Here's what some of our local reading groups thought of selected titles from the collection. Perhaps you or your reading group would like to try them and see if you think any differently.
If you are part of a local group who borrows our collection, or if you are a reader who has read any of the titles below, please feel free to email us at library.enquiries@northlincs.gov.uk with your comments or reviews. We can then add your comments to the discussion below.
Waterland
Graham Swift
This has been, for some of our members, a second and sometimes third read of this novel and much discussion ensued, particularly as we have two of our group who studied it at degree level! They brought much insight into the meeting, pointing out aspects that had passed some of we lesser mortals by.
Some of us took a time to get used to the ‘flitting about’ encountered. I was so taken with the book that I read ‘Last Orders’ by the same author, and found the very same style; flitting from one person to another, making it very difficult to keep a check on the chain of events.
However, this book was greatly appreciated by all of our members. Two in particular, who had been brought up in the Fens, felt that they had gone through a 'homecoming' process. This must be a book which takes pride of place in our best ten reads - so far!
The lieutenant
Kate Grenville
This read went down very well. Perhaps the most used adjective was'flat', both for the hero and the story line in general. It could have been much more interesting - more on the native situation, the environs, the prisoners and so on.
We didn't realise until the end that the story was based on fact, and unfortunately the novel fell between the two. However, we did enjoy an easy read with good descriptive prose.
The man who smiled
Henning Mankell
This book went down quite well with all our members, but as a 'holiday read', with 'holes' in the plot brought to the surface, giving much to discuss.
Some of us had viewed the performance on TV, and were pleased to say that none found the players 'out of character', so our own imaginations of Wallander were left intact.
All thought the ending rather a letdown, but I have to say that one of our gentlemen readers thoroughly enjoyed the book, and loved the style of writing.
May contain nuts
John O'Farrell
We had a terrific meeting with this book as topic; might even say a 'heated debate' ensued. Very political with only smiles and laughter through clenched teeth, as unfortunately we all knew someone like the mother and her friends in the story.
A very well written book which gave us at least two solid hours of discussion.
Suite Francaise
Irene Nemirovsky
A super read, enjoyed by all our members. This book is obviously in two parts, and it left us all wishing we could have had the other three intended stories. It was a harrowing tale, and the thoughts of the group generally were 'what would we have done in similar circumstances'.
This in itself gave a lot to talk about; comments like 'a monumental work' and 'a good novel, well written giving a good view of the human condition'. We did feel the ending rather disappointing BUT this was because we wanted more; and if the author had lived, perhaps we could have had our wish.
Such a dreadful ending for a very talented lady. We all wished the human race could learn by periods of history like this; but that is obviously asking too much.
Here's what another group thought:
'Suite Francaise' is, in my opinion, one of the best books we have had. Those who did read it thoroughly enjoyed it, and I believe that if Irene Nemirovsky had lived and completed her set of five volumes it would have been a masterpiece.
Writing at the time, the type of things happening to the French people and their attitude to the war makes one feel that that is exactly how it must have been. She did not know the outcome; did not know how long the war would last, and did not know how little time she had left.
So many books we read about the war have been written with hindsight, often by people who were not even born at the time. That cannot be said of 'Suite Francaise'. The world has lost a brilliant writer.
Jamaica Inn
Daphne Du Maurier
Everyone enjoyed this book, and thought that her descriptions of the moors and bogs were very atmospheric. Most of us had read the book many years ago and enjoyed it at the time.
Now, us all being much older, we had wondered if it would still appeal to us; and it did. But this time, we felt that the heroine and her horse thief did not stand much chance of future happiness, which goes to show how one's values change! A handsome, smooth-talking, reckless man with his own cart no longer does it for us, I'm afraid...
Sleep, pale sister
Joanne Harris
The group enjoyed this book, despite it being a bit weird, and most of the characters being particularly unpleasant. It is an earlier book than "Gentlemen and players", and we did not think it up to that standard.
We all know now how to run a brothel, which will probably come in handy, and could help us eke out our pensions and keep us warm next winter!
The people's act of Love
James Meek
What a fantastic read this was. Despite some of our group not finishing the book - it does take some "getting into" - they each said they would try and obtain a copy from the library on their own tickets and finish the read.
I think of all the books we have read, this was the most enjoyable one for the majority of the group. The language, the descriptions of the characters made all the horrible turn of events believable and very gripping. We are all going to be very careful who we take our walks with in future!!
The Lambs of London
Peter Ackroyd
We had difficulty sorting out fact and fiction with this read - could the book possibly have been titled "The Iredales of London"? I personally did read it a second time as suggested, and found that most beneficial in understanding the story.
Perhaps a further read into the life of the Lamb family would be interesting. According to the research of one of our members, Mary lived to quite an old age; whereas she had an early death in this book. Another point to illustrate the fact and fiction debate. However, we all enjoyed the read.
March
Geraldine Brooks
Hard to put into a few words what was thought about the book, as we had such a variety of reactions. One member thought it was a waste of time reading it - a very irritating book, disjointed - and really didn't like it, but was willing to come to the meeting and tell us his feelings, which was good for the group.
Another member thought it a fine read, and would encourage him to read more about the American Civil War. The ladies in the group all felt they would re-read 'Little women', and on the whole enjoyed the book. A bit too flowery wording, and none of us liked the hero very much; away on cloud nine "doing good", but not a hero by any stretch of the imagination. Sad that he was a broken man by the end of the story.
Cat's Eye
Margaret Atwood
The majority of our group (60 per cent) felt that they did not enjoy this, or found the read difficult either through subject matter, style, content or structure.
Others, by contrast, were very enthusiastic and liked the work and were able to draw a great deal from the thematic content.
This mirrors the reviews on Amazon, which are similarly split between 'love it' (six stars) or 'hate it' (one star), although those are biased towards good rather than bad.
However, with a lively discussion ensuing, some said they would re-read the book to explore themes that they had not recognised in the first reading, while others said they would not do so even under duress!
A great book to polarise and enliven discussion.
Gentlemen and players
Joanne Harris
"Gentlemen and Players" is set in a boys' grammar school in the north of England. There are two narrative voices; one the Latin Master Roy Straitley, and the other a person who seeks revenge for something that happened 13 years before the start of the novel.
It is a very clever book, a brilliant read, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good 'who-dun-it'. I would give it 10 out of 10, but not all of the group were so enthusiastic. Some do not care for this genre, and so the group gave it seven out of 10.
Tatty
Christine Dwyer Hickey
This book came at an opportune time, when in recent newspapers we've been told that we have the unhappiest children in the Western world. Although Tatty would not have called herself unhappy.
Tatty chronicles ten years in the life of Caroline (known to her family as "Tatty") from the age of four in 1964 until the age of 14 in 1974, and her dysfunctional Irish Catholic family.
It is very cleverly written and has humour and pathos in equal parts. It should be compulsory reading for anyone with children or thinking of having a family.
A 'how not to do it' book! We would recommend it to anyone, and gave it seven out of 10.
Little Face
Sophie Hannah
Alice Fancourt leaves her two year old child with her husband David. It is the first time she has left Florence since she was born. When she returns a short while later she finds the door slightly ajar and her husband fast asleep.
She goes to look at Florence, then wakes her husband, demanding to know where her baby is, and whose is the child in the cot.
Is it post-natal depression? Has the baby been kidnapped? Is it connected with the murder of the husband's first wife? The plot twists and turns and keeps one guessing right up to the end.
A very good read. We awarded it eight out of 10.