Get reading for Bath W.I. Bookclub!
The Bath WI Bookclub meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 7.30pm. If you’d like to come along, do get in touch – we’d love to see you and are always recruiting new members. Please email us to find out the location of the next meeting (it changes month to month).
We are a recognised book-club with the Bath Library meaning that we can order our members a copy of the book we are currently reading.
If you’d like more information about our Bookclub or to reserve a book from the libary please get in contact with us at thebathwi@gmail.com
Additionally the lovely people at Mr B’s Emporium have offered us a 10% discount on the monthly read – just mention the Bath WI Bookclub. (http://www.mrbsemporium.com/)
Oh! I can’t make it this month, but if someone could let me know which book for next month and the location, i’ll definately make it!! x
Was so sorry not to make it. Would you be able to post your thoughts re the book as I would be v interested to know what you all thought. Also what is the next book? and date?
There was a plea at the meeting last night for a precis of the discussion last week on Andrew Miller’s ‘Pure’…
There was a concensus that whilst the book was an enjoyable read, ultimately it had left us all a little disappointed, failing to meet expectations following ‘Casanova’ and indications within the book itself of where the drama within the story might lead. We felt it fell short on its mystery and intrigue promises – for example, there was an allusion to the fact our hero would regret his moment of violence whilst threatening a man (with a key!) which never really came to pass. Furthermore, we agreed that Miller could (should?) have developed the characters more fully – particularly the women, with perhaps only Jeanne coming through the novel with any development. We wondered whether actually it was a better read for a man?!
On the other hand, Miller did portray well the undercurrents of social unease, which would lead within a few years to the French Revolution and subsequent Terror. He neatly includes Dr Guillotine within the story – showing him as the kindly, benevolent doctor that in life apparently he was (development of the Guillotine was an attempt to make execution, a fact of life at the time, more humane and its excessive use was not supported by its inventor). Also, his depiction of the establishment, of the ‘regime ancien’ with all its eccentricities and excesses was well done and entertaining, together with the allusion to the ‘sans culottes’ artisans who were beginning to show signs of revolution.
The metaphor of the title, the cleansing of the cemetery/of society etc wasn’t lost on us, but we all wondered whether there was something else that we had missed that would have made the novel ‘meatier’? Also, what on earth (excuse the sort-of pun) was it in the cellar that was so mysterious and important to both our hero and his assailant – or was she really just bonkers (and if so, why)?
There was much more, very interesting, enlightened and intellectual discussion – bad luck to those who couldn’t make it – Sarah I hope you ‘see’ your way to the next meeting when we shall be able to have a right old ding-dong on ‘How to be a Woman’, by Caitlin Moran! I look forward to it – date to be confirmed.
VW