Date: November 25, 2015
Present: Mark, Sabine, Gill F, Nic
Our 100th book marked our finale for our 9th calendar year.
A hard-to-find venue (for me, anyway!) but worth it - excellent meaty food, good red wine and great conversation with top travel tips to South Africa imparted to Gill F by Sabine.
On the night, my recollection is it was considered disturbing but good with a real sense of menace conjured by the returning brother but, perhaps, that was just me because:
"Didn't enjoy it" - Gill C
"Ok, pretty weird" - Sabine
"Hated it. One for the boys" - Jen
Friends, book discussions, food matching and food sharing. A private book group. Warning: may contain spoilers.
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Wednesday, 25 November 2015
Thursday, 29 October 2015
#99 - Pure - Andrew Miller (Choice: Alex) (Venue: Boro Bistro, Borough High Street)
Date: October 29, 2015
Present: Alex, Shubha, Gill C, Nic
The food was great, the staff had top knots, the book was well received, generally, but there's always one, eh?!.
"Pleasing" - Nic
"Really enjoyed this one" - Sabine
"Good read" - Gill C
"No!! Wordy & ponderous" - Jen
Present: Alex, Shubha, Gill C, Nic
The food was great, the staff had top knots, the book was well received, generally, but there's always one, eh?!.
"Pleasing" - Nic
"Really enjoyed this one" - Sabine
"Good read" - Gill C
"No!! Wordy & ponderous" - Jen
Wednesday, 16 September 2015
#98 - The Martian - Andy Weir (Choice: Gill F) (Venue: Polpo at Ape and Bird)
Date: September 16, 2015
Present: Jen, Gill F, Gill C, Sabine, Nic, Doris
A very well accepted book choice and very well accepted fennel meatballs, amongst other goodies, which included frito misto and little pizzas - much better than the Spud-u-like with which we were threatened in advance.
Generally, the book was exciting, though there was a little too much science for some.
"Loved this. Fave so far" - Jen (so we know how she's voting at Chrsitmas)
"Enjoyed the first half despite not being into sci-fi" - Sabine
"Felt like it was always going to be made into a film" - Gill C
Present: Jen, Gill F, Gill C, Sabine, Nic, Doris
A very well accepted book choice and very well accepted fennel meatballs, amongst other goodies, which included frito misto and little pizzas - much better than the Spud-u-like with which we were threatened in advance.
Generally, the book was exciting, though there was a little too much science for some.
"Loved this. Fave so far" - Jen (so we know how she's voting at Chrsitmas)
"Enjoyed the first half despite not being into sci-fi" - Sabine
"Felt like it was always going to be made into a film" - Gill C
Friday, 31 July 2015
#97 - An Officer and a Spy - Robert Harris (Choice: Jen) (No Meeting)
Date: July 2015
Present: None
Not our finest year for meetings but, perhaps, Jen's finest year for book choice - as witness the comments below:
"Excellent" - Nic
"Love it. Interesting historical 'faction'." - Jen
"Great" - Sabine
"Very Interesting story" - Gill C
Present: None
Not our finest year for meetings but, perhaps, Jen's finest year for book choice - as witness the comments below:
"Excellent" - Nic
"Love it. Interesting historical 'faction'." - Jen
"Great" - Sabine
"Very Interesting story" - Gill C
Tuesday, 30 June 2015
#96 Enormity of the Tragedy - Quim Monzo (Choice: Jane) (No meeting)
Date: June
Present: None
Another meeting fail, this time for a book fail (though we never let a bad book, alone, come between us and dinner and drinks!).
Comments:
"Ugh" - Nic
"Weird" - Sabine
"Dreadful" - Jen
It seems Gill C couldn't even find words!
Present: None
Another meeting fail, this time for a book fail (though we never let a bad book, alone, come between us and dinner and drinks!).
Comments:
"Ugh" - Nic
"Weird" - Sabine
"Dreadful" - Jen
It seems Gill C couldn't even find words!
