Literary Greetings 📕 🍂
Strap in, this is a long but exciting email! 📚🥁🥁🎉🎄
Big Book Club is this Thursday 23rd October.
This month we will be discussing The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton
We will be meeting as usual at The Curzon Cinema, 16 George St, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 2PF.
We'll meet in the upstairs bar area at around 7:45pm ready to sit down to discuss the book at 8pm.
Get a drink at the downstairs bar 🥂 ☕️ 🍺 and bring it up where we’ll allocate groups.
We aim to sit in groups of about 8, and depending on numbers we may start an additional group downstairs 😊. We're usually wrapping up around 9.15pm.
CHRISTMAS BOOK CLUB 🎄🎄🎄📕📕📕
December book club is more social, informal and with a book suggestion as more of a conversation starter. There will be question ideas on the tables and opportunities to write your scores!
This year due to availability we’ll be doing this on the first Thursday of December
Thursday 4th December
7.30-9pm
Sheffield Plate, 31-33 Orchard Square, S1 2FB
We’ve reserved tables in the main space at 7.30pm
There’s a bar and various food outlets. Food service is until 8.30pm and they close at 9.
It’s a noisier environment than normal book club but hopefully lots of fun and many chances to chat.
After this we can always find a bar to move to for those who want to keep the festive spirit going (maybe The Old Shoe in Orchard Square) 🥂
Please click here to RSVP & give us an idea of numbers 🥂🎄📚
Remaining Book List 2025 📚
November 13th - Night Watch by Terry Pratchett
December 4th - See above (less formal and with food at Sheffield Plates in Orchard Square) - Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
AND FINALLY….(after some great suggestions and a late night for Rachel and Emily) 🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁
Book List 2026 📚📚📚 🎉🎉🎉
2nd Thursday of each month
January 8th- The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
February 12th- Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson
March 12th- The Illumination of Ursula Flight by Anna-Marie Crowhurst
April 9th- Women Without Men by Shahrnush Parsipur
May 14th- Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
June 11th- Still Life by Sarah Winman
July 9th- Light Perpetual by Francis Spifford
August 13th- The Visit of the Royal Physician by Per Olov Enquist
September 10th- Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson
October 8th- Cover Her Face by PD James (And Book Club’s 20th Anniversary!🎉)
November 12th- Orbital by Samantha Harvey
December 10th- Snow Country by Yasunari Kawabata
Big Books 2026 📚
January - Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsover
April - Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
July- Rachel’s Holiday by Marian Keyes
October- North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
DECEMBER FILM CLUB: This is likely to be 11th or 18th December at the Curzon. Keep an eye on your emails!
Well done if you’ve made it to the end!
Happy Reading! And 2026 book buying and Christmas lists!
Rachel & Emily
Book Club THIS THURSDAY! (And Christmas plans 🤫 🎄)
Hello all,
Book Club is THIS THURSDAY 12th October
We'll be chatting about The Blind Owl by Sadegh Hedayat at Curzon Cinema upstairs bar (buy drinks and order food downstairs and head on up), 16 George St, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 2PF, 7.45-9.15pm (starting to chat about books in groups at 8pm and all are welcome to stay for a drink afterwards).
If you haven't been before, we have no joining process - you just turn up! If you don't know where to go, the people at the bar are very helpful 🙂
OTHER STUFF…
Don’t forget our upcoming books and events. We’ll be asking for book suggestions for 2024 at Book Club this week! You can also email suggestions and we're gathering them all now.
CHRISTMAS BOOK CLUB (Cover your ears if you can't cope with this yet!) 🎄
Our Christmas Book Club is on Thursday 14th December. We usually combine this with a meal.
This year we have booked an area from 7.30pm at Kommune in the city centre where we can get whatever food we like, and there's a bar. For more info on the venue, click here.
We need £5 deposit for those who are coming. This can then be redeemed at the bar on the night. We have provisionally booked for 25 people.
If you are coming, please click here to pay Rachel the £5 deposit via PayPal by the end of October and email if you need bank details instead.
2023 Book list
Nov 9th - Cwen by Alice Albinia
Dec 14th - The Turn of the Screw by Henry James (plus christmas meal at Kommune)
Big Book Club 2023
This is a chance to read longer books through the year - just one left!
Oct 26th - Bleak House by Charles Dickens
Film Club
Our next film club with be in December. Keep an eye out for details
Over and out!
😊 📚
Rachel & Emily
Everything you need to know for 2023
Happy New Year Book Clubbers, welcome to another year of books!
Our aim for 2023 is to get back to a 'pre-covid' rhythm, hopefully having a few more social gatherings along the way. We will have regular Book Club on the second Thursday of each month and then the 4th Thursday of each month will rotate between Big Book, Poetry Club and Film Club.
Finding a venue is proving to be a little tricky but we will keep looking to find ourselves a permanent 'home' in 2023. We will be meeting at the showroom for the forseeable future but we hope to find something more financially sustainable in the long run.
Make sure you you read the emails for details.
January Book Club
This month we are meeting on Thursday 12th January at 7:45. This month we are going to be at the Showroom but in Room 5. We will meet in the main bar and then move through and take our drinks with us. We will be discussing 'This is Happiness' by Niall Williams.
January Big Book Club
This is on Thursday 26th January at 7:45. We will be meeting in the main Showroom bar. We will be discussing 'The Bear and the Nightingale' by Katherine Arden.
