Hi Bookworms!
Thanks to all those that attended for lovely Christmas meal on Sunday at Chopstix, it was nice to enjoy a glass of wine and some yummy food with our discussion - we will have to do it more often!
There will be an upcoming cinema trip to see the film of the 'Book Thief' at some point in January - watch this space for details.
As for this month's read, it's a fantasy one for December in the form of Neil Gaiman's 'Coraline'. This is a short but spellbinding read so hopefully we will be able to fit it in alongside all the festivities. We will be meeting on Sunday January 5th at 8pm in the Black Lion to discuss this one.
Upcoming reads for 2014 will be:
January Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg (Meet on Sun Feb 2nd)
February Blue Boy by Rakesh Satyal (Meet on Sun Mar 2nd)
March Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf by Edward Albee (Meet on Sun Apr 6th)
April Mort by Terry Pratchett (Meet on Sun May 4th)
As always remember to follow us on twitter @booknantwich and any questions please email nantwichbookworms@gmail.com
Thanks, Kate
Tuesday 3 December 2013
Monday 25 November 2013
Bookworms Christmas Meeting!
Hi Bookworms.
I hope that you're all well and keeping warm on this cold November day.
Is everyone enjoying 'The Kite Runner'? I am looking forward to discussing it!
This month, we are going to have a Christmas meal on Sunday December 1st as well as our usual bookclub discussion, new members are obviously still welcome along. For details please drop me an email at nantwichbookworms@gmail.com
Thanks
Kate
I hope that you're all well and keeping warm on this cold November day.
Is everyone enjoying 'The Kite Runner'? I am looking forward to discussing it!
This month, we are going to have a Christmas meal on Sunday December 1st as well as our usual bookclub discussion, new members are obviously still welcome along. For details please drop me an email at nantwichbookworms@gmail.com
Thanks
Kate
Tuesday 5 November 2013
November 2013
Hi Bookworms,
Thanks to those that attended on Sunday to talk about Ian Banks' 'The Crow Road'.
This coming of age tale has a bit of everything - sibling rivalry, death, unrequited love, a murder mystery, religion and lots of alcohol!
Some of our members loved this book, empathising with the transition of a young Prentice McHoan through his early twenties against a backdrop of a beautifully described Scotland. Other bookworms felt that the novel dragged pace-wise but as Banks virgins, perhaps we need to read another of his novels before making a proper judgement.
In summary, it was a fairly well-received read although would always struggle to top last month's 'The Book Thief' which we all adored (and still can't stop talking about!)
Coming up we have Khaled Hosseini's 'The Kite Runner' and our meeting to discuss it on December 1st will be combined with a Christmas meal - details to follow!
As always, any questions please email nantwichbookworms@gmail.com and remember to follow us on twitter @booknantwich
Kate :)
Thanks to those that attended on Sunday to talk about Ian Banks' 'The Crow Road'.
This coming of age tale has a bit of everything - sibling rivalry, death, unrequited love, a murder mystery, religion and lots of alcohol!
Some of our members loved this book, empathising with the transition of a young Prentice McHoan through his early twenties against a backdrop of a beautifully described Scotland. Other bookworms felt that the novel dragged pace-wise but as Banks virgins, perhaps we need to read another of his novels before making a proper judgement.
In summary, it was a fairly well-received read although would always struggle to top last month's 'The Book Thief' which we all adored (and still can't stop talking about!)
Coming up we have Khaled Hosseini's 'The Kite Runner' and our meeting to discuss it on December 1st will be combined with a Christmas meal - details to follow!
As always, any questions please email nantwichbookworms@gmail.com and remember to follow us on twitter @booknantwich
Kate :)
Friday 4 October 2013
Are you ready for a discussion about 'The Book Thief'?
Good afternoon Bookworms!
Just a quick reminder that Bookclub is this Sunday October 6th at 8pm in the Black Lion pub on Welsh Row, Nantwich.
I'm looking forward to discussing 'The Book Thief' with you all and finding out what everyone thought.
As always, follow us on twitter @booknantwich and any questions or comments then please email nantwichbookworms@gmail.com
See you Sunday
Kate :)
Just a quick reminder that Bookclub is this Sunday October 6th at 8pm in the Black Lion pub on Welsh Row, Nantwich.
I'm looking forward to discussing 'The Book Thief' with you all and finding out what everyone thought.
