Dulwich Books' Book Group

Alison Pick Meet Patrick White

2012-03-03T10:51:00.001Z

Record turnout for Alison Pick
In addition to a record 15 members of the Reading Group we had half a dozen special guest who came to hear Alison Pick and talk about Far To Go. The fact that Alison had all but lost her voice did change the dynamic of the expected evening but it still seemed to go very well. The book certainly found favour with just about all of us. One "insight" was the realisation / discovery that it is well over two years since Alison wrote the book and that meant she found it hard to remember just why she made various choices in its writing.

Our next read is Tree of Man by Patrick White

The next meeting is onTHURSDAY March 29th as usual in the shop, starting 6.30pm .The Tree of Man isthe fourth published novel by the Australian novelist and 1973 NobelPrize-winner, Patrick White. It is a domestic drama chronicling the lives ofthe Parker family and their changing fortunes over many decades. It is steepedin Australian folklore and cultural myth, and is recognised as the author'sattempt to infuse the idiosyncratic way of life in the remote Australian bushwith some sense of the cultural traditions and ideologies that the epic historyof Western civilisation has bequeathed to Australian society in general. At theturn of the century Stan Parker takes a wife and makes a home as a small farmerin the wilderness of Australia.Amy bears his children and time brings him a procession of ordinary events -achievements, disappointments, sorrows and dreams.

“Unforgettable in itscompassionate portrayal of a good man brought to his knees by marriage and fatherhood.Superb writing in a class of its own”

Patrick Victor MartindaleWhite was an Australian author widely regarded as one of the majorEnglish-language novelists of the 20th century. From 1935 until death, hepublished twelve novels, two short story collections, eight plays, andnon-fiction. His fiction freely employs shifting narrative vantages and thestream of consciousness technique. In 1973, he was awarded the Nobel Prize forLiterature "for an epic and psychological narrative art which has introduceda new continent into literature."

Alison Pick at the Reading Group

2012-02-19T11:15:00.000Z

Tuesday February 28th sees a somewhat different Reading Group session. We are currently reading Far To Go by Alison Pick and she will be joining the group at our meeting at 7.00pm

"When Czechoslovakia relinquishes the Sudetenland to Hitler, the powerful influence of Nazi propaganda sweeps through towns and villages like a sinister vanguard of the Reich's advancing army. A fiercely patriotic secular Jew, Pavel Bauer is helpless to prevent his world from unraveling as first his government, then his business partners, then his neighbors turn their back on his affluent, once-beloved family. Only the Bauers' adoring governess, Marta, sticks by Pavel, his wife, Anneliese, and their little son, Pepik, bound by her deep affection for her employers and friends. But when Marta learns of their impending betrayal at the hands of her lover, Ernst, Pavel's best friend, she is paralyzed by her own fear of discovery--even as the endangered family for whom she cares so deeply struggles with the most difficult decision of their lives.

Interwoven with a present-day narrative that gradually reveals the fate of the Bauer family during and after the war, "Far to Go" is a riveting family epic, love story, and psychological drama." Goodreads

If you can't make the meeting leave a comment here and we will share it with the group.

Du Maurier's My Cousin Rachel gets a big thumbs up

2012-01-28T07:44:00.001Z

Even though three of our regulars were on Burn's Night duties elsewhere, twelve met to talk about our January choice Daphne Du Maurier's My Cousin Rachel. For the second month running we welcomed a new participant, Kate.
Nicholas introduced the discussion commenting on, among many other things: the relatively conventional structure of the novel, the central characters, the narrators perspective and how the novel repays a second reading. Several others agreed that, even though the narrative's conclusion is foreshadowed early in the book, there is a slow build of suspense as the story develops. Nicholas's "second reading" comment pushed the novel into the dimension of deep psychological thriller, and poses Du Maurier as an early structuralist playing mind games with her readers.
I am not sure if anyone developed a liking for Philip whose persistent ego-centric view of things seems, at least to a 21st century reader, misogynistic and xenophobic. Du Maurier leaves us in no doubt that Philips view of the world is taken from his uncle and guardian Ambrose and Ambrose's decision to banish women from his household when Philip was but three years old. This might put her firmly on the nurture side of the nature / nurture balance but certainly suggests that she believes that a woman's influence is needed for a decent balanced upbringing.
But then we have Rachel - sinner or sinned against, victim or schemer? With only the eyes of Philip to narrate the tale we are repeatedly tossed from a negative view to a positive view and even the abrupt ending to her story leaves the question, like Tom Jenkyn, dangling.

