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Local discussion: Is there a good book club in the area?

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    • CommentAuthorN4_bandit
    • CommentTimeJan 12th 2010
     
    Does anyone know of a good book club in the area?

    I'm busting for a page turner........
    • CommentAuthorsophie
    • CommentTimeJan 13th 2010
     

    if there is one then i'd like to join too. if not, we should start one.

    • CommentAuthorArkady
    • CommentTimeJan 13th 2010
     
    I think there's one at Stroud Green library.
    • CommentAuthorsophie
    • CommentTimeJan 13th 2010 edited
     

    ta i'll check it out.. i need it to be in the evenings though.

    edit: found some info here. it is in the evening, 7-9.30. but it's on a tuesday. WHY IS EVERYTHING ON A TUESDAY??

    this website looks pretty good to start searching on.

    • CommentAuthorDonnaW
    • CommentTimeJan 13th 2010
     

    i'd quite like to go to one too. It would be more fun to do one in people's houses, I think.

    • CommentAuthorsophie
    • CommentTimeJan 13th 2010
     

    i thought i'd already posted this but it isn't here. hope it wasn't deleted for being too boring or something.

    my original post said:

    that website that i said looked good is very out of date i think.

    looks from the haringey libraries website like the stroud green library reading group actually meet on a thursday. their next meeting is tomorrow (a thousand splendid suns).

    on that haringey page there are loads of other reading groups, evening and daytime ones, at all the different haringey libraries (muswell hill, marcus garvey, hornsey, alexandra park, highgate, wood green).

    • CommentAuthorsophie
    • CommentTimeJan 13th 2010
     

    @Donna i was actually looking for a housey one too.

    • CommentAuthorDonnaW
    • CommentTimeJan 13th 2010
     

    Cool, well we should do it! Anyone else up for a book club at a home? We could rotate it each month.

    My favourite day would be Monday.

    • CommentAuthorMarquis
    • CommentTimeJan 13th 2010
     
    Would anybody be interested in forming a (non-devotional) Quran reading group? It's the one book that I just can't seem to push myself to read by myself, and I feel it could be a very useful bit of world-knowledge.

    I don't expect a significantly different reading experience from the Bible - some beauty, some atrocities, some contradictions, some mysticism, clear need for a version with good footnotes - but I think it might help to know what it's all about. Would certainly be a challenge.
    • CommentAuthorandy
    • CommentTimeJan 13th 2010 edited
     
    We are Ninja
    we don't delete posts if they're boring...






    ....we simply don't have the time.
    • CommentAuthorMarquis
    • CommentTimeJan 13th 2010
     
    I don't understand - I didn't mean to bore anyone, sorry if I did. Just thought about this on my way home from work. Next time I'll write something about how bad bad pizza is, I promise.
    • CommentAuthorandy
    • CommentTimeJan 13th 2010
     
    We are Ninja

    Not you Marquis. A Qu'ran reading book club with a former monk could be many things, but unlikely to be boring.

    I was referring to Sophie above writing: "i thought i'd already posted this but it isn't here. hope it wasn't deleted for being too boring or something."

    • CommentAuthorLiz
    • CommentTimeJan 13th 2010
     
    I would be up for a book club too, and Monday's sound alright to me.
  14.  
    I followed the BBC Radio 4 Book Club for a couple of years but I gave up because they seemed to have an never ending agenda of emotional family sagas written by female novelists (Kate Atkinson, that type of stuff ad nauseam). There are only so many I can take.

    I think the question to ask is - who chooses the books?
    • CommentAuthorLiz
    • CommentTimeJan 13th 2010
     
    We could take turns - might help with the variety element.
    • CommentAuthorandy
    • CommentTimeJan 13th 2010
     
    We are Ninja

    I can't imagine anyone else wants to read the stuff I read.

    David could have first pick of book. He would pick something like "scaling enterprise frameworks in PHP"

    You could all sit around and hope he doesn't ruin the end for you.

    • CommentAuthorDavid
    • CommentTimeJan 13th 2010 edited
     
    We are Ninja

    I read your books, Andy.

    • CommentAuthorsophie
    • CommentTimeJan 14th 2010
     

    mondays are fine for me too. it would be lovely to go to different people's houses and every now and then we could go to a pub.

    the whole point of it for me would be to read things that i wouldn't usually read, so i'm definitely up for taking turns to pick books. i'd hope for a mix of old/new, fiction/non-fiction, novels/short stories/poetry(?), bestsellers/classics, and different genres including all the things that other people don't think anyone else would want to read. i have a horrible habit of being prejudiced and dismissive of books that i think will be trashy or that are advertised on the tube. i need someone to kick me up the bum for that.

    i'm also aware that i don't get the most from the books i read - i read loads but tend to just get the story from it where other people talk about subtexts & themes which i never even noticed. so i would like to go to a book group to learn from other people how to appreciate books. and also how to properly slag them off. because when i don't like a book i can never really explain why.