As always, follow us on twitter @booknantwich and any questions or comments then please email nantwichbookworms@gmail.com
See you Sunday
Kate :)
Monday 9 September 2013
Bookworms September update & upcoming reads
A very productive meeting took place last night with an interesting discussion about Harper Lee's 'To Kill A Mockingbird'.
We agreed that this was a thought provoking, well-written novel with shades of Huckleberry Finn intertwined with more serious subject matter and deeper themes of race, prejudice and loss of innocence. (Full review coming soon!)
A thorough discussion took place as to what we should read next and pleasingly lots of ideas were passed around. We've now been able to be very organised and plan which novels will be taking us through Autumn and into Winter. (See below).
As always, we will be meeting on the first Sunday of the Month in the Black Lion pub on Welsh Row at 8pm and new members are always welcome!
September 'The Book Thief' by Markus Zusak Meeting Sunday October 6th
October 'The Crow Road' by Ian Banks Meeting Sunday November 3rd
November 'The Kite Runner' by Khaled Hosseini Meeting Sunday December 1st
December 'Coraline' by Neil Gaiman Meeting Sunday January 5th
January 'Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow'
by Peter Hoeg Meeting Sunday February 2nd
Remember to keep following us on twitter @booknantwich and any questions please email nantwichbookworms@gmail.com
We agreed that this was a thought provoking, well-written novel with shades of Huckleberry Finn intertwined with more serious subject matter and deeper themes of race, prejudice and loss of innocence. (Full review coming soon!)
A thorough discussion took place as to what we should read next and pleasingly lots of ideas were passed around. We've now been able to be very organised and plan which novels will be taking us through Autumn and into Winter. (See below).
As always, we will be meeting on the first Sunday of the Month in the Black Lion pub on Welsh Row at 8pm and new members are always welcome!
September 'The Book Thief' by Markus Zusak Meeting Sunday October 6th
October 'The Crow Road' by Ian Banks Meeting Sunday November 3rd
November 'The Kite Runner' by Khaled Hosseini Meeting Sunday December 1st
December 'Coraline' by Neil Gaiman Meeting Sunday January 5th
January 'Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow'
by Peter Hoeg Meeting Sunday February 2nd
Remember to keep following us on twitter @booknantwich and any questions please email nantwichbookworms@gmail.com
Joy's Review of 'The Red House' by Mark Haddon
Book Review: The Red House (Mark Haddon)
Mark Haddon's best known first novel for adults, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (2003) was well-rated by the bookclub, but his second A Spot of Bother (2006) less so, which meant The Red House (2012) was approached with slight trepidation mixed with hopeful expectation.
This time Haddon didn't disappoint. Although his disjointed style and array of characters was somewhat difficult to follow at first, once used to his unique writing style, his poeticism and obscurities added depth to an intriguing portrayal of a modern family.
It is remarkable how Haddon has such insight into a wide range of characters, from a young boy who lives predominantly in a fantasy world, to a teenage girl who can't decide whether she is a Christian or a lesbian, and an adolescent boy as he makes his complex journey into manhood. And that's not to mention the sexually aggressive daughter of a secretive mother and her step-father, the sister of whom is mourning the death of a stillborn baby some fifteen years ago and who's husband is revealed to be having an affair. Throw all of these characters together into the pressure-cooker situation of a family holiday in a Welsh cottage for a week, and you can imagine what the results maybe. Not only does Haddon have an understanding of the individual, but also how they work together in familial relationships.
Everyone felt that there was an aspect to The Red House that they could relate to, whether it was the location of the Welsh getaway, or the experience of family relationships, this book was enjoyed by all.
Wednesday 24 July 2013
Update from Nantwich Bookworms
Hi Bookworms,
How is everyone finding this month's read? (Mark Haddon's The Red House) How spooky that it has links to our old friend Count Dracula our previous bookclub read!
As always, we'll be meeting on the first Sunday of the month and that makes it Sunday August 4th at 8pm in the Black Lion.
New members are always welcome and please spread the word!
Kate
How is everyone finding this month's read? (Mark Haddon's The Red House) How spooky that it has links to our old friend Count Dracula our previous bookclub read!
As always, we'll be meeting on the first Sunday of the month and that makes it Sunday August 4th at 8pm in the Black Lion.