2023 list
Jan 12th - This is Happiness by Niall Williams (in Showroom 5)
Feb 9th - The Employees: a workplace novel of the 22nd century by Olga Ravn (cafe bar)
Mar 9th - On Writing: a memoir of the craft by Stephen King (cafe bar)
April 13th - Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason
May 11th - A Quiver Full of Arrows by Jeffrey Archer
June 8th - The Salt Path by Raynor Winn
July 13th - The Silence of the Girls - Pat Barker
Aug 10th - The Good Soldier by Ford Maddox Ford
Sep 14th - Everything is Illuminated by Jonathon Safron Foer
Oct 12th - The Blind Owl by Sadegh Hedayat
Nov 9th - Cwen by Alice Albinia
Dec 14th - The Turn of the Screw by Henry James (plus Christmas meal)
Big Book Club 2023
This is a chance to read longer books through the year.
Jan 26th - The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden (main showroom bar)
April 27th - The Nightwatchman by Louise Erdrich
July 27th - Hyperion by Don Simmons
Oct 26th - Bleak House by Charles Dickens (probably start now 😄)
Poetry Club
This is every 3 months and it gives us the chance to read and discuss poetry. We aim to be very accessible and you do not need to have any previous experience or knowledge of poetry to come along. We will let you know the poems a little closer to the dates.
Feb 23rd - (main showroom bar)
May 25th
Aug 24th
Nov 23rd
Film Club
Every 3 months we go to watch a film and either meet before or afterwards depending on the time. The films are chosen the week before so look out for the emails for details. If you would like to be added the film WhatsApp group for more impromtu cinema trips then just get in touch.
March 23rd
June 22nd
Sep 28th
Dec 28th
Book Club COVID 19 update
Hello lovely Bookclubbers.
In light of the new guidance about COVID 19 we will be suspending all Book Club in-person gatherings for the foreseeable future.
However, we believe now more than ever we need to stay connected. With that in mind, we are looking at moving to online gatherings for all our events. We hope to be able to use some video link chats and we will share more details once we have a plan.
Keep safe and look after each other.
Happy Reading!
Rachel & Emily
Book club events for 2019
Happy New Year
Lets hope it's a year of good reads.
Thank you to everyone who came down for our first book of the year, a great turn out. 'Unseen' had scores ranging from 3-9 and an average score of 6.7.
Don't forget that we still have a Big Book Club for January. We're meeting Thursday 24th January, 7.45 at the Crucible corner. We're reading 'We the Drowned' by Carsten Jensen. It's 704 pages so get a wriggle on if you haven't already started.
Next 'normal' Book Club is going to be a love story with a difference. We're meeting Thursday 14th February at 7.45 at the Crucible corner. We'll be reading 'My Cousin Rachel' by Daphne Du Maurier.
Just a little reminder for you early birds not to move tables until the Crucible Corner staff have given us the go ahead, have a drink instead!
Poetry Club
February also sees the return of much loved, Poetry Club. This is designed to allow everyone to share their experience of poetry, good and bad, without any requirement to be very knowledgeable on the subject. We're going to try and have a regular date for this to allow as many people as possible to go. It will run on a similar frequency to Big Book and will be every third month on the 4th Thursday.
However due to the theatre trip in February the next one will actually be Thursday 21st February, 7.45 at the Crucible Corner. The subject has yet to be decided but we'll let you know soon.
Future dates:
Feb 21st
May 23rd
Aug 22rd
Nov 28th
Theater Trips
28th Feb 2019 7.45 pm - 'Hang' - read more about it here.
If you would like to come but haven't reserved a ticket then we believe there are still tickets available at the box office. The seating is unreserved so you would still be able to sit with us. Let us know if you get tickets and then we can look out for you.
Book List for 2019
These are the books we will be reading this year...
Jan 10th - The Unseen by Roy Jacobsen - 272 pgs
Feb 14th - My cousin Rachel by Daphne Du Maurier - 352 pgs
March 14th - Case Histories by Kate Atkinson - 434 pgs
April 11th - Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Armin - 304 pgs
May 9th - The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje - 321 pgs
June 13th - Circe by Madeline Miller - 352 pgs
July 11th - The Heart of the Matter by Graham Greene - 272 pgs
Aug 8th - How Not to Be a Boy by Robert Webb - 336 pgs
Sep 12th - The House by the Lake by Thomas Harding - 464 pgs
Oct 10th - Reservoir 13 by Jon McGregor - 336 pgs
Nov 14th - Burial Rites by Hannah Kent - 384 pgs
Dec 12th - Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas - Radio play
Big Book Club
This happens every 3 months and it gives us the opportunity to read bigger books we don't have time for at 'normal' Book Club.
Jan 24th - We, the Drowned by Carsten Jensen - 704 pgs
April 25th - East of Eden by John Steinbeck - 720 pgs
July 25th - The Magus by John Fowles - 672 pgs
Oct 24th - 5th Season by N K Jemisin - 512 pgs
Happy Reading!
Rachel & Emily
Book Club events for 2018 📖
Happy New Year.
Thanks to all those who came down to get Book Club going for 2018. We had a great discussion about 'The Man in the High Castle' by Philip K Dick. The book managed to get 6.5 from both groups so a unanimous decision.
Big Book
January has a big book in it and on Thursday 25th January we will be discussing ' L.A. Confidential' by James Elroy. It's a gripping read so you might manage to blast through it if you haven't already started.
