Book of the Month - The Snowman - December 2012

The Book
'The Snowman' is number seven in a series of crime thrillers featuring Detective Harry Hole. From the sounds of this novel, you might not sleep easy in your bed given that Hole, a likeable, rugged but flawed detective, is on the hunt of a serial killer who always leaves a trademark behind - a snowman. The book has been described as "one of the most unnerving novels about a serial killer".

The Author
A Norwegian, Jo Nesbo was born and lives in Oslo. He is a graduate of the Norwegian School of Economics and was a journalist and stockbroker before turning to writing. Nesbo has been touted by the book industry as 'the next Stieg Larsson' - see what you think yourself....

More Information
Visit Jo Nesbo's UK website at: http://www.jonesbo.co.uk/

Book of the Month - Night Circus - November 2012

The Book
This is a fantastical tale about two rival magicians set in nineteenth century London. Will we be spellbound and enchanted, mildly curious or left crying into our popcorn?

The Author
Erin Morgernstern is from Boston, Massachusetts in the United States. She is an author and artist. Before gaining recognition and starting a bidding war with her novel, she was juggling a number of odd jobs and was rejected by 30 literary agents.

More Information
Find out more about Erin on her website: http://erinmorgenstern.com/

Book of the Month - When God Was a Rabbit - October 2012

The Book

Continuing on with our trend of reading debut novels, "When God Was a Rabbit" is an intriguing tale about family, friendship and relationships. On the surface the story is full of humour in places, but it is equally routed in tragedy and centred around a number of historical events such as John Lennon's murder and 9/11. The book has won several awards including the Galaxy New Writer of the Year Award in 2011.

The Author
Sarah Winman was originally an actress before turning to writing. She studied at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art and has acted in the theatre, film and television including in shows such as 'Holby City', 'The Bill', 'Foyle's War' and 'Bad Girls'.

More Information
Sarah doesn't have her own website but you can visit her Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/SarahWinman. You can also watch her talk about her novel at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqJ89gnD30o

Book of the Month - The Thread - September 2012

The Book
In writing this book, Victoria Hislop has said that she wanted to 'open the eyes and tug at the heart strings'.

The basis of this historical novel is the turbulent relatively recent history of Thessalonkia, Greece's second city, from 1917 to the present day. This happens through the retelling of the story of the lives of Dmitri, son of a rich businessman and Katarina, a poor refugee from Turkey.

The big question, if you choose to join us in reading our latest book club choice, is does she succeed in her aim?

The Author
An Oxford English graduate, Victoria Hislop formerly worked in PR, publishing and as a journalist before turning her hand to writing. She has subsequently written three novels - 'The Island', 'The Return' and now our latest book club choice 'The Thread'.

Other points to note about Victoria is that she is the wife of 'Private Eye' editor, Ian Hislop. She also frequently travels to Greece and has a home in Crete.

More Information
Victoria Hislop's website is accessible at http://www.victoriahislop.com/

Book of the Month - Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday - August 2012

This month we are actually reading two books both by the author John Steinbeck.....

The Books
Cannery Row (published in 1945) and its later sequel, Sweet Thursday (published in 1954) are both set amidst the sardine canneries of Monterey, California.

Set in a poor neighbourhood during the Great Depression, Cannery Row is a story of community, friendship and nostalgia. The plot (what little there is of one) centres around plans being made for a party for Doc, a local marine biologist and well-loved community member. Other characters include Dora, the owner of the local brothel and Mack, leader of a group of drop-outs living in The Palace Flophouse and Grill.

Sweet Thursday is set about a decade later after the end of World War Two as Doc returns from the war to a changed Cannery Row.

Both books are character driven and convey the essence of a place and real humanity in all its rawness which was close to Steinbeck's heart. Will the book group be captivated by the stories of these characters?

The Author
John Steinbeck (1902 - 1968) was one of America's most notable authors and his literary legacy still remains - especially in our modern world of recession, joblessness and corporate greed. He was the author of many books including 'The Grapes of Wrath', 'East of Eden' and 'Of Mice and Men'. Steinbeck won the Pulitzer Prize and in 1962 was awarded the Noble Prize for Literature. Much of his writing focus on strong themes. Above all is writing explored family, the poor and dispossessed, social protest, and environment.

