ROCKFIELD READING GROUP
Convenor : Elizabeth Russell Coopey email : elizabethcoopey@gmail.com Tel : 01600 740120
Meetings are held on the 1st Wednesday of the month at 2pm at member’s homes in Monmouth. We are a very vibrant group full of interesting people and books. We have two vacancies at the moment and if you would be interested in joining our book group come along to one of our meetings.
Books we have read
'Disclaimer' by Renee Knight
This is the author's first novel published in 2015 and she is currently adapting it for the screen. The book is a cleverly constructed psychological thriller, a page turner for most of the group wondering how it would become resolved at the end. There are two narrators in the novel which makes it quite confusing at times and add to that the jumping back and forth between past and present. The novel plays on emotions questioning trust, love, secrets, revenge and jealousy.
The group felt no connection with any of the characters and thought that the novel lacked depth. Catrin Williams
Trio by Sue Gee
The book is set in Northumberland in the late 1930’s. Steven Coulter is a history teacher who lives remotely on the moors with his wife Margaret whom he adores. Sadly she dies from tuberculosis and he is left desperately lonely and isolated. He continues to teach, travelling the long distance to and from the school barely managing to conceal the deep loss that he feels, believing this is how it will be forever. Then a colleague, Frank Embleton, invites him to listen to a musical trio in an attempt to distract him from his grief. The trio comprises his sister Diana, and friends George and Margot. Steven and Margot are attracted to each other and romance gently blooms between them. Frank is the central character to all their lives and when he disappears to fight in the Spanish war it affects each of them.
There is a part 2 to the book which seems disjointed, although it did serve the purpose of tying up loose ends.
The story is beautifully written with poetic descriptions of the Northumberland landscape. When the trio were playing I felt as if I could hear the music. The story slowly and gently unfolds in an almost lyrical way. It is about the rediscovery of love and life through friendship and music. Sue Loubster
Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine by Gail Honeyman.
Gail Honeyman had a eureka moment as she reached her 40th birthday, she is now 45. If she was going to be a writer, it was now or never. Getting up at 5:30 to fit in a couple of hours writing before work and then scribbling through her lunch hour in a café became the norm and some 2 and a half years later her novel was completed. Eleanor Oliphant was born. Her birth was trumpeted with a bidding war, the title sold to 27 territories and garnered 7 figure advances and film rights.
Honeyman grew up in a small village between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Her mother was a civil servant, her father worked in a science lab and she also had a brother. She was a voracious reader and a regular at the local library during her childhood. She studied French Language and Literature at Glasgow and then went on to study for a PhD at Oxford but gave up. Rather curiously she found the long hours in the library researching C19th fiction lonely and went into university administration instead.
The inspiration for Eleanor Oliphant came from a newspaper article about loneliness. It was an interview with a young woman who lived alone in a big city. She had a flat and a job but said if she didn’t try she would leave work on Friday night and not see anyone until she returned to work on Monday morning. Loneliness in the media usually refers to the elderly and Honeyman thought it intriguing that it also affected the young. Thinking about it, the author realised there were plenty of routes for a young person to find themselves in this position.
After writing the first three chapters Honeyman entered them for the Lucy Cavendish Award for unpublished writing. She was shortlisted for the award which was a great boost to her self-esteem. One of the judges mentored her which led to her getting an agent, such a vital step in getting published. She was also nominated for the British Book Awards and Fiction Debut Awards Subsequently she went on to win the Costa First Novel award. She credits belonging to a Writing Group as being a tremendous help in achieving her ambition. Perhaps enrolling in a Faber Academy writing course – whose alumni include Rachel Joyce and SJ Watson, didn’t do any harm either. Honeyman says that once she had decided to write a novel she thought: even if I just put it away and don’t show it to anyone – I want to prove to myself I can get to the end.
The character of Eleanor was in part influenced by Jane Eyre reflecting Honeyman’s love of C19th Litereature. Honeyman remarks: The things that make Jane stand out as a remarkable individual (her independence of spirit, her inability or reluctance to conform to expectations, her fierce intelligence and emotional honesty) were not considered pleasing, attractive or desirable female qualities according to the standards of the day, and she isn't, to use a contemporary term, a people pleaser.
