January 2017: Number 11 by Jonathan Coe

January's book was Number 11 by Jonathan Coe, and we met in Crawley to discuss it.

An intriguing story which provoked much animated talk, particularly of the ending and people's dissatisfaction, or otherwise, with the direction that the narrative went in.

The references to popular culture and our media-saturated world were appreciated, and the nature of the interconnected character stories; though inevitably there were preferences for different characters.

The moments of the 'menu heads' were much commented upon!

Thank you to Jane for hosting.

2016 Book Titles

Here is the 2016 list of books, which took us past 100 in total, and also saw the tenth anniversary of the group. Two original members remain (though we started small with only three of us).

98. Waiting for Sunrise by William Boyd
99. All the Light We Cannot See by Antony Doerr
100. Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
101. Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
102. A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James
103. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
104. The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
105. Restoration by Rose Tremain
106. The Reader on the 6.27 by Jean-Paul Didierlaurent
107. The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton
108. Longbourn by Jo Baker

Year of Wonders was my personal favourite this year, but actually, what a list. Only one dud, and I'm not mentioning any names.

December 2016 Longbourn by Jo Baker

This meeting was our tenth anniversary, and took place in Billingshurst with a celebratory Christmas meal.

Generally members enjoyed the connections with Pride and Prejudice, and felt that after a not very engaging start the plot picked up and added some interesting new dimensions to interpretations of Austen, particularly in relation to Mr and Mrs Bennett.

November 2016: The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

We all agreed that The Miniaturist lacked something and the plot became a bit preposterous – but we liked the setting in 17^th century Amsterdam. Thanks to Dawn for hosting the November meeting.

Compiled by Jessie Burton and Francesca Main, Editorial Director at Picador

1. How would you describe the sense of place in The Miniaturist, and how
does the novel present seventeenth century Amsterdam?
2. What does the gift of the cabinet house symbolise to Nella in terms of her
marriage to Johannes and her own status?
3. The Brandt household is full of secrets. Which made the biggest
impression on you and why?
4. Did your attitude to the characters remain consistent throughout the
novel, or did your loyalties shift as you kept reading? Which character
provoked the strongest reaction from you?
5. How would you describe Nella’s relationship with Marin? In what ways do
they con􀏐lict, and are they more alike than they think?
6. What do you think was the most signi􀏐icant cause of the Brandt’s downfall?
7. Do you think the miniaturist is a magical force or a human one? What is
the most important thing that Nella learns from her?
8. To what extent do you think Nella was in control of her own fate, or was
she at the mercy of those around her?
9. How did seventeenth century Dutch society view women, and how

different is life for women today?

The Reader on the 6.27: October 2016

Our October meeting took place in Horsham. The Reader on the 6.27 was enjoyed unanimously. Particularly, we agreed that the characterisation and ending were especially good. It had the surreal feeling of the film Amelie, and it was enjoyable to read something where, for most of the time, you are disarmed by not knowing in what direction it is headed next.

2013 Book Titles

A little out of chronological order, but in the interests of record keeping (and because I am trying to work out what would have been our 100th book!), here are 2013's book club books.

January - The Stranger's Child by Alan Hollinghurst
February - The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
March - The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
April - The Pregnant Widow by Martin Amis
May - Arthur and George by Julian Barnes
June - Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
July - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
October - March by Geraldine Brooks
December - We Need New Names by Noviolet Bulawayo

Restoration by Rose Tremain September 2016

As the summer holiday draws to a close, at least book club is on the horizon - and an interesting character, Merivel, in Restoration by Rose Tremain is up for discussion. This month's meeting will be in Horsham on Monday September 12th; thank you to Hazel for sourcing the questions.

1. Merivel says that he “no longer lives in an honourable age. What has dawned instead is the Age of Possibility.” What does he mean by this?
2. Merivel’s discovery that the human heart itself does not have any feeling troubles him throughout the book. How does this idea of the heart as unfeeling influence him? How do his thoughts about the heart change?
3. Why does Merivel start his story five times? What is the effect?
4. Merivel claims to be “a man of his time,” but in many ways he seems ahead of his time—from his idea of evolution to his impressionist style of painting. What do you make of this?
5. There are multiple cases where Merivel compares the King to God. In what ways is the King a god-figure for Merivel? Do his ideas about the King change?
6. Merivel prays to “no longer be Merivel, the Fool, but to be Merivel, the proper man.” What is his definition of a proper man? What inspires this change of heart?
7. In his quest to be “useful,” Merivel tries many different occupations, from artist to Overseer of the poor to physician at Whittlesea. What does he gain from each of these occupations?
8. Why does Merivel pursue Katherine? Does he truly love her? How do his feelings for her change as the relationship progresses?
9. Merivel is a committed womanizer, but in a twist of fate he is given a daughter instead of the son he thought he would have. Do you think Margaret will change his ways?
10. Rosie Pierpont warns Merivel of seeing the King again, lest he live his life in a circle. Yet at the end of the novel he is again installed at Bidnold, back in the King’s graces. Has he made any progress or has he fulfilled Rosie’s fears?
11. Merivel believes himself to be in love with Celia, but might we argue that perhaps the deep loves of his heart are in fact for Pearce and the King? What set of values does each of these two men represent for Merivel, and in what ways does he find himself caught between them?