Last night saw our YA crime fiction book club meeting on Google+ Hangouts and it was an interesting one!
We discussed How to Fall by Jane Casey
You can watch the full meeting below. You can also subscribe to the book club YouTube playlist Here.
Everyone loved the book, the cast of characters, the underlying thread of bullying running throughout was handled really well and the writing was clean and really smart. It got a full thumbs up from the club. There is a second book following Jess and many would also read this.
We also discussed YA in general as a genre and you can see our thoughts in the video.
Next month we are reading –
The Chessmen by Peter May
A new start has brought new optimism for Fin Macleod. Now permanently re-settled on his Hebridean childhood home of the Isle of Lewis, the ex-Detective Inspector has been employed by a local landowner to oversee security on his estate: ostensibly a simple task for a man of Fin’s experience. When an investigation into illegal activity on the land brings Fin into contact with elusive local poacher and former school friend Whistler Macaskill, Fin is afforded an opportunity to connect with the happier days of his teenage years. But as Fin catches up with Whistler, the two witness a freak natural phenomenon – a ‘Bog Burst’ – which spontaneously drains a Lewis loch of its water, revealing a mud-encased light aircraft with a sickeningly familiar moniker on its side. Both men know what they will find inside – the body of friend and musician Roddy Mackenzie, whose flight disappeared more than seventeen years before. But when Whistler’s face appears to register something other than shock at the sight of Roddy’s remains, Fin feels an icy chill of apprehension. As he closes in on Whistler’s secret, Fin is unprepared for how the truth about the past will alter the course of the future.
The meeting is on Wednesday 16th July at 8pm GMT on Google+ Hangouts. The usual applies, new members are more than welcome, in fact we would love to see some. If you have been thinking about it, think no more, just pop along and see what how it goes. Just let me know beforehand so I can add you to the group on Google+.
Until next time!
Margot Kinberg says
It was a great meeting, Rebecca – thanks for hosting it. 🙂
Rebecca Bradley says
You’re more than welcome Margot and it was a great meeting wasn’t it. I always love them, they’re great fun as well as the joy that comes from talking books with fellow book lovers 🙂
FictionFan says
Great discussion, guys, and as someone who’s been boring everyone in reach to death about Jane Casey for years now, I’m so glad you enjoyed the book. In my opinion, the second one is even better. And I hope you’ve all read her adult series too (I know Margot has)! Oh, and Ryan is hotter than Will…
Looking forward to hearing what you think of The Chessmen next time – Peter May being another, much longer-term, personal favourite of mine. Interesting that you’re going for the third in the trilogy.
Rebecca Bradley says
Ooh contentious FictionFan! Ryan hotter than Will!
I’m looking forward to reading Peter May as I haven’t read any of his yet. The reason it’s the Chessmen is we decided to go with selections from the crime novel of the year long-list from Theakston’s crime writing festival… I think a few of us will be attempting to read the whole trilogy though!
FictionFan says
it’s nothing to do with me, of course, Rebecca, and I’m sorry if it seems as if I’m interfering. But having read the whole trilogy I feel you should maybe know that The Chessmen contains major spoilers for book two (The Lewis Man) and concludes a story arc that began in that one. Also the main character’s personal life plays out across the three, so although there is a standalone plot in each, in my reviews I’ve been strongly recommending people should read them in order…
Sorry, I’ll go away now… 😉
FictionFan says
PS His newest book, Entry Island, is completely standalone – and also great!
Rebecca Bradley says
Oh oh! I’ve just got this!! 🙂
FictionFan says
I hope you enjoy it! I thought it was a fabulous read – even better than the Lewis Trilogy, perhaps. The historical bit in particular is very strong. Looking forward to your review…
diannegray says
I’m only just discovering Google+ – the video option looks great 😉
Rebecca Bradley says
It’s working really well for a book club. We now have members globally which is just brilliant. Usually a book club that wants to meet up has to be in a certain location, but with technology nowadays, we can all sit at home and share our love of crime fiction 🙂
You’re more than welcome to join us any month you fancy it!
MarinaSofia says
Should we go for the first one in the trilogy, then? Seem to hear lots of people saying they will have to read all three… Just a thought!
Rebecca Bradley says
I understand that comment Marina. I know there is Steph and I who are both going to attempt to read the trilogy before the next book club, but if I’m pushed, I do have the Chessmen ready and waiting. The problem is I know some have already read the first one and I hate to mess book clubbers around. Maybe I should make a quick post and gauge the situation…
team based says
I’m not sure why but this web site is loading very slow
for me. Is anyone else having this problem or is it a issue on my end?
I’ll check back later and see if the problem still exists.