The Archers Inaugeral Bookclub meeting

Last night Usha hosted the first Ambridge bookclub. Jim arrived early,  kindly brought a bottle of wine, which he opened (to let it breathe) and helped put out the crisps.

There were apologies from Jennifer (a published author we were reminded), Ruth, and Usha’s husband Alan who was away on church business. Joe Grundy came for the nibbles, and brough  Nathan Booth with him; Nathan is enamoured of Sabrina, and agreed to accompany Joe because he thought she would be there, but unfortunately she wasn’t. The other bookclub members last night were Caroline and Richard.

Joe had not read the book – The Suspicions of Mr Whicher, but compensated by regaling the group with a (true) ghost story, though it didn’t seem to matter much, as there seemed to be  remarkably little discussion of the book itself.

All in all, Usha was rather disappointed by her first bookclub meeting, though, as Jim remarked, it has started something culturally in Ambridge, so it wasn’t a disaster, and Jim is cogitating on the next book – knowing his proclivities, my money is on The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire!

vade in pace

Ela

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The Suspicions of Mr Whicher for the Archers bookclub

Usha has chosen The Suspicions of Mr Whicher by Kate Summerscale for her first book club meeting. Usha is still looking for people to join her bookclub, and it seems she is going for a mixed group of men and women. There are three weeks to go before the  first meeting which will be at her house, with soft drinks and nibbles, though people can bring their own wine.

I must say, I think The Suspicions of Mr Whicher is a terrific book choice. I was so keen to read it that (unheard of for me) I bought it in hardback at full price. I took it to France and read it on rainy days in Perpignan; I was not disappointed, but I’m a sucker for Victorian true crime, especially when its written as well as this.

The book is out in paperback now, and I’m guessing plenty of Archers fans will read it hoping Usha and her group will discuss it on air. 

Yours in anticipation

Happy reading

Ela

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