December Meetup

Thanks to everyone for your patience in putting up with the background noise at our November Meetup – that was, hopefully a one off. Anyway, we still managed to have plenty of good discussion with two books that both got a great reaction with In Memoriam scoring 79 and If Beale Street Could Talk 75.

For December we have a non-fiction feel-good book that will hopefully lift all our spirits as the long, cold nights of winter settle in and a novel that was longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2023.

A wee note on costs – as Meetup now charges us approximately £300 per annum to use its platform (more on this separately) we ask attendees to help cover the costs by making a payment of £1.50 at the meetup.

Oh... and as it’s December we have our traditional Secret Santa excitement to look forward to. So, please bring with you a nicely wrapped book to go into Santa’s sack (or bin bag!) and then see what you get when you select a book! It can be a book you've got at home, a second hand book but not a brand new book or one we’ve read with the book club as quite a few people will already have it or have read it.

Happy reading.

The Penguin Lessons by Tom Michell (nominated by David)

Tom Michell is in his roaring twenties: single, free-spirited and seeking adventure. He has a plane ticket to South America, a teaching position in a prestigious Argentine boarding school, and endless summer holidays.

What he doesn't need is a pet. What he really doesn't need is a pet penguin.

But while on holiday in Uruguay he spots a penguin struggling in an oil slick and knows he has to help. And then the penguin refuses to leave his side . . .

Clearly Tom has no choice but to smuggle it across the border, through customs, and back to school. He names him Juan Salvador.
Whether it's as the rugby team's mascot, the housekeeper's confidant, the host at Tom's parties or the most flamboyant swimming coach in world history, Juan Salvador transforms the lives of all he meets - including Tom, who discovers a compadre like no other . . .

Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes (nominated by Rachel)

Medusa is the sole mortal in a family of gods. Growing up with her Gorgon sisters, she begins to realize that she is the only one who experiences change, the only one who can be hurt.

When Poseidon commits an unforgiveable act against Medusa in the temple of Athene, the goddess takes her revenge where she can: on his victim. Medusa is changed forever – writhing snakes for hair and her gaze now turns any living creature to stone. She can look at nothing without destroying it.

Desperate to protect her beloved sisters, Medusa condemns herself to a life of shadows. Until Perseus embarks upon a quest to fetch the head of a Gorgon . . .

Other books nominated were:

Look Who's Back by Timur Vermes
The Cafe on the Edge of the World by John Strelecky
Homage to Barcelona by Colm Tóibín
Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad
Juno Loves Legs by Karl Geary