be interesting to let you know about www.readitswapit.co.uk which is a website that is for swapping books. I have used it alot and swapped most of my paperbacks for ones on my wish list of books to read. I have posted on their forum our blog address so that other reading groups can share their lists and see ours. Anyone who has a reading group list to share please add a comment.

Books the group have read up to March 2008

Here is the list of books we have read so far. I am sure we have all missed at least one so it will be useful to check especially for those of us that like lists. Perhaps you would like to add lists of yourfavourite books or all the books you read in 2007!

Oryx and Crake - Margaret Atwood
Brick Lane - Monica Ali
Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingsolver
Miss Garnet's Angel - Sally Vickers
The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
Vernon God Little - DBC Pierre
Jon McGregor - If Nobody Speaks Of Remarkable Things
Hilary Mantel- Beyond Black
The Lady and the Unicorn - Tracey Chavalier
The Moonstone - Wilkie Collins
Noughts and Crosses - Malorie Blackman
Atonement - Ian McEwan
Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro
Five Boys - Mick Jackson
No 1 Ladies Detective Agency - Alexander McCall Smith
Pillars Of The Earth - Ken Follet
A Short History Of Tractors In Ukranian - Marina Lewycka
Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
The Map That Changed the World- Simon Winchester
The Grapes Of Wrath - John Steinbeck
Bel Canto - Ann Patchett
We have also had a poetry month and a favourite book swap month

List kindly provided by Clive

readysteadybook.com

Hello everyone
I heard about this website on radio 4 where there was a discussion about the controversy that is raging around books being reviewed on blogs. it would be interesting to haer what other people thinks about this.


Is there a role for bloggers in literary criticism?

The website is very interesting www.readysteadybook.com

March Meeting Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

The March meeting of the Totnes library Evening Reading group took place last night (Wednesday 27th) there were only five of us lst night and we discussed Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. All 5 of us enjoyed the book and thought that the book took a very unusual situation - a diverse group of hostages in a south american country and explored the human dimensions in a very clever way. Most of us found the book very emotional and empathised with the characters.
We hope to include comments from as many of the reading group members so I have just opened the discussion here.

We will also post a list of the book we have read to date soon.

Next months book is Black Swan Green by David Mitchell and for May we hope to read a selection of Graham Greene to include his autobiography.

Please note next meeting is Tuesday 29th April instead of Wednesday!!!!

Please comment on this post and use the blog to communicate with each other all all things booky!!!
Paula