WELCOME TO THE BOOK CLUB
Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
Where a small group of great minds meet periodically to discuss a book selection. A festival of thoughts, lively discussion, gustation and bibation.
The Black Count
Read: March 14th 2025
Selected by Chris W
85%
Solid read. Did a great job of evoking Napoleonic times with some surprising historical revelations
Orbital
Read: Jan 24th 2025
Selected by Ian
63%
The book was intended to conjure up the feeling of eternal orbiting in space. It did a good job. Ultimately, nothing happened.
Outsider
Read: November 7th 2024
Selected by Chris B.
90%
Really enjoyable read. Inspiring, great characters, made for an interesting discussion.
Gates of Fire
Read: Sept. 6th, 2024
Selected by Tim
62%
"It was an impressive book, but I'm not sure any of us really enjoyed it. Incredibly well researched, and would be loved by a historian. Kinda tough going for the layperson."
Kavalier and Klay
Read: June 7th, 2024
Selected by Harry
93%
"What's not to like. It was a really great story, believable characters, and an evocative prose. It was everything you want in a great novel."
The Dog Stars
Read: March 29th, 2024
Selected by Phil
78%
"Thoroughly enjoyable read. We all enjoyed it, but only when we got into a critical discussion did we expose some of the flaws in the book. It's a real "guy" book which seems a tad dated now."
When Paris Sizzled
Read: March 10th, 2024
Selected by Chris W.
48%
"Fascinating topic. Dry interpretation."
A Game of Birds and Wolves
Read: Feb 23rd, 2024
Selected by Chris W.
80%
"Told some stories that were new to all of us. Great descriptions of submarine life in WW2. Rather oversold the role of the WRENS, but a good read. We all enjoyed it."
Laughing with the Trickster
Read: January 12th, 2024
Selected by Ian
61%
"I think it was oversold. There may have been a couple of moments which raised a smile, but it was far from hilarious. Apparently the audio version was better."
The Apollo Murders
Read: Nov 3rd, 2023
Selected by Chris B.
70%
"Sorry, I didn't finish this one. I just didn't really care what happened, even though I got 60 percent of the way through."
Greenwood
Read: Sept 15th, 2023
Selected by Tim
80%
"Some great characters and strong story lines. An enjoyable read and nobody disliked it. Not amazing though given the number of awards."
H is for Hawk
Read: June 23r, 2023
Selected by Harry
82%
"I can imagine this book becoming a must read for anybody who is into birds of prey. But for the rest of us, it's strong, but not great."
Endurance
Read: April 29th, 2023
Selected by Phil
91%
"I think it's a "guy's book". My wife wondered why they went in the first place. But a great story of survival and leadership."
Happy Go Lucky
Read: Feb 10th, 2023
Selected by Ian
90%
"I wish it hadn't ended."
Animal Person
Read: December 2nd, 2022
Selected by Chris B.
72%
"A couple of gems."
Klara and the Sun
Read: Sept. 9th, 2022
Selected by Tim
58%
"Sorry, my selection and I didn't finish it."
Fleishman is in Trouble
Read: June 10th, 2022
Selected by Harry
91%
"A great read. Really enjoyed the TV adaptation and actually tempted to re-read it."
White Tears
Read: March 4th, 2022
Selected by Chris W.
78%
"A novel of two halves."
Watchmen
Read: Dec. 11th, 2021
Selected by Ian
71%
"A difficult book to rate."
Homes
Read: Oct 8th, 2021
Selected by Chris B.
52%
"Great story, poorly written."
Bear Town
Read: Aug 27th, 2021
Selected by Tim
80%
"First author double."
Harvest
Read: June 15th, 2021
Selected by Harry
72%
"Solid selection."
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
Read: Feb. 12th, 2021
Selected by Phil
66%
"A bit of a downer."
De Niro's Game
Read: Nov. 20th, 2020
Selected by Chris W.
81%
"All enjoyed it..."
Monkey Beach
Read: Oct 2nd, 2020
79%
"Our first indigenous selection."
Imagine Me Gone
Read: Aug. 28th, 2020
Selected by Chris B.
73%
"Needed to meet up sooner."
Billion Dollar Whale
Read: May 22nd, 2020
Selected by Tim
73%
"Complicated..."
Visit from the Goon Squad
Read: April 17th, 2020
Selected by Harry
76%
"Needed a flow chart."
A Man Called Ove
Read: March 6th, 2020
Selected by Phil
79%
"A surprise hit."
The Broken Hours
Read: Jan. 24th, 2020
Selected by Chris W.
68%
"Cleverer than I thought."
Beloved
Read: Nov. 8th, 2019
Selected by Ian
62%
"It's a classic."
Father Brown
Read: Sept 20th, 2019
Selected by Chris B.
32%
"A stinker."
On the Beach
Read: July 25th, 2019
Selected by Tim
70%
"Enjoyable, but implausible?"
The Sense of an Ending
Read: June 21st, 2019
Selected by Harry
98%
"Is this the perfect book?"
The Player of Games
Read: March 22nd, 2019
Selected by Chris W.
80%
"We nearly all read it."
Quicksand
Read: Jan. 31st, 2019
Selected by Phil
86%
"Great discussions."
Less
Read: Dec. 7th, 2018
Selected by Ian
80%
"Simply a good book."
Rising Strong
Read: Oct. 12th, 2018
Selected by Chris B.
72%
"Better than we expected."
What We Talk About When We Talk About Love
Read: Sept. 7th, 2018
Selected by Tim
48%
"Not recommended."
The Dinner
Read: June 22nd, 2018
Selected by Harry
87%
"Oooh... Dark."
My Name is Red
Read: June 22nd, 2018
Selected by Tim
66%
"Two strikes..."
Shark Drunk
Read: May 18th, 2018
Selected by Phil
82%
"Ran out of steam."
The Folded Earth
Read: March 30th, 2018
Selected by Chris W.
69%
"A kinda random book."
American Kingpin
Read: Feb. 1st, 2018
Selected by Ian
92%
"One of the best."
Kim
Dec. 9th, 2017
Selected by Chris B.
69%
"Hasn't aged well."
American Pastoral
Read: Aug. 21st, 2017
Selected by Harry
87%
"A classic that still works."
A Brief History of Seven Killings
Read: June 30th, 2017
Selected by Phil
41%
"Ooooh... Dark."
How to Make a Spaceship
Read: April 7th, 2017
Selected by Chris W.
88%
"Opened up a new world."
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Read: Feb. 4th, 2017
Selected by Ian
83%
"Who likes Sci-fi?"
Strong Poison
Read: Jan. 29th, 2017
Selected by Chris B.
70%
"Dated and tired."
Cold Comfort Farm
Read: Dec. 17th, 2016
Selected by Harry
71%
"I didn't finish."
Blood Meridian
Read: Nov. 25th, 2016
Selected by Tim
96%
"Worth persevering."
The Girl Who Was Saturday Night
Read: Oct. 21st, 2016
Selected by Basil
55%
"Just unimpressive writing."
The Narrow Road to the Deep North
Read: Aug. 26th, 2016
Selected by Phil
85%
"Riveting."
Oryx and Crake
Read: June 24th, 2016
Selected by Ian
79%
"Solid Margaret Atwood."
The Orenda
Read: May 13th, 2016
Selected by Chris W.
96%
"Amazing book."
The High Mountains of Portugal
Read:
Selected by Phil
54%
"A rather disappointing read from one of my favourite writers."