Date: Tuesday 22 October 2019
Present: Vanessa, Suza, Nic, Doris, Gill F, Sabine
Suzanne's inaugural LGAG - two new members in two meetings! It felt like we were getting some momentum, though life has a habit of getting in the way and this was no exception. Our next meeting (fingers crossed) will be March 3rd 2020.
The venue was most appropriate, the food was tasty and the table was surrounded on three sides by banquette, which made for convivial conversation.
The book was well received - novel and well-written - although the ending divided people. It seems I was alone in finding the whole concept horrifying (imaginative, well-written, compelling but horrifying). Are we really aware we are dead for over 10 minutes, alone with our thoughts and the knowledge that it is all over, just wondering if and when we'll be found. That time to consider, reminisce, regret seems horrendous and still haunts me.
Friends, book discussions, food matching and food sharing. A private book group. Warning: may contain spoilers.
Tuesday, 22 October 2019
Tuesday, 17 September 2019
#125 Dominion - CJ Sansom (Choice: Jen) (Venue: Munich Cricket Club, Westminster)
Date: Tuesday 17 September 2019
Present: Nic, Jen, Sabine, Gill C, Vanessa
Vanessa's inaugural LGAG meeting was a rowdy affair but that wasn't really Vanessa's doing - MCC was full of suits and had the atmosphere of a rowdy city boozer. The food was acceptable. The book, however, went down much more easily.
Present: Nic, Jen, Sabine, Gill C, Vanessa
Vanessa's inaugural LGAG meeting was a rowdy affair but that wasn't really Vanessa's doing - MCC was full of suits and had the atmosphere of a rowdy city boozer. The food was acceptable. The book, however, went down much more easily.
Wednesday, 19 June 2019
#124 The Awakening (Y Byw sy’n Cysgu) - Kate Roberts (Choice: Sabine) (Venue: Bryn Williams, Somerset House)
Date: Wednesday 19 June 2019
Present: Gill C, Jen, Sabine, Nic
A Welsh chef for a Welsh book - though we all read it in English. (I bought the Welsh but it's one for the - distant - future!).
The restaurant was hard to find and comprised of a succession of rooms which is challenging for the staff so service was friendly but a little inept. Orders were misunderstood more than once. However, everything that came out was absolutely delicious, especially the smoked salmon. Heading back this week (February 2020) with some fellow Welsh expats.
The book was a quiet, gentle novel conjuring another time and place.
Present: Gill C, Jen, Sabine, Nic
A Welsh chef for a Welsh book - though we all read it in English. (I bought the Welsh but it's one for the - distant - future!).
The restaurant was hard to find and comprised of a succession of rooms which is challenging for the staff so service was friendly but a little inept. Orders were misunderstood more than once. However, everything that came out was absolutely delicious, especially the smoked salmon. Heading back this week (February 2020) with some fellow Welsh expats.
The book was a quiet, gentle novel conjuring another time and place.
Wednesday, 29 May 2019
#123 Mr Bridge / Mrs Bridge - Evan S Connell (Choice: Nic) (Venue: Paladar, SE1)
Date: Wednesday 29 May 2019
Present: Nic, Gill C, Sabine
The venue was a real winner - repeat visit for me, first time for Gill and Sabine. Gill was back on for her second visit on the Saturday night but I beat her because I was there for Saturday lunch!
Sadly, the book was not such a hit. As Mr and Mrs Bridge were companion novels, we split them so a few of us read each. Only Sabine, so far as I know, made it through both. Still, it certainly raised some emotions:
Gill F: I can’t do next week. I may have killed Mrs Bridge by then though.
Jen: I got to the end of the second page and was depressed so put it down and haven’t gone back.
Nic: I gather it isn’t the popular position but I thought it was quite wonderful albeit depressing: it felt so entirely real and conjured up a place and time I am very pleased not to be. Actually, made me quite tearfully thankful for all the women that broke out of those lives and fought for everything we have and can do today.
Sabine: completely agree – it seemed such a wasted life. No wonder they were all on Valium. Definitely worth reading Mr Bridge afterwards as a lot of things become clearer. And he really loved her and working all those hours was his way of showing her. Which of course she did not understand.
Sabine: I found it worth reading Mr Bridge too as it gives much more detail / back story.
Gill C: My local book shop asked if I wanted Mrs Bridge. I politely declined.
Present: Nic, Gill C, Sabine
The venue was a real winner - repeat visit for me, first time for Gill and Sabine. Gill was back on for her second visit on the Saturday night but I beat her because I was there for Saturday lunch!
Sadly, the book was not such a hit. As Mr and Mrs Bridge were companion novels, we split them so a few of us read each. Only Sabine, so far as I know, made it through both. Still, it certainly raised some emotions:
Gill F: I can’t do next week. I may have killed Mrs Bridge by then though.
Jen: I got to the end of the second page and was depressed so put it down and haven’t gone back.
Nic: I gather it isn’t the popular position but I thought it was quite wonderful albeit depressing: it felt so entirely real and conjured up a place and time I am very pleased not to be. Actually, made me quite tearfully thankful for all the women that broke out of those lives and fought for everything we have and can do today.
Sabine: completely agree – it seemed such a wasted life. No wonder they were all on Valium. Definitely worth reading Mr Bridge afterwards as a lot of things become clearer. And he really loved her and working all those hours was his way of showing her. Which of course she did not understand.
Sabine: I found it worth reading Mr Bridge too as it gives much more detail / back story.
Gill C: My local book shop asked if I wanted Mrs Bridge. I politely declined.
Sunday, 31 March 2019
#122 Home Fire - Kamilla Shamsie (Choice: Sabine)
Date: Unclear
Present: None
Almost an official choice - initially filler for our speedier readers but eventually read by most!
Doris: thought Home Fire was fantastic
Gill C: It’s very good.
Wednesday, 13 February 2019
#121 Transcription - Kate Atkinson (Choice: Gill F) (Venue: Queen Street Dining Room)
Date: Wednesday 13 February 2019
Present: Sabine, Jen, Gill F, Gill C
Transcription is by turn charming, fascinating and mysterious and Kate Atkinson is one of those authors, like Hilary Mantel, who make it all seem so effortless as you surrender to them and follow willingly as they lead you by the hand wherever they want you to go.
I recommended it to our US legal team's book group when I made a guest appearance there later in the year.
The dinner was delicious.
Doris: Loved the book, will read more as I liked her prose. I also liked the different timelines.
Present: Sabine, Jen, Gill F, Gill C
Transcription is by turn charming, fascinating and mysterious and Kate Atkinson is one of those authors, like Hilary Mantel, who make it all seem so effortless as you surrender to them and follow willingly as they lead you by the hand wherever they want you to go.
I recommended it to our US legal team's book group when I made a guest appearance there later in the year.
The dinner was delicious.
Doris: Loved the book, will read more as I liked her prose. I also liked the different timelines.
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