Although the book deals with themes of lonlieness, alcoholism and how physical looks affect the perception of a person it is not a downbeat novel. Although some members of the group were reluctant, at first, to engage with the themes all enjoyed the novel. This was an engaging plot which drove the reader to find out ‘ what happens next’ and sparked a lively discussion.
Frances Green
Mrs Harris Goes to Paris by Paul Gallico
Mrs Harris is a salt-of-the-earth London charlady who cheerfully cleans the houses of the rich. One day, when tidying Lady Dant’s wardrobe, she comes across the most beautiful thing she has ever seen - a Dior dress. Mrs Harris has never seen anything as magical and she’s never wanted anything as much. Determined to make her dream come true she scrimps, saves and slaves away until one day, she finally has enough money to go to Paris. Little does she know how her life is about to transformed forever. Mrs Harris’s adventures take her from her humble Battersea home to the heights of glamour in Paris as she learns some of life’s greatest lessons along the way.
A little piece of serendipity enjoyed by the group. Elizabeth Coopey
The Storied Life of A J Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin,
A book with possibilities is a good read and the clue is in the title – A storied life of A.J. Fikry. Each chapter references a short story that is important to A.J so a notepad and pen is essential while reading so that you can revisit stories you may have read before and some you have not.
A.J. Fikry is a grumpy widower running a bookshop on an island in New England. The author, Gabrielle Gavin is a Harvard English major who made her name in the teenage novel market. The bookseller has a precious copy of Tambourlaine which he hopes will finance his retirement but it goes missing. Then a baby, called Maya is dumped in his shop. The baby is precocious and of course becomes an avid reader. The bookshop is doing badly because of his grumpy demeanour but over time the baby and later love, help him turn his life around.
It’s a small town book with small town characters but you can’t help wanting to find out what happens next. Yes, it is light and you can read it quickly but it is definitely a feel good book. It’s a suitable antidote to death, disaster, war and murder. Some readers have criticised it because ‘ it sucks up to librarians, book clubs and bookstores’ but that doesn’t seem to be an entirely bad thing! Our book group enjoyed it so it obviously did something right.
The book spans a decade or so in the life of the bookstore owner . The local police officer, Lambiase visits the shop and becomes hooked on books and even leads a reading group and from a business in crisis the bookshop rises from the ashes as do A.J’s spirits. Falling in love with a book rep helps him to establish a life that he had not thought possible and we see his relationship develop both with his girlfriend, his child and his customers.
He has very particular views on the type of books he wants to sell including I do not like anything over 400 pages long or under one hundred and fifty pages. I am repulsed by ghost written novels by reality television stars, celebrity picture books, sports memoirs, movie tie in editions, novelty items – and I guess this goes without saying-vampires.
If you like the above, you probably won’t like this book but if you would like a light, well written read – with possibilities, this could be the book for you.
A Long Walk Home by Judith Tebbutt.
This is a story of the kidnapping of the author by Somali Pirates while on holiday with her husband at a beach resort in Kenya.
Some members of the reading group had read the book previously but agreed it was worth a second read.
Despite being held in horrendous conditions and on a starvation diet, Tebbutt's training as a mental health social worker proved vital in interacting with her captors. When she learnt of her husband's death a short while into her captivity she showed amazing fortitude and was determined to make the "Long Walk Home" which she did after seven months of captivity.
Catrin Williams
Summer 2017 Book reviews for our latest summer reads
‘The Birthday Boys’ by Beryl Bainbridge
It is a story of Scott’s hardships and the problems on his file voyage to Antarctica in 1910. It is written in the first person narrative of the five men who were on the expedition.
Scott and his five companions were beaten to the pole by Roald Amundsen and his Norwegian team by 34 days.
