Ventnor Library Reading Group recently met to discuss their latest choices – Sebastian Faulks’ Human Traces and Richard Benson’s The Farm – here is what they said!
About Human Traces
“I thought it impenetrable.”
“Very hard going at first but persevere, because it says a lot about what I suspect is still the same situation in the debate about psychology and psychiatry.”
“I found the end very moving having slogged my way through it – the characters are quite well drawn but you do have to persevere – it is worth it.”
It could do with a good editor – but I suppose you don’t tell Sebastian Faulks that he needs editing, do you?
“I gave up when it got to the essays on the different branches of psychiatry – it is supposed to be a novel isn’t it – rather than a treatise!”
About The Farm
“I thought it very good. It brought back memories of my own family in similar circumstances and seemed an accurate reflection of how we felt at the time.”
“Very moving. Well written and not sentimental about “the countryside” but showed how tough life can be.”
“I thought the family relationships were well drawn. It felt real.”
“What an indictment of the state of our countryside – it makes me fear for the future.”
“On one hand many industries have had to adapt or die. Farming has to do the same, but I do worry about all this importation of basic foodstuffs – shocking statistics at the end.”
“What wonderful descriptions of the countryside – well worth reading.”
