Monday, 18 April 2016

Book club

On Saturday it was our book group meeting. We discussed, 'Wish You Were Here' and, believe me, be glad that you were not!
The opening line is,
THERE IS NO END to madness, Jack thinks, once it takes hold. 
Jack continues to be just as miserable all the way through the book. It provoked a very lively discussion, quite the opposite of the book itself, but it left me sorely in need of reading something joyful, not least because our recent book group choices have dealt with dementia, madness and death!
I AM NOT RECOMMENDING IT for Diane's Tuesday Intros!
Instead I'm offering a fictional book club that's set in California's Sacramento Valley.
It's described in The Times newspaper as, 'stylish, homely and deeply comforting.'
Ah, that's more like it!


I enjoyed this book, it's full of warmth and gentle humour, qualities that seem increasingly hard to find in recent novels. Suggestions for any similar books gratefully received!
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12 comments:

  1. JoAnn19 April 2016 at 06:11

    I listened to the audio version of The Jane Austen Book Club years ago and remember enjoying it. The opening line to Graham Swift's novel is intriguing!

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    1. Share my Garden25 April 2016 at 06:20

      I used to listen to audio books and radio plays while I worked but these days I often find it hard to differentiate between the different voices, which makes listening very frustrating. I see from Laurel's comment below that there is a film - so I shall keep my eyes open for that!

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  2. Laurel-Rain Snow19 April 2016 at 07:31

    I loved The Jane Austen Book Club, both the book and the movie. The theme of books, plus the Sacramento setting, kept me engaged.

    Here's mine: “TERRIBLE VIRTUE”

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  3. Unknown19 April 2016 at 07:50

    Although I don't particularly enjoy Jane Austen, I would probably finish this book. It's more about the book club than the author, and the first page already has me wondering about the characters!

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    1. Share my Garden25 April 2016 at 06:06

      You don't need to like Austen to enjoy this, it's a warm, friendly book. There's a brief plot summary of the Austin novels at the back of the book together with responses to her writing and questions for discussion - makes you want to be in her book club!

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  4. Cleopatra Loves Books19 April 2016 at 13:33

    I've heard great things about Jane Austen's Book Club and it sounds like you were in dire need of a pick-me-up book after those subjects!

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  5. Literary Feline20 April 2016 at 07:38

    I have heard good things about Fowler's book, but I haven't yet read it. Swift's novel caught my attention, even though you don't recommend it. I may have to check it out anyway. :-)

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    1. Share my Garden25 April 2016 at 06:14

      Oh, Literary Feline, how perverse! Swift's book is a real downer. The main problem with his novel is how to write successfully about a central character who is constantly referred to as 'bovine' without also making the book ponderously slow and repetitive.
      Pretty hard to beat Faulkner's, "As I Lay Dying' for dealing with similar subject matter superbly.

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  6. Maria Behar22 April 2016 at 09:38

    Oh, this sounds like such a delightful book!! Well, anything related to Austen would have to be. I'm grabbing this one just as soon as I possibly can! Thanks for featuring it!!

    Also, thanks for your recent visit and comment on my blog, A NIGHT'S DREAM OF BOOKS!! Much appreciated!! Have a GREAT weekend!! :)

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