Date: June 2017
No meeting and, as I never read it and don't recall us ever discussing it, no comments.
Showing posts with label Shubha. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shubha. Show all posts
Friday, 30 June 2017
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, 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.
Thursday, 20 March 2014
#83 - I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings - Maya Angelou (Choice: Shubha) (No meeting)
Apologies: All
The now familiar book group polarity: Shubha "loved, loved, loved it"; I sound it "dreadfully dull".
When we, finally, gathered and discussed this, it became clear that I was alone in finding this a rather pedestrian telling (and then this ... and then that ... and then ...) of a tragic but too common childhood of a certain time. However, to coin and bastardise a phrase, I am clearly on the wrong side of literature here because Clinton and Obama as well as Farrell, Crew, Banerjee, Mason and Buckley all disagree with me.
The now familiar book group polarity: Shubha "loved, loved, loved it"; I sound it "dreadfully dull".
When we, finally, gathered and discussed this, it became clear that I was alone in finding this a rather pedestrian telling (and then this ... and then that ... and then ...) of a tragic but too common childhood of a certain time. However, to coin and bastardise a phrase, I am clearly on the wrong side of literature here because Clinton and Obama as well as Farrell, Crew, Banerjee, Mason and Buckley all disagree with me.
Sunday, 28 July 2013
#76 - How To Be a Woman - Caitlin Moran (Choice: Shubha)(Venue: Cay Tre, Dean Street)
Date: July 26, 2013
Present: Shubha, Doris, Jen, Gill, Mark, (a triumphant return for ) Nathalie and special guests Alex and Davis
Unknown to Shubha, a return to our Christmas venue, where we'd all greatly enjoyed the food (and wine and cocktails) last December. Again, the food was freshly prepared (some cooked with great care at the table) and full of herbs and balanced (though not always delicate!) spices to produce flavoursome food that feels healthy but satisfying and which found appreciation with all.
The place was busy, loud and buzzy, making it hard for us all to converse and sometimes hard to order but, hopefully, protecting the other diners from some of our more controversial conversation: Caitlin's obsession with what to call her "lady parts" making for some ripe discussion. We all agreed, we'd never been driven, in the way Caitlin was to analyse and assess what to call them, as though feminism itself depended upon it. "Boobs" was our winner for up top. For the rest, Jen, as one might expect, takes a practical and no-nonsense, scientifically accurate approach. Others fudged it with phrases like "down there" being popular. "My lily" was a previously unheard description that we found endearing.
This was one of the best book discussions, though not necessarily best books, we could remember. Our debates about the porn and abortion chapters were particularly spirited and we held and (loudly) espoused a range of differing opinions on these sensitive topics. The abortion chapter, for example, was criticised for presenting only two possible choices - bring up another (unwanted) baby or have an abortion - and not addressing the possibility of giving birth and giving the child up for adoption where it would be very much wanted by a couple unable to have their own. But that "oversight" was not universally accepted - some pointed to high adoption failure rates and the problems suffered by adopted children, whilst others countered that was because most adopted children were not new babies given up in these circumstances but children from difficult backgrounds, troubled families often with abusive histories, whose problems were not helped by a society which considers adoption a stigma and castigates a woman as heartless for giving up her baby but empowered for having an abortion.
We didn't all like the book but we were all agreed that Caitlin was forthright and (brutally, bravely) honest, articulate, intelligent and frequently very funny. Whether the glimpses into her childhood were unwarranted or necessary background was a moot point, with special mention to the dog chewing her used sanitary pad. And, with that, the final word on this book, must go to Mark, who should get a special award for reading and discussing this, given that:
For a chap who becomes queasy even at the mention of ladies special parts, I found this quite a hard read ;-)
Present: Shubha, Doris, Jen, Gill, Mark, (a triumphant return for ) Nathalie and special guests Alex and Davis
Unknown to Shubha, a return to our Christmas venue, where we'd all greatly enjoyed the food (and wine and cocktails) last December. Again, the food was freshly prepared (some cooked with great care at the table) and full of herbs and balanced (though not always delicate!) spices to produce flavoursome food that feels healthy but satisfying and which found appreciation with all.
