The Irish Times Book Club

So the Irish Times have created an online Book club at the beginning of this year and the first book they have chosen is Brooklyn by Colm Toibin.

How does it work?

You don't have to be in a book club already to join in, it's free, and you just have to sign up onlin eto contribute your comments. They'll be reading a book a month - March's book will be announced mid-February so keep an eye out on the website.

So to sign up or get involved in the conversation and read more, go to the website below:

http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/thebookclub/

January Bookclub 2010: Extreme Bookclub

So the first bookclub of a new year and a new decade didn't exactly go to plan due to adverse weather conditions. Only those close enough made the short trek across snow and ice like mini Bear Gryll Explorers to Lisa's house. We were welcomed with pizza, salads, wine, tea and lots of christmas cheer. Among other things we discussed the last book, So what if I'm Broken. It was agreed that it was a light read but most found the additions of Jack L a little overbearing and forced.



For the first book of 2010, we decided on Audrey Niffeneggers second book, Her Fearful Symmetry. Amazon Best of the Month, September 2009: Following her breakout bestseller, The Time Traveller's Wife, Audrey returns with Her Fearful Symmetry, a haunting tale about the complications of love, identity, and sibling rivalry. The novel opens with the death of Elspeth Noblin, who bequeaths her London flat and its contents to the twin daughters of her estranged twin sister back in Chicago. These 20-year-old dilettantes, Julia and Valentina, move to London, eager to try on a new experience like one of their obsessively matched outfits. Historic Highgate Cemetary, which borders Elspeth's home, serves as an inspired setting as the twins become entwined in the lives of their neighbours: Elspeth's former lover, Robert; Martin, an agoraphobic crossword-puzzle creator; and the ethereal Elspeth herself, struggling to adjust to the afterlife. Niffenegger brings these quirky, troubled characters to marvellous life, but readers may need their own supernatural suspension of disbelief as the story winds to its twisty conclusion. -- Brad Thomas Parsons [Amazon.com Review]


For the next bookclub, it has been decided to have a bookclub outing in February 2010. Some ideas proposed were a play either Little Gem in The Peacock or The Faithhealer in The Gate; a film, The Lovely Bones or lunch/dinner in town.

In other news we didn't win the Ennis Book Club Festival's "Bookclub of the Year", that particular honour went to the NCBI Audio Book Club from Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.

November BookClub: Afternoon Tea Party

What a lovely afternoon Saturday was and how lovely to see so many of us together again. I think that is the first time in a long while that we all made it and welcome to our newest bookclub member. Afternoon tea was a roaring success - who knew drinking out of bone china cups would make us so posh!



This month's book "The Wish List" did get mixed reviews with some liking it and some (little old me) hating it but I think we all agreed that it is not particularly believable and more a fairytale especially the way the addict makes such a speedy recovery. It is a light read and the addition of Father Christmas added to the fairytale element.



So onto the next read, it was decided to go with K's suggestion of "So What If I'm Broken" by Anna McPartlin:



On the 21st June 2007 Alexandra Kavanagh left home, chatted to her neighbour, got onto the DART, arrived at Dalkey train station and disappeared... Tom is distraught. His wife is missing, his world has fallen apart and his only focus is on finding her.



For seventeen years, Jane has cared for her son Kurt, her eccentric sister Elle, and her cantankerous mother Rose. The only person she doesn’t care for is herself. Elle is an artist and recognised as a genius. As such her somewhat erratic behaviour is indulged. Although her life appears perfect Elle’s sadness is sometimes profound.



Leslie has lost her entire family to cancer. She has spent twenty years waiting to die but following radical surgery she’s determined to live again.



Four months after Alexandra’s disappearance Tom steps into a lift with Jane, Elle and Leslie at a Jack Lukeman concert. One hour later the four strangers emerge with their lives forever intertwined.

And it was decided the next meeting will be in the new year and Lisa has kindly offered to host. Can't believe bookclub will be five years old next year!!

Happy Reading.