Monthly Book Group

A discarded painting in a junk pile, a skeleton in an attic, and the greatest racehorse in American history, 'Horse' is described as a gripping, multi-layered novel highlighting enslavement and racism. What will we think of it?

Why is this book so highly acclaimed, the group pondered. A small number enjoyed it but the majority struggled, finding the storyline confusing and the characters unlikeable. The sparse nature of the book and 'quirky' style some appreciated and the turn of phrase was found appealing at times. It proved an animated and entertaining discussion.

There was almost unanimous approval and delight in this debut novel which astounded the group for the accomplishment of such a young writer. The characters were compelling, the storyline and descriptions authentic, the language beautiful. This book was considered by the group to be on a par with other great novels of the first world war, and it led to a wide-ranging discussion.

A page-turner which seemed an easy, entertaining read but had so many themes and issues to unpick. We had a fascinating and lively discussion about the world of publishing and what it means to be a writer. Some felt this book was funny, others found it sad and dark. A great book group read!

Despite presenting a bleak picture of poverty, addiction and toxic relationships, almost everyone found this a gripping read and it led to an animated and wide-ranging discussion touching on the Irish situation, the education system, friendships and family, the style of writing, debut novelists and other books addressing similar issues. 

Recently adapted into the Oscar-nominated film 'American Fiction', we debated the differences between the movie and the novel and it was interesting to see how people responded depending on whether they had seen the film. Lots to discuss in terms of publishing and marketing, writing and academia, racism and prejudice, family, wealth, and much more!

Everyone agreed they would never have picked this book up for themselves and there was some debate on the choice of title and cover design. All found it to be fascinating in terms of the style of storytelling and providing a glimpse into the lives of these two extraordinary women and led some to investigate Julian and Margery further. 

We'd all been excited to read our first graphic novel together. Some loved the experience, pausing to contemplate the pictures which provided the nuance and emotion to complement the sparse text. Others found they didn't connect with the story and felt the book disappointed. A great discussion!

So many themes to consider - love, loss and redemption, family, faith, science and immigration, the opioid crisis. Many loved this book for the writing, the subjects covered and the author's voice, but some found the ending disappointing.