His critics have accused him of being a Communist and a liar and his books were at one stage burned in the streets and banned by Congress, so much so that he feared for his life.

However, Steinbeck answered back that: "Literature is not a game for the cloistered elect. Literature is as old as speech. It grew out of human need for it and it has not changed except to become more needed." (Noble Prize acceptance speech).

More information
Read a biography of John Steinbeck on the Nobel Prize website. If you ever have the opportunity to travel to California, why not visit a museum dedicated to his life and work - the National Steinbeck Centre in Salinas. You can also find out more about the setting for both books in Cannery Row, Monterey.

Book of the Month - Before I Go To Sleep - July 2012

The Book

What would happen if you didn't have any memories of who you are and what you've done the day before or in the days previously? What if each day you wake up not remembering how old you are or who your partner is?

S J Watson uses this scenario as the basis for his first novel, a thriller about a woman with amnesia which has quickly become a bestseller.

Is this book the compelling page turner that reviews suggest or does the plot fall short? Find out by joining us at our discussion about the book on Thursday 12 July!

The Author

Steven 'S. J.' Watson was born in Stourbridge, West Midlands. He graduated in Physics from Birmingham University and then worked in the NHS as an audiology specialist, while writing in his spare time. He then enrolled on the Faber Academy creative writing course where he was introduced to a top literary agent, Clare Conville who agreed to represent him. Buoyed by her advice, he sent out his manuscript which was quickly snapped up by publishers Transworld and is now being made into a Hollywood film directed by Roland Joffe and starring Nicole Kidman.

More Details

Find out more about the book and the author at http://www.sjwatson-books.com/ and find out how Richard and Judy Book Club members rated the book at: http://www.richardandjudy.co.uk/books/Before-I-Go-To-Sleep/172

Book of the Month - Pigeon English - June 2012

The Book
A debut novel, this is the story of a young boy, Harrison Opoku who has recently moved from Ghana to live in an English inner-city housing estate. Told from Harrison's perspective, it is a tale of innocence and experience, hope and reality, as he absorbs the elements of his new life and learns the tricks of inner-city survival.

The book was nominated for the Man Booker Prize in 2011 (won by Julian Barnes' "The Sense of an Ending" which we read last month).

It will therefore be interesting to put ourselves in the judges shoes (anyone for being Stella Rimington please stand up please!) and compare the books against each other. We should also ask ourselves do award-winning or nominated books really indicate excellent books and will this prove as contraversial a story as some of the other books we've discussed? I am sure there will be much to chew over.....

The Author
Stephen Kelman was born in Luton in 1976. After finishing his degree he had a varied career working as a warehouse operative, a careworker, and in marketing and local government administration - providing much material for writing! He decided to focus on writing seriously in 2005, and has since completed several screenplays.

More Details
Find out about the book at http://www.pigeonenglish.co.uk/ and about the Man Booker Prize.

Giving the gift of reading.....

Tonight - Monday 23rd April - is World Book Night.

Ponders End Book Club is participating in this event and has free copies of 'The Alchemist' by Paulo Coelho to give away.

The whole purpose of this initiative is to celebrate reading, literacy and books. It is an event that it is celebrated worldwide in the United States, Ireland and Germany as well as the UK.

25 titles have been selected and will be given away by 20,000 passionate readers to homeless charities, prisons, sheltered housing schemes, schools, libraries and other places and to individuals who might not have the time or opportunity to read or buy books.

Books are eye opening avenues into a different world - and none more so than books by Paulo Coelho, a Brazilian writer, who writes books that stir the heart and are simple, beautiful tales of humanity.

You can find out more about 'The Alchemist' and World Book Night.

PS. And not forgetting Happy St George's Day and Happy Shakespeare's Birthday!

Book of the Month - May 2012 - The Sense of an Ending

The Book

Revolving around the themes of history, memory, aging and death, this short novel is one that potentially packs a big punch.

