Tuesday Book Club

Meeting details

What we do

Each month we talk about a particular book. The discussion is usually led by a member who gives us a criticism of the book and invites the views of others on its key elements. Emphasis is on the content of the book, its themes, characters, credibility etc., which are considered in depth. We are all happy to give our individual opinions and the atmosphere is friendly and lively.

We have a varied selection of books, not only modern novels but also classics, biographies, poetry, even politics. Often a book will have been recommended by a member. Many are loaned free from Carlisle library and distributed at the preceding meeting or else they are easily obtainable. Unfortunately, to enable members to contribute properly to the discussion, we can have a maximum of only 12 members.

Reports

November 2009:
The club continues to be well attended and we have a short waiting list. The combination of varied reading and lively discussion is evidently attractive! We start next year with Barack Obama’s book, “The Audacity of Hope”, when it will be interesting to consider how his political ideals have survived the reality of government.
In February we are discussing “Passionate Sisterhood”, Kathleen Jones’ revelatory biography of the wives, sisters and daughters of the Lakes' poets. You may find your opinions of Wordsworth and Coleridge have altered by the time you read the final chapter!
March is when we each give a short talk about a book we think would make a good selection for the club and on which we would be happy to lead a debate.
Finally, April sees us discussing Victoria Hislop's moving story “The Island”, set in Greece it relates a family's tragedies and passions against a background of leprosy.

Happy reading!

Nancy Field

June 2009:
We have been armchair travelers this summer, first to Afghanistan with “A Thousand Splendid Suns” by Khaled Hosseini, then to Borrowdale for “Rogue Herries” by Hugh Walpole and finally to the Outer Hebrides with Adam Nicolson's book, “Sea Room”.
This autumn our choices are, on September 15th, two anthologies, “Tell Me The Truth About Love” by W. H. Auden and “The Brink” by Carlisle poet Jacob Polley. On October 20th we will be discussing “The Tenant Of Wildfell Hall” by Anne Bronte and lastly, on November 17th, “Two Lives” by William Trevor.
We try to study a varied selection of books many of which are provided free from Carlisle library and distributed at meetings.
Although our club is almost full at present, if you enjoy reading (and a lively discussion!), please give me a ring.

Nancy Field