Jane Austen's 'Emma' provoked some unexpectedly lively discussion with strong likes and dislikes becoming apparent. The contrast could hardly have been more marked when we moved from 18th C England to 20th C Afghanistan for the 'Kite Runner'. The striking human story encouraged long discussion not only with regard to the characters but to the situation of Afghanistan today. 

The Winter Programme is as follows. (Our original choice for January was Kiran Desai's Booker Prize winner 'The Inheritance of Loss' but this will be put back until it appears in paper back.)

'Cider with Rosie’ - Laurie Lee - Mon 20 November 
'A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian' - Marina Lewycka - Tues 9 January
'Lark Rise to Candleford' - Flora Thompson - Weds 28 February

If you would like to join us please telephone Heather - 812118, Maggie - 812621 or Gail - 813356

A Merry Christmas to all our readers!

Maggie Gawthorpe

Our first Poetry Evening was a great success producing an enthusiastic and varied choice of poems ranging from 16th Century John Donne to 21st Century Benjamin Zephaniah. We may well choose to repeat the experience next year. The Autumn Programme also promises variety with the first book set around recent Afghanistan followed by Laurie Lee's enduring look at English country life.

'The Kite Runner' - Khaled Hosseini - Tues 10 October
'Cider with Rosie' - Laurie Lee - Mon 20 November

If you would like to join us please telephone Heather - 812118, Maggie - 812621 or Gail - 813356

The solid Spring read, 'Testament of Youth', by Vera Brittain provided endless discussion. Describing the time around and during WW1 this personal and poignant story capturing the feelings of youthful idealism being pitch-forked into a brutal world of war was unforgettable.

We look forward to our first foray into the world of poetry and then a long leisurely summer read.

Our future programme includes:-

A Poetry Evening (Mon 5 June)
'Time Will Darken It' William Maxwell (Tues 27 June)
'Emma' Jane Austen (Tues 29 August)
The Kite Runner Khaled Hosseini (Tues 10 October)

If you would like to join us please telephone Heather - 812118, Maggie - 812621 or Gail - 813356

We have had a good attendance at our meetings over the Winter - perhaps people have enjoyed the variety of reads - and it always makes for good discussion. It is interesting to become aware of the variety of tastes in fiction. Some books seem to be almost universally satisfying and the comment is largely praiseworthy, while others positively demand discussion and provoke vehement comment. The 'Unconsoled' by Ishiguro certainly fell into the latter category.

Our future programme includes:-

'Sea Change' Elizabeth Jane Howard (Tues 7 March)
'Testament of Youth' Vera Brittain (Weds 26 April)
A Poetry Evening (date to be arranged)

If you would like to come along and join us please telephone Heather - 812118, Maggie - 812621 or Gail - 813356

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Last updated: 9 December 2006