The majority of our group thought it was an interesting perspective of the journey. Scott not only used dogs but horses that were already rather worn out before they reached the start of the expedition and the group found their suffering quite difficult to read, apart from the deaths of Scott and his fellow companions. Janice Delaney
‘God’s Needle’ by John Butterworth and Lily Gaynor
Lily Gaynor had just qualified as a nurse in 1957 when she set sail for Guinea-Bissau – on the North African coastline. With the help of WEC, Lily went to live among the Papel tribe, an area desperate need of medical care.
The book documents Lily’s incredible achievements as she brought hope and restoration to the people of Guinea-Bissau. Elizabeth Coopey
Spring 2017
‘Goodnight Mr Tom’ by Michele Magorian
Britain is on the brink of WW2 when young William Beech is sent to live with Tom Oakley in the village of Little Weirwold. Tom Oakley is a sad, reclusive widower who slowly accepts the idea of having the boy live with him. Tom soon discovers William has been a victim of child abuse and greatly needs his love and care.
Tom takes William under his wing and provides him with warm clothes and plenty of food. William begins to thrive and he soon begins school. There he meets caring teachers and develops a close-knit group of friends. Although William is happy with his new life, William receives word his mother is ill and he must return to London, his heart sinks.
Worried, Tom Oakley goes to London as he had not heard from William and finds that he had been badly abused by an absent mother. After a brief stay in a London hospital, Tom and William return to Little Weirwold, where William begins a slow recovery. William realizes he has much to live for even though his mother died, he is thankful for his life with Tom, who is going to adopt him. Elizabeth Coopey
‘The Savage Garden’ by Mark Mills a successful historical crime writer.
1958 a Cambridge art historian student has been sent to write about a Tuscany garden laid out for a dead wife in the 17th century. Following clues set in the positioning of classical mythology statues within the garden he interprets the message given of the dead wife and helps to unmask the murderer of a family member that occurred towards the end of WW2. Some of us enjoyed the book though were bogged down by the details of mythology making for slow reading. Anne Davies
Reading reviews for Summer 2016
‘The Forger’ by Paul Watkins
Paris, 1939. Europe is on the brink of a Second World War and David Halifax, a young American art student, becomes involved in forging great paintings, so that the originals don’t fall into the hands of the Nazi invaders. Halifax is painfully aware that this unwanted commission could cost him his life
"Brooklyn " by Colm Toibin,
A young shy Irish girl Eilis unable to find a job in Ireland is sponsored by a visiting priest from America to emigrate to New York. Eilis is homesick a feeling of alienation but through crushing hard work begins to settle down with new friends until bad news send her back home. The book was generally enjoyed and caused a lively discussion of our remembrances of the restrictiveness of life for women in the 1950's in the Catholic country. Anne Davies
‘The Cleaner of Chartres’ by Salley Vickers
A lovely book, magical and at times sinister story about love, loss, secrets and forgiveness, wise at heart and filled with colourful characters.
‘We are completely Beside Ourselves’ by Karen Joy Fowler
A thought provoking book!
‘This Thing of Darkness’ by Harry Thompson,
A brilliant historical novel closely based upon real events that took place between 1828 and 1865. An interesting point on the BBC Radio Shipping Forecast, Finisterre is now called Fitzroy
‘This Thing of Darkness’ was enjoyed by the group. A big book with a big story. The adventures of Darwin and FitzRoy as they mapped the South Atlantic and Pacific. Storms at sea, an earthquake, discoveries of tribes, and new species of wildlife. Interwoven was the story of the men's discussions and thoughts, Darwin portrayed as focussed only on what he found and FitzRoy as trying to do what he believed to be right, at whatever cost to himself. Maureen Goff
The Perfect Daughter by Amanda Prowse
When I looked at the synopsis of this novel I hoped for a serious read. A family drama of a young married woman exhausted from providing round the clock care for her Alzheimer ridden mother as well as bringing up two children with her rather lazy husband. Unfortunately it was most disappointing, something all members of the reading group agreed upon!
The following comments were made by members of the group:- the humour is cheesy, obvious and embarrassing, the story is predictable and not authentic, it is rather boring and there is little literary quality.
Sadly there isn't a lot to this book! Catrin Williams
'A Boy Made of Blocks' by Keith Stuart.
