Book clubs in Greater Manchester

Everything

It uses factual and historical events to counteract the negative perception we have of humanity.

It’s such an entertaining exploration of human nature in such a short read

The Hare with Amber Eyes is a 2010 non-fiction book by a British artist that traces his family's history through a collection of 264 Japanese netsuke carvings. The book is a memoir and detective story that follows the Ephrussi family, a wealthy Jewish banking dynasty, from their rise in 19th-century Europe to their persecution by the Nazis and the eventual survival of the netsuke collection.

What’s great? It’s earnestness. Her voice comes through clearly and authentically. Her description of her environment and how it connects with her emotionally, as she works through a time of great challenge to her wellbeing, really resonated with me. It’s a book I keep close.

Andy Weir likes to get into the nitty-gritty of a thought-experiment. In this case, it’s; “what if I was accidentally stranded for an uncertain period on another planet?”. The narrative is log-entries, which is a neat way of speaking in the first person, while preserving a sense of jeopardy. The science and engineering is first class and there is never a moment where the artifice shows through and spoils the magic. The humour is self deprecating, wry and humble as somebody used to learning from their mistakes has to make more in order to make the necessary actions to survive. It is a testament to what can be done if you - apologies for the swears - stick to the facts and don’t lose your shit. I would do neither, for the record. I want to be Mark Watney when I grow up.

I’m conflicted by this book. On the one hand, it is written beautifully. It is a melancholic story about a family who are pitched from their middle-class English lives into deeply austere, hand to mouth, hardscrabble existence (excuse the cliches) after a climate tipping point event. On the other hand they have the benefit of being in a fully-renovated coastal property, generously stocked with a starter-kit from a troubled step-mother climate scientist who knew what was coming. Published in 2021, and re-read in the light of COP30, and hurricane Claudia, it is the very gentlest introduction into the climate hellscape to be and quite dated already. But the writing…! I dunno. Don’t judge me.

Kim Stanley Robinson has made a harrowing subject which must be addressed into an equally harrowing thriller which is begging to be read. OK; it’s a book about coping with the climate catastrophe, but please don’t let that put you off; it’s also a hopeful exhortation to just keep trying. It is faithful to the science while it makes huge attempts to give humanity to its characters. I was hooked by the way he observes them in rarified surroundings, like the UN buildings in Geneva having abstract negotiations- after having witnessed the devastating consequences of a heatwave on people in a rural village. Published in 2020, it does already look dated in its positive portrayal of the behaviour of international institutions, but it was written in the spirit of encouragement and we do need more of that.

True story, or tall, taaaaaall tale? It’s fantastic. Just take him at his word. I for one fell for it. Don’t look too closely or you’ll spoil it. OK..?

It’s a proper fairytale, in the long-ago-independent-young-woman-outsmarts-the-devil-in-protracted-tale-of-advanced-cunning kind of tradition. The most endearing utterly sweet yarn of a story I picked up in Oxfam books and couldn’t put down. Literary balderdash and beautiful. I also read Lee Child. Don’t judge me on either…

Where to start? Heartbreakingly good. Nora finds herself at the end of her life and transported to a library, where she can choose from an infinite number of books and experience other lives which are the result of a decision opposite to one she took in her present life. I didn’t describe that at all well. Anyway; for anyone with a shred of humanity, deeply regretting any action they may ( or may not!) have taken in the past, this will be a balm. With a few shots of redemptive cathartic confusion along the way to make you earn it. Now, get on and read it. And eat those sprouts, they’re good for you.

Douglas Adams died 11 May 2001, aged 49. How many ( publicly known ) people can you say have etched themselves into your psyche so far that when they die it completely floors you, and you remember what you were doing when you heard the news?. Widely regarded as a supremely talented polymath, he was also an authentically good egg. Do me the honour of reading about him if you possibly can. Anyway; this book kicked things off for me when I was twelve and perfectly illustrated the ludicrousness of the adult world, while presenting it to me through the eyes of its affable, witless, dressing-gowned protagonist Arthur Dent, and his man-about-the-Galaxy friend and protector, off-planet humanoid Ford Prefect. The two are thrown into a chaotic mix of characters, customs and oddly familiar situations involving technology when Arthur’s planet is blown up, to make way for a hyperspace by-pass, just as hyperspatial travel is made obsolete by a thing called an infinite improbability drive. Ah, the irony, eh? Douglas Adams’ turns of phrase are just so pleasing to hear in your head and the outrageous situations into which the universe gleefully tosses his characters never falter. It definitely has a message, but in the glorious tradition of show-don’t-tell, never presumes to tell you what it is. ( Although God does, a couple of books in, in flaming 50-foot high letters, where you can also purchase mementos of your visit in the gift shop, as you leave - did I tell you it’s a six-book trilogy?)

This is placeholder recommendation! I've just got this from Oxfam Books. Will replace this placeholder when I've read the book. Let me know if you have a book club around Stretford or Chorlton, Manchester?

Great mix of fantasy, adventure and romance

Comedy, romance and intrigue, with great character development

Great psychological thriller, unable to put this down!