Together in Spirit

An online reading group ('TIS a reading group!) to bring together friends, and friends of friends, who aren't able to be in a conventional reading group due to constraints of time or geography.

Saturday, June 10, 2006

June/July's suggestion

Alright - in place of Anna Karenina, we have White by Marie Darrieussecq, recommended by The Guardian ("the language is stripped down but still manages to be gorgeous"). It's generally around in libraries etc, but make sure you get the one translated by Ian Monk, as opposed to a copy in the original French (unless you're Valerie and enjoy that sort of thing). It is a lot shorter than Anna Karenina, and looks to be a complete contrast to previous books, being very short, originally French, and set in the Antarctic. No school killings and not a first novel, either!

Monday, June 05, 2006

Catching you up - Kevin and Unremarkable Things

You haven't left me much to say about either book, and I agree with the consensus!

I enjoyed Kevin, so thanks whoever chose it for I’d never have picked it for myself. I thought it would be harrowing but it wasn’t at all – and maybe that is a fault? But who says mothers have to love their children, or vice versa? What was most moving for me, and which I don’t think anyone has mentioned, was at the end when K is scared about the adult prison, and also when he was ill at 10. Both these parts seem to imply that he was really just a little boy lost and that someone should have rescueda him. It seems it had to be Eva, and I guess we’re to think she will. Is this what you call a merciful ending, Emily?

I took advice and gave Things up midway through. I really don’t think it matters what we read before it – it was just a poor book. Let’s hope it isn’t made into a film.

(Written by Val, but posted by Emily due to technical issues)

Sunday, June 04, 2006

Revised June/July suggestion

OK - sounds as if it's not Anna Karenina, at least for now. Thanks for your helpful replies. Will go off and consult the list of other suggestions and get back with an alternative shortly.