Beryl Bainbridge The Bottle Party Outing

Mixed reception of this one . Some quite liked  some not. Perhaps a period piece and a a farcical element as well

Barbara Pym - Excellent Women

A clear majority liked this .One of us not . Some lovely turns of phrase in the story of quiet post-War desperation ,

Etgar Kerret -Suddenly a Knock on the Door

Short  ,sometimes very short stories.Perhaps a theme of human sadness, mortality ,frailty.Some funny bits , some inventive m but does it hang together as a whole
Mostly enjoyed by us

the Auschwitz Violin

Although interesting  , we thought it a bit short .Needed more about after the War. ON the whole a good balance of the horror of Auschwitz and the actual story.
Good but not great

David Szaly Aĺl that Man Is

A bleak but readable series of tales of  being a man. Sad, unfulfiled men....not like us. No-one hated it ,some  thhought it pretty good.

Vladimir Nabokov --Lolita

Some found this too uncomfortable in its theme to get through it , although we could admire the language and turns of phrase.Others could see why it is still published an highly rated.

Sebastian Faulks - Where My Heart Used to Beat

WE did not engage with this - the first person narrator is perhaps meant to be distant  - It seems rather a deliberate construction of a book  and  not really believable.Not his best

Nikolai Gogol Dead Souls

Despite the title this is a satire on Russian life and characters. We did not all take to it  , but it  has its moments

The Code of the Woosters P.G.Wodehouse

Great turns of phrase,  an unlikely plot that he manages to draw together. The "masters" are fools the "servants" the wise ones. Bertie is a gentle soul who can't help getting in a spot of bother...
Some loved it   , other felt time could be better spent. But have to read one  in your life

Simon Mawer- The Glass Room

This is a readable story ( based on a true one)  but none of us felt it was great literature   . Good writing  , a weak ending  .