News

It's usually quiet in the summer for events and activities but there's a flurry of author talks taking place in the next couple of months which might appeal to anyone following the Browsers Book Group reading at the moment.

Next week at FolkEast at Glemham, Suffolk, there's an exciting programme of author talks organised by the Halesworth Bookshop. It includes Kate Sawyerwho spoke to us online during lockdown when she launched her debut novel 'The Stranding'. Since then Kate was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award and won the Fiction Prize at the East Anglian Book Awards. This is a lovely opportunity to meet Kate in person.

At the end of the month, Topping's bookshop in Ely (slightly further afield but always worth a visit) has an event with Hernan Diaz the author of 'Trust', one of the longlisted titles for this year's Booker Prize which we're debating at a special book group meeting on Monday 5 September.

In September, Suffolk Book League will be hosting Rupert Thomson in a visit to Ipswich. He will be talking about 'Barcelona Dreaming' (our book group title for April) as well as his other work.

Authors regularly mention how pleased they are to participate in events like these for the opportunity to meet their readers whom they recognise as always being so kind, supportive, respectful and appreciative. 

It's been horrific, then, to witness the attack on Salman Rushdie in the US this week. We wish him a full and speedy recovery. 

Thank you for reading.

It's August! And I don't know where the last week went. I had fewer meetings and pressing deadlines but, despite the lack of the usual distractions and interruptions, I don't feel that I've been particularly productive and I seem to have had less time to read.

As a result, the titles I'm recommending this week are rather picture heavy, though nonetheless powerful and thought-provoking so I hope you enjoy taking a look.

I did manage to read one of the novels from the Booker 2022 longlist, though. And, having seen that there are a few slim volumes in this year's nominations, I might be reading a couple more in time for our Browsers Book Group Booker Challenge meeting on 5th September.

All the titles have now been allocated a 'champion' who will present their thoughts on their particular book to the group, but if you're interested in taking part or would like to come along to listen in to the discussion in a few weeks' time, just let me know and I'll send you more details.

Thank you for reading.

Now, I'm a great one for 'to do' lists. I use them to set out what I want to achieve in the year, the week, the day, even the hour on some occasions - yes, really.

But I'm not so keen on book lists.

A friend sent me her 16-year-old daughter's A level reading list this week. It made me feel very inadequate. And all the various book prizes tend to overwhelm me. So many books, so little time.

I'm never short of reading material, but I do like to receive recommendations. And it is good to keep having our reading habits challenged, I think. Imagine the gems we'd miss if we didn't occasionally step out of our comfort zone.

It's fascinating to see what some people are reading. I'm always interested in taking a look at Barack Obama's lists, for example. And Transport for London is hoping to encourage conversation among passengers through introducing a book club with its recommended fiction and non-fiction titles each month.

It's a shame, then, that a number of book prizes have been discontinued recently - the cancelling of the Costa Book Awards came as a shock to the whole industry, it seems, and the axing of the Blue Peter prize seems the end of an era. The Sunday Times Short Story Prize is under threat and the Desmond Elliot prize which recognises debut novelists, will be paused next year as a new sponsor is sought.

With this backdrop, it seemed a relief to learn of the release of the longlist for the Booker Prize 2022 last week - at least it was going ahead! And, of course, there are some interesting novels included. So, once again, by popular demand, we are going to run the Browsers Booker Challenge! 

Participants will agree to read one or more of the titles on the longlist and report back on how they liked it, whether they thought it might make the shortlist, and if it might even win the prize overall. We'll meet together on the evening of Monday 5th September, the day before the shortlist is announced. It will, as always, be interesting to see if our opinions match those of the judges. 

It's always a fun and interesting meeting, so if you'd like to take part, please email me as soon as possible, and I'll let you know which books need a reader. You're also welcome to attend if you wish only to listen to the reviews and perhaps compile your own reading list as a result. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you for reading.

The National Theatre Live screening of the new play 'Prima Facie' by Suzie Miller in Woodbridge's Riverside Cinema last week was extraordinary.

Sold out weeks ahead, the audience was wrapt throughout the two hour, one woman performance and broke into applause at its conclusion.

Jodie Comer played the part of a criminal defence barrister who is forced to see proceedings from a different perspective as events unfold.

She was phenomenal, barely drawing breath throughout the performance. She ran the gamut of emotions, moved the furniture, ate, drank and changed her clothes on stage, and endured a rain storm. And we were completely gripped by all that she was and all that she said.

Beyond the personal drama, there was a strong message behind the play which has been written by a former barrister. It sought to highlight the failings of the legal system in tackling sexual assault in particular, but spelt out a salutary message that in any trial, there is no real pursuit of 'truth'. Ultimately the jury is swayed by the most persuasive storyteller, whether that is for the defence or the prosecution. 

We all have stories to tell - to others and to ourselves - and this is explored in the memoir by Tanya Shadrick 'The Cure for Sleep' (scroll down for more details). I was fascinated by her roles as writer in residence at a swimming pool, but also a hospice. Here people, when confronted by the end of life, displayed an urgency in sharing their stories and, once done, were very much at peace.

We draw on our life experience in all sorts of stories and our book group discussion tomorrow evening will explore how Elspeth Barker's childhood informed her novel 'O Caledonia'. If you'd like to come along to the meeting, please let me know by replying to this email and I'll send you the details. 

Thank you for reading.

Thank you to everyone who came along to hear Sarah Langford speak about 'Rooted' the other day. I understand some of you are well into your second reading of the book! I hope that you're enjoying some good conversations as a result. There's plenty in it to set us all thinking and talking.

So I was interested to read a blog by the American author, marketeer and businessman, Seth Godin a few days ago who commented about the value of books in encouraging debate.

"Books used to be a solitary endeavour," he says. "Ironically, it took...the noise of the web to flip that idea upside down.

"Now a book is a totem, a chance to share, an item to be discussed, a physical instantiation of an idea that can be drawn on, exchanged or simply sit on your desk.

"Because the book is complete, coherent and represents a moment in time. Because a book can create a conversation and an event." 

We'll be taking part in another conversation in a week's time when it's our monthly book group meeting, the last one of the summer. We'll be discussing 'O Caledonia' by Elspeth Barker on Monday 25th July. If you'd like to come along, please let me know by replying to this email and I'll send you the details. 

Thank you for reading.