Happy new year to you all. The early days of 2011 are, of course, full of resolutions; mine include learning to play the guitar which Derek gave me for Xmas last year (and which, sitting in the corner of my kitchen, is a daily reminder of my inertia) and writing a blog. So the time has come to move the Kew Green Book Group into the blogosphere. This is somewhat of an experiment as I am a blogging virgin and so will be learning on the job how best to record the highs and lows of our reading this year. Please do contribute to it and let me know whether you think it is a worthwhile experiment. It might even provoke and promote discussion.
To start us off, among my Xmas books from my family are:
The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobsen which I have started and am thoroughly enjoying. It is, on occasions, laugh out loud funny and is consistently touching, witty, amusing and linguistically clever. Ann: if you've not read it (and can face it as it's about widowhood) it will be especially poignant for you and I would love to hear your views.
The Oxford Companion to Theatre & Performance. One of those rather lovely reference books to which you have to get into the habit of referring otherwise you forget that you've got them. So, fresh from the Orange Tree's production of Once Bitten last night (which I highly recommend) I have read up this morning on farce (for it was one) and Brian Rix (for he was in the audience..... with his trousers on for once).
Watching the English: The Hidden Rules of English Behaviour by Kate Fox. The index has no entries for either book group or blogging ........ but promisingly under B there is bonding, group; bonding, female; and bonding, social so maybe that is where I should start.
Finally, for now, can someone please let me know when and where our next meeting is? And is there a book that I need to squeeze in over the next few weeks?
3 comments:
How very impressive to start 2011 with the Kew Green Book Group. Well done Ros! No sooner had I read your blog than I turned on Radio 4 to hear Howard Jacobson on Book Group talking about his book the Mighty Waltzer. Very interesting and still available on Listen Again. The next meeting is on 26th January at Sally D's and as far as I recall its free reading. I have been struggling through Middlesex - not because its not a good read but because excessive catering/entertaining plus the recent arrival of cold and cough have meant that my usual evening reading time has been replaced by sleep! I look forward to getting back to normal and making more time for a book.
I thought I had posted a long message a few days ago but it appears to have disappeared. I really am a novice blogger so here goes again. This will be the shortened version. I would love to read a play and would suggest Honour by the Australian playwright Joanna Murray-Smith. Some of you may have seen it at the National a few years ago. Its very powerful and stayed with me for quite a long time. Its about the break up of a marriage. Not the most cheerful of subjects but beautifully written
A further thought. I think we read as a Book Group, Never Let Me Go, and it comes out at the end of this month as a film with Keira Knightly and Carey Mulligan. It would fun to have a night out at the cinema. Those who are interested please let me know and I will organise it.
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