I chose this book for our Christmas reading as it was described as ‘the most uplifting novel of 2017’ and ‘heart warming, funny, and special,’ and indeed it lived up to this description.
It is based on the author’s experience of being the father of an autistic child, and the story gave us an insight of the difficulties facing families this problem. It was a gripping and also moving story' Rosalie Tobe
'The Old Boys' by William Trevor
The revenge of a group of septuagenarians against Jaraby, who had tormented them at school. Written with humour, it is a gentle story of their bitterness and determination to 'not to let him become President of the Old Boys Association. It was William Trevor's first novel. Maureen Goff
Over the recent winter period two of the books we have read have been intriciately connected by WWI, both in their way food for thought.'A Month in the Country’ by J L Carr
This is a story of a young soldier Tom Birkin his life having been damaged by war; commisioned by a charity to uncover centuries old mural in a small chapel in the wilds of the Yorkshire countryside. The solitude of the chapel and the revelation of beautiful paintings done long ago by an artist like himself gave him untold joy. Tom gradually joins in the gentle pace of the village life around him, enjoying conversations with the vicars beautiful wife, Michal Moon, also a fellow war survivor, who was excavating an old grave in the grounds of the chapel, was a good companion, at the same time Kathy a young girl in the village introduced Tom to her family and enjoyed many a Sunday lunch with them. All these people and his work helped him come to terms with the real world for which he was going to have to face. A book enjoyed by the group
'Private Peaceful' by Michael Morpurgo
Private Thomas Peaceful has lied about his age and left his family behind to follow his older brother, Charlie, to France to fight in the First World War. Now, Tommo has one almost unendurable night, alone, fighting sleep, to reflect on his life. As the minutes slowly tick by, his memories are full of his childhood in the English countryside. His father, mother, brothers, and first love, Molly, come vividly alive in his mind. But every moment Tommo spends thinking about his life means another moment closer to something he cannot bear to think about – a time when the war and its horrific consequences will change his life forever. The group found this book sad to the extreme.
Remember Me by Trezza Azzopardi
Lillian is a 72 year old homeless woman who has distanced herself from the world, choosing to live a solitary life. After the theft of her few meagre possessions she goes in search of the thief and, in the process, memories of her tragic past, too painful to remember, come back to haunt her in random bursts. The book is beautifully written but requires some concentration because we are given fleeting recollections of Lillian’s life as they flit into and out of her mind without sequence; of how she was passed from person to person and her identity changed into what other people wanted her to be, until she was lost to herself. The book was not well received by the group who found the story depressing and very disjointed.
Sue Loubser
‘I Let you Go’ by Clare Mackinstosh
Our book for March was the psychological thriller by Clare Macintosh ‘I Let you go', I had chosen this book as it had been recommended to me. It is her first novel and has won various awards. The majority of the group enjoyed her storyline and especially the twist at the end. I am looking forward to reading her next novel. Cath Gilbert
'The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel’ by Maureen Lindley.
This book is based on the real life story of Yoshiko Kawashima a Chinese Princess, badly treated by both her Chinese and Japanese families, who eventually became a spy for the Japanese, during the 1940s. The idea seems a most interesting idea for a novel, and indeed the historical descriptions of life in China, Japan and Manchuria during that time are very enlightening, but somewhere the book got lost in depicting in great detail, the sexual exploits of this poor lady in this era of the superiority of men. The fact that no one in the group enjoyed the book led to one of the most interesting discussions, but came to the conclusion that it might have been better for these ‘Private Papers’ to have remained private. Rosalie Tobe
Addition by Toni Jordan
A quirky romance about Grace, who is obsessive compulsive about counting.
Her hero is Nikola Tesla, a Serbian inventor and counter about whom she fantasises, that is until she meets Seamus. Their romance throws her life into turmoil and eventually therapy which is life changing.
It was an easy read and led to an interesting discussion on OCD and mental illness. Sue Loubser
Meetings are held on the 1st Wednesday of the month at 2pm at member’s homes in Monmouth. We are a very vibrant group full of interesting people and books. We have two vacancies at the moment and if you would be interested in joining our book group come along to one of our meetings.
