Adjectives that come to mind when I think of Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart: devastating, heartbreaking, ruthless, brutal, distressing. And yet, in the last sentence of the book, I glimpsed hope. The last sentence made me cry, the only time I shed tears despite all the shocking events of the previous 430 pages. All those … Continue reading This book could break you
Tag: reading
Fear for Words
Pocket Book Club's first book for 2021 was The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams. I am very pleased to say there is madeira Cake in this book. One of our best hopes for any book is for it to include some delicious food and I got to bake the madeira cake twice due … Continue reading Fear for Words
2020 Wins
2020 was a Cracker! Ok, sure there was a pandemic and general mayhem but on the bright side, Pocket Book Club read some mighty fine books. This is how the votes came in! A yellow or blue dot is a yes vote and a red dot is a 'I like it less' vote. We rarely … Continue reading 2020 Wins
From Castration to Dissection to Rescue
It is the first Saturday of the month and time for 6 degrees of separation as hosted by Kate at Books Are My Best and Favourite. A book is chosen as a starting point and linked to six other books to make a chain. This month starts with Murmur by Will Eaves. I have never heard of this … Continue reading From Castration to Dissection to Rescue
Strange & Norrell
Some books are like a feather bed. Not that they lull you to sleep. More a case of falling into them like a comfortable dream. If you love a book as much as a feather bed you should not ask your book club to read it. You may hope they will also be dreamily enthralled. … Continue reading Strange & Norrell
# 6 degrees to bad boys
A day late on Sunday but here I am participating in #6degrees hosted by Kate at booksaremybestandfavourite We begin this month with the French Lieutenant's Woman by John Fowles. I have never done this before, but whatever, it's hot and its Sunday so I googled "books similar to... " it's a thing right? For when … Continue reading # 6 degrees to bad boys
# 6 degrees from Rebellious Boys to Naughty Girls
It's time for s #6degrees hosted by Kate at booksaremybestandfavourite. "The Outsiders," by SE Hinton is one of those books people read in English class. Is that right? Not me. I read it long, long ago because I wanted to, not because I had to. The first book I remember being 'set' for English was Alan Marshall's autobiography … Continue reading # 6 degrees from Rebellious Boys to Naughty Girls
Two Books, One Story
There have been tears at my desk. The apparently easy migration from wordpress.com to self hosted wordpress.org has been fraught. Every step has been a drama. I don't know why. As the result, I have two Pocket Bookclub events to write about. Tim Winton's, The Shepherd's Hut and Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton. Lucky … Continue reading Two Books, One Story
Fossicking at Bryon Writers Festival
Why go to writers festivals? Because you love books and ideas. Now I have returned from the Bryon Writers Festival, I want to sift through the stories and make a record of the gems. There were lots of shining gems. But all I have is this mixed together mash-up. Nikki Gemmel describing the tender police … Continue reading Fossicking at Bryon Writers Festival
What are your favourite books?
What are your best all time most favourite books? It's hard to choose, right? There are a lot to choose from but it is also a moving feast. If I commit to a top 10 and then find another sweet love which one to do I throw off of the list? So, as of June … Continue reading What are your favourite books?