Next Book Club
Thursday 8th February we'll be reading 'Americanah' by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
Pub Club
This is unsuprisingly Book Clubbers in the pub. Everyone is very welcome and it's a good chance to get to know people a little better. Future dates are:
- Friday 2nd February, The Devonshire Cat (tbc), 8pm
- Friday 18th May, venue TBC, 8pm
Book Club Weekend Away to Oxford
In conjunction with reading Phillip Pulman for Big Book in April we are going to go to Oxford for the weekend of 28th - 29th April 2018. We have a few ideas of what we could do but nothing is decided as yet. We are thinking of arranging a guided tour of the Bodleian library, guided literary walking tour, possibly a visit to Christ Church, a visit to the Ashmolean? There is also a production of Shakespeare's 'Pericles - Prince De Tyr' at the Oxford playhouse on the Saturday night that we could look into.
Everyone is welcome as are other halves or friends. When we went to Stratford people arranged their own accommodation centrally and we met for the days activities. The YHA has a lot of small rooms which makes for very affordable accommodation. People may want to coordinate staying together or we can do that for you if you are new to the group. We could arrange for car pooling or coordinate train rides
This is all very much up for discussion but if you're interested then put it in your diary and let us know so we can start to get an idea of numbers.
Theatre trip
We are thinking of going to see One Flew Over the Cuckoo's nest at the Crucible in July. Either Thursday 14th or 21st. Put the date in your diary if you're interested as we will be taking names soon and hopefully we will get enough people for a group ticket which gives us some money off.
Future Book List - THE NEW LIST FOR 2018
- Feb 8th - Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - 400
- March 8th - Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte - 272
- April 12th - The Singing Sands by Josephine Tey - 256
- May 10th - The Martian by Andy Weir - 369
- June 14th - Wild by Cheryl Strayed - 336
- July 12th - Wild Pork and Watercress by Barry Crump - 202
- Aug 9th - My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante - 336
- Sep 13th - The Human Stain by Phillip Roth - 384
- Oct 11th - The Reader on the 6.27 by Jean-Paul Didierlaurent - 208
- Nov 8th - True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey - 432
- Dec 13th - The Princess Bride by William Goldman - 336
Big Books
This happens every 3 months and it gives us the opportunity to read bigger books we don't have time for at 'normal' Book Club.
- Jan 25th - L.A. Confidential by James Ellroy - 512 pages
- April 26th - The Book of Dust Vol 1: La Belle Sauvage by Phillip Pullman - 560 (not too expensive for people we hope, even in hard back)
- July 26th - Middlemarch by George Elliot - 736
- Oct 25th -The count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas - 928 (buckle up!)
If you have read this next month's book and want to pass the book on, just post on our Facebook page.
Happy Reading!
Rachel & Emily
Book Club News - Including moving to Thursdays from November!
Hello All
Firstly the big news is that from November, Book Club will be on a THURSDAY. This is not a decision we have taken lightly and it has been a long time coming. Work and life commitments mean that Wednesday just doesn't work anymore. It seems that for most people this will be ok but apologies to anyone for whom it isn't. It will still be at the Crucible corner at 7.45.
Next Book Club is NEXT WEEK and this will be our last Wednesday. Wednesday 12th October 7.45 at the Crucible Corner. We are reading 'The Time Machine' by H. G. Wells.
Poetry Club
THIS WEEK, Wednesday 5th October. 7.45 at Crucible Corner. This month we are reading 'Goblin Market' by Cristina Rossetti. you can find it below. We may also look at 'Remember' if there is time.
Pub Club
This is back after a few months hiatus. It is essentially us going to the pub! We are meeting THIS FRIDAY 7th October. We are going to try the Sheffield Tap (on platform 1 at the train station - nice traditional pub with good beer) and will be meeting at 8pm. This is open to everyone and is a good way to meet new people and get to know others better. There has been a suggestion of trying different pubs around Sheffield and marking them out of 10......
Big Book
This month is a Big Book month. We are meeting Wednesday 26th October, 7.45, Crucible Corner. We are reading 'Riders' by Jilly Cooper. This is a genre that we haven't really gone into before and it's one of the best of it's kind, so it should be fun. If you think it's not high brow enough then Jilly Cooper won an OBE for services to literature and the Queen can't be wrong.
Book List
This is the list of the books for the next few months, including those for Big Book. We hope there are at least a few on here that you will enjoy. As always we have tried to get a varied mix of styles and genres.
- Oct 12th - The Time Machine by H G Wells
- Nov 10th - Casino Royale by Ian Flemming
- Dec 8th - Christmas book club, graphic novel Persepolis by Marjorie Satrapi
- Jan 12th - The Beggar Maid by Alice Munro
- Feb 9th - The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula Le Guin
Big Books
This happens every 3 months and it gives us the opportunity to read bigger books we don't have time for at 'normal' Book Club.
- Oct 26th - Riders by Jilly Cooper (this was much requested and so we have given in)
- Jan 26th - The Outcast by Sadie Jones (not as big as some big books)
Happy Reading!
Rachel & Emily
Book Club - upcoming events
Hello All
Next Book Club is Wednesday 13th July, 7.45 at the Crucible Corner. We are reading 'Flowers for Algernon' by Daniel Keyes. A little bit of summer Sci-Fi. It's a relatively quick read so not too late to get started.
Big Book
This happens every 3 months on the 4th Wednesday of the month. It gives us the opportunity to read a bigger book.
July is a Big Book month. We're reading "Testament of Youth' by Vera Brittain. It on Wednesday 27th July, 7.45 at the Crucible Corner.
Theatre Trip
We are going to watch 'No Man's Land' on Thursday 11th August at the Crucible. It is a play by Harold Pinter staring Ian Mckellen and Patrick Stewart. The tickets are £38. Emily has the tickets now and so If you have reserved one then can you pay her soon.
Book List
This is the list of the books for the next few months, including those for Big Book. We hope there are at least a few on here that you will enjoy. As always we have tried to get a varied mix of styles and genres.
