Welcome to the Globe Bookgroup blog! Here, members of the group can post messages about past and present books, and catch up with other members. The Globe Bookgroup meets around every 4-5 weeks on a Thursday night in The Globe pub, Baker Street. We get very excited about choosing and voting for our books. We don't do organised discussions or heavy hardbacks.

Saturday, May 27, 2006

May's book

Hello there and welcome to the next thrilling installment of the Globe Bookgroup, complete with new and shiny people. And me. Again.

This month's shortlist came courtesy of a rather tired and weary young lady who should've been in her bed. Thanks for making it Victoria.

1. Cloud Atlas: David Mitchell
2. The Kite Runner: Khaled Hosseini
3. A Long Way Down: Nick Hornby
4. A Day in the Life of the Man Who Fell Asleep: Greg Stekelman

And the winner is:

A Day in the Life of the Man Who Fell Asleep: Greg Stekelman

Hurrah.

No, I mean that sincerely. I voted for it.

Although, I would highly recommend Cloud Atlas. Flippin' wonderful book. Not an easy read but something to get your teeth into, apart from a large bar of Green and Blacks.

See y'all soon.

Thursday, May 18, 2006

Like the facelift?

I felt like a change. Whaddaya think?

I've been ploughing through books as usual. After the joy of Never Let Me Go, I moved on to a book by a writer I discovered during a terrible holiday in Tunisia. Ron had flu and I had a cold, but I was goin crazy in the hotel room so I walked to the town centre to buy some aspirin. I popped into a shop that had alluring English glossies but to be honest I can't stand those kinds of magazines, they just make me feel bad about myself. At the back of the shop were books, both new and used. There I found one of those books you get free with a magazine in the summer. It was called The Secret Life of Bees - such a great title. It was a lovely little book. So when I saw the writer, Sue Monk Kidd, had another book out, I jumped to buy it. The Mermaid Chair is about a married woman who falls in love with a monk soon to make his final vows. It was a beautiful affecting book. I liked what it said about married love.

I finished that yesterday and looked around to see what I could read next. I recently received a big box of books from The Book People, including a big pack of 10 books of varying authors. I chose 'Delusions of Grandma' by Carrie Fisher. I read 'Postcards from the Edge' years ago. This one is about a woman who is writing letters to her unborn child. I'm enjoying it so far, Fisher has a very sharp yet emotional style. In one letter, she signs off 'Your motel, Mom' which made me laugh.

On the side, I've also been dipping into a book by the Colour Me Beautiful people, so am discovering it is ok to wear black, despite what Trinny and Susannah say. I'll also admit to reading a book I've bought my 2 recently pregnant friends - How to have a baby and still live in the real world. It's fascinating stuff.

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Goodbye Che...

Forgot to say in my last post...it's goodbye to Che too, who's gone and joined another group! Seriously Che, we'll be sorry to lose you but a lunchtime group at work sounds much more convenient for you. Hope it's as highbrow and intellectual as ours....hmmm.... Keep checking out the blog for inspiration and the pick of the bird-watching books.

Some very good reading

Well, the book of the month was very readable...I won't say anymore than that at the moment. After finishing that, I picked up a book I'd been given which was one of the 4 on Lorraine's list last month - Never Let me Go by Kazuo Ishiguru. It's a brilliant book, the kind I really go for - set in a possible near-future, about a group of students in a mysterious school with a mysterious purpose. I can wholeheartedly recommend it.

It occured to me I haven't put the date of the next meeting (that sounds too formal!) on here yet....it's Thurs 25 May, usual time and place.

Perhaps I can get through all of Lorraine's 4 books. Would that be a first?

Otherwise not sure what's next on my list, perhaps a trip to the library is in order.

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian

Have started Marina Lewycka's book. I am enjoying it very much so far. She has a charming style. I finished The Cider House Rules by John Irving which was superb. Also read a beautiful book by a Victorian birdwatcher and naturalist called W.H. Hudson - Adventures among Birds