The place was busy, loud and buzzy, making it hard for us all to converse and sometimes hard to order but, hopefully, protecting the other diners from some of our more controversial conversation: Caitlin's obsession with what to call her "lady parts" making for some ripe discussion. We all agreed, we'd never been driven, in the way Caitlin was to analyse and assess what to call them, as though feminism itself depended upon it. "Boobs" was our winner for up top. For the rest, Jen, as one might expect, takes a practical and no-nonsense, scientifically accurate approach. Others fudged it with phrases like "down there" being popular. "My lily" was a previously unheard description that we found endearing.
This was one of the best book discussions, though not necessarily best books, we could remember. Our debates about the porn and abortion chapters were particularly spirited and we held and (loudly) espoused a range of differing opinions on these sensitive topics. The abortion chapter, for example, was criticised for presenting only two possible choices - bring up another (unwanted) baby or have an abortion - and not addressing the possibility of giving birth and giving the child up for adoption where it would be very much wanted by a couple unable to have their own. But that "oversight" was not universally accepted - some pointed to high adoption failure rates and the problems suffered by adopted children, whilst others countered that was because most adopted children were not new babies given up in these circumstances but children from difficult backgrounds, troubled families often with abusive histories, whose problems were not helped by a society which considers adoption a stigma and castigates a woman as heartless for giving up her baby but empowered for having an abortion.
We didn't all like the book but we were all agreed that Caitlin was forthright and (brutally, bravely) honest, articulate, intelligent and frequently very funny. Whether the glimpses into her childhood were unwarranted or necessary background was a moot point, with special mention to the dog chewing her used sanitary pad. And, with that, the final word on this book, must go to Mark, who should get a special award for reading and discussing this, given that:
For a chap who becomes queasy even at the mention of ladies special parts, I found this quite a hard read ;-)
Monday, 29 October 2012
#67 - Revolutionary Road - Richard Yates (Choice: Shubha's)(Venue: Soif, Battersea)
Date: 24th October, 2012 (postponed from 7th September)
"If my work has a theme, I suspect it is a simple one: that most human beings are inescapably alone, and therein lies their tragedy."
Thus said Richard Yates about this novel in 1999: a happy chap, obviously.
There's no denying it is a depressing tale. However, the four of us present tonight enjoyed this book immensely. It may be a contender for the BoOkSCARS book of the year if some of us (well, ok, me) are to be believed.
Richard Yates prose was simple but graceful with not a wasted word and his insight into human beings, their relationships and their motivations was extraordinary. Unlike The Confederacy of Dunces, this novel was populated with characters we all recognised and to some extent identified with. The central couple had drifted, without specific plans, in to a life that disappointed them. The thought they were better than others (but who doesn't sometimes judge others and find them wanting) and they thought they deserved better (and who doesn't sometimes think they deserve more recognition, better pay, a lottery win or some other life-changing good luck). It didn't make them nice people but it made them unfailingly human and definitely not monsters. It was impossible not to care about what happened them and essential to get to the end. If you've missed this one, I urge you buy it, read it and let's talk about it again at another meeting.
Present: Jen, Gill, Shubha, Nic.
"If my work has a theme, I suspect it is a simple one: that most human beings are inescapably alone, and therein lies their tragedy."
Thus said Richard Yates about this novel in 1999: a happy chap, obviously.
There's no denying it is a depressing tale. However, the four of us present tonight enjoyed this book immensely. It may be a contender for the BoOkSCARS book of the year if some of us (well, ok, me) are to be believed.
