Devon Book Club discussion

Judith wrote: "Hi, am new to the group and thought I'd share what I've just read and am currently reading - have just finished 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' by Truman Capote. Having never seen the film, have got the D..."

Hi Judith. Interesting to hear your impression of Breakfast at Tiffany's. I love the film and have been scared of reading the book which I know is a little different. I think maybe I should be brave... :)

Just finished Monster: A Novel of Frankenstein, an appropriate book for Halloween I thought. A quick and easy read, narrated through the eyes of the Monster, whose brain is that of an honourable man in his former life, wanting revenge for the murder of his fiancee (arranged by Frankenstein)and his treatment by Frankenstein. A bit predictable but full of Gothic gore and maybe a degree of parody. Can the monster retain his humanity, whilst also wreaking revenge? Is his version of events more truthful that that of Frankenstin's account on his deathbed? I thought it was OK, and quite good fun but not one I'd especially recommend.

Kathy wrote: "Judith wrote: "Hi, am new to the group and thought I'd share what I've just read and am currently reading - have just finished 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' by Truman Capote. Having never seen the film,..."

Having both read the short story and seen the film I like both, they are quite different but the differences are really interesting. The film has a happy ending, the short story not so much but dive in, don't be afraid.

Ley wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Judith wrote: "Hi, am new to the group and thought I'd share what I've just read and am currently reading - have just finished 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' by Truman Capote. Having never ..."

Hi Ley. Thanks. I shall give it a go. I'd forgotten it was short which will make it easier to squeeze into the scary TBR list...

Finished Not Forgetting the Whale last night. Really enjoyed it. Good to read something so ultimately positive.

Kathy wrote: "Finished Not Forgetting the Whale last night. Really enjoyed it. Good to read something so ultimately positive."

Looks good. I like John Ironmomgers work

Just been reading an anthology in yesterday's Guardian about pieces that today's writers would distribute to the troops, as happened in 1915 when leading figures of the day chose what they considered inspiring literature to send to the front line. One poem, by WH Auden, "A Summer Night" struck me powerfully. (Recommended by William Boyd, BJ - think he is one of your favourites?)

These are the last 2 verses:

"Equal with colleagues in a ring
I sit on each calm evening
Enchanted as the flowers
The opening light draws out of hiding
With all its gradual dove-like pleading,
Its logic and its powers:

That later we, though parted then,
May still recall these evenings when
Fear gave his watch no look;
The lion griefs loped from the shade
And on our knees their muzzles laid,
And death put down his book"

Beautiful

Judith wrote: "Hi, am new to the group and thought I'd share what I've just read and am currently reading - have just finished 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' by Truman Capote. Having never seen the film, have got the D..."

Was listening to a radio play about Truman Capote, Andy Warhol and others on Friday - hadn't realised what a troubled spirit he was

Yes, you're right, Ian. Boyd has long been one of my favourite authors. His novels are set in different periods and very different locations, but they have a lot in common. He captures time and place with total conviction and then writes about his central characters with such intensity that I feel drawn in and held in a way that very few other writers get anywhere near.

B J wrote: "Yes, you're right, Ian. Boyd has long been one of my favourite authors. His novels are set in different periods and very different locations, but they have a lot in common. He captures time and pla..."

i still haven't read him but must do so

Just finished reading The Beautiful Truth . I got this book after hearing Belinda talk about her book in Sidmouth this summer. It was an excellent book and well worth reading.

Helen wrote: "Just finished reading The Beautiful Truth . I got this book after hearing Belinda talk about her book in Sidmouth this summer. It was an excellent book and well worth reading."

Agree, Helen. I read it on holiday and loved it too.

I read and really enjoyed Belinda's book too. I've also just finished 'their lips talk of mischief' by Alan Warner which was a free giveaway from Winstone's in Sidmouth at our last book club tea & cake gathering. I really enjoyed this book - great style of writing with complex characters and relationships. If I get a chance I'd definitely read more of his books.

Alan Warner? not read his work. has he written much. I'll pass on the comments to Belinda.

I've not read anything if his before either, but looking on Goodreads it looks like he's been writing for some time as over 10 novels showing on there for him!

Alison wrote: "I've not read anything if his before either, but looking on Goodreads it looks like he's been writing for some time as over 10 novels showing on there for him!"

Ill check him out. Ive messaged Belinda but if youd like to talk to her I'm sure she'd love the feedback. You'll find her on Facebook. I really like talking directly with the author - adds something to the reading experience.

Yes, I agree. It made the reading of the book rather special for me.

