Hamburg Book of the Month Club

@Beata, I know we are trying to keep our group rather small, but I think we could squeeze in one more. We are meeting once a month and our next meeting is this Sunday. Have you read The Secret Life of Bees? If so, you are welcome to join us on Sunday. Otherwise, we can let you know when we are meeting for the following month (we will decide on Sunday.)

@Figgy Can you please post the name and author of our next book which we will review the following month?

The next book is "The Way the Crow Flies" by Anne-Marie MacDonald. It is a long book, about 800 pages, so it does take a while to read, but it is a griping story. It's available on amazon.de for 11€.

A bit of background (to peak your interest):

The author grew up in Canada in a region where the famous case of Stephen Truscott took place. His story inspired the novel, but the story is not about him. 1n 1959, Truscott was convicted of murdering a 12-year-old school mate and sentence to die. At 14 years of age he was the youngest Canadian to be given a death sentence. In 1960, it was changed to a Life sentence. After spending the majority of his life in prison for a crime he did not commit, he was finally acquitted and his case was declared a miscarriage of justice. There is a book about his story called "Until you are dead".

In "The Way the Crow Flies" a young girl is found murdered...but the story is more than just a murder mystery. It is an epic story of a family, secrets and lies, international intrique, and miscarriages of justice.

Wow Figgy, that is a great description of the book!

...the spell of television feels remote compared to the journey into the page. To be in a book. To slip into the crease where two pages meet, to live in the place where your eyes alight upon the words to ignite a world of smoke and peril, colour and serene delight. That is a journey no one can end with the change of a channel. Enduring magic.
p.123

Hello ladies,

I can't remember how we are communicating about the book club, but I thought this was a safe bet. How is everyone doing with the Poisonwood Bible? Should we start thinking about a date for a meet-up?

I realize the last meeting was a bit disappointing for some and I hope that has not put some of you off.

I am looking at my own schedule and it's pretty full for the month of August. I was thinking that perhaps a meeting mid September would be good and if anyone new would like to join the club, this would give them an opportunity to read the book.

Open for you thoughts

Stephanie

Welcome back Steph!

A few people have suggested Sunday August 17th for the meetup. I haven't checked in awhile as to whether we have definitely decided on it. I'm struggling with the book but can for sure be done by then.

Welcome back Stephanie.

Aug 17th was the suggested date. I'm done with the book and ready to talk about it. Looking forward to it.

The 17th is only 10 days away. Maybe it's better that new people simply wait a mere 10 days for the new book and next meeting instead of pushing this meeting and this book back another 4-6 weeks.

Zoe was on board to choose the next book, but she's been a bit quiet of late. *whistles for Zoe*

I agree that we should keep the 17th meetup. What time? Are we committed to the Reise bar?

I am willing to choose the next book if Zoe hasn't decided yet, otherwise I would like to choose the following book.

I'm here! I can make the 17th but I've only just started the book so I'm not sure if I'm going to come. I'll let you all know a bit closer to the day.

The next book: I thought maybe we should read something not North American and perhaps even written by a man (for a change you understand ) so I'm tossing up between Salman Rushdie's 'The Satanic Verses' or Arundhati Roy's 'The God of Small Things'. I'm not sure who's read either of them or not but they're both absolutely brilliant. I guess the least read novel wins so we can all expand our libraries a bit!

Zoe, I think you should still come even if you haven't finished the book by next week. Your input is still valuable.

I don't know either of the books you suggested but I am open to either.

I have two suggestion as well. Can I be the next "picker"? I might like have us read "The Time Traveler's Wife" before the movie comes out in December. Laurel's favorite book of all time!!!

I'm also available on the 17th (vacation got cancelled do to the Mr's work). What time was everyone thinking?

Zoe, your suggestions for the next book sound great. I haven't read either one of them, and Satanic Verses has been on my Amazon wishlist for years now. I just haven't managed to get around to it yet.

I vote for early afternoon. 1 or 2 pm?

So have we agreed on this day? Who is coming?

I vote for the 17th. Any time is fine with me.

Sprudeln - will your friends be joining us? They are welcome to.

I'll be there. 1pm sounds good. The earlier the better.

Thanks marymanu, I guess I can make it. I'll try finish the book on time so I can contribute something useful

I have to be somewhere at 2 (just for an hour though) so I can either do 12 for a couple of hours or from 3... I realise we can't organise around everyone so if it's at 1 I'll just come for as long as I can.

I would be okay with 3pm, but Karen asked for earlier, so I don't know what to do? I'd rather have it at 1pm than 12pm but I guess 12pm could be okay if it's better for everyone else. Thoughts?

Hi Guys!
17th may be tricky for me...will have to let you know closer to the time if that's ok.
Time is irrelevant...as it's the day that may be the issue.

