Date: Thursday December 15 2016
Present: Nic, Jen, Gill C
I *think* this is the one that started with promise - conjuring eighties music and clothes and atmosphere - but then shrivelled and died, a forgettable and unaccomplished "If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things" wannabe. Still, it was Christmas so it was Xmas Book Swap night.
Friends, book discussions, food matching and food sharing. A private book group. Warning: may contain spoilers.
Thursday, 15 December 2016
Thursday, 10 November 2016
#106 - The Invisible Library - Genevieve Cogman (Choice: Jen)(Venue: Library, St Martin's Lane}
Date: Thursday 10 November 2016
Present: Jen, Gill C, Nic
Today, 16 February 2020, I am about to start catching up on 20 book group books and a similar number of dinners, which I reckon is about 19 books and dinners fewer than it should be. Anyway, if notes and reminiscences are sketchy, I've got my excuses in.
So, the venue was clearly a winner on theme and, as I recall, the food was decent too. The chat was mostly about Brexit, Trump and #metoo (topics which we have been discussing ever since!). I can't remember what we said about the book. I know Sabine had read all three by Christmas though. My lasting impression was that we thought it was enjoyable but, with the benefit of hindsight, I can tell you it is not memorable.
Present: Jen, Gill C, Nic
Today, 16 February 2020, I am about to start catching up on 20 book group books and a similar number of dinners, which I reckon is about 19 books and dinners fewer than it should be. Anyway, if notes and reminiscences are sketchy, I've got my excuses in.
So, the venue was clearly a winner on theme and, as I recall, the food was decent too. The chat was mostly about Brexit, Trump and #metoo (topics which we have been discussing ever since!). I can't remember what we said about the book. I know Sabine had read all three by Christmas though. My lasting impression was that we thought it was enjoyable but, with the benefit of hindsight, I can tell you it is not memorable.
Wednesday, 12 October 2016
The no-book book group (Venue, Sabine's choice: Adulis, Oval)
Date: October 10, 2016
Present: Nic, Gill C, Jen, Sabine
With no book to discuss, we discussed all the books! So, if you wonder where the comments in past reviews come from, this evening was the source of those partial memories and gut feelings that remain even when the detail of the books has been lost in the mists of time and wine.
At Adulis, we ate lamb, beef, chicken, lentils, chickpeas, spinach, sour flat bread (injera); drank sweet beer, honey wine and lemon water; and caught up on a summer of unofficial reading (for those who weren't put off reading for life by The Golden Notebook!).
Roll on, book group. 10 years and counting. The intention is to reinvigorate, pick up momentum and start eating and drinking together regularly, possibly with books to review over aperitifs. So we've given Jen first pick ...
What could possibly go wrong?
Present: Nic, Gill C, Jen, Sabine
With no book to discuss, we discussed all the books! So, if you wonder where the comments in past reviews come from, this evening was the source of those partial memories and gut feelings that remain even when the detail of the books has been lost in the mists of time and wine.
At Adulis, we ate lamb, beef, chicken, lentils, chickpeas, spinach, sour flat bread (injera); drank sweet beer, honey wine and lemon water; and caught up on a summer of unofficial reading (for those who weren't put off reading for life by The Golden Notebook!).
Roll on, book group. 10 years and counting. The intention is to reinvigorate, pick up momentum and start eating and drinking together regularly, possibly with books to review over aperitifs. So we've given Jen first pick ...
What could possibly go wrong?
Thursday, 25 August 2016
#105 - The Golden Notebook - Doris Lessing (Choice: Gill C) (Venue: OTE)
Date: August 25, 2016
Present: The hardcore (Nic, Gill C, Sabine)
Views from the 29th floor, that both Gill and Sabine were somewhat wary to enjoy, insufficient chairs (even though there were only 3 of us) but lots of yummy tapas-ish food - including the best gelato (courtesy of Sabine) - and great conversation, after early dismissal of the book! We were reading this since May, which speaks ... volumes (see what I did there!).
"I was so excited when at Kindle 75%, I reached the end!!! The rest was an interview with the author which I felt entitled to skip" - Nic
"Tried ones patience! Dated" - Sabine (on her second reading, which is worthy of an award in itself!)
"More intelligent than me" - Gill C (which, no-one else agrees with, BTW)
"Oh my God" - Jen
Footnote: This actually marks 10 years since our first meeting, August 2016. Lucky we opened some bubbles!
Present: The hardcore (Nic, Gill C, Sabine)
Views from the 29th floor, that both Gill and Sabine were somewhat wary to enjoy, insufficient chairs (even though there were only 3 of us) but lots of yummy tapas-ish food - including the best gelato (courtesy of Sabine) - and great conversation, after early dismissal of the book! We were reading this since May, which speaks ... volumes (see what I did there!).
