Monthly Book Group

A lively discussion as this divided the group. All considered it beautifully written but sometimes a little self-conscious and clever. Lots to explore in the character's attitudes to life, and the mother-daughter relationship.

This book has topped the charts, being a 'word of mouth' phenomenon! Described as 'a brilliantly written drama about…creativity, complex relationships, and our inner lives', what will we think of it? Buy the book and join in the discussion.

This prompted a lively, enthusiastic discussion about a book which was considered, almost unanimously, a great read despite its bleak subject matter. The characters were intriguing, their motivations and experiences were thought-provoking, and the scene-setting was powerful and clever. 

Lots of clever ideas but presented almost as a collection of stories, with some more compelling than others. Many interesting themes to consider but some felt it was too episodic and disjointed, a little difficult to follow at times, and not a coherent whole.

While there were moments of wry humour, it was generally agreed, this novel presented a bleak picture of life in a boarding house during the war. Some felt the book too dated to be enjoyable, others appreciated the style of writing, characters who at times seemed as caricatures, and the sense of hope. 

Though some didn't like this book as much as others, our spirits felt lifted by our discussion. Lots of funny moments to share in the author's very particular take on everyday events and characters. There were serious themes to consider too about marriage, loyalty, parenting and...origami. 

A snapshot of a climate catastrophe in a small community, many related this to our pandemic experience, finding it a challenging and claustrophobic read with many themes to explore regarding violence, control, family and relationships. Some liked the sparsity of this short novel, others wanted more detail about the characters and the town. A lively, wide-ranging, thought-provoking discussion.

This was considered a resounding success for a book group discussion with so many themes and facets to explore. Great characters, a quirky story and plenty of humour juxtaposed with powerful messages of redemption, family and racism. Set in a bookshop, there are reading lists, unusual customer demands and a resident ghost. With events taking place over just one year, the inclusion of the Covid pandemic and the killing of George Floyd make this a very contemporary and poignant read.

Everyone took something different away from this book about grief, entrapment, isolation, community, friendship, coming of age, all set in the icy landscape of Norway. Deceptively simple, slim novel about a moment in time. It prompted a great discussion.