LETSBuzz Book Club 20th September 1998
This book deals with the loss of a fishing boat. It recreates the last few days. It features interviews with survivors, with coastguards etc. It contains everything you might want to know about weather and storms, which Seán found rather boring. Apart from the weather, Seán found the book gripping if slightly ghoulish ( the book deals with what it like to be drowned). He said that he found himself awed at the risks taken by the men on the sword fish boats. Seán said that he did not like the books' American reporter style. Other than that, a recommendation.
Seán
Caroline found 'Firebird' a terrible book with one-dimensional characters and a creaking plot. Not recommended (though good to laugh at!).
Caroline
Also not recommended. Talking it Over deals with a three-some involving a married couple and a friend. She said that she found it disconcerting with far too much talking. Doreen had also read the book and said that all the characters were a pain in the backside.
Caroline
Caroline does recommend this book. She said that it was a strange book with a very surreal start....But after that the story gets going and ends up on a desert island where the author deals with the theme of the nature of solitude. Caroline said she found the book to be very good overall.
Caroline
This book deals with the antics of a 28 year old layabout who lives in a shed. The character comes to the realisation that the only way out of his current predicament was to become an accountant...that is, until he decides to rob a bank.The book charts the course of the weekend in which he hatches his plan. Caroline said that she thought that 'White Merc..' was brilliant. Doreen noted that she had read 'Rancid Aluminium' by the same author and thought it was awful.
Caroline
Translated by JA Underwood
I thoroughly enjoyed the famous short stories by Kafka. In particular I liked - 'The Metamorphosis' and 'In the Penal Colony'. Kafka manages to set - up bizarre and quite fringhtening situations and then uses them to discuss the minutae of life. In 'The Metamorphosis' he starts off this story with the line "Gregory Samsa woke from uneasy dreams one morning to find himself changed into a giant bug". Yet despite the giant bug in their house, the main worry that the Samsa family deal with that first morning is the fact that Gregory will be late for work. This book is a definite recommendation with the reservation that, like a lot of collections, it starts with some boring stuff from early on in Kafka's writing career.
Gavin
George Eliot charts the life of Silas from his life in the city as part of a chapel community, through his loss of faith to living in a small village. Eliot is particularly good at portraying ordinary people without making them dull. By contrast the wealthy peope in the book come across as being two dimensional and rather worthless. This is a book for people who like happy endings. Another recommendation.
Gavin
Andrew described 'Enduring Love' as a stunning piece of writing. He was particularly taken by the first Chapter. The book was full of haunting images and moved on at a cracking pace. Andrew recommnded that everyone should read it.
Andrew
By contrast this history of Jethro Tull was not a well written book. Andrew noted that David Rees was a big fan of the band and ran their website etc. He said that on a few occasions the words ran away from Rees. He did praise the author, however, for managing to avoid the Sex'n'drugs'n'Rock clichés. He concluded that unless you liked the band you should not read this book.
Andrew
Gill's first observation about this book was that although short it was not a 'short read' as each word was important. The book is written by a woman having an affair with a married man. It is a book of emotions and deals with the phases of her love. Although the man in the book is never named Caroline said that it was George Barker. Gill said that she was not sure whether to recommend it or not. Doreen commented that she thought were all too old to read it now.
Gill
Gill thought this an excellent book. She noted that this was her second favourite book by the author - 'Gift of Stories' was her personal favourite. 'Signals of Distress' is set in 1836 and deals with the issue of slavery ( which was legal in America, though not in Britain where the book is set). Gill said that she found the main character rather pathetic, a bit of a do-gooder. Gill recommended this book.
Gill
Jean noted that she had read on the cover that this book had won lots of prizes and she had high expectations. She said that it was not a bad book but certainly not a book of the year. The book deals with the life of Larry from 1977-1997. The book takes place in his mind and deals with him bumbling in and out of marriage. One of the important themes of the book is gardens (Larry starts off life as a florist) and Jean said that she found the bits about mazes fascinating. Overall though this book is disappointing.
Seán asked about the party in the title. Jean said that there was indeed a party scene but it did not live up to its billing.
Jean
Unlike 'Larry's Party,' Jean had no expectations of 'Clear Waters Rising' and found it a very enjoyable read. The book tells the true story of Nicholas Crane's walk across the mountains of Europe. Jean said that he came across as a very endearing and eccentric man. She said that she particularly liked the scene in the book when Crane meets a bear.
Jean
Doreen said that 'the Innocent' made her feel sick. She described it as repulsive and cold. She said that particularly did not like the scene when the 'innocent', a hopeless telecom worker, and the wife cut up her husband's body after accidentally killing him. She also said that some of the scenes were quite cleverly written.
Doreen
This book deals with the authors early life from just before going to school until he comes out of prison. Doreen described Fry as a funny, horrible kid - a smart-arse and a romantic softy. She said that the book was a good read; entertaining and very funny. At one point
Fry says he liked prison because it was like public school.
Doreen
The frames have gone all funny - click to make it good.