General Chat

Jacqui, are you sure I can't help you? Ann Glos

Anne you and Dee are very kind I would be grateful for any books you could send but please check it out first as to cost and maybe we can sort something out. I can email you my address but how could I repay you. Hopefully my visitors will bring me one of the book club books for July. Jacquie xxxx

In Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet In Heaven, f Eddie (played by Jon Voight as an old man and Steven Grayham in his more youthful incarnation) is a lonely war veteran and widower who feels like his life as a repairman at the Ruby Pier Amusement Park has been meaningless. On his 83rd birthday, an accident on one of the rides imperils a five-year-old girl, and Eddie risks his own safety in front of a horrified crowd as he attempts to save her life. The last thing he sees is the little girl's frightened face. The last thing he feels is two small hands in his. Then, after a blinding flash of light and silence, Eddie reawakens in an unfamiliar place called Heaven… but he's not alone. Five people -- each of whom shares with him a fateful and significant connection -- have been waiting to meet him. Some are loved ones, some are distant strangers, yet they all have the same goal -- to introduce Eddie to the true meaning and value of his life by showing him how their lives and deaths have been a part of his own in ways he never suspected. Each of these souls is looking for closure, each has a story to relate, a secret to divulge and a lesson to impart -- the Blue Man (Jeff Daniels), the Captain (Michael Imperioli), Ruby (Ellen Burstyn), Marguerite (Dagmara Dominczyk) and Tala (Nicaela Weigel and Shelbie Weigel). One by one, they illuminate the impact that Eddie has had on others and show him why his life on Earth was not insignificant. When he meets his fifth person in Heaven, Eddie, still haunted by the question of whether the little girl lived or died, finally begins to understand how truly interconnected we all are.

Hello to everyone, I have been `off the boards` for a few days and I am just catching up with the latest news on this thread. Really pleased to be a new member of your book club. I am also having trouble with The Jane Austin Book Club (after having such high hopes). I started reading a new book today and have really become engrossed in it. Its called `Reading Lolita in Tehran` by Azar Nafisi. It has been called a book lovers` tale and is about the writer and 7 young women who gather to discuss forbidden Western literature. Hope it lives up to the good reviews. Love and Peace Marianne.xxxx

I would just like to publicly thank Dee and Ann for their very generous offers to send me books.. They have had me blubbing quietly away to myself most of the morning..... Thank you ladies - and they say the boards are not a good place at the moment..well the people I am in contact with on it are wonderful...I think!! Jacquie.....(wiping away the tears now!!)

Jacqui, wait 'til you get the book, you may not like it. seriously as i have said, it is no big deal and you are very welcome. I think there are very few rotten apples in this barrel and if only GR would get their act together it would be fine. ann Glos

Hi folks I think I'm slowly disappearing here under a pile of books that you are recommending!! That Mike has a lot to answer for!!! As I said once before he is turning us all into bibliophiles!!! Carol The Five People You Meet in Heaven sounds interesting, I think it may have been mentioned on one of the threads before. It is on my 'to be read' list. Thank you for the synopsis, much appreciated. Jacquie Shall I send a box of tissues with the books? ;-))) Seriously though I hope you enjoy the books I have sent. I read 'Bonesetters' by Amy Tan and found it fascinating. I'd not heard of William Golding so I did a search and came across his 'Darkness Visible' which is now on my Amazon wish list. You have introduced me to what looks like yet another good author. Marianne Join the club!!! I was not over impressed with The Jane Austen Book Club, certainly it didn't live up to its reviews. I seem to think Maz was not that impressed either. Dee xx

Another quote, this is from Oliver Goldsmith The first time I read an excellent book, it is to me just as if I had gained a new friend. When I read over a book I have perused before, it resembles the meeting with an old one. A man never opens a book without reaping some advantage by it.

Hi folks a message from Mike Evening My Fellow GReaders, I was so glad to see Dee and Ann helping Jacquie in Grenada out with books. It just shows how something that started as a joke really can bring so much enjoyment to people. Have to be honest and say if it wasn't for the Book Club I would probably have given up and gone and to think I once thought of giving the Book Club up as I thought no-one would be interested after a month! How wrong I was! Another lesson learnt by me! Thanks to you all. Mike.

Pleased you are still looking in Mike, posted Jacquis book today.. I don't think i will be reading the July books unless I can get them from the library. One I didn't fancy and the other was £8.99 too much for me to pay out on a book. Dee I thought we weren't supposed to be putting the next requests in untl after the next review, am I right? or am I confused as usual? Ann glos

Ann I posted my requests as I shall be away when we next choose. I shall be here for the review though Dee x

Dee William Golding wrote Lord of the Flies, Pincher Martin, Rites of Passage and The Paper Men...... Lord of the Flies was on my O level list at School many many moon ago!!! See what you started Mike.....the girls are managing in your abscence wonderfully......the show must go on. What girls they are too......the tissues might be welcome!!!!! I shall shout for all to hear when the parcel arrives..... Jacquie xxxx

Choices for July as per the vote. Here are the results for the JULY read... With 3 votes each ... The Crimson Petal and The White -- Michael Faber Cloud Atlas -- David Mitchell (Taken from the original posting by Mike) ann Glos

Hi Jacquie My other half had heard of William Golding. He actually seems to think there is something lacking in my education as I hadn't heard of him!!! I did Great Expectations (Dickens) at school for O level - loved it. I live not far from where it was set and the local museum has a reconstruction of what the prison hulks would have been like. Strangely enough part of the book Remember Me by Lesley Pearse is set on prison hulks. I am finding that difficult to put down, it is excellent. The description of the life aboard a convict ship is very good and it has been well researched Dee x

Dee, I too did Great expectations for 'O' level and really enjoyed it. (failed the 'O' level though!!! -later as an adult passed the 'A' level lit). still persevering with 'Ivan' Ann Glos

ANN Wash you mouth out with soap and water!!!!! That Russian Name is persona non grata in this household... last September.....bit of a Storm!!!......Grenada!!!! Only joking (obviously!) Dee, Lord of the Flies has to have been one of the most important books of my generation. Alongside Animal Farm, but I tend to forget Author's names!!!!! lol Jacquie xxx

Jacq you are right about Animal Farm, fantastic book. We had to read it in English at school and it really affected us all! I think it was George Orwell that wrote it. Julie xxx

Hi Jacqui, sorry about the 'I' word. Yes, Animal Farm - George Orwell, great book. I also like Brave new World. Strange that as I don't really enjoy science fiction. Read a couple more of George orwell but having a senior moment (perhaps I should change my name like Sally!) and can't remember the titles. Ann Glos

I know I said I probably wouldn't read next months choice because of the cost but this morning in ottakar's Gloucester I bought 3 books for the price of two and i was able to get Cloud Atlas as part of the offer. So I got three books for £14.98 - £5 each, Cloud Atlas is £7.99 so i got it cheap!!!! Yes, there IS logic in there somewhere!! STILL reading I--- (you know who). Ann Glos

Thank you Ann.....xxx Jacquie xxxx