New members are always welcome and please spread the word!
Kate
Joy's review of Bram Stoker's Dracula
Great Summer reads can have long-lasting memories, sitting in the sunshine, ice-cold drink by your side as the kids play in the paddling pool. Bram Stoker's Dracula is not something you would normally associate with this scene; more a wintery day, wrapped up by a roaring fire with a hot cup of something to warm your wits that have been frozen scared by this classic horror. Yet Dracula was the Nantwich Bookworms read for June and it was met with mixed reviews. Despite the incongruity of the novel to the season, Bram Stoker successfully transported the reader to the wild and dark landscape of Transylvania in the opening chapters of this nineteenth century gothic classic, the dwelling place of the Count himself. Written in the format of diary excerpts and letters from five main characters, we agreed that the descriptive narrative was excellent, shrouded with mystery and intrigue as we read on with bated breath anticipating the next spook.
It was interesting to read the origin of where so many adaptations have stemmed and (despite it being written in 1897) the modern definition of the Vampire that existed in ancient folklore. Adaptations from Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula to the ultra-modern Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyer, all contain the main themes that are prevalent in the novel, the main ones being the role of women and sexual conventions, and religion.
We decided the novel was interesting rather than particularly enjoyable, with some parts very long-winded, unlike the faster paces of more modern literature. The dialogue too was uninspiring and tedious at times, which made this already long novel almost a chore to read. Stated as one of 1000 Books to Read Before You Die it feels good to be able to tick it off as read, and the scare-factor certainly stays with you as you expect to see the Count lurking in every dark corner, or tapping at your bedroom window in bat-form...or maybe that's just us feeble women...
Nantwich Bookworms meets on the first Sunday of every month at the Black Lion pub in Nantwich.
4th August The Red House by Mark Haddon
September To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
New members are always welcome - please contact us by email nantwichbookworms@gmail.com, or via Twitter @booknantwich or just turn up to a meeting! It is very friendly and informal - hope to see you there!
It was interesting to read the origin of where so many adaptations have stemmed and (despite it being written in 1897) the modern definition of the Vampire that existed in ancient folklore. Adaptations from Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula to the ultra-modern Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyer, all contain the main themes that are prevalent in the novel, the main ones being the role of women and sexual conventions, and religion.
We decided the novel was interesting rather than particularly enjoyable, with some parts very long-winded, unlike the faster paces of more modern literature. The dialogue too was uninspiring and tedious at times, which made this already long novel almost a chore to read. Stated as one of 1000 Books to Read Before You Die it feels good to be able to tick it off as read, and the scare-factor certainly stays with you as you expect to see the Count lurking in every dark corner, or tapping at your bedroom window in bat-form...or maybe that's just us feeble women...
Nantwich Bookworms meets on the first Sunday of every month at the Black Lion pub in Nantwich.
4th August The Red House by Mark Haddon
September To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
New members are always welcome - please contact us by email nantwichbookworms@gmail.com, or via Twitter @booknantwich or just turn up to a meeting! It is very friendly and informal - hope to see you there!
Thursday 20 June 2013
Upcoming Bookworms trips!
Hi Bookworms!
Reaseheath College are once again putting on their lovely summer outdoor theatre shows so we were thinking this would be the perfect excuse for an outing!
On Saturday July 20th at 7pm they will present an open-air garden theatre performance of SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES.
On Saturday August 10th at 7pm, they will be performing PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
Tickets are £15, grounds open for picnics from 6pm, bring low backed seating and refreshments will be available!
For tickets please go to www.seetickets.com or contact Reaseheath on 01270 613210 or email them at conference@rreaseheath.ac.uk
If you would like any information or to let us know you'll be joining us then please email nantwichbookworms@gmail.com
Reaseheath College are once again putting on their lovely summer outdoor theatre shows so we were thinking this would be the perfect excuse for an outing!
On Saturday July 20th at 7pm they will present an open-air garden theatre performance of SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES.
On Saturday August 10th at 7pm, they will be performing PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
Tickets are £15, grounds open for picnics from 6pm, bring low backed seating and refreshments will be available!
For tickets please go to www.seetickets.com or contact Reaseheath on 01270 613210 or email them at conference@rreaseheath.ac.uk
If you would like any information or to let us know you'll be joining us then please email nantwichbookworms@gmail.com
Joy's review of 'The Gift of Rain'.
