I Can Jump Puddles

Book club held Monday 7th December at Colleen's.

ELISE 6
Claiming to be a lady of leisure she had no excuse not to finish the book but had to force
herself. She had read it years ago but had forgotten it. Didn't like the style of writing,
didn't flow. She liked some bits, it was a nice story.

SANDRA 6
This was an easy read but took me a long time to read it.
Could not get involved in the story. OK

TAHNEE 6
Liked it. Thought most people would be able to identify with the
story line of things you did when kids. She likened it to her
own childhood of riding through the bush on her horse. She
liked the hiden references to religion that at the time of
writing could not be clearly stated.

ELIZABETH 7

Thought the book was slow but good. It also took her back to
childhood and the things she got up to. Thought the
relationship with his father was quirky. The book didn't
evenly flow. Was very Australian. Not very dramatic.
It conjured up memories of childhood that she just had
to get out of her system before she lost them again.

DEBBIE 51/2

Just finished by the skin of her teeth. DOES NOT LIKE
ANIMAL STORIES. Ignore the fact that this was not
an animal book but had referenc to some animals.
Debbie read the whole book just waiting with bated
breath for some tradedy to befall the characters in
the story, particular poor little Andy.

LESLIE

Leslie is a bad girl. Leslie is a slack tart. Leslie did not read
the book. Leslie has promised a report next meeting.
BAD LESLIE

KERRY 7

Found it interesting to read a book with an author from another
era as aposed to the books we have read from recent times.
Liked the hospital scene, how life was very regimented back
then. Very different to how it would be now.Thought it a brave
write about what happened to the boy and how he overcame
the difficulties in his life.

TRILBY-ROUX 6

Read the book as a child, only got half way re reading it. Like the
childhood part, agian could relate it to her own childhood. Trying to
convince herself that it will be ok to let Eleanor Daisy run wild
with no idea of where she is or what she is doing. The world is safe.
Thought he was an honest writer but was the book sanitised for the
reader. Thought it was a series of little stories.

MEG 5

Did not finish book, has 30 pages to go. Found it very easy to read, not very
challenging. A bit 'negh'? Thought it was very rote but will finish it where
with the others she could not finish them. Feels it is a bit disjointed. It
felt like it was her grandpa telling her a story. Light and easy but not enough
energy.

COLLEEN 9

Well you would think that the members of the book club, being very
intellectual type of people would show some respect for the hostess with
the mostess and not be rude to her. The said hostess has read the book
and liked it very much. I think I am qualified to report. I find this author
very true with his writing and his discriptive ability to bring to lif a charactor
or place is superior to his peers. The book comes to life with his ability to tell
a story. I love the discriptive pieces about the bush and his ordinary day
to day happenings. I have read most of his works and enjoyed them all.

I might add, even if you did not like the book that this story has been translated
in aprox. 23 languages, only surpassed by the bible. Alan Marshall has won ]
many literary awards for his writings so he must be doing something right and
appaling.

ROSS

Very bloody noisy.

Next meeting, first Tuesday 2nd. Februay 2009 at Leslie's place 16 Wattle Valley Road Mt. Evelyn. The Book is The Tenderness of Wolvesby Stef Penney.


March meeting is at Debbie's. The book is Welcome Silence by Carol North.

Thank you ladies, the lovely evening had by all.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

we welcomed 2 newcomers tonight... Elise (-sorry you werent in the pic-)and Isis ,now officially our youngest attendee

the night was a hot one however the group rated the book somewhat coolly.
overall the feeling was that the author didn't deliver what the cover described. It was generally thought to be a "holiday"type read, whose characters struggled to grasp the readers attention.
It was felt the story line waffled on too long, however there was some discussion on the political situation in sri Lanka and how cultural racism is something that can perpetrate into new environments and possibly stop integration in a new country.

colleen .. 6.5 ...good holiday read.....characters soft and uninteresting
meg .......3.........fliffy and fluffy( her words) and far too descriptive.
trillby......6.........enjoyable but slow
liz.............-.........tried to get book failed and what can she say 2 kids...say no more......
debbie.....-.........is struggling to be back in the real world...that's what happens when you go on holiday to amazing destinations...............half your luck
sandra.....7.........easy read....disappointiong ending
tahnee.....5.........easy read....thought provoking on political issues
leslie.........8.5.....couldn't make it however enjoyed the book and actually finished it as well ..
kerry........6........was looking forward to reading this one however found it a bit lacking in substance and found the characters quite depressing...