As previously announced this month's book is Far To Go by Alison Pick.

Little more than a week to go....

2012-01-17T18:37:00.000Z

My Cousin Rachel is the book we will be discussing next Wednesday (January 25th) - as usual starting at 6.30pm in the shop. I have come to the conclusion that this is the first DduM book I have read and to be honest I am having a hard time of it. I trust I am in a minority!
I also need inspiration for the buns / cake to bake - any suggestions. Perhaps there is something Cornish - other than a Cornish Pasty......then again.....

Vermeer's Hat & My Cousin Rachel

2012-01-05T22:13:00.003Z

Our largestgroup yet met last night to discuss Timothy Brook’s Vermeer’s Hat.

As promisedby Tony and the author, Vermeer’s Hat opens a series of “doors” in Delft into the hecticworld of the 17^th century and convinces us of the criticalsignificance of this period in the development of global commerce and thecreation of the “consumer society”.

Brook is ahighly regarded historian with a specialism in Chinaand it is China– or rather the development of relationships (trading and otherwise) that areat the heart of the book. We travel the newly discovered / developed traderoutes as silver, tobacco and slaves are traded from one continent to another.We see the seeds of transculturation and learn quite a lot about the Delft ofVermeer’s day.

Brook packsa lot into a relatively short book and has a very fluent writing style thatmade it (almost) an easy read. A worthy choice we all felt.

Nicholashad stepped forward last month to be the recommender for the January read. Hebrought along five “possibles” that excited the interest of most members. Thechosen title is Daphne Du Maurier’s My Cousin Rachel and we will be talkingabout it at our next meting on January 25^th – 6.30pm in the shop.

I want tocapture here the other titles that Nicholas suggested as there was a strongsense among various group members that they may well read one or more of them.

Master& Margarita – Bulgakov

Museum of Innoncence – Pamuk

Gravity’sRainbow – Pynchon

Alone in Berlin – Fallada

We alsowelcomed two new participants Christina and Anna and we hope they have not beendiscouraged from being regulars

AboutJanuary’s book - My Cousin Rachel - Synopsis

“I threwthe piece of paper on the fire. She saw it burn ...” Orphaned at an early age,Philip Ashley is raised by his benevolent older cousin, Ambrose. Resolutelysingle, Ambrose delights in Philip as his heir, a man who will love his grandhome as much as he does himself.

But thecosy world the two construct is shattered when Ambrose sets off on a trip to Florence. There he fallsin love and marries - and there he dies suddenly. In almost no time at all, thenew widow - Philip's cousin Rachel - turns up in England.

Despite himself, Philip is drawn to this beautiful, sophisticated,mysterious woman like a moth to the flame. And yet ...might she have had a handin Ambrose's death?

Last Month's Meeting - The Reluctant Fundamentalist

2011-12-26T08:56:00.000Z

Mary led 12 of us in a thorough review and debate on Hamid's amazing novella. In addition to summing up the plot, theme and central characters, Mary also pointed us in the direction of the allegorical dimension / possibilities of the work. Indeed it was the allegorical possibilities of Erica (America?) and Chris (Christainity?) that helped resolve the problems of Erica's character and behaviour for more than one of the group.

Although the first person voice / monologue style was not to everyone liking it proved to be universally effective in engaging all of us in the tale that Changez told as he sat with the anonymous American in a cafe in Lahore. Hamid seems to play with his readers by presenting ideas and events that seem to make a strong political point. On closer inspection it may be that he is deftly holding up a mirror in which the reader sees their own "politics" rather than his or that of his characters. By the end of the discussion we could not resolve the "thriller" question of "What happens next?". I think most of us would recommend this to others a a good read.

