12th September 2017. Meeting at Lorraine's house

Present: Caroline, Sally and Lorraine. Apologies from Jane

Lorraine is very excited because AT LAST she has learnt how to access the correct page for reporting on a meeting. This is what she did
 www.blogger.com and up came veldesairebookclub then clicked on NEW POST. So hope this helps the rest of you.

Very sad to say goodbye to dear Anne. We will miss her very much.
We are sorry that Chris is taking a break but we look forward to seeing her again in the new year.
We have asked Jan Light to join the book club and she is delighted to accept.
We discussed some of the books chosen for our summer read:
Sally read
"Of Human Bondage " by Somerset Maugham .
A very big tome, partly autobiographical (26 hours as an audiobook) . Sounds like one would need stamina and determination to get through it, but worth it.

I quote publisher's review

One of the most widely read novels of the 20th century, W. Somerset Maugham's masterpiece, Of Human Bondage, gives a harrowing depiction of unrequited love. Philip Carey, a sensitive orphan born with a clubfoot, finds himself in desperate need of passion and inspiration. He abandons his studies to travel, first to Heidelberg and then to Paris, where he nurses ambitions of becoming a great artist.

Philip's youthful idealism erodes, however, as he comes face-to-face with his own mediocrity and lack of impact on the world. After returning to London to study medicine, he becomes wildly infatuated with Mildred, a vulgar, tawdry waitress, and begins a doomed love affair that will change the course of his life.

First published in 1915, the semi-autobiographical Of Human Bondage combines the values left over from the Victorian era with the prevailing irony and despair of the early 20th century. Unsentimental yet bursting with deep feeling, Of Human Bondage remains Maugham's most complete statement of the importance of physical and spiritual liberty, a theme that resounds more loudly than ever today.

Caroline read

"Swimming lessons" by Claire Fuller

Another excellent book after "Our Endless Numbered Days" by the same author. Caroline found it hard to get into but enjoyed it very much.

Lorraine read 

"About Grace"  by Anthony Doerr. Another wonderful book by the author of "All the Light we Cannot see". Great story line with some interesting characters. Can't wait to read more by this author.

Chris chose

"The Muse" by Jesse Burton . We would be interested to know what she thought of it.

Jane's choice

  "The Poison Wood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver 

Caroline is reading this book and is totally caught up in it. She says it numbers among the best books she's ever read. Lorraine can't wait to start listening to it on audio.

"A very good novel within an accurate historical setting beginning in 1959. Reflects on the impact on individual family members when moved by their minister father to the Congo with the intention of converting all inhabitants to the ways of western Christian society regardless of the believes and rituals of the jungle. Family life will never be the same for the family again as they overcome trauma after trauma. Meantime the blind faith of the father means he does not see the effects of his regime on his family",

The next meeting has been tentatively booked for Tuesday 10th October at 5pm to be held at Caroline's.