The book is narrated in two parts. Part one deals with the early adolescent years and friendship between a group of young boys including Tony Webster, an ordinary boy and a charismatic lad called Adrian Finn. Part two jumps ahead many years to Tony in late middle-age when he receives an expected letter and is forced to reflect on the past.

Much is said and unsaid throughout, resulting in a thought provoking novel which promises much for a book club choice.

The Author

Julian Barnes is a modern British author who was born in Leicester in 1946. He was educated at City of London School and then Magdalen College, Oxford. He is the author of several novels including Metroland, Flaubert's Parrot, Love etc, Arthur & George and A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters. A common focus for his novels are the stories of characters obsessed with understanding and interpreting their past.

He won "The Booker Prize" in 2011 for this novel.

More Information

Read more at: http://www.julianbarnes.com/bib/senseofanending.html

Book of the Month - April 2012 - The Help

The Book
Having taken five years to write and having been rejected by 60 literary agents, 'The Help' has since gone on to sell over five million copies (as of August 2011) and has been at top of the book best seller charts as well as being published in 35 countries - not mention being turned into an Oscar winning film. What does that tell you about this book?

For one, it gives an indication of the sensitivities and poignancy of the story - which is the tale of racial divides in the deep American southern states.

Set in the 1960s, this is a story of the black servants who work and raise white children.

The Author
Just like her main character, Skeeter, the author was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi. She graduated in English and Creative Writing from the University of Alabama. She then worked in magazine publishing and marketing in New York City before succeeding in publishing her debut novel, 'The Help'.

More information
Read more about Kathryn Stockett at: http://www.kathrynstockett.com/

Book of the Month - March 2012 - Me Before You

The Book

The publishers cover blurb bills this book as a romance, but it is in fact something more complex.

It is story of the coming together of two unlikely people - Will Traynor, a former successful  well-paid lawyer who has been injured in a road traffic accident - and Lou Clarke, a bright but directionless young woman who after losing her job at a local cafe reluctantly starts working as a care assistant.

It deals with some sensitive subjects - those of disability, quadriplegia, personal care and human rights which makes for a thought provoking read.

The Author

JoJo Moyes is both a successful author and journalist. Born in 1969 she grew up in London and gradauted with a degree from Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, London University. She worked at The Independent for over ten years including as Assistant News Editor and the Arts and Media Correspondent. In 2002, she became a full time novelist. She has written 9 novels and her first book was called 'Sheltering Rain'.

More Information

Access JoJo Moyes' website at http://www.jojomoyes.com. The book was selected as a Richard and Judy Book Club choice in Spring 2012. View the book club review at: http://www.richardandjudy.co.uk/books/Me-Before-You/169

Book of the Month - February 2012 - The Mystery of Edwin Drood

The Book
This was Dickens' final novel which he left uncompleted upon his death from a stroke in 1870. The story is a murder mystery set midst the fictional cathedral town of Cloisterham. It centres around two young orphans - Edwin Drood and Rosa Bud and Edwin's uncle, the troubled John Jasper, the cathedral choirmaster.
As with his other novels, Dickens includes a varied cast of true to life characters ranging from young urchins, the local town mayor, the 'angular' lawyer, Grewgious and Princess Puffer who runs an opium den.
This being a whodunnit....the question is to ask ourselves who is the culprit...Neville Landless? John Jasper?....or does the mystery have a different explanation? You'll have to read the clues Dickens peppers throughout the novel carefully.....
The Author
7 Feb 2012 marks the 200th anniversary of Charles John Huffam Dickens' birth. Dickens is one of, if not the most famous British author. His books have been adapted for film and television more than 400 times and his novels remain a part of the British psyche. He was the master of the cliffhanger ending and his name as entered the English language through phrases such as 'What the Dickens?'.

More Information

Find out more about the BBC TV adaptation of 'The Mystery of Edwin Drood' at http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/jan/04/mystery-edwin-drood-dickens-bbc
Access details about the Dickens Museums in London and Portsmouth - http://www.dickensmuseum.com/ and http://www.charlesdickensbirthplace.co.uk/
If you are interested in Dickens you can also check out http://www.dickensfellowship.org/