- July 13th - Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
- Aug 10th - Disgrace by JM Coetzee
- Sept 14th - State of Wonder by Ann Pratchett
- Oct 12th - The Time Machine by H G Wells
- Nov 9th - Casino Royale by Ian Flemming
- Dec 14th - Christmas book club, graphic novel Persepolis by Marjorie Satrapi
- Jan 11th - The Beggar Maid by Alice Munro
- Feb 8th - The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula Le Guin
Big Books
- July 27th - Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain
- Oct 26th - Riders by Jilly Cooper (this was much requested and so we have given in)
- Jan 25th - The Outcast by Sadie Jones (not as big as some big books)
Happy Reading!
Rachel & Emily
October Book Club: ‘Frankenstein’
Hello all
Thanks to all those who came down for 'The Reader'. As always it was a fascinating discussion.
Next Book Club is Wednesday 14th October 7.30 at the Crucible Corner. We are reading 'Frankenstein' by Mary Shelley. It needs little introduction but you may not have actually read the book before, enjoy!
New Book List
Thank you for all the suggestions for the new book list. We have now compiled a list of the books for the next few months, including those for Big Book. We hope there are at least a few on here that you will enjoy. As always we have tried to get a varied mix of styles and genres.
- Nov 11th - I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
- Dec 9th - An Inspector Calls by J. B. Priestly (a play which is showing in February)
- Jan 13th - Atonement by Ian McEwan
- Feb 10th - The Secret History by Donna Tartt
- March 9th - The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
- April 13th - The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte
- May 11th - No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy
- June 8th - Sons and Lovers by D. H. Lawrence
- July 13th - Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Big Books
- Jan 27th - The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabbon
- April 27th - A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
- July 27th - Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain
Poetry Club
Wednesday 30th September, Crucible Corner, 7.30. This month we'll be reading a couple of Romantic classics by John Keats: 'Ode to a Nightingale' and 'Ode on a Grecian Urn'. These are two of Keats' more famous poems, exploring the timeless Romantic themes of beauty and death, as well as, er, ornithology and pottery.
Off the Shelf
The Sheffield Literary festival is happening and Clare would like to promote a 'Meet the author' event with Simon Beckett. Friday 16th Oct, Frecheville Library. For further details, see the link
http://www.offtheshelf.org.uk/events/meet-the-author-simon-beckett
National Theatre Live
The Broadway production of 'Of Mice and Men' by John Steinbeck is showing at the Showroom cinema. Thursday 19th November, 7.00. We think for this trip it might be easier for people to buy their own tickets and we can meet before hand.
Check out the Facebook page fore further events in the offing.
Big Book
This is an extra Book Club that happens every 3 months to allow us extra time to read a bigger book. It is on the 4th Wednesday of the month, 7.30 at the Crucible Corner.
Happy Reading!
Rachel & Emily
June Book Club: ‘The Catcher in the Rye’
Hello All
Thanks yo everyone who came along for Trainspotting. It was pretty well received and provided for some great discussion. It scored a very healthy 7.16
Next Book Club is Wednesday 10th June 7.30 at the Crucible Corner. We are reading 'The Catcher in the Rye' by J. D. Salinger.
"A controversial novel originally published for adults, it has since become popular with adolescent readers for its themes of teenage angst and alienation. It has been translated into almost all of the world's major languages. Around 250,000 copies are sold each year with total sales of more than 65 million books. The novel's protagonist Holden Caulfield has become an icon for teenage rebellion. The novel also deals with complex issues of identity, belonging, loss, connection, and alienation."
Eurovision Club
Tracy is hosting at her house on Saturday 23rd May, There will be national themed food and national dress is encouraged, choose a country of your choice. Reply to the email for address etc.
Poetry Club
This month's Poetry Club is on Wednesday 27th May, 7.30 at the Crucible corner. We are looking at the theme of Time. Please bring a few printouts of your favourite poem about Time (however you choose to define that) and we'll put them all in the middle, read them out and talk about them!
Big Book
Big Book is in June, Wednesday 24th June, 7.30 at the Crucible Corner. We'll be chatting about American Gods by Neil Gaiman. A Hugo and Nebula Award-winning novel by Neil Gaiman. The novel is a blend of Americana, fantasy, and various strands of ancient and modern mythology, all centering on the mysterious and taciturn Shadow.
Pub Club
The next pubbage is Friday 29th May at Shakespear's on Gibraltar St in town. 7pm to watch Rhys perform some comedy/ drama or 8.30 onwards for simple pubbage. Everyone welcome.
Steve is having a concert - The Endcliffe Orchestra, on Saturday 27th June, 7:30 start (doors open from 7), Ecclesall Church, Ecclesall, Ringinglow Road, S11 7PQ. The programme contains music by Bach, Schubert, Wagner and the two winners of our recent composing competition, which means that we are covering music from the early 18th century right up to music that was written last year!! I'm recommending this concert because it's going to be great - the best we've done so far! ;)
2015 Book list
- June - The Catcher in the Rye by J.D.Salinger
- July - Brooklyn by Colm Toibin
- Aug - The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle
- Sept - The Reader by Prof Bernhard Schlink
- Oct - Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Big Book
This is an extra Book Club that happens every 3 months to allow us extra time to read a bigger book. It is on the 4th Wednesday of the month, 7.30 at the Crucible Corner.
- 24th June - American Gods - Neil Gaiman
- 23rd Sept - The Stand - Stephen King
Happy Reading!
Rachel & Emily
April Book Club: ‘Persuasion’
Hi all,
Book Club is this Wednesday 8th April 7.30 at the Crucible Corner. We're going classic and reading 'Persuasion' by Jane Austen.
