BOOK CLUBS AND EXPLORERS

They started where they are pictured in Maumbury Rings and went on to view the dray horse sculpture in Brewery Square where they learnt the name of the equine sculptor (Linda Pace aged 80 since you ask.) They then covered most of Dorchester including Poets Corner, Hangman's Cottage and Bowling Alley Walks including a new housing development where they donned hard hats for a site inspection! They ended their visit with lunch at Taste in Trinity St - well recommended as is Finca - a great cafe in Great Western Rd.

READ ON ....

If you want some advice on new books to read, here is some advice from the three bookclubs 

 WeyBay book group no.1 has recently read some quite diverse books.

Remember Me by Lesley Pearse is based on a true story about a young woman, Mary Broad, who is shipped off to Botany Bay as a convict. The conditions on board the ship were appalling and a real insight as to the hardships each prisoner had to endure. Mary was admired for her courage and strength of character throughout her harrowing and very sad times yet she never gave up on her hope of escaping. The story was well written. We all felt we wanted to know more about Mary once the story finished.

The Darkest Hour by Barbara Erskine.  This story of a young war artist, Evie, who lived on a farm with her family during WW1. She becomes involved with a pilot who is stationed at a nearby airfield. The research into the war seemed to be well researched. Evie's life is delved into after the war by relatives who uncover many unexpected events! A good read although maybe unnecessarily long?

Room by Emma Donoghue. The book is written from a 5 year old's perspective and because of this it took a little while to understand the storyline. A disturbing read for some of us yet the incarceration was brilliantly described. Considering his Mum's young age she brings up Jack in a mature and well rounded way. There are some very poignant moments particularly towards the end. A good read.

The Lonely Desert by Sarah Challis  A very mixed response to this book. A journey to Mali by four friends encounter all sorts of problems, some interesting and some very improbable. This was generally an easy read.

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls  A really great story to read and discuss. It is an autobiography although that was not obvious to some of us initially. Her life in a very close but completely dysfunctional family unit in America was described in wonderful detail. The hardships the four children endured were unbelievable. There is plenty of humour entwined into the narrative.   

Spa Book Club are still meeting at the Spa but March 's meeting will be at the new Poundbury pub the Duchess of Cornwall.  Spa Book Club don't always agree on a book's merits. 

Their latest read, the Miniaturist by Jessie Burton received mixed reviews as did Behind Closed Doors by B A Paris.  Everyone in the club liked Try Not to Breathe by Holly Seddon and The Boy That Never Was by Karen Perry.   The book club is currently reading The Guernsey Potato Peel Society by Mary Anne Schaffer.

The third book club has been running a year now (Jan 2016).  We have  read many different books that we would not have picked up, and made new friends.
The Book of the Year is The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah chosen as the favourite by everyone.
The book we are reading at the moment is The Forgotten Seamstress by Liz Trenow.  It's about a quilt that is found in an attic and the link it has with the Prince of Wales.
Ben Elton’s Time and Time Again was not everybody's cup of tea. Time travel set in 1914 was interesting.
Early one Morning by Virginia Baily was disappointing.
A good read was The Tree Planters Wife by Dinah Jefferie set in Ceylon 1930.

 Thank you to the book clubs for these recommendations.  Unfortunately the current book clubs are full.  Why not set up another one?