Following is a selection of the comments made and shared by those present.
SHEILA: Sin Killer
An American western that was unreadable!
JO: The Late Child
599 pages...she read the whole book but with great difficulty. It concerned a family of screwed up people...not recommended.
ANNE: Some Can Whistle
Danny Deeks is the main character who has made plenty of money writing TV series. He is an eccentric character who 'picks up' boys in summer, and girls in winter. Love affairs are carried on via answering machine and a daughter turns up out of the blue. Book is full of baudy humour.
JUDY: Rhino Ranch
One of the author's last books, bringing back a number of previous characters. They are all older, sadder and gradually one by one they disappear or die. A female billionaire attempts to sets up a ranch to save the black rhino. Too many horny old men, an absurd storyline, but some good observations of life in a small town.
MERILYN:
She began book 3 from a series...didn't make sense. Picked up another book but didn't read it.
JOAN & KATHY: Telegraph Days
Both had read the same book. After tough times the 2 surviving members of a family set off across the country arriving in a small town called Rita Blanca. Jackson becomes Deputy Sheriff, while Nellie goes on to run the local newspaper, writes a successful novel as well as "romping" with any bloke available. A number of the great gunslingers come into their lives including Buffalo Bill, Annie Oakley, Jessie James and their families and they meet them again when they turn up just before the shoot out at the OK Corral.
JEWELS: When the Light Goes Out
This is the story of a man whose wife has been killed and how he coped with the situation. There were so many explicit descriptions of a sexual nature that it really became too much. She quickly read through the book just to get it finished.
DIANNE: The Last Picture Show
Dianne described the author as an old man who couldn't get his head above his navel. His attitude to women is that they are there just for man's pleasure! The film was brilliant but she hated the book. It really depicted the sad, hopelessness of small towns where the only way out was to join the army. She couldn't recommend it.
ENID: Zeke and Ned
Enid had hoped that this book would tell her more of the history of the American Indians but she was disappointed that this was not the case.
The plot is somewhat Shakespearean with feuding families, murder, revenge and immorality.
The setting is the plight of the Indians as they are pushed onto reserves. Tragedy unfolds between Zeke and Ned because of Zeke's loyalty to Ned. They are uneducated, living in poverty and have many children.
The plight of the Indians trying to live under Western conditions has many similarities with the current aboriginal problem.
PAMELA: Dead Man's Walk
This is the prequel to Lonesome Dove and involves a group of misfits who are ill trained Texan Rangers out in Cheyenne country. They are led by a Major with 2 weeks training but a great shot.
Another character is a 200 pound whore who is killing a snapping turtle! As the story became more ridiculous Pamela decide she had better things to read.
LESLEY and GINNY: By Sorrow's River
Again, Lesley only read some of it. Its the story of Lord Berrybender, an English fool, and his dysfunctional family as they try to conquer the west. Along the way they come across many fictional characters. Is it a farce or is he serious?
Lesley questioned who the intended audience really is... probably not "us" but possibly those who live in small towns and fantasize over what the West was like!
Ginny had thoughts and comments similar to Lesley's. She only read half way through the book and found it blood thirsty (Indians slicing off ears or left feet) and quite ridiculous.
KRIS: Loop Group
The 2 characters, Maggie and Connie are two sixty year olds, single and lusty as ever. They provide the sound effects for B grade movies to make a living. Following a hysterectomy and pining for her womb, Maggie is joined by Connie and take off to visit an aunt in Texas, drinking, smoking and carrying on along the way.
They live a pathetic and depressing life, not acting their age or accepting what life gives them.
WELCOME to new member Rosemary currently reading Anna Funder's 'All That I Am'
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS
- The Reunion by Sue Walker - a psychological thriller, you'll never guess the ending
- Oranges Aren't the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson
- Bird Cloud: A Memoir by Annie Proulx
- Deception: The Story of Mark Standen's Downfall
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