The Ventnor Library Reading Group meet on a regular basis to discuss authors and books they’ve read.
Last month they discussed the works of Hilary Mantel.
Wolf Hall – “..wonderful … I got lost in it … gives Cromwell as real personality … I wanted it to keep going “¦ where did he get his money from? So many unanswered questions … describes so well the oppressive times, the spies waiting to bounce … the vagaries of the King’s temper.
Wasn’t Anne devious, or was she a product of her time and class?
So well-researched … Mantel doesn’t fill in the spaces, perhaps the gaps are really unknown, so to fill them would be wrong? I wondered about an historical novel winning the Booker but it is so well-written I can see why … I hope there is a sequel.”
Beyond Doubt – “..about a medium … sometimes you doubt who is dead and who is alive..”
A Place Of Greater Safety – “..a difficult read but persevere … really well-researched about the French Revolution and some of its main characters.”
Fludd – “..hilarious – set in a mill town – pokes fun at religion in all its forms – well-written and tender – perhaps she is saying that we never really see the whole picture … describes both physical illness and being labelled as mentally ill with compassion.”
A Change Of Climate – “..story of a missionary family – based on the experiences of Botswana.”
Every Day Is Mother’s Day – “.. dark humour – builds to a gripping ending.”
Giving Up The Ghost – “.. her autobiography – fascinating insight into the Catholic childhood. The “ghosts” in the title may be the ghosts of her unborn children or indeed the ghosts of unwritten stories – so we deduce then that her books are her children?”
Giant O’Brien – “.. based on the case of an Irishman who came to London to exhibit himself as a freak – a discussion of the Enlightenment – slow but ultimately gripping.”
