"10:04" by Ben Lerner (3 May, 2017)

A small turnout to discuss The First Stone by Helen Garner but there was a very lively discussion of the motifs of power, sexuality, age and privilege.  Made for very enjoyable and warm evening.

The next book is 10:04 by Ben Lerner at The All Nations thanks to Mark and Tom for the suggestion.

"The First Stone" by Helen Garner (1 March, 2017)

Great turnout for our last book, Bruce Pascoe's Dark Emu, Black Seeds, with a really lively and thoughtful discussion about aboriginal and white history, the place of aboriginal agriculture alongside western land use in Australia and a lot more besides.  I worked hard to get this book up and I'm thrilled it was a success.

Our next book is Helen Garner's The First Stone which will be back at The All Nations on March 1.

"Dark Emu, Black Seeds" by Bruce Pascoe (1 February, 2017)

Fantastic and lively discussion of our last book, Amongst Women by John McGahern, in fact we wondered whether it was one of the longest discussions about a book that we'd had.  Quinn made a great comment about Moran, the father and central character in the book, saying that he was in "paternalistic overdrive" – nice.  Mark said that McGahern's writing was especially good because he used suggestion rather than description.

The book charts the slow decline of an ill-tempered father's despotic command of his family.  The girls in particular seem inexplicably willing to tolerate and excuse his wild mood swings and sullen behaviour.

There is a 4-part series from the BBC based on the book made in 1998.  There's also an interview with him here.

Our next book is one that I've been putting forward for a few meetings now, Dark Emu, Black Seeds by Bruce Pascoe, a look back at pre-colonial aboriginal society and technology by looking at the records of the first settlers.

Note: due to a clash with RWPS school performance and general business in December, we are going to push the book group meeting for Dark Emu through to February 1, 2017 at the All Nations as usual.

"Amongst Women" by John McGahern (2 November, 2016)

I missed this month's book group but I really enjoyed the book Grief Is The Thing With Feathers by Max Porter.  I thought it was a powerfully written exploration of grief in a family when the mother dies.  The writing is beautiful capturing the interrupted thoughts as recollections intrude on everyday life and introducing a crow as an unwelcome part of family to be the grief, an inspired motif.

The next book is Amongst Women by John McGahern, an acclaimed Irish author and I understand this is his greatest work.

The next meeting will be at The All Nations Hotel at 20:00 on November 2.  See you there!

"Grief Is The Thing With Feathers" by Max Porter (5 October, 2016)

For only the second time since the book group started I had to miss last night's meeting so I'm reporting secondhand.

It would seem that no-one cared for After The Circus although Quinn has directed that I should say:

we thought it was ripper of a read, fast moving, exciting plot, well developed characters highly recommended

Next month's book is Grief Is The Thing With Feathers (2015) by Max Porter. The book was nominated for the Guardian's First Book Award in 2015.

“After The Circus” by Patrick Modiano (7 September, 2016)

Wasn't the biggest turnout at The All Nations but there was one of the longest discussions about any of the books that we've read.  Kang's book is complex and while there are only a handful of characters who features in the book, each has their own peculiar trajectory as the effect of Yeong-hye's breakdown proceeds through the book.  Great choice.

Next month's book is After The Circus (1992) by Patrick Modiano.  He's won the Nobel prize for literature and Kobi says it's good.

“The Vegetarian” by Han Kang (3 August, 2016)

Last month's book, The Fight by Norman Mailer was a great read, vivid and engaging and as Mark said "far and away the best book on boxing that I've ever read."  I thought it was a surprisingly thoughtful book which talked a lot about the world surrounding the boxers and the milieu of the fight in Kinshasa, gave some background of the African man and some tribal customs, of the corruption and inefficiencies of such a nepotistic system of government under Mobutu, and the assorted personalities of the fighters' entourages.  The language in the book reminded me of the best of Hunter S Thompson's work where simple expression and powerful imagery makes the words leap off the page.

I later learnt that there was also a 3 day music festival – Zaire '74 – scheduled for the same time as the fight with many black American and African artists.  The fight was delayed by six weeks because of an injury that Foreman sustained but the concert went ahead and was quite successful.  I don't recall that being mentioned in the book.

Tom suggested this month's book, The Vegetarian by Han Kang, an interesting choice because it's a recent Korean work which won the Booker prize this year.