Devon Book Club discussion

I've just started reading Richard Flanagan's ' the Narrow Road to the Deep North'. I'm only 6 chapters in, but am already drawn in by the imagery created by some excellent writing. Can't wait to be able to pick it back up this evening!

I've just finished The Search Warrant by Patrick Modiano (also titled 'Dora Bruder'). He was recently awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, and as I had not heard of him I thought I should read something and check out his biog [NB I didn't even remember his name from the 'possibles under consideration' lists I'd seen]. This was the only one of his that Devon Libraries had in translation, and it was worth the read. It's short and not a conventional novel. Short chapters detail the narrator's (ongoing but relatively contemporary) concerns with the disappearance of a schoolgirl from Paris during the Nazi occupation. The piece is presented so that it's not clear if the narrator is the author, and so there is hovering in the mind the thought that Modiano did all the research. This adds fascination, as I imagine him going through all he describes ... except, of course, that he would have done this research for a fiction. As information is revealed as the narrator 'discovers' things over time, reading the work involves much remembering of detail, working out, and putting together of fragments: which I love, but I know it's not popular with all. The work does not have the manipulative glitz of a detective novel, but I think it's more powerful as a result. Whether based on fact or not, it seems a darker and more intimate work than the average WWII novel. It is a strange but compelling piece, and definitely conveys afresh the horror of Nazism/anti-Semitism, but as I said, not a conventional novel. I would reread, but it's already a day overdue at the Library, and will happily read more of his. NB a friend tells me that among the Literary cognoscenti, Modiano was a disappointing choice for the Nobel, sort of 'also ran'?? I don't know enough to comment: from what I'd read I thought it was a choice between several famous names, and I was hoping Ngugi wa Thiong'o would be Laureate.

Alison wrote: "I've just started reading Richard Flanagan's ' the Narrow Road to the Deep North'. I'm only 6 chapters in, but am already drawn in by the imagery created by some excellent writing. Can't wait to ..."

The Narrow Road to the Deep North - there's a recommendation; certainly looks like it packs in a storyline!

DrMama wrote: "I've just finished The Search Warrant by Patrick Modiano (also titled 'Dora Bruder'). He was recently awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, and as I had not heard of him I though..."
I saw Modiano interviewed on French TV the other day. He was surprisingly inarticulate, although did not seem to lack confidence, and seemed to have trouble finishing his sentences, which the interviewer helped him with.
Evidently his writing comes over very differently, and intend to read him, although I gather his work is extremely long. Interested to see what you have written.

Carol wrote: "DrMama wrote: "I've just finished The Search Warrant by Patrick Modiano (also titled 'Dora Bruder'). He was recently awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, and as I had not heard ..."

I'll be interested to know what you think when you have read some of his work, Carol. Do you have anything in mind yet? Michael Orthofer, who runs a blog I like 'The Complete Review' suggests Honeymoon, but if you look at the blogsite, you can see that MO has read a lot of Modiano's works, and they are listed with links to his reviews in the alphabetical Author Index. I think one problem may be that not many have been translated into English, yet. I wonder if 'Search Warrant' was a change of direction, it is very short, one strand only, and self-contained: more a novella.

I've just started reading Art in Natureby Tove Jansson, missed my bus stop!

Only 30 pages left of 'Arthur and George' by Julian Barnes.

It's an excellent book and I'm looking forward to researching the historical background as soon as the final page is turned.

My RG read that a few years ago and we enjoyed all aspects: the research, the amazing nature of the backstory, and Barnes' writing/structuring/character creation. One of the few novels where we've had near unanimous praise.

DrMama wrote: "My RG read that a few years ago and we enjoyed all aspects: the research, the amazing nature of the backstory, and Barnes' writing/structuring/character creation. One of the few novels where we've..."

I agree - it is a good book. Our RG read it too and it was broadly liked by everyone - some of the critique was that it was a bit verbose/a little over long and could have been more sharply edited

I'm reading Moonfleet. It's set in the West Country, probably Dorset, and I was published in 1898! Although it's so old, it really doesn't feel dated at all - it could easily fit into the modern YA category.

Yes, I read Moonfleet when my daughter read it at school and loved it.