    @marquis, i would love to read the qu'ran one day but i think i would need to do a lot of learning-to-read practice first. i just finished the satanic verses and found it incredibly tiring and difficult. i'm sure i would have enjoyed it a lot more if i had more knowledge of religious texts of all kinds. it sounds like a really good idea but i don't know if i could give it enough of my time at the moment (such a poor excuse).

    • CommentAuthormiss annie
    • CommentTimeJan 14th 2010
     
    I'd like to join too and Mondays would be good.

    Like Sophie I read a lot, and have mountains of books as a result of working in bookshops as a young'un. I quite often feel that there's more to be gleaned from some books and it would be great to hear others readers views and opinions.

    I'd be interested in reading a good mixture of things too. There are lots of online guides to running a successful book club so it should be straightforward to get going.
    • CommentAuthorkerry
    • CommentTimeJan 14th 2010
     
    It would be great to have a local book club and Mondays work for me also. Should we pick a Monday in February (1? 8?) and a location to get together? Just having a discussion about how it would work might be enough for the first time, unless someone wanted to suggest an initial book as well.

    Come to think of it, I never read Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell but it recently appeared in the Guardian best books of the decade list (for those of us who go in for that sort of thing). It sounds like the kind of book that lends itself to a good discussion. I suppose people may have read it already tho so a newer option may be best. A Case of Exploding Mangoes by Mohammed Hanif also comes recommended by a friend.
    • CommentAuthorDonnaW
    • CommentTimeJan 14th 2010 edited
     

    Awesome. I'm definitely up for it. Feb 1st or 8th works for me.

    I quite like the sound of this one: The Elegance of the Hedgehog http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/sep/14/fiction3

    Or perhaps we should pick a short one? http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/books_group/article2632680.ece Anyone want to read any of these? Untouchable by Mulk Raj Anand

    An Awfully Big Adventure by Beryl Bainbridge

    A Month in the Country by J. L Carr

    The God Boy by Ian Cross

    The Barrytown Trilogy by Roddy Doyle (three quick reads in one)

    The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald

    Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

    Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively

    Bonjour Tristesse by Françoise Sagan

    The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark

    • CommentAuthorCharlo
    • CommentTimeJan 14th 2010
     
    Hi, I'd really like to join too. I've been thinking about joining or starting a book group for a while! Mondays are best for me too - 8th Feb would be my preference. It sounds like a good idea to read one of the short ones for the first meeting - any of them would be interesting - have read a couple but wouldn't mind rereading them.
    • CommentAuthortaff bach
    • CommentTimeJan 14th 2010
     

    Oh, go on then. Monday works. I just read the Kite Runner and it got to me.

  24.  
    @taff bach - judging by the expressions of interest it looks like an almost all-female book club to me. I think you might have trouble getting Bravo Two Zero or The Dangerous Book for Boys on the list.
    • CommentAuthormiss annie
    • CommentTimeJan 15th 2010
     
    Well, if a few chaps express an interest and join in it will ensure that we get a good range of books.
    I certainly don't want to have to read endless books with flowing gold writing or pictures of Scottish Widow types on the cover.
  26.  
    Big fan of Mulk Raj Anand here.
    • CommentAuthorsophie
    • CommentTimeJan 15th 2010
     

    any of those sound fab. out of that list i've only read bonjour tristesse & i think it'd be best read in the summer. as long as they are all easily available in local libraries i think they should be alright. i can't do the 8th but any other monday is ok for me. if the 8th is ok for everyone else, of course i'll just join in on the next one.

    i read cloud atlas a few years ago and it was good but i'd definitely like to read it again. i'll read anything. i just started richard feynmann's 'six easy pieces' and will definitely need something to look forward to for after i finish.

    where's n4_bandit got to? it was his/her idea in the first place.. hope mondays are ok for him/her.