Tan Wan Eng's 'The Gift of Rain' provided an interesting insight into World War Two that is not often explored or portrayed to the Western world.
From the small island of Penang, China, the reader is shown how the effects of the War reach the shores of even the most beautiful and hidden-away parts of the world. Effects that destroy relationships, strengthen mis-guided loyalties and devastate communities.
The sometimes horrific and disturbing scenes of torture and torment are incongruous to the setting of the novel, which Eng depicts majestically through imagery and metaphor. Whether recollecting long gone memories of thousands of fireflies that lit the way for a beautiful romance, or a description of the lush vegetation that crept its way up the mountain cliffs towards the sun – Eng captivates his readers from the outset as we explore a lesser known world.
Although the novel is rich in imagery, there weren't any particular characters that we felt drawn to. The twists and turns of the plot left us mistrusting of anyone in the end, and somewhat frustrated by the customary values held such as ‘saving face’ and honour, that seem to transcend more expected values like familial
love and loyalty.
Told from the viewpoint of a half Chinese and half English teenage son of an influential business man, The Gift of Rain is a coming-of-age tale that is laced with warfare, tragedy, spiritualism and friendship. Beautifully written and intriguingly ambiguous in parts, it is a recommended read from the Nantwich Bookworms.
Want to join our friendly discussion group? Put these on your holiday reading lists and come along the first Sunday of the month at The Black Lion, Nantwich 8pm. Everyone welcome
Dracula (Bram Stoker)
The Red House (Mark Haddon)
To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
All of Joy's reviews along with lots more local news and information can also be seen at www.thenantwichnews.co.uk
From the small island of Penang, China, the reader is shown how the effects of the War reach the shores of even the most beautiful and hidden-away parts of the world. Effects that destroy relationships, strengthen mis-guided loyalties and devastate communities.
The sometimes horrific and disturbing scenes of torture and torment are incongruous to the setting of the novel, which Eng depicts majestically through imagery and metaphor. Whether recollecting long gone memories of thousands of fireflies that lit the way for a beautiful romance, or a description of the lush vegetation that crept its way up the mountain cliffs towards the sun – Eng captivates his readers from the outset as we explore a lesser known world.
Although the novel is rich in imagery, there weren't any particular characters that we felt drawn to. The twists and turns of the plot left us mistrusting of anyone in the end, and somewhat frustrated by the customary values held such as ‘saving face’ and honour, that seem to transcend more expected values like familial
love and loyalty.
Told from the viewpoint of a half Chinese and half English teenage son of an influential business man, The Gift of Rain is a coming-of-age tale that is laced with warfare, tragedy, spiritualism and friendship. Beautifully written and intriguingly ambiguous in parts, it is a recommended read from the Nantwich Bookworms.
Want to join our friendly discussion group? Put these on your holiday reading lists and come along the first Sunday of the month at The Black Lion, Nantwich 8pm. Everyone welcome
Dracula (Bram Stoker)
The Red House (Mark Haddon)
To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
All of Joy's reviews along with lots more local news and information can also be seen at www.thenantwichnews.co.uk
Thursday 6 June 2013
Bookworms Reads for June, July & August
Good Morning Bookworms,
Well, last Sunday's meeting provided a really thorough discussion of Tan Twan Eng's 'The Gift of Rain'. We all seemed to enjoy the novel and the writer's poetic style although we found it hard to like or empathise with many of the characters. Some of us also found some parts of the book particularly gritty to read. Watch out for Joy's review coming soon!
In the meantime, as a group we have come up with some interesting reads for the next few months.
This month we will be getting to grips with a classic in the form of 'Dracula' by Bram Stoker. For those who are fans of the Kindle this can be downloaded for free!
Our next meeting will be on Sunday July 7th as usual at 8pm in the Black Lion pub, Welsh Row, Nantwich. If the weather is nice we may even venture into the beer garden but if it is our normal great British summer we'll be upstairs as usual!
See below for our upcoming reads:
June Dracula by Bram Stoker Meeting Sunday July 7th
July The Red House by Mark Haddon Meeting Sunday August 4th
August To Kill A Mocking Bird by Harper Lee Meeting Sunday September 1st
As always, new members are always welcome and we welcome any suggestions for interesting reads.
