What a great meeting we had on 10 April. Everyone was asked to come along and talk about their favourite books – and what a range of books they were!
Some books brought back memories of childhood, like Black Beauty, and the contributor says that she read it aloud to her children and to their children. One of her grandchildren was crying at a particularly sad part. She said, ‘Please carry on reading Granny, so long as you tell me that it all ends happily in the end.’ Others talked about books their children read like Dr Seuss, whose book The Lomax (1971), was singled out because of its clear environmental message before its time. For another family, Harry Potter wins the day hands down. They quote passages to each other and have HP memorabilia in every room in the house. And did you know that the Chalet School series went from 1 to 58, the pupils growing older as the series progressed?
Other admired authors include Tracy Chevalier, Helen Fielding, Thomas Hardy, Harper Lee and Sophie Kinsella. Thomas Hardy had recommendations from two people: one for Far From the Madding Crowd and the other for Jude the Obscure.
The book which seemed to pique possibly the most interest was A Scandalous Life by Jane Digby. The fascinating book describes the life of an English aristocrat, famous for her racy love life and lifestyle. Not bad for a woman born in 1807 in Norfolk who ended up living in Damascus with her fourth, much younger, husband who was an Arab sheik.
A meeting that was stimulating and fun: thanks to everyone who contributed.