Thursday, 28 May 2015
#95 - The Girl on the Train - Paula Hawkins (Choice: Gill C) (Venue: Booking Bar and Restaurant, St Pancras)
Date: 28th May 2015
Present: Jen, Sabine, Gill C, Nic
The food was enjoyable and the live piano act was loud. So loud, Gill asked them to turn him down! Others will have to work hard if they fancy picking up "most appropriate venue" this year though.
Comments, collected latterly:
"Compelling" - Nic
"Ok but not as good as Gone Girl" - Sabine
"Much better than the film" - Gill C
"Kept me turning pages" - Jen
Present: Jen, Sabine, Gill C, Nic
The food was enjoyable and the live piano act was loud. So loud, Gill asked them to turn him down! Others will have to work hard if they fancy picking up "most appropriate venue" this year though.
Comments, collected latterly:
"Compelling" - Nic
"Ok but not as good as Gone Girl" - Sabine
"Much better than the film" - Gill C
"Kept me turning pages" - Jen
Friday, 1 May 2015
#94 - Americanah - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Choice: Sabine) (No meeting)
Date: May 2015
Present: None
One of many meeting fails this year but that in no way reflected the reception for the book.
"Good" Nic
"Good" Gill C
"Thought provoking. V interesting observations on difference" Jen
Present: None
One of many meeting fails this year but that in no way reflected the reception for the book.
"Good" Nic
"Good" Gill C
"Thought provoking. V interesting observations on difference" Jen
Tuesday, 31 March 2015
#93 - Dissolution - CJ Sansom (Choice: Doris) (Venue: ?)
Date: March 2015
Present: Sabine, Gill F, Doris and Jen?
So many details lost in the mists of time but this was when an unofficial book group favorite became an official choice so success was assured. Comments gathered subsequently:
"Great" - me
"Loved it and read all the others" - Sabine
"Brilliant" - Gill
"Yay!" - Jen
Present: Sabine, Gill F, Doris and Jen?
So many details lost in the mists of time but this was when an unofficial book group favorite became an official choice so success was assured. Comments gathered subsequently:
"Great" - me
"Loved it and read all the others" - Sabine
"Brilliant" - Gill
"Yay!" - Jen
Wednesday, 25 February 2015
#92 - Not that kind of Girl - Lena Dunham (Choice: Shubha) (Venue: Mishkin's Covent Garden)
Date: February 25, 2015
Present: Jane, Sabine, Jen, Gill F, Gill C, Shubha and Doris
I missed what seems destined to win "Best attended" award of the year and, sadly, the ensuing discussion. Comments gathered subsequently:
"Argh!" - Nic
"Ugh" - Sabine
"No, thank you" - Gill C
"Yuck" Jen
I'd be interested to hear about the food.
Present: Jane, Sabine, Jen, Gill F, Gill C, Shubha and Doris
I missed what seems destined to win "Best attended" award of the year and, sadly, the ensuing discussion. Comments gathered subsequently:
"Argh!" - Nic
"Ugh" - Sabine
"No, thank you" - Gill C
"Yuck" Jen
I'd be interested to hear about the food.
Tuesday, 20 January 2015
#91 - Shantaram - Gregory David Roberts (Choice: Nic) (Venue: Salt 'n' Pepper, Leicester Square)
Date: January 20, 2015
Present: Shubha, Jen, Gill C, Gill F (first outing!), Nic
The second meeting for the book that keeps on giving ... and giving.
It was long but enjoyable with, I thought, a hint of the "Count of Monte Cristo" in the episodic nature and Lin's uncanny ability to demonstrate a new skill whenever occasion called. Other comments:
"Enjoyed it" - Sabine
"Nah! Really? Shaggy dog story" - Gill C
"Enjoyable if far-fetched and too long" - Jen
The food was pretty good and they gave us all free bangles.
Present: Shubha, Jen, Gill C, Gill F (first outing!), Nic
The second meeting for the book that keeps on giving ... and giving.
It was long but enjoyable with, I thought, a hint of the "Count of Monte Cristo" in the episodic nature and Lin's uncanny ability to demonstrate a new skill whenever occasion called. Other comments:
"Enjoyed it" - Sabine
"Nah! Really? Shaggy dog story" - Gill C
"Enjoyable if far-fetched and too long" - Jen
The food was pretty good and they gave us all free bangles.