Here are the group’s ratings of recent choices.

SEVEN BRIEF LESSONS ON PHYSICS by Carlo Rovelli

A non fiction, factual book which explains the basics of modern physics in short, manageable chapters. It has good illustrations and examples and an excellent index. This was a challenge to most of the group and although it was an easily readable style it was quite difficult to grasp. It was agreed it was a worthwhile choice and we all learned something. We were unable to discuss the book in the same way we can discuss a novel but enjoyed comparing educational systems in the US and the UK.

Satisfaction 7; Writing Style 8; Keep/Charity Shop: Keep; read more by author: No

SNAP by Belinda Bauer

An original, pacy and entertaining crime thriller. Well plotted, clever and entertaining with some brilliant but authentic characters. It did raise some questions about credibility at times but even members of the group who were not fans of crime novels enjoyed this book. A mother’s car breaks down on a busy main road; she leaves the three children in the car for safety and walks to an emergency phone to get help but never returns. And this is apparently based on a true story.

Satisfaction 8; Writing Style 8; Keep/ charity shop: Charity shop; Read more by author: Yes

LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY by Bonnie Garmus

Funny, thought provoking and charming novel about a female chemist in the 1950s and 1960s. Elizabeth is a cracking protagonist - single minded, socially awkward and fiercely determined to challenge sexism. Forced to resign from the chemistry lab she reluctantly hosts a tv cookery show and attracts the attention of a nation. It has some strong and serious messages but is an enjoyable and different book.

Satisfaction 8; Writing Style 8.5; Keep/Charity Shop: Charity Shop; Read more by author: Yes

WIDE SARGASSO SEA by Jean Rhys

Described as a prequel to Jane Eyre this gives the background story of the mad woman in the attic, Bertha. A story of oppressive, colonialist society in the Caribbean the book is written in three parts with three different narrators. At times this is confusing, the writing style is atmospheric but moves around a lot and is sometimes difficult to follow. It was also described as claustrophobic. Our group was divided generally on this classic and felt it was a 'love it or hate it' book.

Satisfaction 6; Writing Style 5; Keep/charity shop: 2/6. Read more by author: 3/6

TAKE MY HAND by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Based on the true story of a birth control clinic in Alabama in 1973, this moving and memorable novel exposes the sterilisation of teenage girls without consent. It goes on to describe very well a unique court case about it. At times it was felt that the main character’s actions were questionable and we had to suspend credibility! This is a very readable but shocking account about poverty, race, class and rights. The group felt it was an important book and needs to be widely read.

Satisfaction 8; Writing Style 7; Keep/charity shop: keep; Read more by author: Yes

THE MAGICIAN by Colm Toibin

A biographical novel about the writer Thomas Mann. It explains the background to the two World Wars in Europe and in particular Germany's stance. It explores the changes in Germany and the effect on music and the arts. It covers three generations of Mann's complicated, eccentric family and their unusual relationships.

The group was quite divided on this book and struggled with the realistic but flat style while really appreciating strong female characters

Satisfaction 6; Writing Style 5; Keep/charity shop: charity shop; Read more by author: Yes

KLARA AND THE SUN by Kazuo Ishiguro

Clever but disturbing book about an Artifical Friend who is a sophisticated robot. Ishiguro writes in a spare, simple style this time which makes it easy to identify with Klara. The book raises so many questions about our future and our social attitudes. There are teasers which the reader doesn’t understand - sometimes later explained, sometimes left to the reader to interpret. The group appreciated the book on the whole and much time was spent exploring it.

Satisfaction 8; Writing Style 7; Keep/charity shop: 50/50; Read more by author: yes

THE PARIS LIBRARY by Janet Skeslien Charles

Set in occupied Paris and eighties Montana a story of a young girl’s life and her work in the American Library in Paris then her later life as a war bride in the US. Based on a true story and some actual characters this is potentially a really interesting account of how this library started and developed. Then what it was like to relocate to Montana. However, the writing itself didn’t do justice to the story and disappointed some members of the group. It was felt that the characters and storylines lacked depth and authenticity. Others really enjoyed it!

