A motley crew

Every time we have a meeting, someone in our group reveals something exciting and new about themselves. A married couple who told us how they met in a 1950s jazz band, anecdotes about family and pets that range in light and shade, and we’ve had had a few brushes with fame.

The Boro group, which is a mix of regulars and intermittent visitors is a mix of ages and backgrounds and it’s always a bit lively.

Our last book ‘Richard Milward’s Ten Storey Love Song’ can also be descibed as lively and it’s graphic depiction of life in a Middlesbrough tower block got a mixed response, but by the end of the night, even the people who hasn’t been able to keep reading it ahd said they fancied finishing it after hearing everyone elses reviews.

The group is open to anyone who fancies it, and even if you can’t come every month, that’s a-ok.

Come along and join in, you’re always welcome.

Brambles Farm massive!

so, here comes another bank holiday ( i LOVE May!) and after it comes our May meeting.

We’re discussing Ten Storey Love Song by Richard Milward and am really looking forward to find out what y’all think about it!

Set in a peach tower block on Brambles Farm, one of the grimy bits of the Boro, the book is one long paragraph involving the people who live there. I loved it, although the location wasn’t what won me over…it was far more than that.

So if you want to come down and chip in, come along on Tuesday 26th, 6.30pm Central Library. Free tea and biscuits as usual. Cider and pick n mix optional.

Bring out the bunting! We are 1!

Looking at  my calender, I was surprised to see that our little book group has been going for a whole year!

A lot has happened over the last year.

I’ve met fantastic people from all sorts of backgrounds and age groups at the group, and as well as reading some awesome books, I also met and hosted a night with one of my favourite authors Stella Duffy.

Reading is such a weird solitary pasttime, that having this group to go to once a month really makes my life a lot better.

In the style of a Miss World contestant, I’d like to thank  Claire and Olivia at New Writing North for supporting us;  Sara Dennis and Middlesbrough Libraries for rescuing us and providing my favourite place in the town as a venue;  and, most importantly,  the people who come every month or once in a  while – you make this happen!

x

A right pick n mix

 

Is it just me or are there a lot of so-so books about at the moment?

I keep finding ones in my library, and buying them in bookshops, excited at the cover, blurb and reviews. Then I get em home, read em and am deflated.

I’ve got two on the go at the moment which are ok, but the one I hated recently was ‘Wetlands’ – which i reviewed here .

 Don’t. Believe. the. Hype.

Thankfully I have read some swesome books too and am also excited about an event organised by New Writing North to celebrate the release of Richard Milward’s Ten Storey Love Song. It involves cider and pick n mix at mima. Awesome. More details here.

And remember, next book group is this coming Tuesday. 6.30pm. Middlesbrough library. Free tea and cake, and maybe crisps. We spoil you innit.

The derby-players Wife

It’s a busy time at the moment for me….as well as working lots, reading books and lurking in libraries, I’ve been busy training with my roller derby team for our first public bout in Birmingham, and also, welcoming another greyhound into the house.

The two of them have joined forced in stealing food and went through a packet of club biscuits plus foil the other days.

I’ve also been buying books (helping the economy!) and have purchased the next two books we have for the group and the much hyped Wetlands. The first page made my eyes pop so it’s living up to it’s promise.

I’ve had to set it aside to continue reading the Time Travellers Wife, which I LOVE! I can’t wait to find out what everyone else thinks about it at the next meeting, which is next week!

Whooh! Middlesbrough libraray, 6.30pm, Tuesday 24th…see you there?

A twee tree

It seems like an eternity since the last book group, which it kind of is, but thankfully, we are back after our (lengthy) festive break.

We have four books pencilled in up until April, and there are a few exciting and soon to be announced events involving us coming soon.

Until then, we have our first meeting on Jan 27th, where we shall be drinking tea and chatting about a lovely book I found years ago – The Taxi Driver’s Daughter by Julia Darling. I’m lookng forward to hearing what you all think about it.

