Sorrows of Young Werther -- Johann W. von Goethe

An early- ? the first? Romantic novel - Feelings more than actions . The illness of uunrequited love , Great says Bloke D . Not my cup of tea says I. Historically important it may be but really Werther is a tedious plonker.

Candide -- Voltaire

A very short book that is still fresh more than two hundred years after publication . Satire, debauchery and political wit. Several members of the group reported "laugh out loud " moments.

What Sport Tells us about Life -- Ed Smith

Ed Smith, a cricketer with a love of baseball, seems to have collected a series of essays rather than write a book . Some of them are interesting and certainly kicked off dicussion in the largely sport-loving book group last week . Amateurism , cheating , coaching all worthwhile topics . Not all the pieces kept up to the standard of the best .

Next Candide

How many is too many?

Now we are eight ,would nine be too many? Do we have nine pint glasses , can the discussion thrive with this number or is it just aversion to change?

Next month What Sport Tells Us about Life : Ed Smith
then Candide

Memoirs of a Fox-Hunting Man -- Siegfried Sassoon

A captivating description of pre First World War hunting, country life and gentility .The country-side, the people an idle life and then... the War .
Not a life-changing book but a lovely read .

Welcome C ; a trans Atlantic visitor.

Welcome Bloke R...

New blood has joined the band of blokes and yesterday offered insightful commentary on Frankenstein, having only glanced at the text in boyhood... I hate that. I write this from my sick bed the day after the Bookblokes monthly bash having drunk a single bottle of beer (plus poisonous sediment) and paid the price with a trip to the khazi every ten minutes during the night. (Note to self - * don't drink the lumpy stuff - better still, pour carefully into a glass like the instructions say* )
More new blood to arrive next month... Bloke R - send email address for an invite to comment.

editors note: O-Garden from Otley Brewery is a wheat beer flavoured with coriander and orange peel . Also available was Cheltenham SPA form Battledown Brewery in Cheltneham and Ale Mary from West Hewish and Old Scatness from Shetland

How exciting this all is.