Satisfaction 7; Writing Style 5; Keep/charity shop: Charity shop; Read more by author: No

May 24
A LADDER TO THE SKY by John Boyne. The protagonist, Maurice Swift, is a literary Tom Ripley. This is a dark tale of ambition, seduction and literary theft which explores many controversial topics - plagiarism, homosexuality, narcissism, child pornography, rape and murder.  The novel has an interesting structure and varies its narration and style which can be challenging at times. It is a clever book but some found it unpleasant with some distasteful characters. There is a tongue in cheek element and maybe it should not be taken too seriously!

Satisfaction 7; Writing Style 8; Keep/Charity Shop: Charity shop; Read more by author: Yes

June 24
NUTSHELL by Ian M Ewan. Opinions on this were extreme! Love it or hate it. It was considered clever, funny and dark with rich use of language. Trudy is pregnant; she has banished her husband and lives with his brother. The two main characters plot to kill her husband. The baby is the narrator and his voice dominates the novel but some found his knowledge unrealistic and inconsistent. It is a thriller with elements of fantasy. Discrete parallels to the story of Hamlet easily missed.

Satisfaction 7; Writing Style 8; Keep/charity shop: keep; Read more by author: Yes

July 24
BUTTERFLIES IN MY SOUP by Sylvia Bowley. An English girl's experience of teaching in Tanganyika in the sixties then her return recently. Quite an achievement for an amateur writer to compile and publish her story many years later. It took our group back to how different travel and communications were back then. But it read like a travel diary and lacked detail and emotion. 

Satisfaction 5; Writing Style 4; Keep/ charity shop: charity shop; Read more by author: n/a

August 24
THE PYRAMID by Henning Mankiller. Short stories starting with a prequel to Wallander's career. This was a popular choice although it was felt his later books were better.   Clever, spare writing which survived translation well. Dialogue good with dry humour. The down to earth domestic realities were appreciated. The effect of a very Northern  climate and Swedish seasons were explored and the mental and emotional ramifications.

Satisfaction 7; Writing Style 7.5; Keep/charity shop: charity shop; Read more by author: Yes 

September 24
MEN WITHOUT WOMEN by Haruki Murakami. A well-regarded collection of short stories based on men's relationships with women. Murakami's stories are easy to read, well constructed, and with much left unexplained. The writing is clever, humorous, and unique. The cultural elements of Japanese life, the background, and the outcome of the stories led to useful discussion. 

Satisfaction 7; Writing Style 8; Keep/charity shop: charity shop; Read more by author: Yes

October 24
MRS de WINTER by Susan Hill. The need and purpose of this sequel to Rebecca was questioned. Susan Hill consistently imitated du Maurier's style but it was rather overdone and didn’t really work. An easy but frustrating read in that the unnamed main character was too passive, lacked gumption, and did not grow in her marriage in over a decade. The parallels to Rebecca were interesting and the descriptions of the natural surroundings were appreciated.

Satisfaction 6; Writing Style 5; Keep/charity shop: charity shop. Read more by author: No.

November 24
THE ELEPHANT WHISPERER by Lawrence Anthony. An enjoyable, easy-to-read non-fiction book. The author ran a wildlife reserve in Zululand in northeast South Africa and agreed to rescue a herd of wild elephants. Interesting stories about how elephants communicate and how, through endless patience, Lawrence Anthony gained their trust and learned to communicate with the elephants. He also developed communication and trust with the tribal leaders. Some of the writing is a little simplistic and there may have been a tendency to exaggerate.

Satisfaction 7.5; Writing Style 6; Keep/charity shop: charity shop. Read more by author: No.

December 2024
THE LITTLE RED CHAIRS by Edna O'Brien. A faith healer from the Balkans arrives in a remote Irish village and turns out to be an evil tyrant in hiding. This novel had mixed views - some loved, some hated! All agreed it tended to ramble in a kaleidoscopic of people and places with the characters not given time to fully develop. It was raw, disturbing, and quite violent. It really got in touch with the despair of poverty, homelessness, and immigration. This was the author’s final novel and it was a challenging read.

Satisfaction 7; Writing Style 7; Keep/charity shop: charity shop. Read more by author: Yes.