    • CommentAuthorMarquis
    • CommentTimeJan 15th 2010
     
    A friend's reading group chooses a year and then spends the following months reading its interesting releases. I think at the moment they're doing 1948.
    • CommentAuthorkerry
    • CommentTimeJan 15th 2010
     
    OK shall we say Mon Feb 8? Might be best to meet in a pub first time unless someone happy to host various unknown peeps in their home. We could stick to something short as suggested and perhaps to make it easier chose from just the first half of the list --

    Untouchable
    Awfully big adventure
    Month in the country
    The good boy
    Barrytown trilogy

    Maybe all who are interested can post their top two picks from this list and we'll see if one wins out?
    • CommentAuthorkerry
    • CommentTimeJan 15th 2010
     
    Oh sorry just saw sophie's post. i could equally do 15th feb.
    • CommentAuthorCharlo
    • CommentTimeJan 15th 2010
     
    My choices would be Untouchable and A Month in the Country. I could do 15th Feb too.
    • CommentAuthormiss annie
    • CommentTimeJan 15th 2010
     
    Yes, 15th feb would be good for me too. I'd be happy with any of the above list and then something more contemporary for the next one.
    • CommentAuthorsophie
    • CommentTimeJan 15th 2010 edited
     

    thank you for postponing it for me.. 15th of feb gives us a month from today to get hold of the book and read it. untouchable looks good, and from what i have seen after a brief search, will provide lots of subjects for discussion. there's one copy available to reserve from haringey libraries and seven from islington.

    pub will be ok for a first time i'm sure. we can sort out a list of people to choose a book and host each meeting.

    • CommentAuthorMirandola
    • CommentTimeJan 15th 2010
     
    I love Marquis' friend's book of the year idea, and Mondays work for me too.
    • CommentAuthorShaunG
    • CommentTimeJan 15th 2010
     

    Wow, this looks like turning into the most successful ever sg.org spin-off into real life. Do keep the rest of us updated.

    • CommentAuthorLiz
    • CommentTimeJan 15th 2010
     
    Monday 15th also sounds good to me - are we going for Untouchable? I'm pretty happy with anything on that list.
    • CommentAuthorDonnaW
    • CommentTimeJan 15th 2010
     

    Monday 15th is good for me too. Untouchable sounds really interesting. There's a copy up for grabs on readitswapit: http://www.readitswapit.co.uk/BookDetails.aspx?BookID=203440

    (It's a book swapping site, my boyfriend set it up.)

  38.  
    What's 'real life'? What's a 'book'?
    • CommentAuthormagicP
    • CommentTimeJan 16th 2010
     
    I would be interested in this, too.
    • CommentAuthortaff bach
    • CommentTimeJan 16th 2010
     

    Will read the Untouchables as soon as I finish The girl who kicked a Hornets nest.

    • CommentAuthoremine
    • CommentTimeJan 17th 2010
     

    I want to come too. I've had readers' block for a year, and my new year's resolution is to actually start reading again. This will make me do it - hurrah!

    • CommentAuthorN4_bandit
    • CommentTimeJan 17th 2010
     
    This is brilliant!! Starting our own book group is great and I would love to come. Any suggestions for a venue?? I'm thinking maybe N4 on Fonthill Road or Old Diary.
  43.  
    Do we have to reveal our online identities? Or do we just all meet wearing our 'I love N4' tee shirts?
    • CommentAuthorDonnaW
    • CommentTimeJan 18th 2010
     

    The Old Dairy works for me. I guess it would be better if we met in a pub for the first time, just until we were all comfortable with each other, rather than posting our addresses? then we could see after that whether anyone wants to have it at their home.

    So - are we all agreed on the following: - Monday 15th Feb - time? 7pm? 8pm? - Untouchable by Mulk Raj Anand

    Any other venue suggestions apart from the Old Dairy?

    • CommentAuthorkerry
    • CommentTimeJan 19th 2010
     
    i'm fine w/ your summary donnaW - 15th, old dairy, untouchable. Am easy as to time - maybe just split the difference and go with 7:30.
    • CommentAuthormiss annie
    • CommentTimeJan 19th 2010
     
    Yes me too, 7.30 is a good time. Look forward to meeting you all.
    • CommentAuthorsophie
    • CommentTimeJan 19th 2010
     

    time and place sound good. depending on how many of us we expect, we could maybe ask the dairy to make sure there is a table and enough chairs free for us. not sure how busy it gets on a tuesday night.

    i'm excited about it!

    @DonnaW i love your boyfriend's website. i need to get my act together and set myself up on it.

    if anyone's thinking of buying the book off amazon, you can use this link which is normal amazon but means that they will donate up to 10% of your payment to cancer research uk.

    sorry if this counts as an advert. lots of other charities have amazon links too so you could search for your preferred charity of course.