Don't forget to follow us on Twitter @booknantwich and feel free to get in touch by email nantwichbookworms@gmail.com
Happy Reading!
Kate
Well, last Sunday's meeting provided a really thorough discussion of Tan Twan Eng's 'The Gift of Rain'. We all seemed to enjoy the novel and the writer's poetic style although we found it hard to like or empathise with many of the characters. Some of us also found some parts of the book particularly gritty to read. Watch out for Joy's review coming soon!
In the meantime, as a group we have come up with some interesting reads for the next few months.
This month we will be getting to grips with a classic in the form of 'Dracula' by Bram Stoker. For those who are fans of the Kindle this can be downloaded for free!
Our next meeting will be on Sunday July 7th as usual at 8pm in the Black Lion pub, Welsh Row, Nantwich. If the weather is nice we may even venture into the beer garden but if it is our normal great British summer we'll be upstairs as usual!
See below for our upcoming reads:
June Dracula by Bram Stoker Meeting Sunday July 7th
July The Red House by Mark Haddon Meeting Sunday August 4th
August To Kill A Mocking Bird by Harper Lee Meeting Sunday September 1st
As always, new members are always welcome and we welcome any suggestions for interesting reads.
Don't forget to follow us on Twitter @booknantwich and feel free to get in touch by email nantwichbookworms@gmail.com
Happy Reading!
Kate
Tuesday 21 May 2013
Graham shares his thoughts on David Mitchell's 'Cloud Atlas'.
One of our longest serving bookworms, Graham Wright, shares his thoughts on Cloud Atlas with us...
To read or not to read (before seeing the movie) … I have long held to the opinion that reading a novel, creating mind pictures of the characters and your version of the plot can lead to disappointment when you view the movie (the visualization of Dune by Frank Herbert being one example, Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher is another). Cloud Atlas by David
Mitchell bucks the trend.
Nantwich Bookworms (@booknantwich on twitter) first read, then discussed over a pint (Black Lion) and finally viewed the Cloud Atlas at Stoke Film Theatre (@StokeFilm).
Cloud Atlas is a beautiful, complicated but highly enjoyable read and I approached the movie wondering how the director would handle the books' plot as there are several individual but linked stories across the timelines of the book. I was pleasantly surprised.
The movie travels from Victorian Australasia to Hawaii in a post civilization collapse future with numerous linking characters scattered through the scenes. The memorable cast (Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent et al) appearing as many and diverse characters (male and female) and there is a game to had recognising all the actors many characters. The Sci-Fi elements of the movie remind one of Blade Runner in its visualization (no complaints here!). There are comic moments and the odd moments of violence. The pigeon English used in the Hawaii scenes takes some understanding and 70’s California brought back a few memories.It was all very enjoyable and in my humble opinion Cloud Atlas is destined to become a cult movie and one that will stand several viewings … but please read the book first!
Joy's review of 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry'.
Rachel Joyce's impressive first novel, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry depicts a heart-warming, yet poignant view of old age, relationships and one man's quest for self-discovery, in a journey that inspires, exasperates and elates.
Joyce's background as a playwright for Radio 4 comes into it's own as the reader is taken on a journey across England that is filled with understated imagery of landscapes, cities and the variety of people our hero, Harold Fry, meets along the way.
His aim is to see an old friend who has informed him she is dying of cancer, so without thinking or preparing, Harold undertakes a pilgrimage to see her. The only request being that his friend waits for him to get there before she dies. Interspersed with flashbacks of Harold's eventful life which are highlighted by themes of neglect, guilt, remorse and breakdowns of relationships, the reader becomes immersed in his journey and walks alongside him as he experiences the highs and lows of being a yacht-shoe'd, blister-footed, penniless, fetid traveller. The highs are harder to come by than the lows, but it is the comradery one feels towards Harold's simple and humble quest that inspires hope, challenges ideas of consumerism and leaves the reader striving for a life with less..baggage (although he could have at least taken a mobile phone with him!).
Nantwich Bookworms meets on the first Sunday of the month at the Black Lion in Nantwich at 8pm. This month we are reading The Gift of Rain by Tan Twen Eng and are meeting on 2nd June. New members are always welcome! You can follow us on twitter @booknantwich or visit our blognantwichbookworms.blogspot.com
Friday 17 May 2013
Mid-Month Catch-Up
Good Afternoon Bookworms,
Firstly, please accept my apologies for not updating the blog for a few weeks, dealing with a toddler with chicken pox hasn't left me with a lot of spare time!
