Our Christmas Reads

Our next meeting will be a week later than usual on Thursday 8th January 2015. 

We’ve got a choice of two books for you to enjoy over the holidays – ‘Gone Girl’ by Gillian Flynn and ‘The Minuaturist’ by Jessie Burton.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Image from New York Times

Gone Girl has been flying off the library shelves since it was published, and has been attracting even more attention since the film release starring Ben Affleck.

 It’s a mystery set in the American Midwest, with the twist being the unreliable narration that leaves the reader unsure what to believe. It also deals with deeper issues such as the way money troubles can impact on a marriage, dishonesty and the media.

“We weren’t ourselves when we fell in love, and when we became ourselves – surprise! – we were poison. We complete each other in the nastiest, ugliest possible way.” Gillian Flynn, Gone Girl

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

Image from Jessie Burton

‘The Minuaturist’ is an historical novel set in 17th century Amsterdam, and is also about a marriage, but with a twist. 

The twist in this book is the dolls house presented to the newly wed bride as a wedding present. The tiny occupants of the house appear to mirror their counterparts in mysterious ways, revealing hidden dangers.

This beautiful book jacket is from the US cover of 'The Miniaturist' drawn by  Catrin Welz-Stein. 

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Our Book of the Month for October was first published in the UK in 1944, and is set in the slums of Williamsburg, Brooklyn where The Nolans live from 1902 - 1919. It's a poignant story of family relationships, and a resourceful child called Francie.

Random House

Francie is a reader, and despite getting short shrift from the Williamsburg Librarian, she does love her local library!

'The library was a little old shabby place. Francie thought it was beautiful. The feeling she had about it was as good as the feeling she had about church. She pushed open the door and went in. She liked the combined smell of worn leather bindings, library paste and freshly inked stamping pads better than she liked the smell of burning incense at high mass.'

Betty Smith's own experiences provided the framework for 'A Tree grows in Brooklyn' which was made into a film in 1945.

Sci - Fi

We haven't explored much Science - Fiction as a group, so it was something completely different for a book of your own choice this month. We've just added to our sci-fi collection in the library, so there was plenty of choice from vintage classics right up to the present day. Pop in and take a look at some of the books on display, or pick up a leaflet to give you some ideas

Most of the group rated their books from 3.5 to 4.5 out of 5, with 'The Martian' by Andy Weir getting the highest rating. Here's a few of the titles selected, and some feedback from our group.

The Death of Grass by John Christopher & The Lost Fleet by Jack Campbell 

These two books compliment each other so well given that I chose them randomly.

It was amazing, and based on today's world. It shows just how we can disrupt and ruin

the world we know today. Food problems, tampering with nature, a blight affecting all grasses, trees, rice etc. because a virulent strain of weed grows so fast and sours the Earth, reducing it to a stagnant brown soil that will not sustain much beyond potatoes and beetroot. Our aspirations of seeking for other life in the vast universe of space asks more questions, without reasonable answers. It shows that human nature has a long way to go to achieve peace. Elizabeth

The Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulle

Written in 1963, this classic novel portrays a world where the humans are reduced to savage beasts and the apes are the ‘civilised ‘ masters of the planet. Nowadays better known as a film or TV series, this book is much more than a science fiction novel. The author wanted to comment on many aspects of society's present (and possible future) by constructing an upside-down world. It can be read as an allegory of slavery, man’s treatment of animals and racism.

It is a novel to make you think while you are being entertained. Cath

Tickets On Sale For Manx Litfest 2014

Onchan Book Group members and everyone who’s been asking us about Manx Litfest 2014 will be pleased to hear that tickets for the main events are now on sale from the what’s on section of The Isle of Man Villa Gaiety website 

Photograph from Manx National Heritage

Once again, the festival celebrates the sense of place here on the Island as well as the written word. 

A ghostly walk and talk around Castle Rushen with Neil Spring, author of ‘Ghost Hunters’ and Barry Quilliam of Manx Macabre Tours on Fri 26th Sept couldn’t be more atmospheric. 

Neil Spring’s book drew inspiration from ‘Borland Rectory’, reputedly the most haunted house in Britain, which attracted the attention of psychic investigator Harry Price. 

Image from neilspring.com

Harry Price visited The Isle of Man in the 1930s to investigate the mysterious case of ‘The Dalby Spook’ or Talking Mongoose. 

There’s a rare opportunity to hear Neil Spring talk about these intriguing events in the historic setting of St Bridget’s Chapel in The Nunnery on Sat 27th Sept. 

A ‘Criminal Double Act’ takes place on Sat 27th Sept in The Embassy Room at The British on The Quay with Mark Billingham and Martyn Waites, who also writes with his wife under the name of Tania Carver. 

Image from Random House

Litfest is crammed full of exciting events from the Poetry Slam at Jabberwocky on Wed 24th right through to an evening with ‘Bone Season’ author Samatha Shannon at Noa’s Bakehouse on Sunday 28 Sept. 

Sara Crowe was at Manx Litfest in 2012, and has just published the highly acclaimed ‘Bone Jack’. She’s on a panel to talk about The Celtic Influence on writing with Donald S Murray at The House of Manannan in Peel on Sun 28th Sept.



Litfest has something for book lovers of all ages all around the Island to look forward to this September. Don’t miss some family fun with ‘The Diary of a Wimpy Kid Show’ on just up the road at Bemahague School in Onchan on Sun 28 Sept. 

There's much much more besides - don't forget the Book Fanatics Quiz Night on Thurs 25th Sept. 

