The Durham Book Group

June

jocolley — Thu, 17 May 2012 09:08:43 +0000

Big thanks to Wilf for taking charge of book group this week – hope you all had a good time, and many apologies for missing . I felt very loss in my grim Cambridge B and B when I should have been off my head on one of Ashley’s fantastic Americano’s and having my spirits boosted by our discussions.
Next one is The City and the City – this one I am trying out on the Kindle, taking it to the States with me so hope I manage to get most of it read on planes and trains. Seems like a suitable setting.
For July might we try something different? A picnic would be nice, but maybe the weather is not going to be kind enough judging by current state of affairs. We could just have a BYO favourite book / summer read or we could go for an author and look at a range of work by him / her? Or we could pick a volume of short stories? Just some ideas. I am currently reading some quite strange short stories by Miranda July plus another lot by Jeremy Dyson (writer for League of Gentlemen). Or we could pick an author coming our way at the Bookfest to prime ourselves? I’m also hooked on Scandinavian crime drama but that might just be a guilty pleasure. I read 3 crime fiction books last week – Rankin, Atkinson andAdler-Olsen. Help me, doctor.
I’ll bring these suggestions along to the June meeting and we’ll make our decision then.
Hoping for brighter weather and looking forward to meeting up again in June.

War talk

jocolley — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:55:30 +0000

Thanks for an excellent (as usual) book group. Hope you didn’t go off too depressed! I’ve just listened to an American journalist talking about the effect of war on young soldiers, both when they are in a deployment situation and when they come home. This as a result of photos taken by soldiers of the body parts of suicide bombers. It felt like a continuation of our discussion. Also the trial in Norway – and Bleiker’s view that men have become “feminised”. Hmm. It strikes me that we have never fully resolved the man/woman question (ha not likely to do that in book group sorry Dave, sorry Wilf) especially in relation to violence. Who was it said on Monday – maybe it’s just testosterone?

Change of scene for the next book. Looking forward to discussing lots more issues with you. Feel very privileged to share thoughts in such enlightened company.

Time for a comedy dog, I think.

Springy

jocolley — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 16:50:38 +0000

Hello all hope you had a good heat wave/ cold snap/ Easter. Have to be prepared for all eventualities these days.
Thanks to all who came to our March book group and took part in an excellent discussion on Rose Tremain’s novel. Just to say again – I don’t think this is her best and she is a great writer so do persevere.
Hope you are enjoying My Dear … and look forward to discussing with you. The most depressing thing is that after a war like WW1 people are still at it. I watched Melancholia at the weekend – it’s a fantastic movie, but also not a cheerful one. Made me think about what I would do when facing death by planetary collision. Can’t really come up with anything so far.
See you all on the 16th April.

Annabel

jocolley — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:17:45 +0000

Fascinating book – I really enjoyed reading it. It has that far north setting that I like, with lots of forest, wood chopping, and oddly named berries. The school scenes are well handled too, and the whole things flows really well. Such an interesting topic – the construction of gender. Made me think about my own upbringing and also the fierce discussions I had about this in the 80s, when I guess I believed more in nurture than nature. Having babies changed that view somewhat. This book covers both in a very personal and moving way I think – I love the character of the father and how he remains entirely human, even when he does some questionable things. I love some of the domestic details, like the crusts in the drawer.
Good stuff about children’s friendships and alliances also.
Looking forward to my week in Shropshire – hoping the snow will hold off. See you all on the 20th.

Looking ahead

jocolley — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:51:12 +0000

Thanks for last night’s meeting – I enjoyed exposing all the holes in Betrayal’s plot. We’ll find a more intriguing thriller for next time.

Just to let people know – the next group is on the third Wednesday in February – the 20th – as I’m away in Shropshire with a group of young poets the week before.

Thanks also for the book suggestions – I downloaded The Tiger’s Wife to my Kindle this morning. I can’t believe I just wrote that last sentence. Is this the slippery slope? I doubt it. But I hadn’t realised how clever those Amazon peeps are with their tantalising offers and their one click empty your bank account ways. I need more discipline.

