Larbert Library Book Group discussion

Greetings everyone, I hope that the Festive Season is treating you well?

I am looking forward to our next meeting, where we will be discussing the comparative merits of these two books, and talking about what makes a book a prize winner. It is not necessary to read both, but if you can then that will add an extra dimension to our discussions.

Again, if anyone is unable to attend, but would still like to comment, please post below, or if you would just like to chat a little bit about the book beforehand :) Remember, no spoilers please :)

~Happy Reading~

Laura

Happy New Year Laura! And to everyone in the book group.

Laura, we had a really good discussion on A Constellation of Vital Phenomena on the 19th. Most of us really thought the book was worthwhile reading though harrowing for this time of year and with the current situation in Aleppo. Thought it was very well written, a few of us mentioned how good he was at using metaphors and how much we liked the fact that he let the readers know exactly what happened to most characters in the future.

The conversation then led to the world situation in general and onto Trump! A scary discussion!

I have finished His Bloody Project and would definitely recommend it to everyone. I will try and read The Sellout before the next meeting once I get a copy.

Off to sit with a cuppa and read a new Luke Smitherd book I downloaded! He's a really good self published writer, love his books!

June :)

Hi June,

Happy New Year to you too :)

I have a couple of copies of The Sellout available behind the counter if you want to come and collect one. I am reading that one at the moment, and would love to get a copy of His Bloody Project too, but they are definitely all out at the moment!

It's interesting that you should be reading a self-published author - I am snaffling a few 2017 Reading Challenge ideas at the moment and one of the suggestions is for a self-published novel :) I shall need to see if I can find some of his stuff.

~Laura

Happy New Year!
I've finished His Bloody Project and will be handing it back on Thursday.

Fantastic! I shall snaffle that copy, thank you :)

I picked up a copy of The Sellout today. I'm afraid I was giving His Bloody Project such a glowing report that my husband has started reading it, but I'll put it back to library the moment he's finished!

Oh and Laura, Luke Smitherd is a goodreads author so should be easy to find. I so love his ideas!

Hi, I finished The Sellout but found it hard going. I skimmed pages and then had to backtrack to find out what he was talking about. There were a few things that made me smile but I won't say what they are for now. I'll be interested in finding out what others thought of it.

I have to admit that I am struggling a little bit with The Sellout so far. Possibly I am a little too distracted by every other book anywhere.... but, I shall set aside quality time to get it read.... at least until a copy of His Bloody Project arrives for me... :)

I have managed to get about a third of the way through The Sellout. Determined to finish it but it's so pretentious!! Laura you will love His Bloody Project!

Laura, I'll be putting back His Bloody Project tomorrow morning so hopefully you can get to read it at last!

That's the book handed back Laura. Happy reading!

Thank you :) I have added it to my pile of must read now books :)

I'm with Elvine on the Sellout. I skimmed through a lot of it and was just racing to finish it. There were some amusing tales but generally I don't get what made this a prize winner. As always it'll be interesting to get everyone else take on it. See you all on Monday Judi

June wrote: "Happy New Year Laura! And to everyone in the book group.

Laura, we had a really good discussion on A Constellation of Vital Phenomena on the 19th. Most of us really thought the book was worthwhil..."

Hi June , I haven't read anything by Luke Smitherd, what would you recommend as a first read?

Hi Elvine, I love all his books. His new one, Kill Someone, though has taken over as my favourite just because it really got me thinking. Do anything, really stuck in my mind too. Most of his books are really quick reads. I think the longest one is the Stone Man. I just really enjoy his ideas.
Judi, I think we will all be in agreement with The Sellout!

Thanks June, I'll put them on my TBR list.