Devon Book Club discussion

So - Reading Challenge number 1 is to read, review (on Goodreads) and share your thoughts on any book or books (you can read a many as you like) by the top 3 authors chosen by you in our first Poll. You should aim to complete this challenge by end March 2015.

The three authors are:

1. Haruki Murakami
2. David Mitchell
3. Margaret Forster

You are invited to read each author and post your thoughts as you go. We can then all join in with discussions - make sure you avoid spoilers when discussing a book though!

Looks a very interesting selection. I voted for David Mitchell because I thought he was the comedian. Have just looked him up and discovered he is someone completely different! Oh dear! What ignorance! I expect everyone else has heard of him!

It does get rather confusing, especially as DM the comedian has also written books! Haven't read anything by DM the author of Cloud Atlas etc, but saw the film of this book which left me feeling rather dazed and confused! I think Murakami will be my author of choice for this challenge.

Yes, I thought David Mitchell had written books. Many of the comedians have, as they are extremely articulate people.
Never heard of Cloud Atlas, either the film or the book. I find Goodreads very informative.

When I first came across David Mitchell's name as an author, I did the same thing, Carol. I'm such a fan of Would I Lie To You?! Haven't read anything by any of them so I'm spoilt for choice...

Oh good! I have 'intended' to read Murakami for years [decades??], so this is the impetus I need. I have already read (and reread) several by Mitchell, and I want to go back to the ones I've missed, before trying the new one, but will happily join in the comments. I admired 'Cloud Atlas' so much I couldn't bear to see the film in case it clouded all my images of the book (I agree with Philip Hensher on film and TV adaptations of our favourites: I hate the fact that the characters in 'Middlemarch' now appear in my mind as Rufus Sewell or Juliet Aubrey rather than my own images from Eliot's descriptions: I've avoided most adaptations since).
I've only read Maragret Forster's biography of Daphne du Maurier, but it is a triumph, and she handled delicate revelations with great tact.

Oh I just picked up some Patrick Gale from a charity shop in anticipation! I will give Murakimi another go as long as its a short one! Awaiting the new David Nichols from the library on a very long list but hopefully will come by March. A new author to me. Only read one by Margaret Forster about two grandmothers but as far as I can remember it was pretty good. So I'm happy with the outcome even if Patrick has to wait a while!

Angela wrote: "It does get rather confusing, especially as DM the comedian has also written books! Haven't read anything by DM the author of Cloud Atlas etc, but saw the film of this book which left me feeling ra..."

The idea of the challenge is to read each of the authors, not just one of them!

Carol wrote: "Yes, I thought David Mitchell had written books. Many of the comedians have, as they are extremely articulate people.
Never heard of Cloud Atlas, either the film or the book. I find Goodreads very ..."

I really enjoyed Cloud Atlas when I read it some years ago. Worth giving it a try.

DrMama wrote: "Oh good! I have 'intended' to read Murakami for years [decades??], so this is the impetus I need. I have already read (and reread) several by Mitchell, and I want to go back to the ones I've miss..."

That's great. I am a huge Murakami fan. His books are quite unique I think. The only one to avoid is one called "Things I think about when I think about Running"

I agree about Cloud Atlas- a great book; though the film wasn't too bad.

Sue wrote: "Oh I just picked up some Patrick Gale from a charity shop in anticipation! I will give Murakimi another go as long as its a short one! Awaiting the new David Nichols from the library on a very lon..."

You can always read Patrick Gale as well!

I've never read any of Margaret Forster's

So what's a good one of her's to try first? Any recommendations? Cloud atlas was a very marmite book in our book group (love/hate) - I loved it and also loved DM's Black Swan Green. I am looking forward to reading his new Bone Clocks which I've heard is like Cloud Atlas but better!?

Ellen wrote: "So what's a good one of her's to try first? Any recommendations? Cloud atlas was a very marmite book in our book group (love/hate) - I loved it and also loved DM's Black Swan Green. I am looking fo..."

I've not read Margaret Forster so will be a first for me too! Which is great. I love reading new authors

Ok, I've selected my 3 books: The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell, The Memory Box by Margaret Forster, and Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami. Looking forward to reading them over the next three months!

Alison wrote: "Ok, I've selected my 3 books: The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell, The Memory Box by Margaret Forster, and Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami. Looking forward to rea..."

Brilliant - hope you enjoy them. Look forward to hearing about them in due course.

I'm reading Black Swan Green. I was hugely impressed by Cloud Atlas and I'm enjoying this one just as much, but they are so profoundly different that's it hard to believe they are by the same author.

I've enjoyed Margaret Forster's books in the past but have to admit I gave up with Cloud Atlas and, as I clearly have no stamina, am now pretty nervous about tackling Murakami. Can someone suggest which of his is the best to start with?

I've been told Kafka on the Shore is the best one to start with....

Ruth wrote: "I've enjoyed Margaret Forster's books in the past but have to admit I gave up with Cloud Atlas and, as I clearly have no stamina, am now pretty nervous about tackling Murakami. Can someone suggest ..."