Books we have read
'Disclaimer' by Renee Knight
This is the author's first novel published in 2015 and she is currently adapting it for the screen. The book is a cleverly constructed psychological thriller, a page turner for most of the group wondering how it would become resolved at the end. There are two narrators in the novel which makes it quite confusing at times and add to that the jumping back and forth between past and present. The novel plays on emotions questioning trust, love, secrets, revenge and jealousy.
The group felt no connection with any of the characters and thought that the novel lacked depth. Catrin Williams
Trio by Sue Gee
The book is set in Northumberland in the late 1930’s. Steven Coulter is a history teacher who lives remotely on the moors with his wife Margaret whom he adores. Sadly she dies from tuberculosis and he is left desperately lonely and isolated. He continues to teach, travelling the long distance to and from the school barely managing to conceal the deep loss that he feels, believing this is how it will be forever. Then a colleague, Frank Embleton, invites him to listen to a musical trio in an attempt to distract him from his grief. The trio comprises his sister Diana, and friends George and Margot. Steven and Margot are attracted to each other and romance gently blooms between them. Frank is the central character to all their lives and when he disappears to fight in the Spanish war it affects each of them.
There is a part 2 to the book which seems disjointed, although it did serve the purpose of tying up loose ends.
The story is beautifully written with poetic descriptions of the Northumberland landscape. When the trio were playing I felt as if I could hear the music. The story slowly and gently unfolds in an almost lyrical way. It is about the rediscovery of love and life through friendship and music. Sue Loubster
Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine by Gail Honeyman.
Gail Honeyman had a eureka moment as she reached her 40th birthday, she is now 45. If she was going to be a writer, it was now or never. Getting up at 5:30 to fit in a couple of hours writing before work and then scribbling through her lunch hour in a café became the norm and some 2 and a half years later her novel was completed. Eleanor Oliphant was born. Her birth was trumpeted with a bidding war, the title sold to 27 territories and garnered 7 figure advances and film rights.
Honeyman grew up in a small village between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Her mother was a civil servant, her father worked in a science lab and she also had a brother. She was a voracious reader and a regular at the local library during her childhood. She studied French Language and Literature at Glasgow and then went on to study for a PhD at Oxford but gave up. Rather curiously she found the long hours in the library researching C19th fiction lonely and went into university administration instead.
The inspiration for Eleanor Oliphant came from a newspaper article about loneliness. It was an interview with a young woman who lived alone in a big city. She had a flat and a job but said if she didn’t try she would leave work on Friday night and not see anyone until she returned to work on Monday morning. Loneliness in the media usually refers to the elderly and Honeyman thought it intriguing that it also affected the young. Thinking about it, the author realised there were plenty of routes for a young person to find themselves in this position.
After writing the first three chapters Honeyman entered them for the Lucy Cavendish Award for unpublished writing. She was shortlisted for the award which was a great boost to her self-esteem. One of the judges mentored her which led to her getting an agent, such a vital step in getting published. She was also nominated for the British Book Awards and Fiction Debut Awards Subsequently she went on to win the Costa First Novel award. She credits belonging to a Writing Group as being a tremendous help in achieving her ambition. Perhaps enrolling in a Faber Academy writing course – whose alumni include Rachel Joyce and SJ Watson, didn’t do any harm either. Honeyman says that once she had decided to write a novel she thought: even if I just put it away and don’t show it to anyone – I want to prove to myself I can get to the end.
The character of Eleanor was in part influenced by Jane Eyre reflecting Honeyman’s love of C19th Litereature. Honeyman remarks: The things that make Jane stand out as a remarkable individual (her independence of spirit, her inability or reluctance to conform to expectations, her fierce intelligence and emotional honesty) were not considered pleasing, attractive or desirable female qualities according to the standards of the day, and she isn't, to use a contemporary term, a people pleaser.
