If you love reading books and want to share your thoughts and opinions with like minded people then this is the place for you.
We are a friendly and informal readers group based in Birmingham. We try to meet once a month (approx) in a city centre pub. The book and pub are chosen by a different person each time. Discussion tends to start with the book then become more wide ranging.
Contact Jag.Sembi@Blueyonder.co.uk
We're currently reading 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' by Stieg Larsson. Meeting on March the 5th Venue to be decided.
Hello,
We're reading 'Death at Intervals' by Jose Saramago.
Meeting on 2nd April - Venue TBC.
Please get in touch if you want to join in. :-)
Thanks to Cat and Jen for attending the meeting :-)
I think there were mixed feelings about Albert and Emily. I enjoyed the second part of the book rather than the first. It was an interesting read though.
The Red Lion in the Jewellery Quarter was an excellent choice - we must go there again.
The next book is Nocturnes: Five Stories of Music and Nightfall by Kazuo Ishiguro.
The next meeting is Thursday June 18th venue to be decided. :-)
Hello All,
A big thank you to all who attended the meeting last night and a warm welcome to Natasha for her first visit. :-)
We discussed 'Nocturnes' by Kazuo Ishiguro. Generally we liked it but felt that the short story format didn't fully satisfy.
The next book is 'The Other Hand' by Chris Cleave. This book is quite cheap from Amazon.
The next meeting is planned for Thursday July 16th.
A big thank you to all that attended. :-)
It was great to see Claire after a long time too. :-)
Hope everyone else is well - heard Jen might have got the flu - if so hope the affects aren't too serious and you get well soon.
The Red Lion is a nice pub but last night the music got too loud and I couldn't hear a word anybody was saying - hopefully I nodded and laughed at the appropriate moments. :-)
It's fair to say the 'Other Hand' by Chris Cleave got a mixed response. Some liked it and others didn't.
I felt a bit short changed by the blurb at the back saying 'don't tell anyone what happens' etc. and even though what happens is tragic it was not life changing or all that awe inspiring.
The next book is 'A Beginner's Guide to Acting English' by Shappi Khorsandi. A biography a first for the book group I think.
The next meeting is planned for Thursday August 27th.
Will see some of you at the Glee Club in a couple of weeks - I will post the details about the night nearer the time.
Jag. :-)
Hi Birmingham book group, have you guys come across BookClub Magazine? It's full of great reading suggestions, check out wisedogbooks.co.uk where you can order a copy, it's only £3 or even less if you subscribe. Lucy.
Hi Lucy,
I've not seen the BookClub Magazine - will check it out. :-)
Please have a look at the Yahoo Group site at http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/Birm_bookgroup
Hope you enjoyed yesterdays meeting and I hope it wasn't too much of an ordeal. It was great to finally meet you.
See you next time. :-)
Jag.
Hi,
A big thank you to all that attended.
A warm welcome to Lucy on her first meeting - I hope it wasn't too much of an ordeal.
It's great to meet someone else that's read some graphic novels. ;-)
I liked the 'Old Contemptibles' pub - we must go there again - good old fashioned atmosphere and a great selection of real ales. :-)
Mixed opinions about Shappi Khorsandi's book. A good choice however as it provoked quite a discussion.
The next book is 'The Road Home' by Rose Tremain - there are loads for sale at £3.75 at GreenMetropolis.com.
The next meeting is planned for Thursday 24th September.
Hope to see you then.
Jag :-)
Hello Everyone,
A big thank you to all that attended last night. :-)
I think it can be safe to say we all enjoyed 'The Road Home' by Rose Tremain.
The next book is 'Remarkable Creatures' by Tracey Chevalier. It's nearly half price on Amazon.
The next meeting is planned for 5th of November.
Hopefully see you then.
Regards,
Jag
Hello All,
A big thank you to Cat, Emily, Jade and Jo for attending last night. :-)
It was a good evening Jade made us laugh as always and I think I've discovered Emily is not a huge Steig Larsson fan. ;-)
I think 'Remarkable Creatures' was pretty well received by most.
We couldn't decide which book to suggest next. The contenders were 'An English Journey' by J.B. Priestley - it's quite expensive on Amazon at £18, and 'The Children's Book" by A.S. Byatt for £8.99. The paperback is not due till 2010 sometime.
So for price alone I would go for A.S. Byatt. Please let me know what you would prefer to read.
We thought about meeting on the Decemeber 10 - for a meal and to go see Chritmas Carol 3D at Cine World on Broad Street.
Any suggestions as to where to eat before hand? - I can phone and book places - please let me know about your choice for the next book and place to eat by Wednesday next week.
Thanks.
Jag. :-)
Hi,
The next book is 'Sacred Hearts' by Sarah Dunant, currently £3.86 on Amazon!
The next meeting is Thursday 11th March, venue to be decided.
A big thanks to everyone that attended the last meeting :-)
Jag.
Dear Birmingham Book Group
We're looking for Book Groups to review books for us on our Penguin Readers' site. If you're interested, please email readers@uk.penguingroup.com. We will give you a book (a book each, don't worry) to review and this will be posted up on our site. We are looking for reviewers for June/July if you would like to go ahead. It sounds as if you've got eclectic taste.
Editor
Penguin Readers' Group
Hello Everyone,
Firstly a big big thank you to Cat, Natasha and Lucy for coming along to the meeting. J
The Victoria was an excellent choice. J
Hope you’re feeling better Ali.
We all enjoyed the book as it was something we would not have picked up and read – well I wouldn’t have anyway – so a great a choice by Jo.
It was well written, had it’s own pace, the characters were excellent. Loved the politics and it wasn’t too heavy on the religious side. It kept you wanting to know what was going to happen next in its own gently way. J
As for the next book – we’ve read quite a few heavy-ish books recently so a total change was asked for.
The next book is “The Unwritten” by The Unwritten (Vol. 1) : Tommy Taylor and the Bogus Identity by Mike Carey and Peter Gross a graphic novel :-o
You can buy this for £5 on Amazon – if people have serious objection to reading this then please say and we can go for another book. It’s not a big read so it will give you time to read your own stuff till the next meeting.
The next meeting is set for April 22nd.
Jag.
Hello All,
A big thank you to Jen, Natasha (thanks for the lift), Emily and Lucy for attending the meeting last night. :-)
Loved the Lord Clifden - must go there again. :-)
I think the general consensus regarding 'The Haunting of Hill House' by Shirley Jackson was that it was well liked. The horror creeps up on you slowly and you don't see the end coming as it did.
The next book is "The Beggar Maid: Stories of Flo and Rose" by Alice Munro.
We're meeting next on July the 29th.
We might go for a meal in Moseley or Kings Heath as a Book Group Outing if people are up for it?
See you soon.
Regards,
Jag.
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