December Meetup

Our November meetup showed that we can have very interesting and entertaining discussions about books that aren’t particularly well liked. It’s fair to say Pale Fire fits that category scoring 34 while Murder at the black Cafe garnered a few more admirers in scoring 56

For December we have two relatively recently released books. I’m looking forward to seeing what we make of them

Also, as this is our Christmas meetup we have our traditional Secret Santa excitement to look forward to. So, please bring with you a nicely wrapped book to go into Santa’s sack (or bin bag!) and then see what you get when you select a book! It can be a book you've got at home, a second-hand book but not a brand-new book or one we’ve read with the book club as quite a few people will already have it or have read it.

Please note, with thanks, we appreciate attendees making a contribution of £1.50 at the meeting to help cover meetup charges.

Happy Reading.

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins (nominated by Vaila)

Lydia Perez owns a bookshop in Acapulco, Mexico, and is married to a fearless journalist. Luca, their eight-year-old son, completes the picture. But it only takes a bullet to rip them apart.

In a city in the grip of a drug cartel, friends become enemies overnight, and Lydia has no choice but to flee with Luca at her side. North for the border... whatever it takes to stay alive. The journey is dangerous - not only for them, but for those they encounter along the way.

Who can be trusted? And what sacrifices is Lydia prepared to make?

Tomorrow in the Battle Think on Me by Javier Marías (nominated by Jonathan)

Véctor, a ghostwriter, is just about to have an affair with Marta, a married woman, when - in the bedroom, half-undressed - she drops dead in his arms. He panics and slips away.

But Marta's family are all too aware that she was not alone when she died, and Deán, the widowed husband, is determined to find out who was sharing her bed that night. Véctor, accustomed to a life of pretending, finds that he cannot live in the shadows forever.

Other books nominated were:

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
Ghosts in the Hedgerow by Tom Moorhouse
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Something Happened by Joseph Heller
All Systems Red by Martha Wells
Just a Little Run Around the World by Rosie Swale Pope