Anyway, since last posting, we have enjoyed our Bookworms trip out to see the film version of 'Cloud Atlas' (in my opinion, you need to have read the book first! Although said book is swiftly becoming one of my favourite reads of all time!) Look out for the Cloud Atlas review which will be posted here soon.
Following all that excitement, we were ready for a calmer month and fell in love with our poignant April read which was 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry' by Rachel Joyce - again we will be posting Joy's review of this over the next couple of days.
May's read is 'The Gift of Rain' by Tan Twan Eng and hopefully you're all well on your way through this one by now as it is another dense novel - I think there'll be a few Costa trips and late night sessions undertaken to be ready to discuss this one on June 2nd.
We now need your help - we need ideas and inspiration for future reads. If you've not joined us before we would love to meet you or hear from you - new members are always welcome and also feel free to email any ideas of books to read to nantwichbookworms@gmail.com
Don't forget to check out our twitter feed to @booknantwich and we'll see you on Sunday June 2nd at the Black Lion, Nantwich at 8pm.
Happy reading!
Kate
Firstly, please accept my apologies for not updating the blog for a few weeks, dealing with a toddler with chicken pox hasn't left me with a lot of spare time!
Anyway, since last posting, we have enjoyed our Bookworms trip out to see the film version of 'Cloud Atlas' (in my opinion, you need to have read the book first! Although said book is swiftly becoming one of my favourite reads of all time!) Look out for the Cloud Atlas review which will be posted here soon.
Following all that excitement, we were ready for a calmer month and fell in love with our poignant April read which was 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry' by Rachel Joyce - again we will be posting Joy's review of this over the next couple of days.
May's read is 'The Gift of Rain' by Tan Twan Eng and hopefully you're all well on your way through this one by now as it is another dense novel - I think there'll be a few Costa trips and late night sessions undertaken to be ready to discuss this one on June 2nd.
We now need your help - we need ideas and inspiration for future reads. If you've not joined us before we would love to meet you or hear from you - new members are always welcome and also feel free to email any ideas of books to read to nantwichbookworms@gmail.com
Don't forget to check out our twitter feed to @booknantwich and we'll see you on Sunday June 2nd at the Black Lion, Nantwich at 8pm.
Happy reading!
Kate
Friday 19 April 2013
Wednesday 10 April 2013
***BOOK CLUB OUTING!***
Hi Bookworms,
We have discovered that the film version of 'Cloud Atlas' is showing on Friday 19th April at 7.45pm at Stoke Film Theatre. As it is no longer showing in the main cinemas and a number of us have been keen to see it, we have decided to organise a Bookworms Trip!
Tickets are £5 per person and I will need to know numbers by this Friday (April 12th) to get it booked so please let me know if you would like to come along. Please comment on the blog below or email me at nantwichbookworms.gmail.com or comment on our twitter feed @booknantwich
Thanks
Kate
Wednesday 3 April 2013
Tuesday 19 March 2013
Good evening Bookworms,
How are we all? How is everyone doing with 'Cloud Atlas'? After a slow start, progress here has really taken off and I've been finding myself making excuses to go to bed at 8pm every night just so I can keep reading!
Remember that we'll be meeting on Sunday April 7th at 8pm in the Black Lion, Nantwich as usual and if there's anything you need to know in the meantime then drop myself or Joy an email at nantwichbookworms@gmail.com You can also follow us on twitter @booknantwich
New members are always welcome so keep spreading the word!
See you all soon
Kate
Monday 4 March 2013
March 2013
Last night saw another good turn out of Bookworms for a great meeting covering February's book J.D.Salinger's 'The Catcher in the Rye'.
There were mixed views about this month's read which made for an interesting debate and I think we were all in agreement that this is a really good novel to discuss and it perhaps has deeper meanings and issues than may initially be apparent. Even those of us who didn't enjoy the book could find some empathy with Salinger's main 'man' Holden Caulfield! Often we even found ourselves discussing the author himself and whether this novel is actually autobiographical was very much a topic of conversation.
Watch out for Joy's 'Catcher in the Rye' review coming soon.
