Devon Book Club discussion

Tell us about your group. Where do you meet? What are you reading? Have you been together long? What keeps you meeting together?

The group that I belong to meets once a month in Mid Devon.
We have been meeting for 8 yrs now. We all love reading and enjoy the challenges of reading different types of books. We often have a better discussion if we have different views on a book and various ideas about it.
This months book is The Suspicions of Mr Whicher by Kate SummerscaleThe Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: A Shocking Murder and the Undoing of a Great Victorian Detective

thanks Helen. Does the group have a name so we can give it a bit of dedicated space? Interesting book choice. Be great to hear what you think about it when you discuss it. Agree that it is more fun when there are vaying views - helps us to think about what we like and why.

We don't have a name....maybe we should think about getting one!

where do you meet? Our Pageturners group meets in a hotel lounge - very convivial.

We meet at the organiser's house, if that is not possible we go to another member's house.

Sounds fun. Whereabouts in Mid Devon are you? - interesting to see what geographic coverage this group achieves. Hope you'll encourage your group to get involved when you next see them and give us the flavour of the reaction to this month's book choice.

We are in Cullompton. I think that there are a few different groups here now.
I will certainly mention it to the group when we next meet. The email went out to us all, so I expect that they are aware of this group.

Thanks Helen. I like Cullompton - we meet for work quite a bit in the fantastic new library. Good that your co-ordinator sent the e-mail round. I had hoped for a bit more interest from the other 350 groups in Devon - I will send a further message in a week or so.

Yes, we have a lovely library here now, we are lucky.
I'm sure people will join, but these things often take time.

Helen wrote: "Yes, we have a lovely library here now, we are lucky.
I'm sure people will join, but these things often take time."
Yes, the more active we are the more likely people will join

I was sure I commented, but maybe I didn't - it's been one of those days!

Teignmouth Book Seekers meets the 4th Monday of the month at Teignmouth Library. The lead for the group is a librarian at Teignmouth called Annalise. (It was her that mentioned this group to me yesterday)

Our current read is Clockwork Orange & our last read was Wolf Hall.

I was sure I commented, but maybe I didn't - it's been one of those days!

Teignmouth Book Seekers meets the 4th Monday of the month at Teignmouth Library. The lead for the group is a librarian at Teignmouth called Annalise. (It was her that mentioned this group to me yesterday)

Our current read is Clockwork Orange & our last read was Wolf Hall.

Julie wrote: "I was sure I commented, but maybe I didn't - it's been one of those days!

Teignmouth Book Seekers meets the 4th Monday of the month at Teignmouth Library. The lead for the group is a librarian at..."

Great that Annalise passed on the information. Wolf Hallis a big book for one month's read. Not sure our group would get through it in time. Was it well received?

It was mixed. There is a huge amount of characters & it is easy to loose track of who is who.

Several of us didn't complete in the month - naughty step for me!! - We read the sequel several months ago.

Yes. It is best read in sustained periods. I thought both books were wonderful

Wolf Hall Wolf Hall was well written , but quite hard going I thought. I have Bring up the Bodies Bring Up the Bodies on my 'to read' shelf......one day.

I know what you mean. complex books. I read them in fairly intensive spells, which probably helped. I love 16c history though, so enjoyed in that context too.

Helen wrote: "Wolf Hall Wolf Hall was well written , but quite hard going I thought. I have Bring up the Bodies Bring Up the Bodies on my 'to read' shelf......one day."

I would agree, both books are pretty hard going and perhaps a little wordy, but essentially I enjoyed them although I did have to copy the family pedigree at the beginning of the books.

Julie wrote: "Helen wrote: "Wolf Hall Wolf Hall was well written , but quite hard going I thought. I have Bring up the Bodies Bring Up the Bodies on my 'to read' shelf......one day..."

and we've the third one to come

Indeed we have. Someone at the group on Monday bought a cutting from the newspaper - Telegraph I think which showed a serialisation that is going to be done on BBC next year.

