A cracking good read!

I belong to two book clubs, both of which I really enjoy; lovely people, lovely conversation, always a pleasant few hours of interest and fun… however, I often seem to be not exactly the fly in the ointment nor the sore thumb, but the one who thinks the opposite of everyone else… my family would tell you it’s an Elsden trait, the same as the Elsden nose (sense of smell not size of conk!)

With one of the groups, I enjoyed ‘The Moonstone’ very much, and although I had reservations, I was pleased to have read ‘The Suspicions of Mr Whicher’; but last night I had to confess to my Wednesday group, that I really didn’t enjoy “Beyond the Beautiful Forevers’ by Katherine Boo, and really struggled to read it, wonderful though it was at showing the lives of people in a Mumbai slum. We seem to have read a lot of books I’ve struggled with, ‘The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet’ by David Mitchell, ‘The Wicked Girls’ by Alex Marwood, ‘A Long, Long Way’ by Sebastian Barry… oh, and others too!

My good friend Isabel gave me a book (thanks Isabel!) which I am really enjoying, and keep sneaking a read even though I have other things I should be doing. The book is ‘The English Lady Murderers’ Society’ by Jim Williams. It is set in France in an idyllic place called Puybrun – if you’ve ever been to France then you will adore reading the descriptions because it will just take you back to all the lovely times you’ve spent there! The title might give you a clue what the book is about… but only a clue because there is much more to it than murder. The characters are a group of women of a certain age, ex-pats who form a group to share their different skills and as a social gathering of friends. Jim has a great ear for voices, because each character is distinct and interesting…

Jim was born and bred in Oldham, where I lived, worked, met and married my husband and had my children… Like many Oldhamers, Jim has real grit and determination, as you will find out if you look at what he writes about himself on his web-page, and like many Oldhamers he has a dry wit and a sense of humour which will make you smile if not chuckle out loud.:

http://jimwilliamsbooks.com/Home.htm

I haven’t yet finished the book, but I really recommend it to you and look forward to hearing what you think if you read it too!