I'm about to start The Royal Lacemaker. If you look in the Reading Gorup topic you will see that we are about to start a Devon wide discussion forum on this book. Penguin Books sent 10 sets of the books to the library service and these have just been distributed to 10 Reading Groups. The Devon Book Club has been advertised to those groups as the place to discuss the book - which I hope will bring us some new members as well as introduce an interesting new dimension to the Book Club. Colin is going to start the discussion off shortly.

If you can get hold of a copy to join the discussion that would be excellent.

I'm 75% through The Dinner by Hermann Koch, the entire book is based around a family meal at an expensive restaurant in Amsterdam - it is an entertaining and disturbing read which is populated with well drawn characters. Looking forward to starting The Royal Lacemaker and joining in the discussion soon.

Just Finished - Hannah Ardent - Eichmann In Jerusalem
Charles Esdaile - Napoleon's Wars

Reading at the moment Mary Beard - The Parthenon
AE Houseman - A Shropshire Lad and Other Poems
John Cleland - Memoirs Of A Women Of Pleasure

And will be moving on to a reading of Roman Poets.

Find me @Atticboho

Nick wrote: "Just Finished - Hannah Ardent - Eichmann In Jerusalem
Charles Esdaile - Napoleon's Wars

Reading at the moment Mary Beard - The Parthenon
AE Houseman - A Sh..."

Quite a range, Nick. Enjoyed A Shropshire Ladsome years ago but haven't read in a long time. Not familiar with the others. What do yu enjoy about their work?

Will check out your Atticboho site over Xmas. I don't know if you are accessing the Book Club by App or on the web; if the latter you can add the book or author by clicking on the link above the comments book, then we can follow that link to details of the book/author and see reviews etc. Unfortunately, the Goodreads App doesn't have that facility.

Ian wrote: "I'm about to start The Royal Lacemaker. If you look in the Reading Gorup topic you will see that we are about to start a Devon wide discussion forum on this book. Penguin Books se..."
I believe we are to discuss this book in February. Have we a book to discuss in January? Have been a bit rushed with Xmas 'festivities' and relations, so my mind not quite on everything!

Carol wrote: "Ian wrote: "I'm about to start The Royal Lacemaker. If you look in the Reading Gorup topic you will see that we are about to start a Devon wide discussion forum on this book. Peng..."

I'm expecting the thread on The Royal Lacemaker to start in January as part of the library service initiative. There doesn't seem to have been an appetite to choose a specific book each month up until now. I am working on the basis that, as the Challenges get under way, that will provide a focus around which people will read some books in common

It's arrived in my library but won't pick it up til after Christmas to start in Jan. Trying to finish off this year's challenges. One more to go on my a-z titles and 1 to go on my round the world to get to 100 (not all this year!). Reading one that is on a list for Slovakia and half way through only a friend has gone there for a few days! Don't think it will count somehow :(. Shame as I have actually been there!

Sue wrote: "It's arrived in my library but won't pick it up til after Christmas to start in Jan. Trying to finish off this year's challenges. One more to go on my a-z titles and 1 to go on my round the world..."

You are well ahead of the game. We haven't even started the round the world in 80 books challenge yet! I might have to make a stipulation that at least 50% have to be new reads.

I'm planning to start my 'Round the World' challenge on New Year's Day. I'm aiming to try alphabetical for both country and author first time round, although I'm sure I won't be able to stick to both. However, I have Nadeem Aslam's Afghanistan- (and Pakistan-) set The Blind Man's Garden lined up for number one. I love Aslam's works, but have had two false starts on this one (time and circumstances only, the book's good) and never got far. Have not thought of Bs or Cs yet, but as our RG book is Kieran Desai's The Inheritance of LossI'm going to count that: somehow, somewhere. I was assuming rereads would not count, but then I'm seeing this as an exercise in reading new authors, new settings, new everything.

DrMama wrote: "I'm planning to start my 'Round the World' challenge on New Year's Day. I'm aiming to try alphabetical for both country and author first time round, although I'm sure I won't be able to stick to b..."

Sounds great. I think I will leave it to each member to decide whether they want to count any they've already read but I agree it will be better if they are new reads. The important thing is that we all get to hear about the books that people read and that everyone enjoys the challenge. Extra brownie points if they are all new reads (might take some time though!)

I have just finished reading 'the Narrow Road to the Deep North'. It's been a while since I've read a book that moved me to tears, but this one did in a couple of places. Richard Flanagan's writing is beautifully descriptive, which is quite harrowing in places when describing the atrocities the POW suffered at the hands of the Japanese. I can see why this book has won literary prizes this year; I would thoroughly recommend reading it.