Julie wrote: "Indeed we have. Someone at the group on Monday bought a cutting from the newspaper - Telegraph I think which showed a serialisation that is going to be done on BBC next year."

its a play as well isnt it?

Yes it is. I am sure it was mentioned it was on locally - Cheltenham perhaps?

We are a very new group who are soon to have our first meeting to discuss our first book 'the Secret Life of Bees' by Sue Monk Kidd. We are Waitrose Wordsmiths with 13 members at present.

Karen wrote: "We are a very new group who are soon to have our first meeting to discuss our first book 'the Secret Life of Bees' by Sue Monk Kidd. We are Waitrose Wordsmiths with 13 members at present."

HI Karen and welcome to the Devon Book Club. Where abouts is your reading group? Not read the The Secret Life of Beesbut it looks really interesting. be great to hear the group's thoughts in due course. By the way, when you refer to a book or author it is great if you can add it using the link just above the comments box. That way we can all link to the book and see reviews etc

Hope you enjoy being part of the group and that you will visit often

I have enjoyed seeing what my friends read and will start to post in my own name. I might add a summary of our reading group discussion here too. I have still got to find my way round it all yet!

Thank you Ian. We are in Okehampton. I can see the link you refer to now and will use that in future.it all looks very interesting.

Karen wrote: "Thank you Ian. We are in Okehampton. I can see the link you refer to now and will use that in future.it all looks very interesting."

Excellent - we are starting to get reach right across Devon now. you are the first from Okehampton I think so you can help us to build the readership from our rugged moorland folk!

Lots of time to read when you live on the moors!

Karen wrote: "Lots of time to read when you live on the moors!"

I wonder if yo have come across Lewis Grassic Gibbon - he wrote the most wonderful trilogy set in the highlands of Scotland but very reminiscent of our moorland communities. I heartily recommend them. The series is called A Scots Quair: Sunset Song, Cloud Howe, Grey Granite

Hi, Carole here from 'Kingsbridge Library Reading Group'. I'm registered on the site as 'DrMama' as it is my usual blogging name, but I had already introduced myself as Carole, when I began posting here.
Our Group meets once a month (usually the first Thursday, at 1.30) in the Library. We celebrated our 10th Anniversary in October, and quite a few of the initial members are still going strong. At our meeting today, I told the Group all about this 'Devon Book Club' blog, and they are happy for me to tell you about us, and our opinions on the books we read - we are a very opinionated group! Today, we also re-circulated the link to this site, so more of us may join, on here, shortly.
If you check out 'Kingsbridge Library' website, and 'Reading Group', you will find some photographs of us, including a few from the 2007 trip to the 'Man Booker Prize' shortlist party.
Our latest read, discussed today, was The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai, which looks at the 'Ghorkaland Revolution' (1986 in Darjeeling) from the points of view of various main and subsidiary characters. As nearly always, our opinions varied hugely, from loving the book ... to not being too keen. However, while most of us had some reservations, we admitted to warming to the work, more and more, the further we read.
[NB It's quite difficult to know what to say, without including too many spoilers.] We thought the novel was maybe too long, and needed more editing, and that we would have loved maps, a glossary and maybe a character list. Most felt that we had learned a great deal about an area of India we didn't know that well, and that the issues discussed were even more relevant today. We were particularly impressed with the multiplicity of perceptions, voices and strands, although this density was daunting at first.
We don't 'score' books - maybe I should suggest that we do - but most did not regret the time spent on the novel; some hope to reread it, to better appreciate the lyrical language, which could be overlooked when keeping track of everything.
If any other groups have read this novel, it would be good to compare thoughts.

DrMama wrote: "Hi, Carole here from 'Kingsbridge Library Reading Group'. I'm registered on the site as 'DrMama' as it is my usual blogging name, but I had already introduced myself as Carole, when I began postin..."