Annabel looks great – hope people managing to find copies OK – seems like there are a lot of those big paperbacks and some hardbacks. Let me know if you have any problems.

Look forward to next month.

Happy New Year

jocolley — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:33:51 +0000

Not too late to wish you that is it?
Hope you all had lots of lovely books for Christmas. I did – plus a Kindle which I celebrated by making a cover for. Haven’t read anything on it yet as waiting for a train ride to occur.
How are you going with Betrayal? Hope you are enjoying it. Not sure how it compares to other Scandinavian thrillers, although in terms of the Dragon Tattoo series, it’s better written and somehow less interesting. It’s all about character isn’t it? I admire the way she details the marriage and its breakdown, and the terrible things that jealousy makes people do – found this quite credible. But there were some holes in the plot that were a bit too big to ignore. Not sure if you agree – maybe we forgive the McGuffin if we are enjoying the read enough.
Look forward to discussing with you next week.

January book

jocolley — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:47:09 +0000

Do you fancy any of these?
Mr Chartwell by Rebecca Hunt ( an exploration of depression)
Betrayal by Karin Alvetegen (Scandinavian thriller)
The Three of Us by Julia Blackburn (memoir: this lady is talking on 1st Dec at NCLA more details here)
Let me know any preferences? I would probably go for either of the second two (am really enjoying The Killing and have a pattern for the jumper if anybody wants to knit me one for Christmas – not necessarily THIS Christmas)
see you all soon

Dogged

jocolley — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 10:46:26 +0000

Hi everybody – seem to have lost my last couple of posts here – so apologies for that. Sometimes wordpress doesn’t like me. Not taking it personally as already having a paranoid month.

Mixed reaction to Maf – I guess I was surprised! But this is a reminder that people are incredibly different in their reading tastes and bring their whole selves to each text. It’s a clear case of people being very different, even when you think you share the same tastes in most things. And it’s what makes book group an interesting experience. But really, what is WRONG with you!! Sorry.

Haven’t started our December book yet, as having a busy month workwise – but not with the required train journeys for long reads! Plus I am reading a Siri Hustvedt book which I can’t put down .. Might suggest one from this author for next year – but do bring suggestions along or post on the site – would love your input.

Lots of music this month – Billy Bragg and Dweezil Zappa doing a set from his dad’s back catalogue – brilliant, especially when Frank joined in on a big screen. Had a fantasy about which situations I would like to return to in hologram form to take part posthumously. Book group? Anyway am being a dead poet at Colpitt’s Christmas party – come along it’s always good fun.

Great evening

jocolley — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 18:14:18 +0000

Really enjoyed the discussion last night and a warm welcome to the new comers. Still thinking about Gothic novels and the difficulties of updating. And wondering why vampires retain their popularity in fiction – what’s that about? Finding a team of weirdos you can belong to? I can relate to that but then I’m a poet (not going to say and a member of bookgroup …). I’m sure there are other deep seated psychological reasons and remember my fascination for the Christopher Lee movies back in the day. But I never got the pseudo-sexual stuff – those teeth are a turn off.
On the other hand, I loved Marlowe’s Dr Faustus and found its inevitable conclusion very moving. The poor doctor being dragged down to hell with salvation just beyond his grasp. No redemption. How hard it is to see beyond the material world, the material face. I speak as one who was beguiled into spending a ludicrous sum on some face cream whilst on holiday in you know where. Well ludicrous for me at least. Same old face Colley even when lathered in goo.

September Regional Author

jocolley — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 12:43:17 +0000

Hope summer is going well for all you far flung folks. I’m enjoying the torrential rain and a boxed set of The West Wing. Also seriously considering reading China Mieville after our last meet up.
Good news is that Dan Smith one of our Regional Readers for 2011 has agreed to join our September meeting and to discuss his novel Dry Season (published by Orion). This will be our first book of the new season – other choices will be posted up here shortly so keep your eyes peeled.
First meeting will be on Sep 12 at the lovely Leonard’s Cafe – those muffins were amazing, Ashleigh.
Looking forward to seeing you all again – have thoroughly enjoyed our meetings this year, really wonderful – thank you!