Although the book deals with themes of lonlieness, alcoholism and how physical looks affect the perception of a person it is not a downbeat novel. Although some members of the group were reluctant, at first, to engage with the themes all enjoyed the novel. This was an engaging plot which drove the reader to find out ‘ what happens next’ and sparked a lively discussion.
Frances Green
Mrs Harris Goes to Paris by Paul Gallico
Mrs Harris is a salt-of-the-earth London charlady who cheerfully cleans the houses of the rich. One day, when tidying Lady Dant’s wardrobe, she comes across the most beautiful thing she has ever seen - a Dior dress. Mrs Harris has never seen anything as magical and she’s never wanted anything as much. Determined to make her dream come true she scrimps, saves and slaves away until one day, she finally has enough money to go to Paris. Little does she know how her life is about to transformed forever. Mrs Harris’s adventures take her from her humble Battersea home to the heights of glamour in Paris as she learns some of life’s greatest lessons along the way.
A little piece of serendipity enjoyed by the group. Elizabeth Coopey
The Storied Life of A J Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin,
A book with possibilities is a good read and the clue is in the title – A storied life of A.J. Fikry. Each chapter references a short story that is important to A.J so a notepad and pen is essential while reading so that you can revisit stories you may have read before and some you have not.
A.J. Fikry is a grumpy widower running a bookshop on an island in New England. The author, Gabrielle Gavin is a Harvard English major who made her name in the teenage novel market. The bookseller has a precious copy of Tambourlaine which he hopes will finance his retirement but it goes missing. Then a baby, called Maya is dumped in his shop. The baby is precocious and of course becomes an avid reader. The bookshop is doing badly because of his grumpy demeanour but over time the baby and later love, help him turn his life around.
It’s a small town book with small town characters but you can’t help wanting to find out what happens next. Yes, it is light and you can read it quickly but it is definitely a feel good book. It’s a suitable antidote to death, disaster, war and murder. Some readers have criticised it because ‘ it sucks up to librarians, book clubs and bookstores’ but that doesn’t seem to be an entirely bad thing! Our book group enjoyed it so it obviously did something right.
The book spans a decade or so in the life of the bookstore owner . The local police officer, Lambiase visits the shop and becomes hooked on books and even leads a reading group and from a business in crisis the bookshop rises from the ashes as do A.J’s spirits. Falling in love with a book rep helps him to establish a life that he had not thought possible and we see his relationship develop both with his girlfriend, his child and his customers.
He has very particular views on the type of books he wants to sell including I do not like anything over 400 pages long or under one hundred and fifty pages. I am repulsed by ghost written novels by reality television stars, celebrity picture books, sports memoirs, movie tie in editions, novelty items – and I guess this goes without saying-vampires.
If you like the above, you probably won’t like this book but if you would like a light, well written read – with possibilities, this could be the book for you.
A Long Walk Home by Judith Tebbutt.
This is a story of the kidnapping of the author by Somali Pirates while on holiday with her husband at a beach resort in Kenya.
Some members of the reading group had read the book previously but agreed it was worth a second read.
Despite being held in horrendous conditions and on a starvation diet, Tebbutt's training as a mental health social worker proved vital in interacting with her captors. When she learnt of her husband's death a short while into her captivity she showed amazing fortitude and was determined to make the "Long Walk Home" which she did after seven months of captivity.
Catrin Williams
Summer 2017 Book reviews for our latest summer reads
‘The Birthday Boys’ by Beryl Bainbridge
It is a story of Scott’s hardships and the problems on his file voyage to Antarctica in 1910. It is written in the first person narrative of the five men who were on the expedition.
Scott and his five companions were beaten to the pole by Roald Amundsen and his Norwegian team by 34 days.
The majority of our group thought it was an interesting perspective of the journey. Scott not only used dogs but horses that were already rather worn out before they reached the start of the expedition and the group found their suffering quite difficult to read, apart from the deaths of Scott and his fellow companions. Janice Delaney
‘God’s Needle’ by John Butterworth and Lily Gaynor
Lily Gaynor had just qualified as a nurse in 1957 when she set sail for Guinea-Bissau – on the North African coastline. With the help of WEC, Lily went to live among the Papel tribe, an area desperate need of medical care.