"Twenty-seven-year old Anne Elliot is Austen's most adult heroine. Eight years before the story proper begins, she is happily betrothed to a naval officer, Frederick Wentworth, but she precipitously breaks off the engagement when persuaded by her friend Lady Russell that such a match is unworthy. A story of regret and the question of whether a reunion is possible? This is Jane Austen's final finished work."
Remember book club is all about giving you an opportunity to read things you might not naturally pick up (again!?).
Poetry Club
Next Poetry club is on Wednesday 22nd April, subject to be decided
Book Club trip to Bath
This year's outing is going to be to the lovely Spa town of Bath, loosely related to reading Persuasion in April. We are going with Saturday May 2nd till the 3rd or 4th. Most transport and accommodation is booked but it's not too late to join us! Let us know.
2015 Book list
- April - Persuasion by Jane Austen
- May - Tainspotting by Irvine Welsh
- June - The Catcher in the Rye by J.D.Salinger
- July - Brooklyn by Colm Toibin
- Aug - The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle
- Sept - The Reader by Prof Bernhard Schlink
- Oct - Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Big Book
This is an extra Book Club that happens every 3 months to allow us extra time to read a bigger book. It is on the 4th Wednesday of the month, 7.30 at the Crucible Corner.
- 24th June - American Gods - Neil Gaiman
- 23rd Sept - The Stand - Stephen King
Happy Reading!
Rachel & Emily
March Book Club: ‘Slaughterhouse Five’
Hello All
Thanks to the record number (33) of people who came down for Book Club last time. It was a great night. The book however was not so great and scored a disappointing 4.16!
Next Book Club is 11th March, 7.30 at the Crucible Corner. We're reading 'Slaughterhouse Five' by Kurt Vonnegut.
"...Vonnegut's absurdist classic Slaughterhouse-Five introduces us to Billy Pilgrim, a man who becomes unstuck in time after he is abducted by aliens from the planet Tralfamadore. In a plot-scrambling display of virtuosity, we follow Pilgrim simultaneously through all phases of his life, concentrating on his (and Vonnegut's) shattering experience as an American prisoner of war who witnesses the firebombing of Dresden."
Big Book
This month is also Big Book, 25th March, 7.30 at the Crucible Corner. We'll be reading the hefty 'The Blind Assassin' by Margaret Atwood.
"Laura Chase's older sister Iris, married at eighteen to a politically prominent industrialist but now poor and eighty-two, is living in Port Ticonderoga, a town dominated by their once-prosperous family before the First War. While coping with her unreliable body, Iris reflects on her far from exemplary life, in particular the events surrounding her sister's tragic death. Chief among these was the publication of The Blind Assassin, a novel which earned the dead Laura Chase not only notoriety but also a devoted cult following. Sexually explicit for its time, The Blind Assassin describes a risky affair in the turbulent thirties between a wealthy young woman and a man on the run. During their secret meetings in rented rooms, the lovers concoct a pulp fantasy set on Planet Zycron. As the invented story twists through love and sacrifice and betrayal, so does the real one; while events in both move closer to war and catastrophe. By turns lyrical, outrageous, formidable, compelling and funny, this is a novel filled with deep humour and dark drama."
Book Club trip to Bath
This year's outing is going to be to the lovely Spa town of Bath, loosely related to reading Persuasion in April. I think we're going to go with Saturday May 2nd till the 3rd or 4th. If you fancy going then let us know as we're going to start looking for accommodation and things to do. If you have any suggestions we'd love to hear them.
2015 Book list
March - Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
April - Persuasion by Jane Austen
May - Tainspotting by Irvine Welsh
June - The Catcher in the Rye by J.D.Salinger
July - Brooklyn by Colm Toibin
Aug - The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle
Sept - The Reader by Prof Bernhard Schlink
Oct - Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Big Book
This is an extra Book Club that happens every 3 months to allow us extra time to read a bigger book. It is on the 4th Wednesday of the month, 7.30 at the Crucible Corner.
25th March - The Blind Assassin by Margaret Attwood
24th June - American Gods - Neil Gaiman
23rd Sept - The Stand - Stephen King
Happy Reading!
Rachel & Emily
February Book Club: ‘The Peculiar Life of a Lonely Postman’
Thanks to the multitude who came down for the last Book Club, it was excellent and got our year off to a good start. Mrs Dalloway had some polar views and despite some great individual scores it had a rather sorry overall score of 6.92.
Next time remember to go to the bar first for a drink before sitting down at 7.45, we want to try and avoid overcrowding people still eating.
Next Book Club is Wednesday 11th February 7.30 at the Crucible Corner. This month we are reading 'The Peculiar Life of a Lonely Postman' by Denis Theriault.
"...Secretly steaming open envelopes and reading the letters inside, Bilodo has found an escape from his lonely and routine life as a postman. When one day he comes across a mysterious letter containing only a single haiku, he finds himself avidly caught up in the relationship between a long-distance couple, who write to each other using only beautiful poetry. He feasts on their words, vicariously living a life for which he longs. But it will only be a matter of time before his world comes crashing down around him…"
Pub Club
The next pub event is Friday 6th February, 7.30 at The Red Deer in town. Everyone is welcome to come along.
Book Club trip to Bath
This year's outing is going to be to the lovely Spa town of Bath, loosely related to reading Persuasion in April. We need to get a date ASAP so we can start booking things like accommodation etc. How do people feel about the May Bank Holiday weekend, May 2nd - 4th? This would give an extra day for travel etc.