In the meantime, we move on to our March read - the epic 529 page (oh yes we've counted!) 'Cloud Atlas' by David Mitchell. Most of us have been wanting to read this book for some time and although it is meant to be a little challenging to start with we think we will feel a real sense of accomplishment when we next meet to discuss it! No cheating by watching the film first!
If you would like to tackle Cloud Atlas and join us to share your thoughts, the next meeting is on Sunday April 7th at 8pm at the Black Lion Pub Nantwich as usual.
We have also decided on the books for the next 2 bookworm meetings so here is our schedule for the upcoming months:
March - Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell - to discuss on Sunday April 7th
April - The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce - to discuss on Sunday May 5th
May - The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng - to discuss on Sunday June 2nd
As always, if you have any questions please email nantwichbookworms@gmail.com and keep checking out our twitter feed @booknantwich
Happy reading!
Kate
There were mixed views about this month's read which made for an interesting debate and I think we were all in agreement that this is a really good novel to discuss and it perhaps has deeper meanings and issues than may initially be apparent. Even those of us who didn't enjoy the book could find some empathy with Salinger's main 'man' Holden Caulfield! Often we even found ourselves discussing the author himself and whether this novel is actually autobiographical was very much a topic of conversation.
Watch out for Joy's 'Catcher in the Rye' review coming soon.
In the meantime, we move on to our March read - the epic 529 page (oh yes we've counted!) 'Cloud Atlas' by David Mitchell. Most of us have been wanting to read this book for some time and although it is meant to be a little challenging to start with we think we will feel a real sense of accomplishment when we next meet to discuss it! No cheating by watching the film first!
If you would like to tackle Cloud Atlas and join us to share your thoughts, the next meeting is on Sunday April 7th at 8pm at the Black Lion Pub Nantwich as usual.
We have also decided on the books for the next 2 bookworm meetings so here is our schedule for the upcoming months:
March - Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell - to discuss on Sunday April 7th
April - The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce - to discuss on Sunday May 5th
May - The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng - to discuss on Sunday June 2nd
As always, if you have any questions please email nantwichbookworms@gmail.com and keep checking out our twitter feed @booknantwich
Happy reading!
Kate
Saturday 2 March 2013
Good Afternoon Bookworms!
We hope you've finished reading 'The Catcher in the Rye' ready for a great discussion tomorrow night (Sunday March 3rd).
As usual, we'll be in the Black Lion on Welsh Row, Nantwich at 8pm with a glass of wine - look forward to seeing you all then!
We'll also start thinking about the book for this month which is Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell and sharing ideas for April's read so even if you've not made it before then feel free to join us - just ask for Joy or Kate.
We hope you've finished reading 'The Catcher in the Rye' ready for a great discussion tomorrow night (Sunday March 3rd).
As usual, we'll be in the Black Lion on Welsh Row, Nantwich at 8pm with a glass of wine - look forward to seeing you all then!
We'll also start thinking about the book for this month which is Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell and sharing ideas for April's read so even if you've not made it before then feel free to join us - just ask for Joy or Kate.
Tuesday 5 February 2013
Review of The 39 Steps by Joy Cassidy. 05/02/2013
This month we read John Buchan's The Thirty Nine Steps, a spy-thriller that has been
the basis of many, varying adaptations most famously Hitchcock’s 1935 film version
of the same name.
Although we enjoyed reading this short novel, there were many flaws in Buchan’s
plot; unexplained characters, convenient oversights and implausible anecdotes which
made us feel we were almost reading the unedited version of this classic text. At the
same time, Buchan’s personal writing style draws the reader in, forcing the pages to
turn in quick succession.
The fact that this spy thriller written in 1915, has had so many varying adaptations,
from comedy drama to tense film thrillers, is testament to the fact that Buchan’s novel
is the forerunner of the spy thriller genre. We were even able to draw comparisons
with the like of Bourne and Bond, bringing this one-time current affairs novel,
relevant in the 21st Century.
Upcoming books:
February: The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Sallinger.
March: Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
We meet on the first Sunday of the month 8pm at The Black Lion, Nantwich.
New members are always welcome. Follow us on Twitter @booknantwich
or email nantwichbookworms@gmail.com. Or visit our blog
nantwichbookworms@blogspot.co.uk
This month we read John Buchan's The Thirty Nine Steps, a spy-thriller that has been
the basis of many, varying adaptations most famously Hitchcock’s 1935 film version
of the same name.