Helen wrote: "Yes, I agree. It made the reading of the book rather special for me."

Me too. I'm looking forward to Saturday and another fascinating and varied group of writers. These indie book shop events are such good fun. I think we'll keep them going next year. All suggestions of where else to go gratefully received

I have started reading Gore Vidal's Burr. So far he has been extremely rude about Washington, which didn't please me, but will read on.
Flicked through Marie Antoinette, by Antonia Fraser, last night, which I read some time ago. Really enjoy the detail of life in 18th century France, and know that I will not read the end as I did the first time round, as we all know what happened to the poor woman!

Currently reading Trigger Warning: Short Fictions and Disturbances andThe Penelopiad One for my book group the other for fun.
oh and a slightly trashy SF thing on my Kindle.

Having said that I wouldn't read the end of Marie Antoinette, I was drawn to it last night like the proverbial moth to the flame. I didn't find it so sad this time. What was striking was her incredible courage as she was going to be guillotined.

This is probably a completely inappropriate place to put this, but read in the Times yesterday that the Lad Bible, which I had never heard of before but which apparently has a very large following of about half of Britain's 18-24 year-old men through Facebook and a fifth of women in the same age range, has now dropped Bumday Monday and Cleavage Thursday in view of its female audience.

Thank goodness for that!

Carol wrote: "This is probably a completely inappropriate place to put this, but read in the Times yesterday that the Lad Bible, which I had never heard of before but which apparently has a very large following ..."

You proposing it as a shared read Carol?

It somehow doesn't sound quite so appealing now ;-)

Husband has just suggested it might make our membership figures soar!

Carol wrote: "Husband has just suggested it might make our membership figures soar!"

Id better investigate. Hate to think were not current

Carol wrote: "I have started reading Gore Vidal's Burr. So far he has been extremely rude about Washington, which didn't please me, but will read on.
Flicked through Marie Antoinette, by Antonia Fraser, last nig..."

Antonia Fraser,s King Charles 11 just finishing and was excellent. I am on the lookout for her book on Cromwell to follow, yours Edward Tracey

Edward wrote: "Carol wrote: "I have started reading Gore Vidal's Burr. So far he has been extremely rude about Washington, which didn't please me, but will read on.
Flicked through Marie Antoinette, by Antonia Fr..."
She writes in such a detailed way, doesn't she. And I always have complete faith in her interpretation.

Im nearing the end of Gorgito's Ice Rink by our friend and local author Elizabeth Ducie. Set mainly in Russia,ranging between the war years and the 1990s, the book explores love and betrayal, friendship, rivalry, and the struggles of economic life in Russia. Ive enjoyed the book. Elizabeths experience in Russia is clear from the way she brings the people and places to life. I am looking forward to reading her forthcoming trilogy about the pharmaceutical industry (in which she worked for many years across the world).

Almost finished . Perhaps it would have been beter to have read Bone Clocks first but think this was enough for me!

Sue wrote: "Almost finished . Perhaps it would have been beter to have read Boe Clocks first but think tis was enough for me!"

Didn't much like Bone Clocks. I enjoyed Cloud Atlasmore

Sue wrote: "Almost finished . Perhaps it would have been beter to have read Bone Clocks first but think this was enough for me!"
I've just finished 'Slade House'. Enjoyed it but not sure I'm up to reading 'Bone Clocks' or 'Cloud Atlas' yet!

I've just started Gone with the Wind. I've wanted to read it for a while and was given it last Christmas but the sheer length of it has been putting me off. Now I've taken it on. I've never seen the film so really curious...

Kathy wrote: "I've just started Gone with the Wind. I've wanted to read it for a while and was given it last Christmas but the sheer length of it has been putting me off. Now I've taken it on. I've ..."

One of those ever present, but rarely read books I suspect. Be fascinatedcto hear your thoughts on it.

Ian wrote: "Kathy wrote: "I've just started Gone with the Wind. I've wanted to read it for a while and was given it last Christmas but the sheer length of it has been putting me off. Now I've take..."

Was that a post op post, Ian?

B J wrote: "Ian wrote: "Kathy wrote: "I've just started Gone with the Wind. I've wanted to read it for a while and was given it last Christmas but the sheer length of it has been putting me off. N..."

Yes. Small hours. Was awake and thought i'd catch up on the chat. Operation done. Doing some work from home bur also resting. . Pain varies but manageable so hope to be more with it after the weekend.

That's good. It sounds as if it's gone as well as you could have hoped.