Hi Carole - firstly, thank you very much for the review - really interesting. I read the book some years ago and did enjoy it but also agree that it could have been written more tightly. I heard Kiran Desaibeing interviewed once and she really irritated me - she kept going on about how it took her 10 years to write a book and how some days she could only write one line - although she was a full time author. Having Anita Desai as her mother presumably gave her that luxury.
Great to hear about your group too - sounds really lively. Ours is a strong group too - we go to dinner together a couple of times a year as well and have become good friends. It would be tremendous if a few more of your group were to join us.

Our reading group met last night and discussed Reading In Bedby Sue Gee. It was generally well liked - but I am afraid I am not a fan. To me, it felt like the author tried tgo cram as many storylines in as possible and didn't really do any of them full justice as a result. A tame ending too. On the plus side it was a quick and easy read and tried to tackle some big themes - death, infidelity, retirement, dementia and social care, holidays, family traditions, love, Xmas, attempted murder, pets - well the list goes on.

Our reading group, Bideford library Readers' Group met yesterday and discussed 'Paradise Postponed' by John Mortimer - I will review it in Bideford Buzz in April.We liked the humour and the political satire v much. I have also read Titmuss regained, the follow up to it.

Karen wrote: "We are a very new group who are soon to have our first meeting to discuss our first book 'the Secret Life of Bees' by Sue Monk Kidd. We are Waitrose Wordsmiths with 13 members at present."

Our group thoroughly enjoyed that.

Rose wrote: "Our reading group, Bideford library Readers' Group met yesterday and discussed 'Paradise Postponed' by John Mortimer - I will review it in Bideford Buzz in April.We liked the humour and the politi..."

What period is that set in Rose?

Our group meets tomorrow evening to discuss Trespass by Rose Tremain. I just finished it and was decidedly underwhelmed. Previously tea The Road Home, which I loved, so this was a disappointment. A pretty pointless book I thought. Written clearly but with little insight or lasting interest.

I really liked The Road Home by Rose Tremain, but I agree that Trespass was rather disappointing in comparison.

Hi, I agree completely about the great disparity between 'Trespass' and 'the Road Home'. I was really disappointed with it. However, as I was writing a review, I reread 'Trespass' and decided that there was more to it that I'd first thought, and that it is quite a poignant dissection of multiple trespasses. Also, 2nd time around I quite liked the fact that all characters are unloveable, as she does show so clearly how they all ended up how they are: I even wondered if it was all meant to be a lesson in empathy - but one that misfired. The 2nd time around, I felt the real wrong-footing was in the first chapter, which sets the scene of a 'what happens next?' crime-type thriller, when it isn't like that at all. It disappointed, for me, because it wasn't delivering what I thought it had promised, and I was reading pell-mell for the 'what happens?' and missing much of the subtlety. But ... yes, I would not normally have read it again, and my first response would haver been the same thumbs down.

DrMama wrote: "Hi, I agree completely about the great disparity between 'Trespass' and 'the Road Home'. I was really disappointed with it. However, as I was writing a review, I reread 'Trespass' and decided that..."

I also feel the same about these two books. In addition I also read The Colour by the same author some years ago,and that one left me feeling considerably underwhelmed, too. Can't remember much of the detail now, just a sense of the tedium of reading it!Interesting points Dr Mama - I shall bear them in mind at tonight's BG meeting.

Angela wrote: "DrMama wrote: "Hi, I agree completely about the great disparity between 'Trespass' and 'the Road Home'. I was really disappointed with it. However, as I was writing a review, I reread 'Trespass' a..."

Yes, agree absolutely about 'The Colour' although also can't remember much. I was very doubtful about reading 'The Road Home' and until I'd read it I couldn't understand why my (writing) group members were raving about Tremain. Maybe it's just individual taste, or she really is so variable. I've still got 'Music and Silence' to read and 'The American Friend' (the latter loaned from one of the friends who think she's wonderful), but same friend has not read 'M&S', yet this is the one that always seems to be touted as Tremain's best and 'breakthrough' novel.