The "twelve" included two new members and we hope the welcome they received will encourage them to return on January 4th when we will be discussing Vermeer's Hat. See the below for more detail

I have also put up a list of dates for the 2012 meetings. This is a guide and, as we found this year, some of the individual dates may be changed to suit circumstances

Vermeer's Hat chosen as our next read - more soon

2011-12-01T07:03:00.001Z

I'll be posting soon about last night's meeting but jus wanted to get the news out that our December read has been chosen. Next meeting January 4th.

"Vermeer's Hat" offers us a rich new understanding both of Vermeer's paintings and of the era they portray. 'Effortless and compelling, Brooks is a wonderful storyteller. I doubt I will read a better book this year' - "Sunday Telegraph".

In one painting, a Dutch military officer leans toward a laughing girl. In another, a woman at a window weighs pieces of silver. In a third, fruit spills from a porcelain bowl onto a Turkish carpet.

The officer's dashing hat is made of beaver fur, which European explorers got from Native Americans in exchange for weapons. Beaver pelts, in turn, financed the voyages of sailors seeking new routes to China. There - with silver mined in Peru - Europeans would purchase, by the thousands, the porcelains so often shown in Dutch paintings of this time.

Vermeer's haunting images hint at the stories behind these exquisitely rendered moments. As Timothy Brook shows us in "Vermeer's Hat", these pictures, which seem so intimate, actually open doors onto a rapidly expanding world.

November 30th - The Reluctant Fundamentalist

2011-11-16T05:21:00.001Z

Judging by early comments, it looks like there will be no reluctant readers of Mohsin Hamid's amazing tale.
Here's what some of the media had to say
"A fantastic piece of work, superbly considered and controlled, with a lovely stillness and wisdom at its heart" The Times
"An elegant,artful, haunting novella - a deceptively simple narrative that is in fact deeply ambiguous"
Observer
"Deeply provocative...rich in irony and intelligence"
Sydney Morning Herald
Even if you can't join us on the evening to discuss this remarkable book let us know what you think of it by commenting on this blog entry and your thoughts will be shared with the group on the night.

And the river rolls on...

2011-11-04T06:44:00.000Z

The first eleven were out on Wednesday night, and in a game of two halves we first discussed The House by the Dvina and then chose The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid as our next read.

Eugenie Fraser divided opinion although every body recognized numerous qualities in the book and all had favourite extracts. For three of the group this was a return visit to Dvina, one member re-discovering the copy her mother had treasured 27 years ago.
The picture painted of family life (albeit a rather privileged one) in pre-revolution Russia was compelling and adds a rich social texture to a time of major political change.

It you read Dvina but couldn't make it to the meeting let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment on the blog

The next meeting is November 30th so it is time to get stuck in to Mohsin Hamid

The House By The Dvina - November 2nd

2011-10-20T06:52:00.001+01:00

I hope you have all made a start on "Dvina" - I picked up my copy last night and found myself caught up in its world in no time flat. Fraser can definitely write. Also just wanted to underline that we are meeting on Wednesday November 2nd, commencing 6.30pm, in the shop as usual.

October book choice

2011-10-01T08:55:00.000+01:00

After our consideration of True Grit the group was presented with a good few options by Gill and it took us quite a while to finally settle on this one. Please note that the "October " meeting will be on November 2nd
This is what the publisher says.
The House by the Dvina is the riveting story of two families separated in culture and geography but bound together by a Russian-Scottish marriage. It includes episodes as romantic and dramatic as any in fiction: the purchase by the author's great-grandfather of a peasant girl with whom he had fallen in love; the desperate sledge journey in the depths of winter made by her grandmother to intercede with Tsar Aleksandr II for her husband; the extraordinary courtship of her parents; and her Scottish granny being caught up in the abortive revolution of 1905. Eugenie Fraser herself was brought up in Russia but was taken on visits to Scotland.

She marvellously evokes a child's reactions to two totally different environments, sets of customs and family backgrounds, while the characters are beautifully drawn and splendidly memorable. With the events of 1914 to 1920 - the war with Germany, the Revolution, the murder of the Tsar and the withdrawal of the Allied Intervention in the north - came the disintegration of Russia and of family life. The stark realities of hunger, deprivation and fear are sharply contrasted with the adventures of childhood.

The reader shares the family's suspense and concern about the fates of its members and relives with Eugenie her final escape to Scotland. In The House by the Dvina, Eugenie Fraser has vividly and poignantly portrayed a way of life that finally disappeared in violence and tragedy.