The book documents Lily’s incredible achievements as she brought hope and restoration to the people of Guinea-Bissau. Elizabeth Coopey
Spring 2017
‘Goodnight Mr Tom’ by Michele Magorian
Britain is on the brink of WW2 when young William Beech is sent to live with Tom Oakley in the village of Little Weirwold. Tom Oakley is a sad, reclusive widower who slowly accepts the idea of having the boy live with him. Tom soon discovers William has been a victim of child abuse and greatly needs his love and care.
Tom takes William under his wing and provides him with warm clothes and plenty of food. William begins to thrive and he soon begins school. There he meets caring teachers and develops a close-knit group of friends. Although William is happy with his new life, William receives word his mother is ill and he must return to London, his heart sinks.
Worried, Tom Oakley goes to London as he had not heard from William and finds that he had been badly abused by an absent mother. After a brief stay in a London hospital, Tom and William return to Little Weirwold, where William begins a slow recovery. William realizes he has much to live for even though his mother died, he is thankful for his life with Tom, who is going to adopt him. Elizabeth Coopey
‘The Savage Garden’ by Mark Mills a successful historical crime writer.
1958 a Cambridge art historian student has been sent to write about a Tuscany garden laid out for a dead wife in the 17th century. Following clues set in the positioning of classical mythology statues within the garden he interprets the message given of the dead wife and helps to unmask the murderer of a family member that occurred towards the end of WW2. Some of us enjoyed the book though were bogged down by the details of mythology making for slow reading. Anne Davies
Reading reviews for Summer 2016
‘The Forger’ by Paul Watkins
Paris, 1939. Europe is on the brink of a Second World War and David Halifax, a young American art student, becomes involved in forging great paintings, so that the originals don’t fall into the hands of the Nazi invaders. Halifax is painfully aware that this unwanted commission could cost him his life
"Brooklyn " by Colm Toibin,
A young shy Irish girl Eilis unable to find a job in Ireland is sponsored by a visiting priest from America to emigrate to New York. Eilis is homesick a feeling of alienation but through crushing hard work begins to settle down with new friends until bad news send her back home. The book was generally enjoyed and caused a lively discussion of our remembrances of the restrictiveness of life for women in the 1950's in the Catholic country. Anne Davies
‘The Cleaner of Chartres’ by Salley Vickers
A lovely book, magical and at times sinister story about love, loss, secrets and forgiveness, wise at heart and filled with colourful characters.
‘We are completely Beside Ourselves’ by Karen Joy Fowler
A thought provoking book!
‘This Thing of Darkness’ by Harry Thompson,
A brilliant historical novel closely based upon real events that took place between 1828 and 1865. An interesting point on the BBC Radio Shipping Forecast, Finisterre is now called Fitzroy
‘This Thing of Darkness’ was enjoyed by the group. A big book with a big story. The adventures of Darwin and FitzRoy as they mapped the South Atlantic and Pacific. Storms at sea, an earthquake, discoveries of tribes, and new species of wildlife. Interwoven was the story of the men's discussions and thoughts, Darwin portrayed as focussed only on what he found and FitzRoy as trying to do what he believed to be right, at whatever cost to himself. Maureen Goff
The Perfect Daughter by Amanda Prowse
When I looked at the synopsis of this novel I hoped for a serious read. A family drama of a young married woman exhausted from providing round the clock care for her Alzheimer ridden mother as well as bringing up two children with her rather lazy husband. Unfortunately it was most disappointing, something all members of the reading group agreed upon!
The following comments were made by members of the group:- the humour is cheesy, obvious and embarrassing, the story is predictable and not authentic, it is rather boring and there is little literary quality.
Sadly there isn't a lot to this book! Catrin Williams
'A Boy Made of Blocks' by Keith Stuart.
I chose this book for our Christmas reading as it was described as ‘the most uplifting novel of 2017’ and ‘heart warming, funny, and special,’ and indeed it lived up to this description.