@Zoe both books sounds great! Have been meaning to read "The god of small things' for ages!
So my vote is for that one...but either is fine

So guys, shall we have it at 12pm or 3pm, or keep it at 1pm???

How about noon then? Zoe the meeting shouldn't go on past the time you have to leave so it should work out fine and that way we all have the rest of the afternoon free.

See you all Sunday.

Sounds good to me. See you all at 12pm on Sunday.

@Steph, do you think you should reserve a big table?

Book club went very well today.

For those who couldn't be there, a few things of note:

Zoe will be choosing the next book and should have the title up soon. Laurel will choose the next month and will also post that book so we can order both at the same time.

The next meeting will be held on September 28th.

We also thought it would be a book idea to have a "book recommendation" thread made available so we are going to try and have that incorporated into this thread.

Newcomers are still welcomed to join.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend and enjoying the sunshine.

Stephanie

Why can't you edit what you have already written when you see your mistakes?

I have had the two book titles sent to me.

This month we are reading The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

And if you like to purchase your books in advance, the next book will be Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins

At the book club on Sunday we talked and decided that we would like to focus on books that no one has read yet. If any of you have already read Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins and do not wish to read it again, please let me know and I will chose another book for October.

Nooo! I've already ordered it!

Here is a link to the Book Recommendation Thread. Please feel free to add to our list!

Hamburg Book Club suggested reading list

I have ordered it too CaliforniaCrocus...so if everyone else says they have read it...we can have our own meet up.

Ohhh! Tres Kewl!


Good solution!

Hey Guys!
Apologies for my absence at the last meeting and unfortunately I will also be in Spain for the next meeting
I do have the books though, so will plan to see you in the October meeting for Jitterbug Perfume.
Hope you're all well,
jx

I'm stumped about my choice of book after the Jitterbug book. I've been wanting to read some Kurt Vonnegut in memory of his passing - are there any Kurt Vonnegut book that you absolutely don't want to revisit?

I wouldn't want to read Galapagos again, for example.

If nobody replies I'll just pick a few titles that sound interesting to me and bring it with to the next meeting. Okey Pokey?

I haven't read any of his work, so I am open to this author.

Next meeting is coming up soon. Hope you ladies are all reading

I'm reading. I've only read Slaughterhouse Five (and loved it) so I'm open to any title.

Dear Ladies,

I am again in Hamburg, and I am looking forward to meeting you soon at our next book club meeting.
Is is right that we meet on Sunday, 28 September?
I will be also very happy if you could come to our barbecue next Sunday, 21 September...

Have a great day!

Beata

Thank you for the invite but I'll be out of town this weekend. I hope you can have fun without me!

Just wanted to bump up this topic and remind everyone the next meet-up is a week Sunday and if any new-comers want to join us they are welcome. We will be discussing The God of Small Things.

Did we set a time for Sunday? Around lunchtime (12/ 1ish) as always?

The lunch buffet was tasty, I'd be up for that again. 12 or 1 is fine with me. (I'll try to be awake before I arrive this time!)

Steph and I told another interested party that we would be meeting at 1pm on Sunday. See you soon girls!

By the way, does anyone own a copy of Dan Brown's Angels & Demons that I could borrow?

I do! I'll bring it on Sunday. :-)

Sweet, thank you! I am going to Rome next month and want to re-read it before I go...

Hello Everybody!

For some reason a shy question of mine did not appear yesterday on the forum.
I try again...
Would it be possible to meet you a bit later on Sunday at 14:00 or even later...?
I may have troubles to join you at 13:00 , and I would love so much to be in time!

See you soon!

Beata

What time does the brunch end? Sorry to be the fat girl who wants to eat, but it's a nice brunch!!

It's okay with me to meet a little later but then does anyone want to meet a little earlier for the brunch?

Or not - I mean, I'll get over it relatively quickly if I don't get to do a brunch buffet. But let's decide asap 'cause I've got other plans to work around.

I am not fussed about the time and any time will do for me, however, I would be happy to meet up with anyone who wanted to have a pre-book club brunch and then we could start the meeting at 2pm

2 works for me too - and pre book brunch sounds good. Shall we leave it at 1 for food and 2 for books then?

Yay for brunch!!! I will see you all to eat at 1pm and be ready to talk about books at 2pm. We just have to make sure not to discuss the book until Beata gets there! Does anyone mind if I bring my husband along for brunch? He was hoping to come to book club and sit quietly and drink coffee while we did our thing.

Yea! Brunch! Boys are allowed, but only if they aren't stinky - so scrub him up good before you bring him along!

Hey, did you know this weekend is a Sunday Shopping day in the city? Maybe that's secretly why Beate can't come earlier!!

Dear Girls,

Thank you very much! I will be very happy to meet you at 2 pm tomorrow!
Have a great day and see you soon!

Beata