Although we enjoyed reading this short novel, there were many flaws in Buchan’s
plot; unexplained characters, convenient oversights and implausible anecdotes which
made us feel we were almost reading the unedited version of this classic text. At the
same time, Buchan’s personal writing style draws the reader in, forcing the pages to
turn in quick succession.
The fact that this spy thriller written in 1915, has had so many varying adaptations,
from comedy drama to tense film thrillers, is testament to the fact that Buchan’s novel
is the forerunner of the spy thriller genre. We were even able to draw comparisons
with the like of Bourne and Bond, bringing this one-time current affairs novel,
relevant in the 21st Century.
Upcoming books:
February: The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Sallinger.
March: Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
We meet on the first Sunday of the month 8pm at The Black Lion, Nantwich.
New members are always welcome. Follow us on Twitter @booknantwich
or email nantwichbookworms@gmail.com. Or visit our blog
nantwichbookworms@blogspot.co.uk
February 2013
Hello Bookworms,
Well, what a fantastic bookclub meeting we had on Sunday - lots of new members (welcome again to you all!) and a great discussion about John Buchan's 'The 39 Steps' which left us all suspending belief and secretly wishing we could be as lucky as Richard Hannay for a day!
Watch out for Joy's review of the book - it will be published here soon as well as online on the Nantwich News pages.
This month's read takes us all back to our childhoods as we'll be enjoying J.D. Salinger's classic 'A Catcher in the Rye'. As February is a short month we though a fairly straight forward classic would be ideal - feel free to come along and discuss it with us when we meet again on Sunday March 3rd at 8pm in the Black Lion Pub, Nantwich.
We've also been really organised (for once!) and have decided to tackle 'Cloud Atlas' by David Mitchell for our March read. We'll be discussing that one at our meeting in early April if so you can't join us sooner maybe plan on coming along then.
As always, feel free to email us with any questions or suggested reads at nantwichbookworms@gmail.com and don't forget to follow Nantwich Bookworms on Twitter @booknantwich where we'll keep you updated with our latest news.
See you all soon and happy reading!
Kate
Well, what a fantastic bookclub meeting we had on Sunday - lots of new members (welcome again to you all!) and a great discussion about John Buchan's 'The 39 Steps' which left us all suspending belief and secretly wishing we could be as lucky as Richard Hannay for a day!
Watch out for Joy's review of the book - it will be published here soon as well as online on the Nantwich News pages.
This month's read takes us all back to our childhoods as we'll be enjoying J.D. Salinger's classic 'A Catcher in the Rye'. As February is a short month we though a fairly straight forward classic would be ideal - feel free to come along and discuss it with us when we meet again on Sunday March 3rd at 8pm in the Black Lion Pub, Nantwich.
We've also been really organised (for once!) and have decided to tackle 'Cloud Atlas' by David Mitchell for our March read. We'll be discussing that one at our meeting in early April if so you can't join us sooner maybe plan on coming along then.
As always, feel free to email us with any questions or suggested reads at nantwichbookworms@gmail.com and don't forget to follow Nantwich Bookworms on Twitter @booknantwich where we'll keep you updated with our latest news.
See you all soon and happy reading!
Kate
Wednesday 30 January 2013
Hi Bookworms!
Sorry if you've missed us, we have had a few problems accessing the blog.
Nantwich Bookworms is still going strong and this month we have been reading 'The 39 Steps' by John Buchan - watch this space for Joy's review coming soon!
We are meeting this Sunday (Feb 3rd) at 8pm upstairs at the Black Lion pub in Nantwich so even if you've not read this particular book we would still love to meet you - come and get involved in next month's read!
We will be posting details of our next read and future books here soon and are hoping to have our website live before long!
Happy reading and hope to see you soon!
Sorry if you've missed us, we have had a few problems accessing the blog.
Nantwich Bookworms is still going strong and this month we have been reading 'The 39 Steps' by John Buchan - watch this space for Joy's review coming soon!
We are meeting this Sunday (Feb 3rd) at 8pm upstairs at the Black Lion pub in Nantwich so even if you've not read this particular book we would still love to meet you - come and get involved in next month's read!
We will be posting details of our next read and future books here soon and are hoping to have our website live before long!
Happy reading and hope to see you soon!
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