    • CommentAuthorJenny
    • CommentTimeJan 20th 2010
     
    Just joined the forum and I'm really interested in the book club. I'm expecting a baby on 19th Feb but assuming he/she doesn't come early I'll be there on Monday 15th (don't worry I live VERY nearby).
    Jenny
  49.  
  50.  
    Hi Guys

    Would be a pleasure to host a book club here and I would also be keen to join if that is ok ?
    Monday the 15th is fine with me, let me know if you need anything else prior to the night.
    • CommentAuthoremine
    • CommentTimeJan 21st 2010
     

    Untouchable arrived this morning, I'm looking forward to it. Except I know I should be embracing reading and this isn't exactly the spirit, but is anyone else as pleased as me that it's not very long?!

  52.  
    Just got it on Amazon. Will give me something to look forward to when I finish The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest.

    @emine Yes I am also very pleased it is not very long!
  53.  
    Be interested to know what you thought of Hornets nest Hannah. I have just finished it and am now getting stuck into Untouchable

    Adam
  54.  
    Chaps and Dames could also offer its services for the use of the community if the old Diary is ever unavailable i would also be interested in joining if this would be ok :)
    • CommentAuthorDonnaW
    • CommentTimeJan 26th 2010
     

    Just got Untouchable from Amazon today.

    • CommentAuthortaff bach
    • CommentTimeJan 27th 2010
     

    Mulk Anand- Is this the author or are we reading about Arsenal?

    • CommentAuthorsophie
    • CommentTimeJan 27th 2010 edited
     

    cool thanks kelly-marie, but hopefully after the first one at the old dairy, we will start doing a rotation of people's houses. i'm scared because i only have four chairs.

    edit: actually thinking about it more, it would be nice as well to try out meeting in some different places that we wouldn't usually go to. the 'al fresco at good for food' idea from krappyrubsnif on another thread sounds lovely.

    i finished my other book on the tube this morning and can finally start untouchable - i'm glad it's fairly short too!

    • CommentAuthormiss annie
    • CommentTimeJan 27th 2010
     
    Trying out different places sounds like a good idea as my flat is the size of a (very small) shoebox. I'll be starting Untouchable today too, looking forward to discussing it with everyone.
    • CommentAuthorSalsa
    • CommentTimeJan 28th 2010
     
    Been lurking on here for a while but finally got signed up - thanks to the pull of joining a book club! Have ordered the book and will see you on the 15th.
    Hoping to become a more active member on here too!
    • CommentAuthorandy
    • CommentTimeJan 28th 2010
     
    We are Ninja

    Utterly off-topic, but seeing as it's just been announced that JD Salinger has died, Franny and Zooey should go on the list.

    • CommentAuthorsophie
    • CommentTimeJan 28th 2010
     

    :( i love franny and zooey!

    • CommentAuthorandy
    • CommentTimeJan 29th 2010
     
    We are Ninja

    Bunch Of Phonies Mourn J.D. Salinger

    CORNISH, NH—In this big dramatic production that didn't do anyone any good (and was pretty embarrassing, really, if you think about it), thousands upon thousands of phonies across the country mourned the death of author J.D. Salinger, who was 91 years old for crying out loud. "He had a real impact on the literary world and on millions of readers," said hot-shot English professor David Clarke, who is just like the rest of them, and even works at one of those crumby schools that rich people send their kids to so they don't have to look at them for four years. "There will never be another voice like his." Which is exactly the lousy kind of goddamn thing that people say, because really it could mean lots of things, or nothing at all even, and it's just a perfect example of why you should never tell anybody anything.

    • CommentAuthorSlabber
    • CommentTimeJan 30th 2010
     
    I have been banned
    I've never seen the point in book clubs other than as a way of meeting women who can read.
  64.  
    @Slabber - I think all your dreams are going to be fulfilled at the Old Dairy in February
    • CommentAuthorSlabber
    • CommentTimeJan 31st 2010
     
    I have been banned
    If I came, I'd have to pretend I'd read the book. There's probably an online synopsis of it somewhere.
    • CommentAuthortosscat
    • CommentTimeFeb 1st 2010
     

    I wish there were an online synopsis of your posts Slabber.

    • CommentAuthorSlabber
    • CommentTimeFeb 1st 2010
     
    I have been banned
    Some of my posts are intelligent and insightful. Some are a bit stupid.
    • CommentAuthorReg
    • CommentTimeFeb 1st 2010
     

    I think you're awesome Slabber. 4 visits, 69 posts and counting.

