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

October 2014- Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons

Cold comfort farm, published in 1932.

'Cold comfort farm' is a parody of the doom and gloom romantic rural novels of the time. 

The book’s protagonist Flora decides to stay with an extended family of unknown relatives in the fictional village of Howling. What she finds is a group of misfit bumpkins, to which she shows no fear, all with their own set of emotional problems and some looming wrong done to her father, which they all think she has come to right. We never find out what the wrong is. 

Flora manages to use her modern ways to sort the family out and bring them all back to the land of the living. The book is a comedy and most in the group found it so.

Anna        7 

Annette    6

Cheryl      4

Deb          8

Kristy       7    

Megan     8  

Average 6.6