Until then I have for you this lovely photo, of the shoe tree of Armstrong Park in Newcastle, which fits with two of the books characters.

2008…And so it goes…

The end of the year is nigh.

There’s a bafflingly odd M&S advert on Tv, which suggests Twiggy and Jason Orange live together, getting into Middlesbrough in a car is a mare, and the houses near me are draped in neon.

Before everyone gest sucked up in a dizzying list of parties and present swapping meet ups, we bring you the last Middlesbrough Book Group meeting of the year. Early. Nice aren’t we?

The next meeting will be Tuesday, November 25th, at 6.30pm as usual,and upstairs in the ref section of Central library.

The book being discussed is The Giro Playboy by Michael Smith which I’m really looking forward to talking about!

The first meeting in 2009 will be on Tuesday 27th January and we’ll be reading Julia Darling’s The Taxi Driver’s Daughter……

…….but before we go for the year, it would be ace to get some tips for tp books you’ve read this year, so leave a comment if you like and let us know what we should look out for in the January sales.

Read like a playboy

The October meeting has been cancelled due to things out of our control…so, the books will all be put back a month…..giving you plenty of time to read the Giro Playboy and also source the Julia Darling Book which some people are having trouble finding.

The next meeting will be Tuesday, November 25th, at 6.30pm as usual, and the book being discussed is The Giro Playboy by Michael Smith.

Borders in Teesside Retail Park  have plenty of copies and that they’re aware of your 20% discount – please us know if there are any problems there.

xx

Back to school – change of classroom

So, we’ve had a month off and all sorts has changed.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the venue for the New Writing North Middlesbrough Book Group (formerly Blue Lounge Book Group) has changed to:

Reference Library
Middlesbrough Central Library
Victoria Square
Middlesbrough
TS1 2AY

Please note the meetings will no longer be held at The Blue Lounge on Linthorpe Road, nor at Coffee@Elliott’s on Linthorpe Road, contrary to previous notices.

The meetings will continue to be at the same time, on the last Tuesday of every month, at 6.30pm until 8pm, and refreshments will be served.  Hurrah!

Next book is Half of a Yellow Sun , Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and remember you can get discount at Borders in Teesside Park!

Sorry for any confusion caused. We look forward to seeing you there.

 

 

Here comes the Summer

Seeing as our book group isn’t your usual kind of fusty book group, we’ve decided to mix things up this month.

The “June” meeting will actually take place on July 1^st (ahem), so there will actually be two meetings in July, as the “July” meeting will be on 24^th July. 

So here are the details, and my reasons for choosing the books:

Tuesday 1^st July, 6.30pm, The Room of Lost Things by Stella Duffy

I’ve been a fan of Duffy and her sharp, brave writing for years, due to the subjects she chooses and the honest way she writes about them. This time the main character is London,- South London – and she writes about the dirtier side of our capital and its characters in a way that is passionate and poetic.

 And we’ve got a special treat for you on 1^st July as well – the author, Stella Duffy, will attend the book group meeting and will be taking comments and questions from the group. I’ll lead the questioning, so don’t feel you have to say anything if you don’t want to. You’re more than welcome to just attend the meeting and hear what others have to say.

Stella will then do a reading and we’ll have drinks and nibbles in the Blue Lounge, which Blue Lounge book group members are welcome to attend.

 Thursday 24^th July, 6.30pm, So Many Ways to Begin by Jon McGregor

Jon McGregor is a wizard when it comes to words.  His first novel left me agog and his second, So Many Ways to Begin, is even better, which is why I chose it for the group.  Looking at real lives and what goes on behind closed doors, this is a complex story told concisely and with flair.

 We’ll be taking a break in August to allow for summer holidays, and will announce the autumn/winter dates and books.

 As usual, all the books we discuss are available at Borders in Middlesbrough, where you’re entitled to a 20% discount on those books if you present your membership card.

So, whaddya think? Two meetings, one author, two lots of free food and nice cocktails? Hurrah i say!