It is based on the author’s experience of being the father of an autistic child, and the story gave us an insight of the difficulties facing families this problem. It was a gripping and also moving story' Rosalie Tobe
'The Old Boys' by William Trevor
The revenge of a group of septuagenarians against Jaraby, who had tormented them at school. Written with humour, it is a gentle story of their bitterness and determination to 'not to let him become President of the Old Boys Association. It was William Trevor's first novel. Maureen Goff
Over the recent winter period two of the books we have read have been intriciately connected by WWI, both in their way food for thought.'A Month in the Country’ by J L Carr
This is a story of a young soldier Tom Birkin his life having been damaged by war; commisioned by a charity to uncover centuries old mural in a small chapel in the wilds of the Yorkshire countryside. The solitude of the chapel and the revelation of beautiful paintings done long ago by an artist like himself gave him untold joy. Tom gradually joins in the gentle pace of the village life around him, enjoying conversations with the vicars beautiful wife, Michal Moon, also a fellow war survivor, who was excavating an old grave in the grounds of the chapel, was a good companion, at the same time Kathy a young girl in the village introduced Tom to her family and enjoyed many a Sunday lunch with them. All these people and his work helped him come to terms with the real world for which he was going to have to face. A book enjoyed by the group
'Private Peaceful' by Michael Morpurgo
Private Thomas Peaceful has lied about his age and left his family behind to follow his older brother, Charlie, to France to fight in the First World War. Now, Tommo has one almost unendurable night, alone, fighting sleep, to reflect on his life. As the minutes slowly tick by, his memories are full of his childhood in the English countryside. His father, mother, brothers, and first love, Molly, come vividly alive in his mind. But every moment Tommo spends thinking about his life means another moment closer to something he cannot bear to think about – a time when the war and its horrific consequences will change his life forever. The group found this book sad to the extreme.
Remember Me by Trezza Azzopardi
Lillian is a 72 year old homeless woman who has distanced herself from the world, choosing to live a solitary life. After the theft of her few meagre possessions she goes in search of the thief and, in the process, memories of her tragic past, too painful to remember, come back to haunt her in random bursts. The book is beautifully written but requires some concentration because we are given fleeting recollections of Lillian’s life as they flit into and out of her mind without sequence; of how she was passed from person to person and her identity changed into what other people wanted her to be, until she was lost to herself. The book was not well received by the group who found the story depressing and very disjointed.
Sue Loubser
‘I Let you Go’ by Clare Mackinstosh
Our book for March was the psychological thriller by Clare Macintosh ‘I Let you go', I had chosen this book as it had been recommended to me. It is her first novel and has won various awards. The majority of the group enjoyed her storyline and especially the twist at the end. I am looking forward to reading her next novel. Cath Gilbert
'The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel’ by Maureen Lindley.
This book is based on the real life story of Yoshiko Kawashima a Chinese Princess, badly treated by both her Chinese and Japanese families, who eventually became a spy for the Japanese, during the 1940s. The idea seems a most interesting idea for a novel, and indeed the historical descriptions of life in China, Japan and Manchuria during that time are very enlightening, but somewhere the book got lost in depicting in great detail, the sexual exploits of this poor lady in this era of the superiority of men. The fact that no one in the group enjoyed the book led to one of the most interesting discussions, but came to the conclusion that it might have been better for these ‘Private Papers’ to have remained private. Rosalie Tobe
Addition by Toni Jordan
A quirky romance about Grace, who is obsessive compulsive about counting.
Her hero is Nikola Tesla, a Serbian inventor and counter about whom she fantasises, that is until she meets Seamus. Their romance throws her life into turmoil and eventually therapy which is life changing.
It was an easy read and led to an interesting discussion on OCD and mental illness. Sue Loubser
The text and photographs on this website must not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the copyright holder Monmouth U3A. The information provided on this website is for general information purposes only, and whilst every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy, reliability, and suitability of this information, neither Monmouth U3A nor the website hosts can accept liability for errors or misinterpretation resulting from its use, and any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever including without limitation and indirect or consequential loss or damage arising from use of this website. January 2014 ©