Next Book Club will be at Colleen's- chandler road Seville..second Tuesday December 8th.

next book is ........ I can jump puddles....Alan Marshall

October Meeting

Thank you for coming over tonight ladies it was very enjoyable, although we didnt really have many healthy treats!!!! Oh well lucky it is only once a month :)
We had plenty of laughs at Colleen's expense and Leslie even shed a few tears (from laughter!!)
So the book, Edgar Sawtelle - overall most people enjoyed it with two exceptions, however they both werent available tonight to share why. We believe it was to do with the story being heavily involved with dogs.

The results.....tonight the .5 and .25's were featured

Tahnee - 6.5 / 10 Great read and really liked it

Colleen - 7/10 Flowed well and had a great story line

Trilby - 7/10 found it really beliveable

Kerry - 7.5 / 10 enjoyed it and kept interest but didnt like the ending

Leslie - 7.25 sorry 7/ 10 enjoyable but long in places

Kara - 8.5/10 very interesting

Sandra - 7/10 very enjoyable

Meg - 2/10 Hated it!

Debbie - didnt like it either

Elizabeth - naughty naughty hasnt read it :)

The average score being 6.5.

Next month is a Kerry's house in Seville and the book is Brixton Beach by Roma Tearne. See you all then :)

and the book for November is...

Brixton Beach- Roma Tearne

Our November meeeting will be at Kerry's in Seville - see you all at Sandra's for Octobers debrief - Tahnee

yay for the updated blog...the next one is a big one... so get to it early

Better late than never

Right so finally getting around to the update for the book club which was at my place on the 2nd September. The book was Time Traveller's wife.

Overall the group enjoyed the book to varying degrees but there seemed to be a general consensus that the author could have done more with the storyline, that the plot was a bit confusing, none of us understood why he had to lose his feet and overall a little bit blah. In particular, people thought the following:

Colleen - 5/10 - Easy read but boring

Liz - 7/10 - Liked it but it could have been more. Inviting and encouraging, glad I visualised Henry as Brad Pitt and romantic

Tahnee - 4/10 - Nice read

Sandra - 5/10 - Bit blah and confusing

Deb - 6.5/10 - Enjoyable but gave me a headache

Meg - 7/10 - Liked it but unfilled potential

Leslie (who didn't finish reading it so...............) 7/10 so far and looking forward to finishing it. Lacking some spice

Trilby - 4/10 - like a romantic comedy

Cara now has a black mark against her name for not reading it and has promised that she will read the next one. :)

And the next book is (drumroll please............)

"The Story of Edgar Sawtelle" - by David Wroblewski and will be at Sandra's house in Seville. If you don't know the address please text Tahnee (as I think that I have already lost it!!!!)

Happy reading everyone and see you on the 6th October. Wishing Deb safe travels to America as well

The update is bloody coming so stop nagging me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will put in on tonight when I get home now that I can access this site.

Oh and Colleen I would love to be at home doing nothing but am sadly working so :P.

Meggggggggggggggggg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where is the update. I asked Trilby if there was suposed to be an update on the blog and she said yes, Meg is suposed to do it. So slack tart where is it. You are at home sitting on your ought doing naught, so no excuses.

August Meeting

Another successful meeting. Lots of discussion around parenting, family life, gender relations, breastfeeding, rape and all other sorts of polite conversation! The group seemed to be slightly less unruly this month and a talking jug was only required a few times.

A big welcome to our new members - Sandra and Debbie. Though Debbie seemed somehow to be less of a person after the meeting...

This book seemed to be generally better received then The White Tiger, and general comments were that people enjoyed reading it and didn't feel they had to plow through the book. The average rating was 6.8 (Let's call it 7, shall we?)

Individual scores were as follows
Toot - 6/10 - Enjoyed it. Confronting but real

Colleen - 3/10 - Didn't seem real, felt contrived

Liz - Bad girl twice over, but at least she was there!

Leslie - By a group vote, it was decided she was piss weak.

Kerry - 5/10 Labourious - kept waiting for something else to happen.

Debbie - 7/10 Easy to read, enjoyed the chapter character changes and flow. Felt 'real'

Cara - 8/10 Enjoyed it.

Meg - 6/10 Caught and kept my attention

Trilby - 7/10 Enjoyed it

Sandra - Slightly bad member - redeemed herself with sticky date pudding. Based on halfway through the book - 6/10.

We had waaay to much food, didn't help that I had made 3 lots of different stuff. I think a plate per person will be more than enough for next month.

