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!

Your sweet face seems to haunt my dreams

It’s the Bank holiday weekend (thank gawd) which I hope gives you time to have a listen to some rather lovely songs to go with our third book ‘The Good Father’ by Marion Husband (which we’ll be meeting to have a look at on Tuesday).

Marion sent us her top 5 songs to go with the book, which you can listen to here! 

Moon Light Serenade - Glen Miller

 

The White Cliffs of Dover – Vera Lynn 

 

Lili Marlene – Marlene Dietrich 

 

Goodnight Sweetheart – Bing Crosby

 

Move It – Cliff Richard

 

The novel is set in the 1950s and Marion has given some tips on how to write about the past:

 

* Research – use the web, library, talk to people who lived through that period if possible

 

*Don’t just read history books about the period but poems, memoirs, novels, plays and songs written at the time

 

*Love the period you’re writing about – be absolutely fascinated by everything about it

 

*Use fascinating odd/quirky nuggets you’ve come across in your research to add colour and interest and credibility to your writing

 

*Research, research, research - check and double check your facts

 

See you next Tuesday!

Mr Grey Sky

I genuinely thought summer was here last week. Men had their shirts off in Albert Park, the fountain was full of dogs sharing spit and fleas and everyone was asking me to go the the pub (always a good thing). Now it’s grey, my fingers are freezing and I’m wearing a JUMPER.

One thing that is soothing my grumpiness at the weather is the news that our book group is to continue after these first 3 sessions, and new book groups are soon to be popping up all over the North East.

So, for any of you who have read the blog, shown up and let us know what you think, thank you – without you lot it would just be me, a cocktail and a very lonely few hours in Blue Lounge.

Over the next few months, we shall be having some exciting new things happening with the book group, which I shall be announcing over the next few weeks so keep checking back. We also have a facebook group if that’s your sort of thing, so join us there.

Oh and the eagle eyed of you will notice there is no June group – this is due to one of the exciting things – so we have 2 in July, none in August (holiday season innit?) and then back on track for September (Confusing? No. Interestingly planned? Yes.)

So yes, I hope you’ve read/are reading The Good Father, like the look of the next two books we have announced and are having a lovely time even if the sun ISN’T shining.

The second coming

And so the year trundles on, and with sunshine and bare arms comes our second book group meeting.

I wasn’t sure what to expect of running a book group, especially after seeing the Channel 4 show but so far, it’s been very nice to look after it.

This time we looked at ‘Something Borrowed’ and had a right old debate about whether you should read things as just fun or look beneath for hidden depths.

One person liked it because it was ‘about two old nanas’ who were like Rosemary and Thyme. Another said it reminded them of a Beryl Cook painting and another dubbed it a ‘gothic Last of the Summer Wine’.

This time we had about 20 people, some from the first group and a fair few new faces which was lovely to see. As were the 2 for 1 cocktails at the bar.

Next time we’re looking at The Good Father by Marion Husband and we’re picking our June book pretty soon, so keep checking back for updates.

Zombies take over Linthorpe Road…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

….Well, actually, Whitby beach, but if you’ve been reading ‘Something Borrowed’ you’ll get my drift.

So have you read ‘Something Borrowed’? Are you half way through? Or have you not managed to crack it open?

However far you’ve got feel free to come down to the Blue Lounge on Tuesday for 6.30pm to have a chat and some drinks.

And if you have a mate who didn’t come last time but is now totally jealous of all the interesting and witty things you came back with, then bring them along. More the merrier.