January-The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini
February-1000 Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseini
March-The Visible World, Mark Slouka
April-Noted from an Exhibition, Patrick Gale
May-
June-The Secret Life of a Yummy Mummy, Fiona Neill
 

Other books read during 2007
Our man in Havana
by Graham Greene
A classic that hasn't really dated-one suspects that MI5 is still as inept as this story describes-very funny with dark humour and lovely characters.
The Girls
Lori Lansens
A really good read. Very unusual story set in America about enjoined twin sisters.
Two Caravans
Marina Lewycka
Not as good as her first book, 'a Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian'.

May's Book
Half of a Yellow Sun
by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
All group members felt somewhat ashamed that we didn't know more about the Nigerian/Biafran civil war of the late 1960s, which decimated the country. A well written story challenging our pre-conceptions of Africa and its people. This book won this years Orange Prize for fiction.

April's Book
In the Company of the Courtesan
By Sarah Dunant
Set in Venice, an historical novel with a difference about a high class prostitute and her business partner, a dwarf. Great detail and if you haven't been a great advert for a visit to Venice!

March's Book
The Secret River – Kate Grenville
Short listed for the Man Booker Prize 2006

Starting in London it tells the story of a waterman, William Thornhill, who is sentenced to be transported to Australia along with his family in 1806. The effect of this enforced emigration upon the London family then raises issues concerning the interaction of, and consequences for, the indigenous Aboriginal population. The author doesn’t just show the brutal result of the clash of cultures but ironically reflects through Sally, William’s wife, the underlying similarities between both peoples: “Like you and me was in London. Just the exact same way.” Although the ending is pessimistic, “it did not feel like triumph”, the reading group felt there was a suggestion of hope shown in Will’s conscience and the attitude and actions of his younger son, Dick. However we were mixed as to how satisfying a read this was. The characters were possibly lacking in depth and it was generally felt that the book ran out of steam and lacked any urgency of plot. It did create discussion though about the effect of white colonialism and books such as Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad and The English Passengers by Matthew Kneale were recommended as further reads.

January's Book
Fortune's Rock  - Anita Shreve
This one caused quite a debate. The nature of desire; the problems of illegitimate children in all societies and different centuries; the roll of women....Some of the group hadn't quite finished the book, so no doubt there will be more discussion at next months meeting.

February's choice
The Mermaid Chair-Sue Kidd Monk
A good read, but not as good as her previous book, 'The Secret Life of Bees'.

Next month
Mr Pip
Lloyd Jones
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