A special mention for Meg, looking beautiful with her 'well loved Teddy' do. She seems to be having issues with her nouns - quote " I don't ever refer to my *facial expression* as one of them when I'm doing THAT". See if you can work that one out!

The next book is 'The Time Travellers Wife' by Audrey Niffenegger and the next meeting is held at Meg's house in Wonga Park (let me know if you need the address). I got this book for $21.50 from fishpond.com.au if anyone is interested - aprox 5 days for shipping.


See you there on the 1st September@ 7.30pm.

Thanks for coming and for the lively discussion and for ensuring that my house is clean for once! I look forward to next months - Trilby xx

Questions to get you thinking: The Slap

Hiya all,

The date for the next one is 4th August.


Here's some questions on "The Slap" to get the old brain boxes working

Did the book make you question your immediate response of Harry slapping Hugo?

How does Rosie breastfeeding affect your opinion of her?

Do you think the author deliberately chose to have multiple nationalities represented at the BBQ (Vietnamese, Aboriginal, Greek, Indian)?

How does the groups reaction to 'The Slap' represent political correctness in today's society?

Is the promiscuity and drug-taking Representative of middle class Australia?

Feel free to add other questions to get us thinking.

The Next Book is...

July Meeting

The first First Tuesday Book Club Meeting

thanks tahnee great night and good discussion.kerry

July Meeting

Matilda, our youngest member, did someone get her vote?

The Talking Jug, as in if you're holding it you get to talk, not as in we have a milk jug at our house that can talk.

The White Tiger - 5/10 - July Meeting

Well... what can I say. You girls certainly weren't backwards in coming forwards and everyone was more than happy to express their opinion - which is what made it work! Unfortunately, for our inaugural meeting it appears this first book wasn't the most popular amongst our discerning readers as reflected in the scores below, the average rating being 5/10.

Trilby - 6/10 Made her think about issues such as political, family etc

Cara - 5/10 Made her uncomfortable

Leslie - Hadn't read it tsk tsk but snuck in anyway.

Meg - 4/10 Wasn't easy to read, and didn't flow well.

Colleen - 4/10 Didn't think it was particularly well written.

Kerry - 5/10 Wouldn't have selected it to read, likes that book club makes you read diff. choices.

Elizabeth - 5/10 Wasn't easy to read as didn't like the characters

Tahnee - 4/10 In no rush to read again, however, would still recommend it as it made me think.

The conservative ratings didn't stop discussion flowing thick and fast and the talking jug was introduced in an effort to control the uncontrollable (you know who you are).

The next book is 'The Slap' by Christos Tsiolkas and the next meeting will be on the first Tuesday of August at Trilby's house 7.30pm.

Thank you all for coming and contributing - Tahnee

http://bookseer.com/

Try this if you're stuck for where to source that next book : )

2 starter questions

A few additional questions;
(1) was there a point in the story that 'hooked' you, you may've just been reading up untill that point, then you thought it's got me in now, what was that moment?
(2) do you still 'like' Balram even after you know what he has done, and why?

Questions to get you thinking: White Tiger

Hello all,

If you're anything like me, your mind is a wee bit rusty on thinking about books critically.

Here's some questions that might help to get the thought process going!

The questions contain spoilers; so don't read on if you haven't read the book.

The author chose to tell the story from the provocative point of view of an exceedingly charming, egotistical admitted murderer. Do Balram's ambition and charisma make his vision clearer? More vivid? Did he win you over?

Balram blames the culture of servitude in India for the stark contrasts between the Light and the Darkness and the antiquated mind set that slows change. Discuss his rooster coop analogy and the role of religion, the political system, and family life in perpetuating this culture. What do you make of the couplet Balram repeats to himself: "I was looking for the key for years / but the door was always open"?

Did you feel Balram was justified in killing Ashok?

Balram's thoughts of his family initially hold him back from killing Ashok. What changes his mind? Why do you think he goes back to retrieve Dharam at the end of the novel? Does his decision absolve him in any way?


The novel reveals an India that is as unforgiving as it is promising. Do you think of the novel, ultimately, as a cautionary tale or a hopeful one?

Hope that helps and doesn't give you to many awful highschool flashbacks.
Just to note I am a superwoman as I am typing one-handed whilst breastfeeding,

See you in a couple of weeks!

Hello All,

This month's book is The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga and we are meeting at my house at 7.30pm on Tuesday the 14th July.