London Wine and Dine Book Club

For our first meeting in May, we will read Bel-Ami, the second novel by the famed French author, Guy de Maupassant. Published in French in 1885, the book first appeared in English in 1903, with a new subtitle: Bel-ami, or, The History of a Scoundrel: a Novel.

‘[It is] is the story of a ruthlessly ambitious young man (Georges Duroy, christened 'Bel-Ami' by his female admirers) making it to the top in fin-de-siècle Paris. It is a novel about money, sex, and power, set against the background of the politics of the French colonization of North Africa. It explores the dynamics of an urban society uncomfortably close to our own and is a devastating satire of the sleaziness of contemporary journalism.’
-Waterstones

The translation recommended by the member who suggested the book is by Margaret Mauldon.

The meeting will be held at La Petite Auberge, a delicious French bistro on Upper St in Islington. So come along and join us for a tasty meal as we delve into this classic of the literary canon.

N.B. We will be charging an event fee of £3, non-refundable, to discourage no-shows and contribute to the running costs of the group. Please only sign up if you intend to come along as space is limited to make for an effective discussion!

In May's second meeting, we will return to the classics, with Virginia Woolf's celebrated novel, Mrs Dalloway. Published in 1925, the work is widely considered her greatest novel, and it remains influential as an impressive example of the Modernist style.

'In the wake of World War I and the 1918 flu pandemic, Clarissa Dalloway, elegant and vivacious, is preparing for a party and remembering those she once loved. In another part of London, Septimus Smith is suffering from shell shock and is on the brink of madness. Their days interweave and their lives converge as the party reaches its glittering climax.
Over the course of a single day, Woolf achieves an uncanny simulacrum of consciousness, bringing past, present, and future together, and recording, minute by minute, the feel of life itself.'
-Waterstones

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14942.Mrs_Dalloway

The meeting will take place at Riding House Bloomsbury, in the heart of where Woolf's set lived and congregated. So join us and enjoy some tasty food and discussion!

N.B. We will be charging an event fee of £3, non-refundable, to discourage no-shows and contribute to the running costs of the group. Please only sign up if you intend to come along as space is limited to make for an effective discussion!

In June's first meeting, we will read the 2022 novel Nightcrawling, by Leila Mottley. This impressive debut effort saw accomplished poet Mottley become the youngest author long-listed for the Booker Prize, at the tender age of 19.

'Filled with power and raw beauty, Mottley’s searing debut follows seventeen-year-old Kiara who must navigate the darkest corners of the adult world to keep those she loves safe.'
-Waterstones

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58537371-nightcrawling

The meeting will be at Caravan City. Join us for some tasty fare as we dive into this intriguing book!

N.B. We will be charging an event fee of £3, non-refundable, to discourage no-shows and contribute to the running costs of the group. Please only sign up if you intend to come along as space is limited to make for an effective discussion!

In the second meeting of June, we will dive into Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's third novel, Americanah. The acclaimed Nigerian writer tackled many important issues in this effort from 2013 revolving around a love story spanning Lagos, London, and America.

'Addressing issues of race and dislocation, Adichie’s bold and expansive novel functions perfectly as both a love story and a powerful political statement about the human cost of military conflict.'
-Waterstones

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15796700-americanah

We will hold the meeting at Haz St Paul's, at a covered outdoor table to enjoy some hopefully good June weather. So come along for some delicious Mediterranean food and delightful discussion!

N.B. We will be charging an event fee of £3, non-refundable, to discourage no-shows and contribute to the running costs of the group. Please only sign up if you intend to come along as space is limited to make for an effective discussion!