About the author

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Eugenie Fraser was born in Archangel to a Russian father and a Scottish mother. After the family fled to Scotland, she was brought up in Broughty Ferry and later spent most of her life in India with her husband. She died in Edinburgh in 2002.
A link to her obituary in The Independent.

September 28th is fast approaching

2011-09-04T09:57:00.002+01:00

We reconvene after the summer break on September 28th at 6.30pm in the shop to talk about True Grit by Charles Portis. Some of the group may also have read Ballad of Trenchmouth Taggert by Glen Taylor. Details below

If you'd like to join the group let me know by sending an email to readinggroup@dulwichbooks.co.uk

Last night's meeting was great!

2011-07-28T09:03:00.002+01:00

Thanks to each of you that attended and thanks to CG for her contribution via this blog. I think I'm right in saying everyone found The Hare With Amber Eyes a compelling read. The lively discussion, between the 12 of us, lasted nearly an hour, two bottles of red, two bottles of white, a lemon yogurt cake and half a dozen chocolate fancies.

The next meeting is September 28th and we have chosen True Grit by Charles Portis

"On a trip to buy ponies, Frank Ross is killed by one of his own workers. Tom Chaney shoots him down in the street for a horse, $150 cash, and two Californian gold pieces.

Ross's unusually mature and single-minded fourteen-year-old daughter Mattie travels to claim his body, and finds that the authorities are doing nothing to find Chaney. Then she hears of Rooster - a man, she's told, who has grit - and convinces him to join her in a quest into dark, dangerous Indian territory to hunt Chaney down and avenge her father's murder."

One influence on the choice was that the Coen Brothers have just released a new "version" of the book on film. Many of us remembered the 1969 film of the book starring John Wayne. As the review in The Observer commented "The Coen brothers' excellent western True Grit is a second and rather different version of Charles Portis's novel, rather than a remake of the 1969 film that brought John Wayne an Oscar as the one-eyed bounty hunter Marshal Rooster Cogburn. Portis's novel, a demotic classic in the tradition of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, is narrated by Mattie Ross, a prim, Presbyterian spinster looking back from the 1920s to the great adventure of her life. Here's the trailer for the film

With our "summer holiday" to get through a number of the group thought they may also read another of Martin's suggestions - The Ballad of Trenchmouth Taggart by Glenn Taylor. If enough of us have read both by the time of the September meeting we could find ourselves discussing both.

The Hare with Amber Eyes - July 27th meeting

2011-06-30T09:13:00.002+01:00

Edmund de Waal's memoir The Hare with Amber Eyes was first published in June 2010 in hardback and eBook formats. It won that year's Costa Biography Award. The paperback edition was released in January of this year. An unabridged audiobook is promised for later this month.

Edmund describes himself as a 'potter who writes'. His porcelain has been displayed in many museum collections around the world and he has recently made a huge installation for the dome of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Edmund was apprenticed as a potter, studied in Japan, and read English Literature at Cambridge University.

About the book

264 wood and ivory carvings, none of them larger than a matchbox: potter Edmund de Waal was entranced when he first encountered the collection in the Tokyo apartment of his great uncle Iggie. Later, when Edmund inherited the 'netsuke', they unlocked a story far larger than he could ever have imagined...The Ephrussis came from Odessa, and at one time were the largest grain exporters in the world; in the 1870s, Charles Ephrussi was part of a wealthy new generation settling in Paris. Marcel Proust was briefly his secretary and used Charles as the model for the aesthete Swann in Remembrance of Things Past.

Charles' passion was collecting; the netsuke, bought when Japanese objects were all the rage in the salons, were sent as a wedding present to his banker cousin in Vienna. Later, three children - including a young Ignace - would play with the netsuke as history reverberated around them. The Anschluss and Second World War swept the Ephrussis to the brink of oblivion.

Almost all that remained of their vast empire was the netsuke collection, smuggled out of the huge Viennese palace (then occupied by Hitler's theorist on the 'Jewish Question'), one piece at a time, in the pocket of a loyal maid - and hidden in a straw mattress. In this stunningly original memoir, Edmund de Waal travels the world to stand in the great buildings his forebears once inhabited. He traces the network of a remarkable family against the backdrop of a tumultuous century.