Alison wrote: "I have just finished reading 'the Narrow Road to the Deep North'. It's been a while since I've read a book that moved me to tears, but this one did in a couple of places. Richard Flanagan's writi..."

Thanks Ali - will add to my list. You need to try something light and humorous now - have you read any Fforde. Jasper? - I can recommend One of Our Thursdays Is Missing

Thanks for the recommendation Ian. I haven't read anything by Jasper Fforde, but have 'The Eyre Affair' by him on my to read list at present. Hope you enjoy your Christmas Eve buffet and have a great family Christmas - sorry I didn't get a chance to see you in the office yesterday to say it in person!

Alison wrote: "Thanks for the recommendation Ian. I haven't read anything by Jasper Fforde, but have 'The Eyre Affair' by him on my to read list at present. Hope you enjoy your Christmas Eve buffet and have a g..."

You had plenty else to be thinking about. Hope all goes well over Xmas and that you have a great holiday.

I thought I would do a second visit 80 books, which would be all new books set in countries I have already visited on my other trip so there won't be any overlap. Might be a bit slow!

Sue wrote: "I thought I would do a second visit 80 books, which would be all new books set in countries I have already visited on my other trip so there won't be any overlap. Might be a bit slow!"

Slow is fine. Everyone at their own pace. Doesn't matter how long the journey takes so long as it is enjoyable.

Am reading Haruki Murakami's latest novelColorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage. Mesmerising as ever. I have reached a point where he refers to a piano piece by Liszt - it is beautiful - you might enjoy it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDWUv...

Ian wrote: "Sue wrote: "I thought I would do a second visit 80 books, which would be all new books set in countries I have already visited on my other trip so there won't be any overlap. Might be a bit slow!"..."

I think Ian's right here. Slow is fine. In my own reading I've just arrived back at Roman and Roman Writers which I have not touched for some years. The experience is quite refreshing considering that I've been reading in the main British and American non-fiction for the past few years. I think it's interesting to drive downwards in to a literature that's not in your own linguistic tradition once in a while. It's the kind of experience which opens up new cultures, new ideas, and new perspectives on the world. Even if that perspective is that of a grumpy, epigrammatic, hymnal writing, first century BC poet like Catullus. In the end it reminds you that although language and ideas may change, human nature always remains fairly consistent, regardless of the culture. But, then again, that's what life, writing, reading and literature is all about. I'm enjoying this journey back in to Rome. I hope you enjoy your around the world encounters as well.

@Atticboho

Ian wrote: "Am reading Haruki Murakami's latest novelColorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage. Mesmerising as ever. I have reached a point where he refers to a piano piece by Liszt..."

Nice piece of music. Reminds one how muisc can be use both in a narrative context in such films as say, Jane Campion's The Piano, or even as a recourse to creative writing. I remember the American music writer Lester Bangs stating that he would sit up all night listening to John Coltrane just to have something to write about. To have something to rift upon as a tool for producing words. Also talking of John Coltrane and Jazz in general I remember reading that Murakami and his wife at one point ran a jazz club in Tokyo - which accounts for some of his characters taste in music which tend to run from jazz to the Beatles - Norwegian Wood is named after one of their songs!!

@Atticboho

Nick wrote: "Ian wrote: "Am reading Haruki Murakami's latest novelColorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage. Mesmerising as ever. I have reached a point where he refers to a piano pi..."

The other lovely music to accompany a book is An Equal Music

Oooh, another possible book for my round the world trip!

Ian wrote: "Am reading Haruki Murakami's latest novelColorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage. Mesmerising as ever. I have reached a point where he refers to a piano piece by Liszt..."

Ian multiple posting on a forum is rather annoying and unessential - even when from the moderator.

@Atticboho

Nick wrote: "Ian wrote: "Am reading Haruki Murakami's latest novelColorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage. Mesmerising as ever. I have reached a point where he refers to a piano pi..."

Hmm - not sure what happened there - apologies - will delete the repetitions

Am reading The Martian by Andy Weir. Wonderful realism, and very gripping.

