October 2015- The Paris Wife and Paris Without End: the true Story of Hemingway’s First Wife

The Paris wife by Paula McLain 

Paris without end: the true Story of Hemingway’s First Wife by Gioia Diliberto

This month we read two different versions of the marriage between Ernest Hemingway and his first wife Hadley Richardson. The first title is the fictionalized and the second an account complete with referencing (yay says Kristy) based on Diliberto’s research.

Set mainly in Paris in the 1920’s the couple were at the centre of the movers and the shakers of the expatriate American literary community. Hadley is credited as being the inspiration for Hemingway and ‘the only woman Hemingway never stopped loving’.

It was interesting to hear that most of the events and places in Diliberto’s book were also in McLain’s. So we were all able to envy their lifestyle travelling to exotic places, wining and dining on little or no money with the help of well heeled friends.  

So what did everyone think about the books? Those that read The Paris wife thought was an enjoyable enough as a record of the time period but the writing style was lacking and tedious.

However those that chose the non fiction loved it. Deb said it was all she wanted in book and didn’t want it to end. What more could you want.

Scores:

Anna              8         

Annette          5

Cheryl            5

Deb                10

Kristy             5

Megan           10

Phil                8

Average:       7.2

September 2015- Sapphire Skies by Belinda Alexandra

For a book that was not initially highly regarded it generated lively discussion.

Megan began by telling us she thought it was complete trash and poorly written. Phil tried to point out the high points of the book but had to wait until Megan was finished. Phil eventually explained that she found the historical elements of the book set in Stalinist Russia, were done well without the need to delve too deeply into the horrors of the regime.

Anna did not like the author's attempt to mix a few genres into the book: chick lit, historical fiction and Mills and Moon style romance. The combination of this with an amateur writing style did not impress. 

We all agreed with Cheryl who found the ending disappointing, it should have stopped at the scene in the cemetery but instead dragged on. 

Annette provided some interesting info on how Stalin worked to bring down those around him. 

Overall we thought it was badly written but we were interested in learning about the women fighter pilots. 

Scores

Megan    0

Anna.      4

Phil          6

Cheryl      5

Annette   6

Average:  4.2 not too bad really!!

June 2015- The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Our June read was The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, translated from the Spanish by Lucia Graves. This is the middle book of Zafon's Cemetery of Forgotten Books trilogy, but can be read as a stand-alone novel.

The book generated a lot of discussion amongst the group. It is quite a gothic read, so somewhat over the top in places. A few of us were left very confused by the multiple plot lines and some of the characters. Megan had gone exploring various interpretations in the blogosphere during her reading...it was that sort of book. We eventually decided that the menacing Parisian publisher, Andreas Corelli, must be Lucifer (the Angel of the title).

The Angel's Game was also very atmospheric (a pre-requisite for all gothic novels). We all agreed that the landscape of Barcelona was another important character in the book, and that knowledge of the city would definitely enhance the reading experience. Phil tells us that the trees and lamposts as seen on the book's cover are from the Ramblas.

We all enjoyed this book, despite the confusion that enveloped a few of us as the book progressed. It led us to discuss many things: hallucinogenic drug usage, mental illness, the influence of the looming Spanish Civil War, the impact of propaganda and the written word, book-burning, the role of religion, theology and dogma, as well as the 'soul' of the writer.

Great pick Phil!

Megan  7
Kristy.  7
Cheryl  7
Annette ?
Phil       ?

Average 7

May

Eyrie by Tim Winton

Tom Keely, a man who has lost his bearings in middle age and is now holed up in a flat at the top of a grim highrise, looking down on the world he's fallen out of love with. 

Anna 6

Deb 8

Megan 8

Average 7.3

April

The night circus by Erin Morgenstern

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called "Le Cirque des Reves," and it is only open at night.

Anna 4

Annette 6.5

Deb 4

Megan 5.5

Phil 4

Average 4.8

February

The sea bed by Marele Day

An intriguing, understated and beautiful narrative, this is the story of a Buddhist monk, who has to travel to a remote fishing village on a task of love and duty, and a young woman who is also returning to the village of her birth.

March 2015- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

To Kill a Mockingbird 

Alison         10

Anna           10

Annette       10

Cheryl         10

Deb             8  

Megan        10

Average   9.6

Dec/Jan 2015- The Signature of all Things by Elizabeth Gilbert

Signature of all things by Elizabeth Gilbert

'Signature of all things' is an epic set amongst the famous discoverers and discoveries of the late 18th, and 19th centuries. The story of Alma Whittaker born in 1800 begins with the journey of her self made, ambitious father Henry, a poor Londoner, who travels with Cook to Hawaii, works for the famous botanist Joseph Banks and makes his fortune in quinine trade in South America. It traverses the globe from London, to South America, Tahiti, Hawaii, Philadelphia and Amsterdam. It is so much more than a saga though; it is full of science and fascinating botany. In this time of time of new ideas Alma is working on her own ideas and the theory of evolution.

Elizabeth Gilbert spent 3 1/2 years researching this book and it shows. She was featured in an article in last weekend's SMH:

http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/opposites-attract-20150210-13a0c8.html

Megan mentioned this book last year and assured us that it was better reading than Gilbert's other, more famous book. Most of were skeptical, but Megan pushed on and when it was her turn to choose she had us. And she was right, the book was thoroughly enjoyed by all except Kristy who'd had enough of the binding closet and what Alma did in there. 

The scores:

Anna            8

Annette        8

Cheryl          9

Deb             10

Genevieve    9

Kristy            5  

Megan         10

Phil               9

Average   8.5

November 2014- Still Alice by Lisa Genova

Still Alice by Lisa Genova 

Written from the point of view of Alice Howland, who becomes aware of changes to memory capacity and is eventually diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Alice is a Harvard professor, researcher, lecturer, wife and mother.

Bit by bit her ability for remembering diminishes and a sadness and fear sets in. The book follows her family’s and colleagues reactions and her career’s decline and gives an understanding form the sufferer’s point of view, enjoyed by most and insightful.

    

Anna        7.5

Annette    8

Cheryl      8                      

Kristy       6        

Phil          4

Average   6.7