Richard Yates prose was simple but graceful with not a wasted word and his insight into human beings, their relationships and their motivations was extraordinary. Unlike The Confederacy of Dunces, this novel was populated with characters we all recognised and to some extent identified with. The central couple had drifted, without specific plans, in to a life that disappointed them. The thought they were better than others (but who doesn't sometimes judge others and find them wanting) and they thought they deserved better (and who doesn't sometimes think they deserve more recognition, better pay, a lottery win or some other life-changing good luck). It didn't make them nice people but it made them unfailingly human and definitely not monsters. It was impossible not to care about what happened them and essential to get to the end. If you've missed this one, I urge you buy it, read it and let's talk about it again at another meeting.
Wednesday, 9 November 2011
#59 - Messiah - Gore Vidal (Choice: Shubha's)(Venue: Dishoom, Covent Garden)
Present: Eamonn, Jenny, Jen, Mark, Shubha, Nic
For me this, THIS, is what book group is all about. I can honestly say I probably would never have picked this book up off a shelf and, if I had, and I had read the Foreword, I'd almost certainly have put it back. If, perchance, I'd held on to it, the opening chapter would have been sufficient to ensure I got no further: it was verbose, rambling, the sentence structure complex to the point of confusing and it had no obvious direction. However, because this was book group, I forced myself to read on (which is not to say I always finish everything - ceasing to read can be a valid commentary!). What I discovered in reading on was a gem, a book of sheer brilliance: well written, articulate, thought-provoking and, unlike the aforementioned Foreword and first chapter, easy to read but compelling.
Dishoom was a bustling, buzzing venue, serving tasty, fresh and spicy Indian dishes in a manner meant for sharing. We ploughed in to the food with gusto and into the book discussion with similar vigour. Although it could be difficult to catch what was being said on the edges of the table, I think it fair to say everyone enjoyed this book although nearly everyone had a similar reaction to the opening chapter. I thought it was meant to set the tale in a post-war, McCarthyism / Roswell era demonstrating people's confusion and simplicity and indicating their need for a strong simple message which they could consume and follow easily. Perhaps, thinking about it now, something to unite them instead of divide them - hence the fast adoption.
We discussed the writing style and the paucity of actual detail of Cavesword - was this an indication of the lack of content in John Cave's speeches or just the author's easy-way out? It took us a while, however, to begin to discuss the (very obvious) parallels between Cavesword and our real world religions, in part, perhaps, out of that sense of reserve that says religion is not a topic for polite company and a fear that criticism of a, or any, religion may be taken as criticism of a person who believes in that religion. Yet, we are brave-hearted individuals, confident in our varied beliefs, so we didn't shirk the discussion. Are John Caves' initials are entirely coincidental? Is Iris, as mother, meant to parallel Mary? With that in mind, this book can be viewed as a criticism of religion generally, and Christianity specifically. John Cave was a simple man with a simple desire to travel the world and a simple belief that death was not to be feared and could, in some cases, be welcome - not in itself a bad message (although where the line is drawn was a key issue in this book and has been and continues to be a subject of religious and political debate and much science fiction). He was otherwise unremarkable had little else to say though his delivery, apparently, was mesmerising. Most of Cavesword, however, was not written by John Cave or even pronounced by him - some of it was composed by Eugene Luther and other writers during Cave's life and yet more by other writers after Cave died. Comparing this to the religion with which we were most familiar, we discussed whether this differed to or continued to parallel Christianity: Jesus did not write down his own words; the new testament is not a contemporaneous record of his life; and the gospel writers each addressed their words to specific sectors of the societies for which they wrote so query whether they may have deliberately chosen to push agendas of their own or, even unintentionally, have added their own interpretations, even if they meant to create accurate histories of the life of Jesus. This discussion could run and run! We drew it to a close for the night but the thoughts roll on. One thing we all agreed upon is that great evils have been done by man to man in the name of religion: it doesn't mean the original message of the religion itself is wrong but that its original meaning can be easily corrupted or entirely lost over time.
