February 2014
Half of the
Human Race by Anthony Quinn
There were a wide variety of opinions
on this book. The males among us thought that we learnt something of
the Suffragette movement from it. One person thought it was boring
and did not read it, another picked it up when she was stuck for
something to read. The two good characters were Tamurlain and Connie,
though if they had got together one wonders if she could have made
something of him, and got him off the drink. Will was a weak, sort
of upper class wishy-washy character who is rejected by Connie three
times until the end of the book, when she settles for him, but by that time you
don't care any more. I thought that it was a three aspect story with
Cricket, suffragism, and the war all having their part. Interesting
thought that the cricket was a contrast to the Women's fight for the
vote.
Connie's father had been a forward
thinking fellow to allow his daughter her freedom to pursue medicine,
and we wish she could have become a doctor.
Will was a bit of a weak character, he
was not liked much, until after the war when he improved. There is
some confusion about his status within the cricket club. Was he a
Gentleman or a Player?
6 read it, the grade was 6 +/- 2
Saturday March 1, 2014 - Telegraph book of the week:- Perfect by Rachel Joyce
And what Elena Seymenliyska has to say about Harold Fry. We await our reading group review.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/10132028/Perfect-by-Rachel-Joyce-review.html
The unlikely pilgrimage of Harold Fry
Harold Fry has a lonely life on the south coast. He and his wife stopped communicating years ago. They remain polite and care for each other, but have not really spoken for years. A letter arrives telling Harold that Queenie, a former colleague who left the area years previously, is dying in a hospice in Berwick. We gradually learn of the former friendship between Harold and Queenie, never more than a friendship, and the fact that Queenie had once made a sacrifice on Harold's behalf that Harold has never acknowledged. Full of remorse and emotion, Harold writes to Queenie and heads out to post the letter. He is wearing yachting shoes, and, fortunately, has his wallet with him.
This is the start of his pilgrimage. He never posts the letter, but sends a message to say that he is coming, and that Queenie should "hold on". He has no map, no suitable clothing and no real plan, but heads north. He meets people, is treated kindly, gets lost, sleeps rough and is featured in the newspapers. A following of pilgrims, each with their own needs, is initially a boost but becomes a distressing burden.
His wife, after the initial concern when he failed to return from the post box, gradually comes to admire his resolve. We learn that she believes that Harold has Alzheimer's, and she reflects on their relationship. We learn of their son, intelligent and troubled, who eventually took his own life in Harold's shed, destroying his parent's lives.
Harold eventually reaches Queenie, and at the finish we feel that Harold and his wife may have a better future together.
The book has warmth and humour and a dog. It has cancer and nuns. Gratuitously grim, irritatingly unlikely or a moving portrayal of grief and guilt? The book divided the group, some of whom could admire it but found it too depressing.
The score was 6, which ranged between 2 and 10!
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