    • CommentAuthorSlabber
    • CommentTimeFeb 1st 2010
     
    I have been banned
    Thanks, Reg. I like this forum. There seems to be a nice spread of witty posters and earnest posters. It could do with a bit more traffic though. By that I mean people actually posting, else one's just talking to oneself.
  70.  
    Mondays are good for me too
    • CommentAuthorSlabber
    • CommentTimeFeb 1st 2010
     
    I have been banned
    Bob Geldoff doesn't like Mondays.
  72.  
    Bob Geldof is not invited - he doesn't live in or near SG.
  73.  
    Just to confirm how many people will be coming on the 15th Feb. Have reserved an area already for the book club, but just need an idea for seats etc

    Will also arrange some light refreshments or something !
    • CommentAuthorSalsa
    • CommentTimeFeb 4th 2010
     
    I'm definitely coming - just need to make a start on the book!
    • CommentAuthorDonnaW
    • CommentTimeFeb 5th 2010
     

    I'm definitely coming. I've started the book, not got very far yet....

    • CommentAuthorSlabber
    • CommentTimeFeb 5th 2010
     
    I have been banned
    I'm not coming.
    • CommentAuthorSlabber
    • CommentTimeFeb 5th 2010
     
    I have been banned
    Well, I might come but I'll watch from a distance and work out if there's anything worth pursuing.
    • CommentAuthortosscat
    • CommentTimeFeb 5th 2010
     

    I laud you enthusiasm Slabber.

  79.  
    I'll definitely be coming.
    • CommentAuthorCharlo
    • CommentTimeFeb 5th 2010
     
    I'll definitely be there. Must start reading the book too!
    • CommentAuthorsophie
    • CommentTimeFeb 5th 2010
     

    i'm coming too. light refreshments sound good, could i have a shandy please?

    • CommentAuthorLiz
    • CommentTimeFeb 6th 2010
     
    Me too. DId we settle on 7.30?
  83.  
    Can I send a proxy? I'm teaching that night - drat.
  84.  
    I'm coming - will try to find time to read the book. But will come anyway
  85.  
    Taff bach, can you lend me the book next weekend if you've read it? I might be able to come after all but there's no time to get it from Amazon now. I'm not being mean.
    • CommentAuthoremine
    • CommentTimeFeb 8th 2010
     

    I'm coming. Think it's 7.30pm, yes?

    • CommentAuthortaff bach
    • CommentTimeFeb 8th 2010
     

    rubster- not sure I'll have read it all by then, some of us work for a living you know!

  88.  
    Erm.... Found this post waaaaaay too late to have read the book by Monday. But I'd like to join if that's cool? will you post the next book and meet up date on here?
    • CommentAuthorMirandola
    • CommentTimeFeb 11th 2010
     
    I'm planning to come along too. How do we recognise each other?
  90.  
    Don't have time to read it. Can someone post a Guardian-style John Crace 'Digested Read' for me? Or even better, a Digested Read - Digested?
    • CommentAuthorsophie
    • CommentTimeFeb 11th 2010
     

    grab a copy from the library, it's very short! or google it. but still come.

    you will recognise me because i'll be holding the book prominently in front of my face to hide my vague embarrassment/weird excitement.

    • CommentAuthortaff bach
    • CommentTimeFeb 12th 2010
     

    Digested digest

    Life is shit.

    • CommentAuthorSalsa
    • CommentTimeFeb 12th 2010
     
    I was planning to bring my copy of the book too, hopefully we'll all find each other - or can Olddairy tell us which bit we should head to?
    Need to try and get through the book this weekend, just on page 50.
  94.  
    So that's about half way through. You've got as far as 'Life is......'. Won't spoil the ending.
    • CommentAuthorjillzilla
    • CommentTimeFeb 13th 2010
     
    Hello, I've never attended a book club meeting before but looking forward to this one. Now to get through the book...
    • CommentAuthorDonnaW
    • CommentTimeFeb 14th 2010
     

    Phew! Just finished the book. Will bring it along, hope I can find you all.

  97.  
    I will reserve The Cubby for everyone, as a guess it looks like there is about 10 people which should be fine for the cubby.

    See you all at 7.30
    • CommentAuthorShaunG
    • CommentTimeFeb 15th 2010
     

    I think this is the beginning of the end.

    • CommentAuthorSalsa
    • CommentTimeFeb 15th 2010
     
    Well, back from a very successful first session! Turnout great (10) and weirdly there was another book club in the pub at the same time! Thanks to Olddairy for the delicious refreshments!

    I'm going to give info of the next book but will start a new thread if that's OK, or this one is going to get too long. Liz can you ask for the new thread to be made sticky?
    • CommentAuthorLiz
    • CommentTimeFeb 15th 2010 edited
     
    Request is in. Andy suggested that we should put it on the events calendar too, so I'll have a look at that.

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