I'm reading The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai. It's my Reading Group book for January, but I had completely forgotten about it until I needed to send an email reminder to the group. So, even with 4 other books nearly finished, I've had to put them aside and concentrate on this one - further complicated by being back to 'normal' work/commitments etc. post-Christmas and New Year. Although it is, in many ways, a rich and fascinating read, and I am learning a lot about a time and region of India where I know very little (supplemented by extra on-like checks and searches and a few books on India that I have), I can't say that I'm enjoying the read. It all seems a bit 'one note', despite the range of characters and their setting, status and histories, and so far the developments seem predictable.

Have now finished The Martian by Andy Weir. It's one of the best books I have ever read. Completely mind-blown by it. Incredible scientific detail. Humorous and exciting. Will try and write a decent review.
Have looked up Andy Weir. Evidently he is the son of a particle physicist and is a computer scientist. Previous books he wrote were rejected by publishers, so he published this one, chapter by chapter, on his website. Fans requested he made a Kindle version, so he put it out for 99 cents, the cheapest price which could be set. It went to the top of Amazon's best-selling sci-fi titles. It was then taken up by an audio publisher and then by Crown Publishers.
It is going to be released in November, 2015, as a film, starring Matt Damon .

A copy of The Royal Lacemaker has now arrived (don't like reading on Kindle), but not starting it just yet, as my thoughts are still very much with Mark Watney, alone on Mars, and I don't think I could do a new book justice!

Carol wrote: "Have now finished The Martian by Andy Weir. It's one of the best books I have ever read. Completely mind-blown by it. Incredible scientific detail. Humorous and exciting. Will try and write a decen..."

Quite a story and a great recommendation. I dont usually read sci fi but will add to my list on the basis of that. Perhaps we need a challenge based on interplanetary travel.

Ian wrote: "Carol wrote: "Have now finished The Martian by Andy Weir. It's one of the best books I have ever read. Completely mind-blown by it. Incredible scientific detail. Humorous and exciting. Will try and..."
Yes, that's a wonderful idea for a challenge.
Grew up with a Dad who read westerns and sci fi every day of his life. Didn't read the westerns, but did read all the sci fi!

Just started Titus Groan by Mervyn Peake, the first in the Gormenghast Trilogy. Have been meaning to read for years but not got round to it. Only 50 pages in so early days but enjoying it. A strange book, full of characters in the grotesque tradition. Almost taking the Dickensian caricature to a new level. Will see where it goes - anyone else read it?

Gormenghast was one of my favourite books when I read it. I thought it was hilariously funny. What I would think of it now, I don't know. Gormenghast is generally rated as his best. Have read Titus Groan, but can't remember it, so obviously didn't like it, like I liked Gormenghast.

Carol wrote: "Gormenghast was one of my favourite books when I read it. I thought it was hilariously funny. What I would think of it now, I don't know. Gormenghast is generally rated as his best. Have read Titus..."

I have Gormenghast out of the library too but thought I'd read them in order. Titus Groan is the first in the series and starts with the birth of Titus.

Well, I think it's best to read Gormenghast first, or you might be put off from reading it if you don't like the others. Would be interested to know what you think of it. Used to give it to other people to read, as wanted others to enjoy it as well. Might not like it now.

Carol wrote: "Well, I think it's best to read Gormenghast first, or you might be put off from reading it if you don't like the others. Would be interested to know what you think of it. Used to give it to other p..."

I have started so I'll finish. I'm enjoying Titus Groan so think I'll be safe with Gormenghast

Glad you're liking Titus Groan.
Have just looked up Mervyn Peake. He was really interesting. An artist, illustrator and poet. He evidently did not have much success with his writing during his lifetime, but was highly thought of by famous contemporaries. He was obviously very talented.

Reading The Book of Strange New Things but not grabbed by it. The writing is lovely but just not very interested in the storyline. Shame because I loved The Crimson Petal and the White.

I've just finished reading Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. It covers the sensitive subject of domestic violence really well but, for me, the setting was a bit too light and fluffy. An enjoyable read, but not a literary masterpiece.

Alison wrote: "I've just finished reading Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. It covers the sensitive subject of domestic violence really well but, for me, the setting was a bit too light and fluffy. An enjoyable r..."

A tricky topic to do really well.

Sue wrote: "Reading The Book of Strange New Things but not grabbed by it. The writing is lovely but just not very interested in the storyline. Shame because I loved [book:The Crimson Petal an..."

Not a genre I red much - I ought to give it a try