What worked well last time is people organising their own accommodation centrally and then meeting up to do things in the town. We could see if there are any good deals on although probably not likely over the BH. Once we've set the date we can get moving to organise anything else we fancy, I'm sure it will involve a trip to the Baths.
Please email if you are interested and we can chat more and decide a date at the next Book Club.
2015 Book list
- Feb - The Peculiar life of the Lonely Postman by Denis Theriault
- March - Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vannegut
- April - Persuasion by Jane Austen
- May - Tainspotting by Irvine Welsh
- June - The Catcher in the Rye by J.D.Salinger
- July - Brooklyn by Colm Toibin
- Aug - The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle
- Sept - The Reader by Prof Bernhard Schlink
- Oct - Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Big Book
This is an extra Book Club that happens every 3 months to allow us extra time to read a bigger book. It is on the 4th Wednesday of the month, 7.30 at the Crucible Corner.
- 25th March - The Blind Assassin by Margaret Attwood
- 24th June - American Gods - Neil Gaiman
- 23rd Sept - The Stand - Stephen King
October Book Club
Last Bookclub was great and thanks to all who came along. There was a lot of love for 'Carter Beats The Devil' and it got an impressive three 10s. However there was a few apathetic responses so it's overall score was 7.42.
October's book club is Wednesday 8th October. We're reading Small Gods by Terry Pratchett. This is the 13th book in the highly successful Discworld novels. We've chosen this as it's very funny and, more than the others, can be read on its own.
".....Religion is a controversial business in the Discworld. Everyone has their own opinion, and indeed their own gods. Who come in all shapes and sizes. In such a competitive environment, there is a pressing need to make one's presence felt. And it's certainly not remotely helpful to be reduced to be appearing in the form of a tortoise, a manifestation far below god-like status in anyone's book. In such instances, you need an acolyte, and fast. Preferably one who won't ask too many questions..."
Twelfth Night at the Crucible
We're going to get another fix of The Bard, because we just can't get enough! Wednesday 15th October, 7.30. tickets will be around £21. I'm booking tickets at the end of this week and if you want to come you need to let me know ASAP if you want to sit with us. Of course you can book your own tickets and meet us for drinks.
Film Club
The next Film Club is Friday 19th September hosted by the Offutts. We're going to watch the film of 'One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest' and then some light relief afterwards, maybe the Australian classic 'Strictly Ballroom'. If you're interested let us know and we'll give you the address etc.
Poetry Club
Wednesday 24th September, 7.30 at the Crucible Corner.
We're reading T.S Eliot's, The Wasteland. "...it's a dense and allusive (and possibly elusive) Modernist poem capturing the bleakness that Eliot perceived in early 20th Century London.
There are so many voices in the poem that it should be an interesting one for us to read out loud. Here's some inspiration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tixX32WKN5Y..."
Book Quiz
Wednesday 29th October, 6.30-8.00, Carpenter room, Central Library, Surrey Street in town. We're making a team and going to take on all challengers. "..Can you emerge victorious in our battle of the book lovers? Test your passion and knowledge against other reading groups, workplaces and bibliophiles. Drinks and snacks are provided and prizes are to be won..."
The Big Book
This is an extra Book Club that happens every 3-4 months on the 4th Wednesday of the month. It gives us a chance to read a bigger book!
The next one is in November
Nov 26th - Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell - Susanna Clark
2014 Book list
Oct - Small Gods - Terry Pratchett
Nov - Dinner At The Homesick Restaurant - Anne Tyler
Dec - Watchmen - Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons - (A non Christmassy graphic novel for Christmas)
Jan - Mrs Dalloway - Virginia Woolf
Facebook Page
Make sure you visit our Book Club facebook page and 'like' it here. You can also keep up to date with current books, events and comments from others. Feel free to post your thoughts there and any book recommendations!
Happy Reading!
Rachel & Emily
July Book Club
Happy July
Book club is Next Wednesday, 9th July, 7.30 at Crucible Corner. We're reading “One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey.
The Big Book
This is an extra Book Club that happens every 3-4 months on the 4th Wednesday of the month. It gives us a chance to read a bigger book!
- Aug 27th - Crow Road - Iain Banks
- Nov 26th - Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell - Susanna Clark
Book Club Meal Out
We're going out for Southern Indian food at Mavelli's on Glossop Rd on Wednesday 16th July. The table is booked for 7.30. If you'd like to come but haven't given your name then let us know ASAP.
Book Club in Stratford
Not long till our Stratford trip on Saturday 19th July, to see 'The Two Gentlemen of Verona' by RSC. There has been some conversation on Facebook and if you're going and haven't seen it then get in touch. Most people are getting there around lunch time on the Saturday. We'll have dinner somewhere before the performance then go for drinks afterwards.
New Book list
Thanks for all your suggestions for books. They have all been perused and we have finally come up with the books for the rest of the year;
- July - One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest - Ken Kesey
- Aug - Norwegian Wood - Haruki Murakami
- Sep - Carter Beats the Devil - Glen David Gold
- Oct - Small Gods - Terry Pratchett
- Nov - Dinner At The Homesick Restaurant - Anne Tyler
- Dec - Watchmen - Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons - (A non Christmassy graphic novel for Christmas)
- Jan - Mrs Dalloway - Virginia Woolf
Facebook Page
Make sure you visit our Book Club facebook page and 'like' it here. You can also keep up to date with current books, events and comments from others. Feel free to post your thoughts there and any book recommendations!
Happy Reading!
Rachel & Emily
June Book Club
Hello Book Clubbers
Last Book Club was great, 'The Marrying of Chani Kuffman' was well received and got a very respectable score of 7.5.
