As you may know, I joined Broadway book club in Nottingham last year. I’ve really been enjoying it. Maybe not enjoying all the books, but definitely going to the meetings and getting together with like minded people who just love reading. It’s also been great for getting me to read wider than my chosen genre of crime and I’m finding I do actually like things other than murder!
We now have to make our choice for April’s read. We have three books to choose from and the one with the highest vote gets read. So, I’m interested this month, on what my blog readers would choose.
These are the options – which can also be found and voted for if you want to be a member of the book club online, here;
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
When Harold Fry leaves home one morning to post a letter, with his wife hoovering upstairs, he has no idea that he is about to walk from one end of the country to the other.
He has no hiking boots or map, let alone a compass, waterproof or mobile phone.
All he knows is that he must keep walking.
To save someone else’s life.
The sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
Tony Webster and his clique first met Adrian Finn at school. Sex-hungry and book-hungry, they would navigate the girl-less sixth form together, trading in affectations, in-jokes, rumour and wit. Maybe Adrian was a little more serious than the others, certainly more intelligent, but they all swore to stay friends for life.
Now Tony is in middle age. He’s had a career and a single marriage, a calm divorce. He’s certainly never tried to hurt anybody. Memory, though, is imperfect. It can always throw up surprises, as a lawyer’s letter is about to prove
Blue Eyes by Hema Macherla
Set in Gandhi s volatile India, the story opens with Anjali, aged eighteen, about to be burnt alive on her husband s funeral pyre the conventional widow s fate. After a dramatic escape, things go badly wrong and she embarks on an extraordinary, often terrifying, journey of discovery. Saleem, Anjali s childhood friend, is entwined in her destiny. As he searches for her, he is caught up in the violence surrounding India s struggle for freedom. At the heart of this fast-moving narrative is the love of two men for one woman.
Now I would love to read all of these books. I downloaded the sample of the Harold Fry book initially and fell in love with it and voted for it immediately. I then bought the kindle version. A sense of an ending is winning the votes though, so I will have to read that before the end of April. I think I may as well end up reading all three at some point! It’s a really great choice this month.
If you had to choose out of these books, which would you pick and why?
DJ Kirkby says
I voted for A Sense of an Ending because I like to read books that aren’t being raved about by EVERYONE. I tend to read those later on after the furore has died down….I don’t know why….maybe I’m a bit obstinant?
Rebecca Bradley says
I’m usually that way but I read the sample and just wanted to keep reading. I wanted to know what happened. I think it’s definitely going to be A Sense of an Ending though.
Cynthia Reed says
I ‘read’ Sense of an Ending via Audible. My best friend in the US recommended it because her book club had read it and really liked it; they are a fussy bunch! I belonged to that group years ago. 😉
Rebecca Bradley says
It looks as though it’s going to be the book we read. I shall blog it when we’ve done 🙂
Jo Brittan says
Definitely Sense of an Ending. It’s one of those books that you will return to and still find something new to take from it. Can’t wait for my reading group to do this one so I have another excuse to read it again! I was disappointed with Harold Fry after all the hype it got.
Rebecca Bradley says
I enjoyed the sample of Harold Fry, but it does look as though we will be reading Sense of an Ending. It sounds as though it’s going to be one to enjoy.
Margot Kinberg says
Rebecca – Count me in the Sense of an Ending column too. If your book club chooses it, I’ll be looking forward to seeing what you think.
Rebecca Bradley says
It looks as though it’s going to be the book of choice Margot. I shall do a blog post after reading 🙂
Bel Anderson says
I was going to say Harold Fry – but it looks as though I’d be alone. A colleague read it and told me I’d like it, so it’s one that’s on my list.
Rebecca Bradley says
You’re not alone Bel, but we’re definitely in the minority! I shall be reading it at some point though 🙂
ramblingsfromtheleft says
Rebecca, I must admit, I would have chosen the first book as well. Sounds so Harlan Coben in plot. Now I can’t rest until I find Harold Fry and see for myself 🙂
Rebecca Bradley says
I don’t think we will be reading it for the club, but I will read it anyway. Let me know what you think of it!
Annalisa Crawford says
I’ve been trying to read Harold Fry for a while now, and I’m finding it difficult to get into. I’m not giving up just yet, but it might not be the right book for the group.
Rebecca Bradley says
It looks like that is the consensus Annalisa. I enjoyed the Harold Fry sample, so will read the whole book at some point. I think sometimes, their being so much hype, just spoils it a little.
Vikki Thompson says
I’d pick Harold Fry, but, mainly because Rachel is a Faber Academy Graduate lol
Xx
Rebecca Bradley says
A good a reason as any Vikki! I shall be reading it and will probably blog it when I do!
Vikki Thompson says
Excellent! Looking forward to hearing what you think 🙂
Xx
beautifulorange says
Unfortunately, it’s predictable that the group will end up choosing the Booker Prize winner! I have to say that Barnes’ writing is superb but that Sense of and Ending is actually a fairly average book. But look forward to hearing what you think of it! Admittedly, I haven’t read the other two but know a couple of people who loved Harold Fry.
rm says
I read Blue Eyes and loved it. Set in 1920s colonial period. A skilfully written book. Author deals with sensitive issues very skilfully . Author’s style of writing is brilliant and is a Breath of fresh air.