Despite the silence, the Welwyn Garden City book group is still going strong and always on the look out for new members!
This month we're reading Ian's choice of Moths by Karl Manders, and will be meeting on Thursday 12th April to discuss it. Here's a synopsis for you:
From rural Holland in World War II to the Soviet labour camps by way of a curious jazz band in Minsk and Moscow, Moths tells the parallel stories of a father and son who live through interesting times.
A self-indulgent Dutch businessman finds himself caught up in the liberation of Auschwitz by the Russian army, and playing piano for an unusual band at a time when jazz is a risky business in Stalinist Russia... Meanwhile, the boy, who has barely known his father, is brought up by his doting, childless aunt in the flat farmlands of east Holland. One day he comes upon an old moated castle full of moths, and meets the curious young girl who breeds and keeps the creatures captive there.
As the fifties come to an end, their parallel tracks converge in a powerful dénoument. Vivid, magical, heartbreaking and with astonishing range and layers of meaning, Moths is a gripping and beautiful literary debut.
We've read some great books over the last few months - here are a few of them:
The Red Notebook by Antoine Laurain - chosen by Jenna
The Mistletoe Murder and Other Stories by PD James - a festive choice for our annual Christmas dinner!
Submission by Michel Houellebecq - chosen by Ian
The Power by Naomi Alderman - chosen by Louise
Horns by Joe Hill - chosen by Caroline
Red Shift by Alan Garner - chosen by Ellie
Trumpet by Jackie Kay - chosen by Alistair
The Reader on the 6.27 by Jean-Paul Didierlaurent - chosen by Beth
The Illusion of Separateness by Simon Van Booy - chosen by Clare
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd - chosen by Kloe
A Private Moon by Peter Benson - chosen by Martyn
If you're aged 20-45 and interested in joining us (on the second Thursday evening of every month), drop us an email at wgcbookgroup@gmail.com.
