Reading group online

The Shirehall Reading group meets once a month to discuss a book they have all read, and give it a star rating up to a maximum of five. Members also pass on recommendations for other books they have either bought themselves or borrowed from their local library. The group has been meeting since 1999, and since that time have shared and given their opinion on well over 100 books from a wide variety of genres.

January 2010

The group met in January 2010 to discuss Home by Julie Myerson.

'Whilst researching for a novel set in the nineteenth century, the author became absorbed in the lives of the generations of people who had previously lived in her own London house. The result? A fascinating and hugely enjoyable social history.'

On the whole, the group was not impressed with this book, rating it only 2 stars. The idea was an unusual one, and there were one or two interesting episodes, but this was not enough to distract from the rather odd way the book was constructed, and the over emphasis on the author's own family and circumstances which tended to get in the way of the history.

Other books read recently and recommended by group members include the following:

The Business of Dying by Simon Kernick
Revelation by C J Sansom
Cesar's Way by Cesar Millan
The Girl who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
Rescue Me by Melissa Wareham
The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
Home by Marilynne Robinson
One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson

February 2010

The group's next meeting will be on 17 February 2010, when they will be discussing Salmon Fishing in the Yemen by Paul Torday.

'A jaded fisheries scientist tasked with introducing salmon to a Yemeni river starts his mission a sceptic, but makes surprising discoveries on the way. A lively and entertaining comedy.'

Further information

If you would like to join in, copies of this book are available through your local library service. Whilst reading, you may like to consider whether the characters are believable, what was the most convincing part of the story, if you have read any similar books and whether you would recommend it.

E-mail your comments, or find out more, by contacting the Senior Librarian, Bibliographical Services by following the link on this page to Bibliographical Services. This will take you to an online e-mail form and full telephone, fax and postal details. Your comments (along with your name if you wish) will be posted on this website.

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