B J wrote: "That's good. It sounds as if it's gone as well as you could have hoped."

yes, thanks. Feeling a bit tired now but am doing OK

QuesadillasOne of the quirkiest books Ive read in a while. Hard to describe. Set in Mexico, so backdrop is of corruption and poverty. The narrator, Orestes (all his brothers and sisters are named after classical Greeks) is a teenager trying to survive and make sense of his world. Each day he competes at mealtimes for his share of Quesadillas - there are 80 fingers at the meal table so it is very competitive - whose thickness and nutritional content vary daily with the economy. They get very thin at times of hyper inflation! Add in a mix of bovine eroticism (you'll have to read the chapter), a disappearing set of "pretend twins", who may have been abducted by aliens, and you begin to get the idea. Darkly funny, but a;ways acerbic, i really enjoyed this novella and, if you enjoy off the wall books, I'd happily recommend it.

Ian wrote: "QuesadillasOne of the quirkiest books Ive read in a while. Hard to describe. Set in Mexico, so backdrop is of corruption and poverty. The narrator, Orestes (all his brothers and sis..."
Are they cannibals? Or is it more like fish fingers? What sort of book are you reading here?

Carol wrote: "Ian wrote: "QuesadillasOne of the quirkiest books Ive read in a while. Hard to describe. Set in Mexico, so backdrop is of corruption and poverty. The narrator, Orestes (all his brot..."

Haha - I see the ambiguity.

80 fingers = 8 people all competing for the food, rather than people keen to eat fingers!

Typically South American this one - somewhat off the wall but I like that

80 fingers makes 10 people. Perhaps there has been a radiation leak somewhere in the Mayan jungle and now you have mutants eating at this table. Aliens are also mentioned. It sounds humorous with a political edge.

Have just finished reading Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman. It's a series of literary essays about books and reading and is a gem of a book: witty, well-informed and informative but with a light touch and a shrewd self-critical eye. I loved it.

Kathy wrote: "Have just finished reading Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman. It's a series of literary essays about books and reading and is a gem of a book: witty, well-infor..."

That looks really interesting, Kathy - thanks for bringing it to our attention.

I've just finished 'All the light we cannot see' by Anthony Doerr. It was brilliant - set in St Malo during the siege in WW2, with parallel stories running up to the time the two individuals in the story, Werner a member of the Hitler Youth and Solidier and Marie Laure, a blind girl aged 16 at the time of the siege who has fled Paris. Was a very detailed book and have felt that I have read every word of the 500 pages but one that I will remember reading.

Sounds like an interesting book Judith, it is 'on my to read' list. I have heard others recommend it too.

Judith wrote: "I've just finished 'All the light we cannot see' by Anthony Doerr. It was brilliant - set in St Malo during the siege in WW2, with parallel stories running up to the time the two individuals in the..."

I'm keen to read this one soon as well - it's in the queue!

Ian wrote: "Kathy wrote: "I've just started Gone with the Wind. I've wanted to read it for a while and was given it last Christmas but the sheer length of it has been putting me off. Now I've take..."

New here, so if jumping in like this is rude, please forgive!

GWTW is one of my favourite books. My brother gave me a copy for my 14th birthday and I've read it three times. It's beautifully written, has characters to care about and root for, and the intriguing slant on the historical setting makes such an impression.

Equally, the film is one of my favourite films, but I'm not precious about either. Or maybe equally precious about both! They are both great, and no one's putting me on a desert island without the two of them!

I've just finished Helene Hanff's 84 Charing Cross Road, which I found delightful. Currently also reading A Feast for Crows (part of the Song of Ice and Fire saga by George RR Martin), which I found a little hard-going at first, but livened up towards the end. I'll certainly see the saga through.

I'm also reading, for my little reading group called Secret Gardeners, the non-fiction Underground London by Stephen Smith - a quirky travelogue exploring aspects of subterranean London. Many an odiferous anecdote! This was for the Travel month of the Secret Gardeners schedule.

For the History month I'm considering one of the following:

* Bernard Cornwell, Sharpe’s Tiger (Sharpe novel number one. Want to see if Seanie Beanie is as good on paper as he is in the flesh!)

* Bernard Cornwell, Azincourt

* Pär Lagerkvist, Barabbas (seemingly intriguing short novel which I MIGHT keep back for any future foreign language category…)

* Glenn Taylor, The Ballad of Trenchmouth Taggart (appealing both for the title and the opening line which reads, ‘On December 3rd, 2010, the old man sewed his mouth shut with seawater-rated fishing line’. )

If any contributers have any thoughts on any of these, I'd love to hear them!

Annie x