Look Again- Lisa Scottoline

Thursday 11th October 2012




I chose this book & really enjoyed it & thought "yes, I've chosen a good one!'
Philadelphia single mother features reporter Ellen Gleeson gets a "Have you seen this child?" flyer in the mail & almost throws it away. Then she looks again, and realises that the age-progressed child in the photo looks like her adopted son, Will who she had adopted after doing a series on paediatric cardiac care. Although a legal adoption she can't let the thought go- what if Will rightfully belongs to someone else? Should she pursue her journalistic instinct? But what could that mean for her & Will if he is the boy on the flyer?
Turns out I enjoyed the book the most, I found it had a good pace, was interesting and a book I couldn't put down! However, everyone else found it predictable and unrealistic, some had read similar books that were better reads. So although I would definitely recommend it whole heartily I maybe the only one from the club to do so. (Give it a go...)
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Perfect People- Peter James

-This is the story of John and Naomi, a couple whose son died aged 4 of a rare genetic disorder. They want another child but obviously do not want to have a child that will have this disorder. They find a geneticist who can help them have a healthy child or that's what they think.
The book raises a lot of questions, how far would you go to have a healthy child? Is science good or bad?

If you do read this book for a book club be warned there are no discussion points at the back of this book! I did contact the author via twitter, I asked him what question would he ask? He tweeted back, ask your book club if they had a choice, would they like to select the genes of their child or leave it to chance? Well what would you do?

I have to say this book is not what I expected, the initial idea is a good one but the author does get a little carried away with some aspects of the story.

In the news this week a Professor has announced a public consultation on three parent IVF if the findings are positive this technology could be legalised within five years and could prevent children being born with muscular dystrophy, so is it good or bad?

Jubilee- Shelley Harris

Meeting date- Wednesday 25th July



Well this book was a unanimous disappointment. The general feeling was that if we weren't reading for book club we could of happily put it down & stared a new book. The plot had real potential but we felt that the author didn't develop the characters or the storyline fully. As the story was based around a photograph of a jubilee party we thought that the addition of a photograph would be a good idea.
You have guessed by now I'm sure that we don't recommend this book.

Before I go to sleep- S J Watson

Meeting date- Friday 8th June 2012



We all loved this book, we were all kept guessing until the end. Do you have any idea what it would be like to wake up every morning and find you had no recollection of your family and home? In the story this is exactly what happens to Christine. However everything is not exactly how it seems...

Good Omens- Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman

Although set around the religious idea of Armageddon, this book we felt was not necessarily a religious story. A cult book which explored the relationship between two character of either side of the spiritual battle field. Characters included a witch, witch hunters, angels & demons as well as a chosen child & a bunch of friends & dog.
It features footnotes which seem to explain English habits to the Americans. General view was its an interesting relatively quick read but not one many of us would recommend.

We need to talk about Kevin- Lionel Shriver

This was a difficult book to get into due to some of the language choices. It is written in the form of letters from Kevin's mother Eva to her husband Franklin from whom she has now separated. The letters start at the very beginning when she met Franklin. It talks about her mixed feelings about her pregnancy and the birth of Kevin.

Some people that once past the difficult beginning were absolutely gripped.
The bottom line is the debate about whether a child is born evil or conditioned that way due to failings on the parts of the parents.

Although you may think you know the end of the story, there was a definitely unexpected element which took us all by surprise.

The film stays extremely close to the book just as disturbing !!

Rivers of London- Ben Aaronvitch

This was a new genre for many of us, this has being described as urban fantasy. The story is based around a young mixed race constable in the Metropolitan Police who becomes involved in a case involving ghosts, magic and river deities.

It is set in the modern day and for those who know London its interesting to read descriptions and the history of the city. It is a really well researched book for history and police procedures.

Not a bad book but definitely one for people who enjoy fantasy books, a tell tale sign is that a majority of us will not be reading the second book- Moon over Soho.