Off the Shelf

Image from www.Amazon.co.uk Slaughterhouse 5 Kurt Vonnegut    After finishing this book, the truth of it leapt out at me. How many Billy Pilgrims are out there? Men and women coming back from Afghanistan, from a world of war to normal life. The world is still in a confused and unstable mess.   No lessons have been learned. There is still killing and lying - robbing people of life and livelihood. The people in power have lost the vision to see the mess they are creating. The few that can are labelled as not forward thinking - not seeing the big picture, or even idiots.The future health problems of service people and their families hardly bear thinking about.   Elizabeth

Off The Shelf

Thank you Pam for this opportunity to air our views.

The last meeting was informative and fun - so many diiferent views.

I have read the book that Evelyn put forward "Where Are You Really From?"

Such an eyeopener to that age and it's prejudices, but a really good read.

"Slaughterhouse 5" (as read by Cath)  I too, am finding it strange but compelling.

But it is unputdownable - for me anyway.

Elizabeth

Off The Shelf

Image from www.amazon.co.uk

Slaughterhouse 5
Kurt Vonnegut

Written in 1969, it took author Vonnegut more than 20 years to put his experience of the bombing of Dresden in World War 2 into words. He was an American prisoner of war in Dresden, being held in a disused meat plant, known as Slaughterhouse 5, and emerged after the fire-bombing of the city. As the author says, ‘All of this happened, more or less’.

The novel follows the experiences of optometrist Billy Pilgrim, a decidedly non-heroic man, who has become ‘unstuck in time’. He travels back and forth visiting his birth, death and all the moments in-between repeatedly and out of order, but always coming back to his experiences in the war and particularly in Dresden. Billy is also abducted by aliens, who transport him back to the planet Tramalfadore to become a prize exhibit in a zoo. The aliens teach him that time is linear and we experience different points in our lives over and over again.

I found this novel confusing, weird, imaginative, moving but surprisingly easy to read due to its simple, laconic style. Part anti-war tract, part autobiography, part sci-fi with a good deal of black humour, I felt that it needed a second reading to fully appreciate the big themes Vonnegut is addressing – the concept of time, fate and above all the horror and futility of war. Not a book I’d recommend for readers who like a straightforward plot and time line, but one for those who like a challenge! Can certainly be classed as ‘cult fiction’.

Cath

Off The Shelf

Image from www.Amazon.co.uk

American Gods
Neil Gaiman

American Gods takes the reader on a fantastical journey as we discover the quirky side of America together with the main character, Shadow, who is on his own personal quest.

Gaiman said he wanted to write a book that is 'big odd and meandering' - and it is!

We enter a world of coin tricks and con tricks, of roadside attractions, familiar places and mysterious small towns. A world where modern and ancient gods are moving towards a battle of epic proportions.

One character says 'It is easier to believe in aliens than gods' and in this novel, the everyday and the unbelievable sit side by side. Our beliefs are questioned and challenged right through to the climax - with a twist at the end.


Esther

Click here to visit Neil Gaiman's web site 

August - Book of the Month

To Kill A Mockingbird
Harper Lee

Image from www.Amazon.co.uk

This month's book is Harper Lee's  To Kill a Mockingbird. It's 50 years since this Pulitzer Prize winning novel was first published, and it's the only writing that Harper Lee has ever published since. One of our group had recently watched an intriguing documentary about Harper Lee's reclusive life, and suggested it for this month's read.
Go to BBC Open Book Discussion


Thank you to Carol from the Ward Library in Peel for loaning us extra copies for the group to read.
Visit The Ward Library Web Site

Thanks also to Sandra / Mobile Library and Mary and Kath from the Family Library for loaning copies - and arranging delivery too!
Find out more about the Mobile Library Service 
Visit The Family Library Web Site

Please contact Onchan Library if you are still waiting for a copy of 'To Kill a Mockingbird'

September - Meetings

Our next book group meeting will be on Thurs 2 Sept @ 6 p.m. @ Onchan Library.  To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee will be introduced by Esther. We'll also be deciding on some winter reads.

September - Events - Crumpets with Derry

Image from www.iomTT.com

 Tues 7th Sept @ 7 p.m.
Well known commentator with the World famous Purple Helmets, Derry Kissack, is coming to talk at Onchan Library as part of the 'Food for Thought' season. As well as entertaining reminiscences, Derry will also be talking about how he came to write his book. Tea & crumpets will be served (Derry's with Edam cheese please).

Admission free, but ticket only. Contact Onchan Library  to book places.