"I was so excited when at Kindle 75%, I reached the end!!! The rest was an interview with the author which I felt entitled to skip" - Nic
"Tried ones patience! Dated" - Sabine (on her second reading, which is worthy of an award in itself!)
"More intelligent than me" - Gill C (which, no-one else agrees with, BTW)
"Oh my God" - Jen
Footnote: This actually marks 10 years since our first meeting, August 2016. Lucky we opened some bubbles!
Thursday, 28 April 2016
#104 - My Brilliant Friend - Elena Ferrante (Choice: Sabine) (Venue: Vico, Cambridge Circus)
Date: April 28, 2016
Present: Sabine, Gill F, Jen
In a shock outcome, Nic and Gill C fail to turn up to a drink and food opportunity. Was this the lost dress day?
No comments therefore on the venue, food or conversation, although this book equipped us all to have some knowledge of the subject of this Autumn's big identity reveal and an opinion on artistic identity and privacy.
Subsequently collected comments:
"Atmospheric" - Nic
"I liked it v much" - Sabine
"Enjoyable enough to read books 2 and 3" - Gill C
"Confusing! Too many people" - Jen
Present: Sabine, Gill F, Jen
In a shock outcome, Nic and Gill C fail to turn up to a drink and food opportunity. Was this the lost dress day?
No comments therefore on the venue, food or conversation, although this book equipped us all to have some knowledge of the subject of this Autumn's big identity reveal and an opinion on artistic identity and privacy.
Subsequently collected comments:
"Atmospheric" - Nic
"I liked it v much" - Sabine
"Enjoyable enough to read books 2 and 3" - Gill C
"Confusing! Too many people" - Jen
Thursday, 31 March 2016
#103 - The Three Evangelists - Fred Vargas (Choice: Doris) (No meeting)
Date: March 2016
Present: None
A last minute cancellation in no way reflected the enthusiasm for this book, which had charming characters and an interesting plot:
"Brilliant" - Nic
"Great - read all her other books as a result" - Sabine
"Great" - Gill
"Fab!" - Jen
Doris takes an early lead for this year's awards.
Present: None
A last minute cancellation in no way reflected the enthusiasm for this book, which had charming characters and an interesting plot:
"Brilliant" - Nic
"Great - read all her other books as a result" - Sabine
"Great" - Gill
"Fab!" - Jen
Doris takes an early lead for this year's awards.
Tuesday, 23 February 2016
#102 - Brave New World - Aldous Huxley (Choice: Shubha) (No meeting)
Date: February 23, 2016
Present: none
Even the hadrcore fail sometimes. Was I skiing? Is this when Gill lost her dress?
In any case, a Shubha classic:
"Dated" - Nic
"Not interesting enough these days" - Sabine
"Bit dull" - Gill
"Been here before" - Jen
Dissenting thoughts in the comments section, by all means!
Present: none
Even the hadrcore fail sometimes. Was I skiing? Is this when Gill lost her dress?
In any case, a Shubha classic:
"Dated" - Nic
"Not interesting enough these days" - Sabine
"Bit dull" - Gill
"Been here before" - Jen
Dissenting thoughts in the comments section, by all means!
Wednesday, 20 January 2016
#101 - The Art of Murder - Carlos Jose Somoza (Choice: Nic) (Venue: The 10 Cases, Covent Garden)
Date: January 20, 2016
Present: Gill C, Sabine, Nic
Our 101st book kicked off our tenth calendar year and three, who must be considered the hard-core attenders, met to welcome in the new year with fine foods and good wines.
At some point in the proceedings, we conceded the book was interesting, though neither Sabine nor Gill really enjoyed it. Whilst I initially struggled with the concept of human art, I soon found myself thinking "Saatchi would buy it" and the weird became normal and, though the murder mystery felt a little obvious, I will read The Athenian Murders at some point.
"Interesting concept but wore off towards the end" - Sabine
"The novelty wore off" - Jen
Present: Gill C, Sabine, Nic
Our 101st book kicked off our tenth calendar year and three, who must be considered the hard-core attenders, met to welcome in the new year with fine foods and good wines.
At some point in the proceedings, we conceded the book was interesting, though neither Sabine nor Gill really enjoyed it. Whilst I initially struggled with the concept of human art, I soon found myself thinking "Saatchi would buy it" and the weird became normal and, though the murder mystery felt a little obvious, I will read The Athenian Murders at some point.
"Interesting concept but wore off towards the end" - Sabine
"The novelty wore off" - Jen
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