The story so far....

The Book Stripped Bare, as all of you reading this will probably know, is a forum for reading books, sharing opinions, and solving the problems of the world. OK, OK, it's just a little book group that meets once a month, at a local (cheap) pub, with a few strong views about a book of our choosing.  World domination is on the cards though...one day.  

So we have been up and running for 6 months now, survived a whole 1/2 a year, what better way to start the second half than to record our meetings on a Blog (that's where I come in).  

Here is a quick catch up on all the books we have read so far and our opinions on them...

Boy A Jonathan Trigall

This book generally got the thumbs up from all book group attendees.  It is a slightly (very) morbid story about the life of a child murderer after he is released from prison as a young adult, it is influenced by the James Bulger murder in the early 1990's.    The story is great for a book group as it polarizes opinion and lends itself to lengthy and heated discussions.  It is a breath of fresh air for those sick of reading the same things over and over again in the British media.  However, the book did fall a little too heavy on the side of sympathy for most of us. 

6.5 out of 10

Black Water Rising Attica Locke

We were expecting great things from this crime/civil rights history novel when one of the members (Emily) told us that she had heard the author speaking at Costa First Novel prize readings.  Unfortunately it didn't live up to the hype and (unsurprisingly) it didn't win the prize.  The story centres on a complex character who is defined by the racial tensions of his home town Houston and becomes embroiled in a thoroughly Texan oil dispute.  A legal thriller...well legal yes...but we were not really thrilled in the slightest.      

3 out of 10

The Bride Stripped Bare Nikki Gemmell

Bored of prize winning novels we decided to try something a little racy for the next month. 'Anonymous' Aussie author (oooh I love alliteration) Nikki Gemmell's attempt at ground breaking female insight seemed like a good place to start. Billed as the book to keep 'husbands on their toes' we struggled to see why.  We were left a bit disappointed at the lack of originality in the plot and the exploits of 'the Bride'.  The story never really got going, but the title, reworked obviously, became the new book group name...and so The Book Stripped Bare was born.  

1 out of 10

Room Emma Donaghue

Back to the prize 'nominated' novels we went.  If Boy A was morbid, this book was off the scale.  Some of us LOVED it, some of us HATED it.  A pretty equal balance making this the Marmite book of the group so far.  For anyone who doesn't know, Room is told from the point of view of 5 year old Jack, who is locked in Room with his mother (Joseph Frizl style) he thinks that Room, his mother and its contents are all that exist.  OK, so Emma Donaghue puts herself in the shoes of a 5 year old boy and assumes what he may be thinking, in the room and out of it.  Some bought the story others didn't...the choice is yours 

8 out of 10 (the score is so high as Emily can never finish a book on time)

How Far Can You Go? David Lodge

Discussing this book during a wine and cheese night where copious amounts of alcohol were consumed is making it difficult for me to remember what was said...I will try my best.  The narrative follows a group of friends from university through to middle age, the common bond is Catholicism.  Not an obvious book choice for some (me included) but on the whole the group found it interesting, funny and well written.    

6.5 out of 10

So that is the story so far....the book for November was the Booker Prize winning 'The Finkler Question' we are meeting tomorrow, so until then....