And, in prose as elegant and precise as the netsuke themselves, he tells the story of a unique collection which passed from hand to hand - and which, in a twist of fate, found its way home to Japan.

Last night's meeting

2011-06-23T06:39:00.001+01:00

Flann O'Brien provided for an animated discussion, led by Colette, for the 11 of the group that convened in the shop last night. I think it is fair to say that everyone admitted to being pulled into the fascinating, fantastical and frustrating world of The Third Policeman. Or perhaps we might say "worlds" as there seems to be at least two worlds in the book, that of the text and then the "de Selby footnote" world.
So many themes featured in our discussion that I failed miserably to keep up with it all in my notes but we certainly touched on: the atomic theory, bicycles, the league of one legged men, summary justice, O'Brien's prose style, heaven, hell, sanity and a fine pancake we made of it. One comment was made that summed it up nicely for me ..."it was like being in the company of a happy schizophrenic"
One thing is for sure, it would be very hard to publish a "plot spoiler" as I don't think any of us yet know what it is all about.

The next meeting is Wednesday July 27th - again 6.30pm in the shop and we are reading The Hare With Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal. Please note that the reading group will take a "summer holiday" and there will not be a meeting in August so the book we choose at the July meeting will be discussed at the September meeting on September 28th.

Watch this space - we could all post comments about any other summer reading we enjoy.

Wednesday June 22nd - 6.30pm in the shop

2011-06-20T06:31:00.000+01:00

If you cannot make the meeting but would like to contribute your comments on The Third Policeman add a comment to this posting and I will share them with the group on Wednesday.
Also note that our next book is The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal and we will be meeting to discuss it on July 27th

Next weeks discussion

2011-06-17T16:56:00.000+01:00

The Third Policeman is Flann O'Brien's brilliantly dark comic novel about the nature of time, death, and existence. Told by a narrator who has committed a botched robbery and brutal murder, the novel follows him and his adventures in a two-dimensional police station where, through the theories of the scientist/philosopher de Selby, he is introduced to "Atomic Theory" and its relation to bicycles, the existence of eternity (which turns out to be just down the road), and de Selby's view that the earth is not round but "sausage-shaped." With the help of his newly found soul named "Joe," he grapples with the riddles and contradictions that three eccentric policeman present to him.

From May 26th - Last night's meeting

2011-06-09T10:28:00.004+01:00

Eleven members of the Reading Group gathered last night to discuss their reactions to Peter Carey's Parrot & Olivier in America. The discussion was lively and convivial and although there was at least one "fan" for the book and one email contribution judged it impenetrable, the consensus was that the novel does not really work. Everyone found parts that delighted or were satisfyingly challenging, but mostly we felt that it was not fully coherent and had inconsistent quality. One reader got everyone nodding with the comment that despite the late 18th, early 19th century setting, its themes were very much 21st century.

After a short discussion we chose Flann O'Brien's The Third Policeman as our next book to be discussed at our meeting on June 22nd, 6.30pm in the shop

We also found ourselves choosing the "July" book for our meeting on July 27th, The Hare With Amber Eyes, Edmund De Waal's award winning memoir/history.

Parrot & Olivier in America - the Reading Group book for May 25th at 6.30pm in the shop - originally posted on March 26th

2011-06-09T10:26:00.002+01:00

Olivier is an aristocrat, one of an endangered species born in France just after the Revolution. Parrot, the son of an itinerant English printer and twice Olivier's age, always wanted to be an artist but has ended up a servant. Starting on different sides of history, their lives will be permanently joined by an enigmatic, one-armed Marquis.
When Olivier sets sail for the New World — ostensibly to study its prisons, but in reality to avoid yet another revolution — Parrot is sent with him, as spy, protector, foe and foil.
As the narrative shifts between the perspectives of Parrot and Olivier, between their picaresque adventures apart and together — in love and politics, prisons and finance, homelands and brave new lands — a most unlikely friendship begins to take hold. And with their story, Peter Carey explores the adventure of American democracy — in theory, in practice, and in ongoing argument.
Parrot and Olivier in America is a dazzlingly inventive reimagining of Alexis de Tocqueville's famous journey, brilliantly evoking the Old World colliding with the New. Above all, it is a wildly funny and deeply tender portrait of two men who come to form an almost impossible friendship, and a completely improbable work of art.

