Present: Gill, Nathalie, Alex, Eamonn, Jen, Nic, Jane
This book was not generally well liked but it did stimulate an interesting debate about whether this is (i) a children’s book (ii) a book for adults based on a children’s character or (iii) a table.
I put this firmly into the children’s book category being very basic in structure and generally simplistic with discrete chapters that might be read by a generous parent with a high boredom threshold as a bedtime story. It has no content worthy of adult cognitive ability and no value as a work of literature or, indeed, entertainment. However, the long, made-up words pointed others to classify it as a book for adults. And, as Jen pointed out, not even a child would find it exciting enough to want to hear more (and this from the book’s strongest supporter!).
We recognised that our appreciation may have been hindered by a lack of cultural background as this book was written for the German market where Captain Blue Bear is a children’s television phenomenon, however, most of us declined to cut it any slack on that basis as someone had approved it for UK publication, where it stands or falls on its merits. The early chapters were initially engaging but there was no character development or plot direction and no driving purpose to engage the reader and make them read on. Notwithstanding that, Jen and Eamonn finished the book, a feat which evaded the rest of us.
I convinced Gill (who’d been stuck in trial and not purchased the book) to take my copy home – I’m not sure whether she read it or decided it was best used as a table.
Let’s talk about the food. Yum, yum, tom yum, yum. Alex and Nathalie ordered sensible meals. The rest of us ordered “one of everything” from the starters which we ate communally as tapas and then ordered some more until we ended filled to the brim and saying “never again”. But you know we will.
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