I think I've mentioned before that my Reading Group - at 'Kingsbridge Library' - meet once a month. For some time I have been writing a monthly summary of our 'book discussion' to send out to group members - especially for those who may have missed the meeting & discussion. However, more recently, our Library Manager has been posting some of the discussion-summaries onto the 'Kingsbridge Library' Facebook page, so if you fancy having a look, just scroll back through the months. However, BEWARE, as there are 'spoilers' as the posts were originally just for the group: although more recently I have tried not to give too much away.
The most recent ones concern: The Woman Upstairs by Claire Messud (may not be up, yet, - a very varied response from the members), and before that: Pure by Andrew Miller (everyone loved); The Storyteller by Jodi Piccoult (mixed feelings); When Will There Be Good News? Kate Atkinson (generally liked, but not as good as other KAs) and We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler (very mixed views!). Take a look if you are interested - but do beware of the spoilers ... plus they are summaries of our discussions, rather than straightforward reviews.

DrMama wrote: "I think I've mentioned before that my Reading Group - at 'Kingsbridge Library' - meet once a month. For some time I have been writing a monthly summary of our 'book discussion' to send out to group..."

Thank you so much for the post. I'll copy it over to our FB page as well with a link to Kingsbridge Library. Our group, Barnstaple Pageturners met last evening to discuss The Book of Dave: A Revelation of the Recent Past and the Distant Future by Will Self. I love this book - unlike any Will Self I've read before (better) but you need to get past the first couple of chapters to really get into it. Some of our group didn't take to it but those who did really enjoyed it. Self is very much a marmite writer.

Be great to hear about what others are reading at book groups

Ian wrote: "DrMama wrote: "I think I've mentioned before that my Reading Group - at 'Kingsbridge Library' - meet once a month. For some time I have been writing a monthly summary of our 'book discussion' to se..."

I love Will Self's work - though I've only read a few - but I have not yet read 'The Book of Dave'. Hope to get to it sometime. He's also a lovely bloke: he did a 2 hour talk at my friend's Community Centre, the very night after not winning the Booker for 'Umbrella'. Plus ... when my pal realised the possible awkwardness of the dates for him, if he won, he told her he'd still go to Hull, whatever: and he was brilliant!
My Rdg Grp is discussing Silas Marner by George Eliot on Thursday.
NB it will take much scrolling through the Kingsbridge Library 'Facebook' page to find the book discussion summaries, as there's a lot on there - we are a very busy library - love it!

DrMama wrote: "Ian wrote: "DrMama wrote: "I think I've mentioned before that my Reading Group - at 'Kingsbridge Library' - meet once a month. For some time I have been writing a monthly summary of our 'book discu..."

I've left a message there this morning! Thanks for the tip off. Does look great. I read Umbrella, thought it very clever but it was incredibly hard work. I also thought Will Self was a bit too fond of introducing words that few people would know - seemed a bit like he was wanting to shout "see how clever I am". Interesting that you found him so personable - he doesn't always come across that way

I read The Book of Dave and did not particularly enjoy it. It is well written, but I find that Will Self likes to 'show off' how clever he is !

Helen wrote: "I read The Book of Dave and did not particularly enjoy it. It is well written, but I find that Will Self likes to 'show off' how clever he is !"

I agree to an extent with your last point (see my comment re Umbrella) but I am enjoying the Book of Dave immensely. I think it is cleverly constructed and has biting humour and satire.

The joy of books is that we all read them differently! Be boring if we agreed all the time. What didn't you like about it?

We read the Book of Dave as a book group read too, there was a mixed reaction to it there. I found it tiring to read and was glad when I had finished the book, but it was well written.
Yes, we always have the best discussions at the book group when we all have different opinions on a book!

Helen wrote: "We read the Book of Dave as a book group read too, there was a mixed reaction to it there. I found it tiring to read and was glad when I had finished the book, but it was well written.
Yes, we alwa..."

agree that! Perhaps I should spark some controversy in this group haha

Jane Austin and Will Self could be starters!