Which Ever One to Read......
Aug 30, 2012
September Book : The Beloved by Annah Faulkner
Cheryl's suggestion, the group pick. This is a beautiful cover and available from local libraries, mine is already ready for pick up from the library; and it is a good price online.
This is a recently published book, June 2012. The Australian Bookshelf, website writes,
"Review- The Beloved is the debut novel by Australian author Annah Faulkner- winner of the Queensland Premier’s Literary Award for Emerging Writer. Set in Port Moresby in the 1950’s-1960’s, this story examines family dynamics, passion and a young girl’s determination to be true to herself."
http://australianbookshelf.wordpress.com/2012/07/12/aussie-book-review-the-beloved-by-annah-faulkner/
When are we meeting again,
Friday 21st September 20126pm, Location : The Lark, Paddington
Happy Reading !
A Life, A Review, A BookClub Breakfast ..... Good Ol' Charlie
We enjoyed a lovely breakfast at the Crosstown Eating House - the only downer was feeling to be made a little unwelcome because of holding a table for longer than they seem to like there guests to stay. Oh well, the coffee was good and we all agreed, humbug to them!
Now a little about Claire's biography of Dickens. While we all didn't get through the book....How many pages, did anyone ask that very important Q before we all agreed to read on. Apparently not! Not to worry, that is now a question we have decided to ask, while each looking at our busy diaries, to determine just how viable it might be for a few of us to complete a book in between sittings.
Some might ask, "What type of bookclub are you?" "Are you serious about literature, serious about reading, interested in expanding your mind through the art of reflective conversation?". Well of course I can confidently say on behalf of all of us, "YES", "YES", "YES". What i can proudly say is, "We are busy women, with a diverse range of commitments in our lives. We read for enjoyment, we read to stimulate our thinking, we read to surrender from the structure and order of everyday life, we read to journey to other places, to explore through the eyes and voices created by the author experiences which are not our own.
And for Bec's Mark - it is hardly far to say we are the Bookclub where you don't need to read Books! So very wrong!!!! In the words of Catherine Tate, How very Dare You !!!!
Now onto Dickens, there was a resounding view that Claire the author, did a good job of writing this biography. What stood out was the quality of how the author linked the description of Charles' character and significant life experiences with the themes and characters of his story.
Oh, though i do remember a beautiful book we did read once which probably could top Dickens..... Bec your choice, a freddo for who can remember?
Now in closing, i accept, i was not a lover of this biography, but that is no reflection on the author's writing, it is more about my limitation to find relaxation and pleasure in reading biographies. Maybe as i get older, that will change. I am hoping it is something i will grow into. However to be fair, the majority of the group did appreciate the quality of this book. Our understanding of Dickens is that he was a man with his own character flaws and whilst he was a brilliant writer, writing was something he worked hard at to ensure his success. He truly made being a writer a profession! He was definitely not a perfect man and in many respects in spite of his interest to uplift the voice of the impoverished man and women through his writing and charitable acts, he was very traditional and conservative in many ways - and certainly could be quite harsh and uncharitable to people close to him such as his wife Catherine, who really did deserve much better.
Welcome other's comments.... Oh and the Challenge is out - for each of us to read a Dickens story sometime between now and the new year, for a New Year Dickens Revival!
Cheers and Enjoy
V
Now a little about Claire's biography of Dickens. While we all didn't get through the book....How many pages, did anyone ask that very important Q before we all agreed to read on. Apparently not! Not to worry, that is now a question we have decided to ask, while each looking at our busy diaries, to determine just how viable it might be for a few of us to complete a book in between sittings.
Some might ask, "What type of bookclub are you?" "Are you serious about literature, serious about reading, interested in expanding your mind through the art of reflective conversation?". Well of course I can confidently say on behalf of all of us, "YES", "YES", "YES". What i can proudly say is, "We are busy women, with a diverse range of commitments in our lives. We read for enjoyment, we read to stimulate our thinking, we read to surrender from the structure and order of everyday life, we read to journey to other places, to explore through the eyes and voices created by the author experiences which are not our own.
And for Bec's Mark - it is hardly far to say we are the Bookclub where you don't need to read Books! So very wrong!!!! In the words of Catherine Tate, How very Dare You !!!!
Now onto Dickens, there was a resounding view that Claire the author, did a good job of writing this biography. What stood out was the quality of how the author linked the description of Charles' character and significant life experiences with the themes and characters of his story.Ruthie and Cheryl, really liked photos - and from now on, i think it is going to be hard to find books to outrate Dickens on the picture front.
Oh, though i do remember a beautiful book we did read once which probably could top Dickens..... Bec your choice, a freddo for who can remember?
Now in closing, i accept, i was not a lover of this biography, but that is no reflection on the author's writing, it is more about my limitation to find relaxation and pleasure in reading biographies. Maybe as i get older, that will change. I am hoping it is something i will grow into. However to be fair, the majority of the group did appreciate the quality of this book. Our understanding of Dickens is that he was a man with his own character flaws and whilst he was a brilliant writer, writing was something he worked hard at to ensure his success. He truly made being a writer a profession! He was definitely not a perfect man and in many respects in spite of his interest to uplift the voice of the impoverished man and women through his writing and charitable acts, he was very traditional and conservative in many ways - and certainly could be quite harsh and uncharitable to people close to him such as his wife Catherine, who really did deserve much better.
Welcome other's comments.... Oh and the Challenge is out - for each of us to read a Dickens story sometime between now and the new year, for a New Year Dickens Revival!
Cheers and Enjoy
V
Aug 24, 2012
Crosstown Eating House - for Charles Dickens
Hi Ladies,
We are meeting at the Crosstown Eating House 10am 26th August.
The location is 23 Logan Road, Woolloongabba - it is situated in the little antique precinct.
We will miss not having Dagmar along? If you haven't read Claire Tomlin's book.... It was quite a hefty read, can I suggest you bring along some thoughts about your favourite dickens books or characters for discussion! See you there.
Lots of reading happiness to you - V
We are meeting at the Crosstown Eating House 10am 26th August.
The location is 23 Logan Road, Woolloongabba - it is situated in the little antique precinct.
We will miss not having Dagmar along? If you haven't read Claire Tomlin's book.... It was quite a hefty read, can I suggest you bring along some thoughts about your favourite dickens books or characters for discussion! See you there.
Lots of reading happiness to you - V
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