Depends what you like. For a readable (though often surreal) book with an intriguing story, that comes together in a very clever way - Kafka on the Shore; for a more straightforward (more of a love story) Norweigan Wood; am just reading his new novel Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage - an intriguing story; Tsukuru has been ostracised by a group of 4 friends (all of whose names contain a colour - but his doesn't) but he doesn't know why. They had been inseperable. 15 years later he is starting to think about finding out why.....

I am a huge Murakami fan and have loved them all - except his memoir about running - stay away from that. Dive in and enjoy the different voice.

Ellen wrote: "I've been told Kafka on the Shore is the best one to start with...."

That may have been me - it was my introduction to his work and I loved it

Thanks Ian & Ellen - looks like Kafka on the shore or Norwegian Wood, then.

Ruth wrote: "Thanks Ian & Ellen - looks like Kafka on the shore or Norwegian Wood, then."

Hope you enjoy it

Just finished Haruki Murakami Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage - see my comments under Challenge #2

I'm hoping to read Margaret Forster's The Memory Box, David Mitchell's The Bone Clocks and Haruki Murakami's Norwegian Wood. That's the plan anyway! Don't know their work at all, I'm afraid, so should be good.

We've picked two of the same books to read Kathy, so I'd be interested to hear your thoughts. I have just finished reading The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell; having never read any of his work before. I'm not usually into fantasy books, but I enjoyed the premise of this book. It's quite a way in before all the story lines come together and you actually begin to understand what the author has been working up to - and there is a significant amount of the book focussed on a character that didn't seem to mean anything in the grand finale; so I was left feeling the book could have been quite a bit shorter perhaps. However, the writing style was good enough to keep my interest right up to the end and overall I enjoyed reading it. I'm not sure I'll rush to read any more of his books though.

Alison wrote: "We've picked two of the same books to read Kathy, so I'd be interested to hear your thoughts. I have just finished reading The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell; having never read any of his work befo..."
That's interesting, Alison. I rarely read fantasy either so this will be a challenge but I saw David Mitchell interviewed a couple of months ago. He was talking about Bone Clocks and he did pique my interest. I've just got The Memory Box from the library though so must read that first.

David Mitchell seems to be capable of writing books in totally different styles/genres. His Black Swan Green tells the story of 12 months in the life of a 13-year-old boy in the early 1980s. It captures brilliantly the angst of being that age - the angst in this case being increased by the fact that the boy has a stammer. It's wonderful stuff.

I agree, BJ, I really liked Black Swan Green too. I thought it was a fantastic study of bullying. The novel encompasses both the victim's side of the story as well the bully's, while also showing the effect of time and that childhood bullying isn't the end of the story- victims don't have to stay victims. I bought a copy for myself to keep and read to my own sons when they are a bit older. I think that they would gain a perspective on bullying from this book that would be very hard to teach any other way.
I am currently reading Mitchell's "The Bone Clocks" (about half-way through) and thoroughly enjoying it. I'd forgotten how much I like David Mitchell!

Great to see that the Challenge is inspiring you to read new people. Report in when you finish all 3 and tell us what they were

I've just finished reading DM's The Bone Clocks. Really enjoyed it but was a little disappointed by the ending. The characters in the interwoven mini-stories were brilliant and I love how he managed to bring in a few characters from his previous books (like spotting old friends!). Was well worth the read.

Ellen wrote: "I've just finished reading DM's The Bone Clocks. Really enjoyed it but was a little disappointed by the ending. The characters in the interwoven mini-stories were brilliant and I love how he manage..."

At 1.14 AM. You have to take the prize for club super reader in January. Is that 4 books already? The Bone Clocks looks like quite a popular choice. Alison has also either read it or chosen it - cant remember which. How woudl you rate it relative to his other work? As you've read a few would you recommend this above others?

I finished Margaret Forster's The Memory Box yesterday. I enjoyed it very much to start with but less as time went on. It's an intriguing premise which didn't, for me, fully live up to my expectations. I think I struggled to engage well with the characters. I'm glad I read it though.

Kathy wrote: "I finished Margaret Forster's The Memory Box yesterday. I enjoyed it very much to start with but less as time went on. It's an intriguing premise which didn't, for me, fully live up to my expectati..."

Thanks Kathy - I am looking forward to reading one of hers - she isn't an author I know. Had you read her before?

Ian wrote: "Ellen wrote: "I've just finished reading DM's The Bone Clocks. Really enjoyed it but was a little disappointed by the ending. The characters in the interwoven mini-stories were brilliant and I love..."
(I think I've read 7 books already this month!)I would definitely say that I have enjoyed The Bone Clocksas much as any of the other 2 books of his that I have read (I haven't read everything he's written). It is definitely a better read than Cloud Atlas- the interwoven stories hang together a lot better but I do feel he kind of lost his way towards the end. The ending felt a bit forced to me- like he was struggling to find a good ending having written himself into a hard place really.
I have also just finished my second book for this challenge: Keeping the World Away by Margaret Forster. I chose this one as the outline appealed to me more than some of her others. I'm not generally a fan of historical fiction so I was dreading it a bit. However, I was pleasantly surprised. The first character (the one actually based on truth) annoyed me no end but the subsequent characters improved as the book went on. It is basically the story of a painting from the early 20th century and lives of the women who subsequently own it. I'd give it 3.5/5 as it was generally well written and a good story. I don't think I'd go looking to read another of her books but I can appreciate how she might be a favourite of others in this club.

