LETSBuzz Book Club 3rd November 2000
Doreen commented that she had enjoyed the Tales of the City and had looked
forward to reading AM's latest. This book, however, was not a patch on them.
Doreen found the story to be interesting enough and described it as 'a bit like a Russian doll', however, one problem wshe had with this book was that she was unsure as to whether it was the author's real life or not. She also felt it simply did not have enough in it.
Doreen
Doreen felt this book hadn't lasted very well. The style was dated and it was
really only interesting from the historical point-of-view. Particular problems were the vigilantism and the book's attitude towards women. Not only are the characters sexist but so is the narrator. Doreen also had a problem with the end, the book just tails off and she was unclear why the main character had to go down the mine!
Doreen
The book is a bit of a vegetarian polemic. The plot structure is quite
simple - a woman preparing to give a university lecture. Inside this
device, however, are a lot of thoughts about how savage we are to animals.
The book is interesting, intelligent and makes a number of interesting links
between poets and animals and philosophers and animals.
Doreen
Doreen observed that the poem in the collection could be divided into two basic themes... ones about Carole Satyrmurti's family and more general observational poems. Doreen enjoyed the most poems and thought they were very well written (picking out 'Piccadilly Line' and 'Broken Moon' to read) but expressed a sense of unease with the way in which Satyrmurti described her family.
Doreen
This Booker short-listed book had been enjoyed by other members of the
group, however Gill found it boring in the extreme. In fact she commented
that it drove her 'straight back to the Wilkie Collins'. She found really
did not care for the whole middle class academics in library plot line.
Gill
Andrew described this book as a well written love story set in WW2. He found
the first section of the book (RAF pilots etc. in England) a bit gung-ho
but then the story really picked up in France.The section that dealt with the
holocaust victims was moving (and harrowing in the extreme). Andrew
commented that he particularly liked the character of the French resistance
fighter.
Andrew
Andrew described this as an amazing well crafted piece of piece of work. The
basic plot deals with a US missionary family going to the Congo at the time
of its independence. The story is told through the voices of the women
the mother and daughters) of the family. One of the impressive features of
the book is that the voices of the different narrators are so very different
and clearly distinguishable. Excellent. Fascinating from start to finish.
Andrew
Rory describe this as an interesting book. Well written for the layman as it
does not talk down to one too much. The author also has a great ability to
explain things and his explanations are carried along by some interesting
visits to characters in history such as Mary, Queen of Scots. R picked out
the later sections of the book that deal with the Internet for a special
mention. The author argues strongly for everyone sending emails to use
public key encryption. Excellent book.
Rory
Carolyn described this book in very negative terms (begins with c and end in a p!). In particular, she felt that the book was not well structured. The first and second halves of the book did not come together. Despite being a Wexford book this one was going to go straight off to the charity shop.
Carolyn
Carolyn was reading this book for the 2nd time. She remembered that she had laugh loads the first time she read it and was really enjoying again this time
around. Very good.
Carolyn
Gavin described Music and Silence as a good read. As Doreen pointed out at the last meeting it has some nice contrasts between its various structural elements and its characters. The book is also a window into a time and place that Gavin had not encountered before (Denmark in the early 17th century). This book had some nice writing in it. Gavin was particularly impressed by the sections written from the young boy's point of view. Recommended.
Gavin
The frames have gone all funny - click to make it good.