Alice and Claire and Us

Crikey- that was exciting. A really fun book group meeting and a visit from a lovely author to boot- what a way to spend a Wednesday evening! I think we all really appreciated Alice taking the time to come along- for all we’re a pretty unthreatening lot, it still must be really daunting to sit down with a group of people who’ve got opinions on your work- so many thanks to Alice. I’ve also (finally) got some photos of you all, so here you are in glorious Technicolor…

I think we all got a lot out of the experience as well. Whether you loved or loathed the book, an author’s perspective gave a whole different perspective to Welcome to Life. Who’d of thought that the novel began with polygamy rather than Freya? And that it was almost set in Newcastle? And who had any idea what a literary agent actually does? (And, more importantly, that Barnston was a hotbed of wife-swapping activity??? The confessions a book can elicit…). I was surprised to realise how wedded I still am to that Romantic idea of a writer- that a work somehow emerges complete from a writers consciousness. In reality, it is so much more alive with inputs and possibilities – so many decisions to be made, so many different ways it could go. I think it made us all see that writing is a process rather than a result-  and that it’s achievement that anything ever gets published at all.

 Though we all loved Alice, reactions to the book itself were, as usual, a mixed bunch. Some people enjoyed its light touch and empathised with the characters; others found it superficial and felt many of the characters didn’t quite ring true. As I predicted, there were some strong reactions to Millie (only me sticking up for her- what’s wrong with a woman that wants things, ladies?) and our valiant lone male felt a bit let down by the males in the novel. All were disappointed by the ending but, interestingly, no one could think of another way out. But at least everyone had something to say which puts it higher than Out Stealing Horses in our Top of the Pops chart!

Other end of the scale this month- a Penguin Modern Classic no less. And plenty of weighty issues in this one, if that’s what you’re all after. I read it for university and, while I enjoyed it, it’s a bit tainted by the circumstances, so I’m looking forward to reading it with fresh eyes. Let me know what you all think….