Ian wrote: "Kathy wrote: "I finished Margaret Forster's The Memory Box yesterday. I enjoyed it very much to start with but less as time went on. It's an intriguing premise which didn't, for me, fully live up t..."
No, this was my first book by her. Interested to read Ellen's comment about Keeping the World Away. I felt similar, probably 3.5/5.

Is there a book to read for February as a group discussion? I realise we have the 3 authors to read by the end of March, but was not sure if I had missed something.

Carol wrote: "Is there a book to read for February as a group discussion? I realise we have the 3 authors to read by the end of March, but was not sure if I had missed something."

No - we agreed not to have set books so that people do not feel under pressure to read something specific (especially as so many of us belong to reading grops too). The Royal Lacemaker was a specific initiative by the Library Service. More of those may follow in due course.

I am currently reading Keeping the World Awayby Margaret Forster, and enjoying it so far - just comimg to the end of the second character's story.

I've just finished my second book of this challenge - The Memory Box by Margaret Forster. I've not read anything by her before, and I've really enjoyed reading this one. I found it interesting to see how the author thought through how she thought someone would react to items left in a box by a mother they never knew as they had died when they were 6 months old. I found myself constantly thinking about whether I would have acted the way Susannah did, and if not why not. The writing style kept me engaged all the way through - I might consider reading another book by her as part of the challenge if I get the time.

Have bought Norwegian Wood by Murakami, so will give that a go.

Carol wrote: "Have bought Norwegian Wood by Murakami, so will give that a go."

Will be interested to hear what you think - it's on my list too.

I've just finished Sputnik Sweetheart. I hadn't heard of it, but it was the only Murakami book in our local library so I took the plunge. Lots of rave reviews from the national press on the cover and I was looking forward to it. It was a huge disappointment. There are only three characters, none of whom is remotely credible or likeable. I simply didn't care what happened to them - which is just as well as very little did happen. When it did, it was incomprehensible. Suggestions of doppelganger and parallel universes are slipped in as if that's all the reader needs to make sense of it all. It isn't. I can't explain what is wrong with the very limited plot without using spoilers, so I'll just say it was nearly plotless and totally pointless.
The structure of the book is awkward as one of the characters narrates in the first person, but then describes the thoughts of the other two when he isn't present.
I'd read that Murakami's writing is 'beautiful', 'poetic' and 'philosophically profound'. At times the prose does indeed flow beautifully and there is poignancy when the author tackles loneliness, but as for poetry - well, anyone think, 'The moon hung in the eastern sky like a used up kidney.' poetic? Maybe it lost something in translation.
The book is sprinkled with comments such as, 'Remove everything pointless from an imperfect life and it'd lose even its imperfection.' I guess I'm supposed to think that profound - but I don't.
Oh well, that's a new author ticked off. Moving on to Margaret Forster.

B J wrote: "I've just finished Sputnik Sweetheart. I hadn't heard of it, but it was the only Murakami book in our local library so I took the plunge. Lots of rave reviews from the national press on..."

Such a shame. I love Murakami - though Ive not read that one. I started with Kafka on the Shore, loved The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle and also just read Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage which I really enjoyed to. Give him another shot when you've recovered

Every author writes the occasional duffer. I was just unlucky to start with this one.

B J wrote: "I've just finished Sputnik Sweetheart. I hadn't heard of it, but it was the only Murakami book in our local library so I took the plunge. Lots of rave reviews from the national press on..."
Love your assessment of Sputnik Sweetheart. It made me laugh, and then husband called me downstairs to watch Charlie Brooker's 'take' on Wolf Hall, which made me laugh for the second time on this rather chilly morning.

A little late to the challenge but nearly finished the book I am currently reading. Might read a David Mitchell - but I really didn't like Cloud Atlas - trudged through it but didn't enjoy it - so a Mitchell recommendation that is get different from CA would be good - any suggestions?

I have not enjoyed Murakami novels in the past but have got a short one from the library after the quake. Need some scandi-crime first after my last book (see challenge 2).

Sonia wrote: "A little late to the challenge but nearly finished the book I am currently reading. Might read a David Mitchell - but I really didn't like Cloud Atlas - trudged through it but didn't enjoy it - so ..."

Try Black Swan Green - I commented briefly about it in this thread on Jan 11th.

Hi BJ. Just read your interview. Loved it. Hope you've put the link up somewhere on here.
(See those pesky zombies have popped up again! Think the down slopes of Torbay's steep hills might defeat them, however, so we're probably safe.)