Off to a good start - from March 24th

2011-06-09T10:24:00.003+01:00

Last night nine members of the reading group met to re-launch the Reading Group. We sorted out a few of the basics of how the meetings will run and then went around the group introducing ourselves and saying a few words about the book we brought along, as you can below see it's a diverse list. There was plenty of chat and discussion and lots of sharing that augers well for the success of the group.

The book we chose to read for the next meeting on May 25th is Parrot & Olivier in America by Peter Carey.
Ordinarily the meetings are each month but on this occasion it will be two months, which might be handy as it is a 529 pager.

Here's a list of the books we talked about
Caravaggio - a novel - Christopher Peachment
In this exciting first person narrative Peachment has captured the heart and soul of this larger than life character. It's a cracking good read.
The Children's Book - A S Byatt
'Intricately worked and sumptuously inlaid...seethes and pulses with an entangled life of the mind and the senses alike. Colour and sensation flood Byatt's writing' Boyd Tonkin, Independent
Double Comfort Safari Club - Alexander McCall Smith
Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi are called to a safari lodge in Botswana's Okavango Delta to carry out a delicate mission on behalf of a former guest.
Hare With Amber Eyes - Edmund de Waal (he will be doing an event at the shop 7.30pm on June 20th)
"An extraordinary and touching journey with a backdrop glittering with images from Proust and Zola and Klimt"--Margaret Drabble, Times Literary Supplement
I, Claudius - Robert Graves
Despised for his weakness and regarded by his family as little more than a stammering fool, the nobleman Claudius quietly survives the intrigues, bloody purges and mounting cruelty of the imperial Roman dynasties.
Last Picture Show - Larry McMurty
The basis for a classic film, The Last Picture Show is both extremely funny and deeply profound. And, with the eccentrically peopled Thalia, Texas, Larry McMurtry made a small town that feels as real as any you’ve ever walked around.
The Cookbook Collector - Allegra Goodman
"New York Times" best selling author and US National Book Award shortlisted novelist Allegra Goodman returns with her most achieved novel to date, a Sense and Sensibility for the internet age.
Things I've Been Silent About - Aznar Nafisi
In Azar Nafisi's personal story of growing up in Iran, she shares her memories of a life lived in thrall to a powerful and complex mother, against the background of a country’s political revolution.
Theodora - Stella Duffy (she will be doing an event at the shop 7.30pm on June 21st)
Theodora of Constantinople rose from nothing to become the most powerful woman in the history of Byzantine Rome. In Stella Duffy's breathtaking new novel, she comes to life again, a fascinating, controversial and seductive woman.
One member emailed in to say she's re-reading The Women's Room - Marilyn French,
A landmark in feminist literature, THE WOMEN'S ROOM is a biting social commentary of a world gone silently haywire.
being motivated so to do by reading Bitter Bitch - Maria Sveland
Angry and candid, "Bitter Bitch" is an uncompromising novel, at the heart of which is one of the most important women's issues: how can we ever have an egalitarian society when we can't even live in equality with those we love?

One attendee mentioned the idea that we have of having online participation in the meeting and so we will be taking a look at that in time for the next meeting. Right now skype group calling and chat look very possible.

From March 8th

2011-06-09T10:23:00.003+01:00

We are restarting the Dulwich Books Reading Group

We will have a monthly meeting on the fourth Wednesday from 6.30pm and we will encourage "virtual membership" by hosting an online presence.
The inaugural meeting is going to be on Wednesday March 23rd at Dulwich Books (6 Croxted Road) and will take the form of a readers' circle. Everyone brings along either, the book they are reading currently, or a book they are passionate about. We will go round the group and hear from each one about the book they have brought along. We will also choose the book to read for the following meeting that will be on May 25th.
Please email to let us know you will be at the inaugural meeting on the 23rd at <readinggroup@dulwichbooks.co.uk>

Peter the convenor slips up

2011-06-09T10:18:00.002+01:00

Sorry folks but I seem to have deleted the postings to the blog. I will do what I can to recover the key messages over the next few hours