Next Book club is Wednesday, 11th June, 7.30 at Crucible Corner. We're reading 'Their Eyes Were Watching God' by Zora Neale Hurston. "One of the most important works of twentieth-century American literature, Zora Neale Hurston’s beloved 1937 classic, Their Eyes Were Watching God, is an enduring Southern love story sparkling with wit, beauty, and heartfelt wisdom."
The Big Book
May is a 'Big Book' month.
This is an extra Book Club that happens every 3-4 months on the 4th Wednesday of the month. It gives us a chance to read a bigger book!
- May 28th - Long Walk to Freedom: The autobiography of Nelson Mandela
- Aug 27th - Crow Road - Iain Banks
- Nov 26th - Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell - Susanna Clark
Monkey Butler Show
Showroom Cafe Bar, Friday 23rd May, 8pm (door 7.30) £4 (£3 concession)
Need cheering up after a long week at work? A few of our Book Club guys are part of an improv comedy group, Monkey Butler Improv, and are performing this Friday, guaranteed to provide some intelligent yet ridiculous comedy, a feast for the emotions!
Book Club Meal Out
We were thinking that we were due another meal out some time soon and thought about Wednesday 16th July as a possible date. Please let us know if you'd be interested and send us any suggestions for places we could go. We can discuss soon.
Poetry Club
Next Poetry Club is 25th June, 7.30 at Crucible Corner.
Book Club in Stratford
We're having a night away in Stratford to have fun and watch some Shakespeare on Saturday 19th July, travelling down on the Saturday and staying till Sunday. We are going to see 'The Two Gentlemen of Verona' by RSC. Tickets are already purchased but there may be a few left if you still want to come along - last we heard they were going fast. We're staying at the travelodge and if you wanted to come (but not go to the play) you'd be very welcome.
New Book list
Thanks for all your suggestions for books. They have all been perused and we have finally come up with the books for the rest of the year;
- June - Their Eyes Were Watching God - Zora Neale Hurston
- July - One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest - Ken Kesey
- Aug - Norwegian Wood - Haruki Murakami
- Sep - Carter Beats the Devil - Glen David Gold
- Oct - Small Gods - Terry Pratchett
- Nov - Dinner At The Homesick Restaurant - Anne Tyler
- Dec - Watchmen - Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons - (A non Christmassy graphic novel for Christmas)
- Jan - Mrs Dalloway - Virginia Woolf
Pub Club
Bookclubbers at the pub, plain and simple.
Facebook Page
Make sure you visit our Book Club Facebook page and 'like' it here. You can also keep up to date with current books, events and comments from others. Feel free to post your thoughts there and any book recommendations!
Happy Reading!
Rachel & Emily
May Book Club and new book list
Hello Book Clubbers
Book club is THIS Wednesday, 14th May, 7.30 at Crucible Corner. We're reading 'The Marrying of Chani Kuffman' by Eve Harris. This was on the long list for the Man Booker prize in 2013. It looks at the marriage of 18yr old Chani, from the ultra-orthodox Jewish community in North West London. Soon, buried secrets, fear and sexual desire bubble to the surface in a story of liberation and choice.
New Book list
Thanks for all your suggestions for books. They have all been perused and we have finally come up with the books for the rest of the year;
May - The Marrying of Chani Kuffman by Eve Harris
June - Their Eyes Were Watching God - Zora Neale Hurston
July - One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest - Ken Kesey
Aug - Norwegian Wood - Haruki Murakami
Sep - Carter Beats the Devil - Glen David Gold
Oct - Small Gods - Terry Pratchett
Nov - Dinner At The Homesick Restaurant - Anne Tyler
Dec - Graphic novel for Christmas - we can discuss
Poetry Club
The last poetry club talking about 'Howl' by Allen Ginsberg was an introduction into Beat culture and thoroughly enjoyable. There is no poetry club in May due to the 'big book' but it returns again in June.
Therefore next Poetry Club is 25th June, 7.30 at Crucible Corner.
The Big Book
May is a 'Big Book' month.
This is an extra book club that happens every 3-4 months on the 4th Wednesday of the month. It gives us a chance to read a bigger book!
May 28th - Long Walk to Freedom: The autobiography of Nelson Mandela
Aug 27th - Crow Road - Iain Banks
Nov 26th - Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell - Susanna Clark
Book Club in Stratford
We're having a night away in Stratford to have fun and watch some Shakespeare on Saturday 19th July, travelling down on the Saturday and staying till Sunday. We are going to see 'The Two Gentlemen of Verona' by RSC. Tickets are already purchased but there may be a few left if you still want to come along - last we heard they were going fast. We're staying at the travelodge and if you wanted to come (but not go to the play) you'd be very welcome.
Pub Club
Bookclubbers at the pub, plain and simple.
Facebook Page
Make sure you visit our Book Club facebook page and 'like' it here. You can also keep up to date with current books, events and comments from others. Feel free to post your thoughts there and any book recommendations!
Happy Reading!
April Book Club and Stratford trip
Next Book club is Wednesday 9th April, 7.30 at Crucible Corner. We're reading 'Of Mice and Men' by John Steinbeck. If you're reading it for the first time or the fifth, hopefully it will offer something new.
Book Club in Stratford
We're planning a night away in Stratford to have fun and watch some Shakespeare. The proposed date is Saturday 19th July, travelling down on the Saturday and staying till Sunday. We would like to see 'The Two Gentlemen of Verona' by RSC but we will need to move fast to get tickets. Looking on the website there are a few tickets left in the upper circle, they are mostly 'restricted view' at £18. Obviously the restricted view isn't great but it makes it much more affordable. We have some names already but If you would like to come then you need to let us know by replying to this email by WEDNESDAY as this is when we will be buying the tickets. You can of course buy your own tickets later if needed if there are any still available.