This is a simply-written book of great depth and very thought-provoking. I love it, Shubha, I love it.
For me this, THIS, is what book group is all about. I can honestly say I probably would never have picked this book up off a shelf and, if I had, and I had read the Foreword, I'd almost certainly have put it back. If, perchance, I'd held on to it, the opening chapter would have been sufficient to ensure I got no further: it was verbose, rambling, the sentence structure complex to the point of confusing and it had no obvious direction. However, because this was book group, I forced myself to read on (which is not to say I always finish everything - ceasing to read can be a valid commentary!). What I discovered in reading on was a gem, a book of sheer brilliance: well written, articulate, thought-provoking and, unlike the aforementioned Foreword and first chapter, easy to read but compelling.
Dishoom was a bustling, buzzing venue, serving tasty, fresh and spicy Indian dishes in a manner meant for sharing. We ploughed in to the food with gusto and into the book discussion with similar vigour. Although it could be difficult to catch what was being said on the edges of the table, I think it fair to say everyone enjoyed this book although nearly everyone had a similar reaction to the opening chapter. I thought it was meant to set the tale in a post-war, McCarthyism / Roswell era demonstrating people's confusion and simplicity and indicating their need for a strong simple message which they could consume and follow easily. Perhaps, thinking about it now, something to unite them instead of divide them - hence the fast adoption.We discussed the writing style and the paucity of actual detail of Cavesword - was this an indication of the lack of content in John Cave's speeches or just the author's easy-way out? It took us a while, however, to begin to discuss the (very obvious) parallels between Cavesword and our real world religions, in part, perhaps, out of that sense of reserve that says religion is not a topic for polite company and a fear that criticism of a, or any, religion may be taken as criticism of a person who believes in that religion. Yet, we are brave-hearted individuals, confident in our varied beliefs, so we didn't shirk the discussion. Are John Caves' initials are entirely coincidental? Is Iris, as mother, meant to parallel Mary? With that in mind, this book can be viewed as a criticism of religion generally, and Christianity specifically. John Cave was a simple man with a simple desire to travel the world and a simple belief that death was not to be feared and could, in some cases, be welcome - not in itself a bad message (although where the line is drawn was a key issue in this book and has been and continues to be a subject of religious and political debate and much science fiction). He was otherwise unremarkable had little else to say though his delivery, apparently, was mesmerising. Most of Cavesword, however, was not written by John Cave or even pronounced by him - some of it was composed by Eugene Luther and other writers during Cave's life and yet more by other writers after Cave died. Comparing this to the religion with which we were most familiar, we discussed whether this differed to or continued to parallel Christianity: Jesus did not write down his own words; the new testament is not a contemporaneous record of his life; and the gospel writers each addressed their words to specific sectors of the societies for which they wrote so query whether they may have deliberately chosen to push agendas of their own or, even unintentionally, have added their own interpretations, even if they meant to create accurate histories of the life of Jesus. This discussion could run and run! We drew it to a close for the night but the thoughts roll on. One thing we all agreed upon is that great evils have been done by man to man in the name of religion: it doesn't mean the original message of the religion itself is wrong but that its original meaning can be easily corrupted or entirely lost over time.
This is a simply-written book of great depth and very thought-provoking. I love it, Shubha, I love it.
 |
| Shubha stunned that we both liked the same book |
Tuesday, 26 October 2010
#48 - Vinnie Got Blown Away - Jeremy Cameron (Choice: Shubha's)(Venue: Alfie's, Bermondsey Square Hotel)
Present: Carl, Jane, Nic, Shubha, Jen, Doris
Awful, awful, awful (except Jen thought it was ok).
I can almost guarantee you would rather saw off your own plates of meat than read this book.
Awful, awful, awful (except Jen thought it was ok).
I can almost guarantee you would rather saw off your own plates of meat than read this book.
Thursday, 19 November 2009
Friday, 19 December 2008
Saturday, 19 July 2008
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