You can pick up a programme form the library now to find out more. Keep looking on ManxLitfest for all the latest news, like them on facebook, or follow them on Twitter.

Longbourn by Jo Baker

Random House

Longbourn by Jo Baker  takes a new look at The Bennett Household created by Jane Austen through the eyes of its servants. The young ladies may have been goddesses to eligible bachelors, but they were only too human to Sarah the housemaid when emptying chamber pots and scrubbing the household laundry. 

Mrs Bennett keeps up appearances, but the servants are aware of The Bennett’s financial circumstances– the new footman wears a 30 year old uniform that makes him ‘look like a ghost’. Their day is far more exhausting than in grander households, but they all have their different reasons for wanting to stay at Longbourn, which are gradually revealed. 

Apart from Mr Bennett, the Pride and Prejudice characters are fairly in keeping with the original, with the main focus on the relationships below stairs. Servants are invisible to grand gentlemen such as Bingley and Darcy, but Wickham is not above trying to seduce the youngest maid, Polly. Mr Collins’ visit is a huge event, because as the future heir of Longbourn, he has the power to affect the future and security of the servants.

The group liked the fact that Longbourn was a different take rather than a sequel, and enjoyed Jo Baker's insight on the domestic service that supported the Regency society. 

BookTubeAthon!

If you feel like some fresh reading inspiration next week, why not try a BookTubeAthon? 

If you're wondering what that is, then take a look at Book Tube a fast growing community of book lovers who review books by making videos about them. Ariel Bissett and a number of other BookTubers are running the Challenge from Mon 14th - 21st July for the second year.  Their YouTube Channel dedicated to the Challenge has over 6000 subscribers, and has won sponsorship from BookDepository.com 

You can join in through reading and / or making videos, and here's the Challenges:

Could combine red on the cover

with a series and change of genre? 

The Reading Challenges                          
Challenges can be combined ...

* A book with pictures
* Start and finish a series
* A book with red on the cover
* A book someone else picks out for you 
* A book from a genre you've read 
  the least this year
* A book to movie adaptation
* Read seven books     

Image from Penguin
Our Book Group Read for this month

 'The Rosie Project' does have 

some red on the cover ...

The Video Challenges

* Day One: Show your top 3 books you read because of     booktube
* Day Two: Find the items on three covers
* Day Three: Draw a better cover for any book
* Day Four: Write a story using all the words from three titles
* Day Five: Make a rainbow of your favourite books
* Day Six: Find 5 things from one of the books you've read this week
* Day Seven: Show us where you've read during the BookTubeAthon

Looks like being an interesting Challenge - we're thinking about trying something similar here!  Quinn

RETIREMENT BLUES GOODBYE!

Pop in this Saturday to meet Richard Cowley, and be inspired by his answer to retirement. He made it into a life changing journey through walking Coast to Coast across Britain, and then publishing an entertaining account of his experiences in 'Retirement Blues Goodbye'  Copies will be available for signing, alongside Richard's art work on display in the library, and refreshments will be served.

Richard Cowley has spent more than forty years living 'Down Under', and now calls Australia home, and The Isle of Man his homeland. He will shortly be returning to Australia, so we are delighted to have this opportunity to feature his work before he leaves. 

Retirement Blues Goodbye! is available from Amazon

Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier

We'll be talking about 'Jamaica Inn' this Thursday 1st May at 6 p.m. It's been a topical read with the BBC drama attracting so much publicity ... not always for the right reasons. The screen version didn't capture the book for me, and looking forward to hearing what everyone else thinks. 

Daphne Du Maurier was captivated by Cornwall on childhood holidays, and lived there following her marriage. She wrote 'Jamaica Inn' when she was 29 years old after spending a night in the place on Bodmin Moor, and it's still open for business today - with good reviews on Trip Advisor! 

Daphne Du Maurier's 'Jamaica Inn' is isolated and forbidding, and the heroine Mary Yellan makes a truly gothic arrival there via coach one dark winter's evening to live with her mother's sister, Patience. Mary's aunt Patience is married to the landlord, a sinister and secretive bully engaged in smuggling and worse. He has an enigmatic younger brother who makes his living as a horse thief. Mary is trapped, unsure of who to trust, as she is dragged deeper into the intrigue and dangerous events unfolding at 'Jamaica Inn'....

Here's the star of the BBC adaptation of 'Jamaica Inn', Jessica  Brown Findlay in 'Albatross' which was filmed entirely in the Isle of Man. Released in 2011, and well worth a watch. 

John Steinbeck

First edition Viking Press (Penguin)

published 75 years ago on 

14th April 1939

Everyone in the group hugely enjoyed whichever book they’d chosen by John Steinbeck. 

We mostly read a selection of his shorter works such as Tortilla Flat, Travels with Charley, Mice and Men, The Wayward Bus and Cannery Row because of the time frame for meetings. 

This was a great taster, with many of the group saying they thought the book ended too soon, and they would like to read more. 

Some of the group have started ‘East of Eden’ which is too good to hurry, and are engrossed. 

Overall, this makes John Steinbeck the group’s favourite author so far, with everyone awarding the book they’d tried a 4 or 5 star rating.

Young At Heart - Children's Book of your own choice

At tonight's meeting in the library @ 6 p.m. we’ll be talking about a children’s book of your own choice. Why limit yourself when so many children’s books are great reads, with timeless appeal? A chance to enjoy some nostalgia with an old favourite, or read something you missed out on. 

Image from Amazon