Once we have these tickets then we can book some accommodation in the centre. More details to follow.
Poetry Club
Next Poetry Club is 26th March, 7.30 at Crucible Corner. This month we're reading Sylvia Plath to cheer us up a bit. In particular we'll be reading:
The Applicant, Lady Lazarus, Night Dances, Letter in November, Daddy, You're, Edge, Blackberrying.
All of these, apart from the last one, are from 'Ariel' which is he best known collection.
The Big Book
This is an extra book club that happens every 3-4 months on the 4th wednesday of the month. It gives us a chance to read a bigger book! As we've been a little slow choosing the book we are going to push it back to May to give people enough chance to read it.
May 28th - Long Walk to Freedom: The autobiography of Nelson Mandela
Aug 27th - Crow Road - Iain Banks
Book List
April - Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
May - The Marrying of Chani Kuffman by Eve Harris (booker long list)
June - Their eyes were watching God - Zora Neale Hurston
Pub Club
Bookclubbers at the pub, plain and simple.
December Book Club — Christmas Special book swap
Hello Book Clubbers
Our last book 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being' by Milan Kundera provoked huge amounts of discussion and strong emotions! A book that was totally life changing for some and a waste of a week for others!
Christmas at Book Club
It is now time to talk about Christmas! We’ll be having our Book Club Christmas special on Wednesday 11th December, 7.30 at the Crucible Corner. We will be having food and a Christmas book swap. We have booked a table and they are going to give us the menu beforehand (they have not yet emailed it so we will send it in a separate email). The 'Book swap' is simple, bring a book, receive a book. A few rules; it must be a book you would like someone to read rather than one you just want to get rid of, it can't be a previous book club book and it needs to be wrapped. If you would like to join us then please let us know and we can add you to the list. Normal Book Club resumes in January. If you haven't been before you are more than welcome to turn up for the Christmas one.
The Big Book
This is an extra book club that happens every 3-4 months on the 4th wednesday of the month. It gives us a chance to read a bigger book!
January 22nd - A Tale of two Cities by Charles Dickens
Pub Club
Bookclubbers at the pub, plain and simple. Next one is THIS Saturday 30th November, 8pm at the Red Deer pub in town.
Film Club
Film club last Friday was great. 'The Usual Suspects' and 'Airplane' turned out to be a great combination! Next is Sunday 8th December - Watching the new Dracula film at the Showroom cinema in town, 2.00pm. Click here to book your ticket.
New Book List
January - The day of the triffids by John Wyndham
February - Death of a Red Heroine by Qui Xiaolong
March - Perfume by Patric Suskind
April - Of mice and men by John Steinbeck
Facebook Page
Make sure you visit our Book Club facebook page and 'like' it here. You can also keep up to date with current books, events and comments from others. Feel free to post your thoughts there and any book recommendations!
Happy Reading! And book wrapping!
Rachel & Emily
November Book Club — ‘The Unbearable Lightness of Being’ by Milan Kunder
Hello Book Clubbers
Thanks to all who came away for the Whitby weekend. It was a roaring success and I think everyone would agree we had a great time.
Here are details of this month, big book, Christmas and new books on the list.
Next Book club is Wednesday 13th November, 7.30, at Crucible Corner, Tudor square. We're reading 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being' by Milan Kundera. Juxtaposing Prague, Geneva, Thailand and the United States, a story of irreconcilable loves and infidelities. Milan Kundera addresses himself to the nature of twentieth-century 'Being' In a world in which lives are shaped by irrevocable choices and by fortuitous events, a world in which everything occurs but once, existence seems to lose its substance, its weight. We feel, says the novelist, 'the unbearable lightness of being' - not only as the consequence of our private acts but also in the public sphere, and the two inevitably intertwine. (apparently!)
The Big Book
This is an extra book club that happens every 3-4 months on the 4th wednesday of the month. It gives us a chance to read a bigger book!
NEXT WEEK - October 23rd - Ulysses by James Joyce. There has been some raised eyebrows at this choice, however it was chosen as a lot of people would at least like to have a go at reading it. For this session, not finishing it or not even starting it and just turning up to see what it's all about is allowed. (For a cheats guide, visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3810193.stm)
January 22nd - A Tale of two Cities by Charles Dickens
Christmas at Book Club
It is now time to talk about Christmas! We'll be having our Book Club Christmas special onWednesday 11th December, 7.30 at the Crucible Corner. We will be having food and a Christmas book swap. We have booked a table and they are going to give us the menu beforehand. The 'Book swap' is simple, bring a book, receive a book. A few rules; it must be a book you would like someone to read rather than one you just want to get rid of, it can't be a previous book club book and it needs to be wrapped. If you would like to join us then please let us know and we can add you to the list.
I'm sure we'll be having a Christmas edition of Pub club, watch this space!
Pub Club
Bookclubbers at the pub, plain and simple. This happens quite regularly so check out the Facebook page or ask at book club for the next date.
New Book List
13th Nov - The Unbearable Lightness of Being - Milan Kindera
11th Dec - Christmas meal at Crucible Corner (That's not a book title!) and maybe a play that is optional to read that we can go to see at the theatre in the new year? We will also be repeating the Christmas book swap.
January - The day of the triffids by John Wyndham
February - Death of a Red Heroine by Qui Xiaolong
March - Perfume by Patric Suskind
April - Of mice and men by John Steinbeck
Happy Reading.
Rachel & Emily