The Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez

Yet more Kabul in The Black Bull

Apologies to all our readers and followers awaiting this review - we discussed this on 3rd November 2014  but, for a whole host of reasons relating to a group blog, we're just getting to sharing our thoughts with you.  Please forgive us.

Firstly the venue.  We met for lunch at  The Back Bull in Corbridge which is well known for providing good quality pub food and service.  On this occasion, the Hussies tested the pub to its limits.  One Hussy, already grumpy about how difficult it is to park in Corbridge at lunch time,  disappeared at the ordering stage to sort out a puncture,  another was feeling too queasy to dine and another had issues with the salmon!   

Secondly the book.  It was OK.  Its main problem was that we all had previous. We had all previously read a lot  about women living in Afghanistan - Khaled Hosseini's "The Kite Runner" and "A Thousand Splendid Suns",  Rodriguez's other book "The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul" and "The Bookseller of Kabul" by Asne Seierstad, are the main examples that come to mind.   And so, we learnt little new from  Rodroguez on this occasion.  

In the absence of enlightenment, we sought entertainment - great characters, plot twists and a satisfying ending?   Rodriguez writes well, and it was an easy read, but this was neither a page turning satisfying plot nor an autobiography.  It was frustrating to wonder where autobiographical fact ended and fiction began.  

In reality, the book and the food were probably very good.  But somehow,  on that cold, queasy, punctured  day, the salmon, the tyre and the Kabul Beauty School left us all feeling flat. 

Still, the great thing about reading is that there's always another story, another page...so  we parted with high hopes for 

PS - For anyone interested in 'geographical fiction' then why not visit Guardian World Fiction for inspiration. 

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

'4 Hussies.  4 Seasons.  1 Popular Page Turner'

 

 

 

 

 

 

....  For the first time ever, the hussies returned to the same restaurant two meetings in a row.  This unprecedented event enabled the absent hussie from last month to savour the Four Seasons Dish enjoyed by the other hussies at the previous visit.  We recommend it to our readers as one of the best value dishes on the menu (£13 - rice or noodles is extra).

 

 

 

 

....    As ever, the service was efficient, the food tasty and well presented.  We arrived at 7.15pm and the place was already busy -  unusually so for a Tuesday evening during the recession.  This Chinese restaurant is extremely popular so you will need to book.  The bendy forks are worth sampling but, it may be as well to pack an extra layer as this restaurant is more airy than cosy.  We were never rushed despite being the last to leave. 

 

 

.....  For once, there were NO COMPLAINTS about the choice of book.  Gone girl was a HIT. A definite  page turner.  There was a combined sense of anti-climactic frustration at the probably inevitable ending.   The changing characterisation was impressively effective although on close analysis we did think the characters were implausible. It was extremely well plotted and a refreshing change from some of the heavy literary fiction we occasionally review.  After the hard work involved in reading The Accidental, we all found ourselves totally immersed in the story whilst racing to the end.   It was only on reflection we began to see some holes.

So read it and enjoy it but don't spend too long reflecting on it or dissecting it!! 



....   Next month we are reviewing our first ever cook book: Mary Berry At Home! We are all committed to preparing and sharing our culinary creations when we meet next time.  As a taste of things to come,  why don't you join in  - maybe, give the almond and apricot tart a go?

MARY BERRY AT HOME by MARRY BERRY & LUCY YOUNG

 

                                                                                                                                       12 March 2013

The Persuader, Lee Child

'1 Book, 2 Courses, 0 Customers - It's Christmas 2012'

.... Light relief at the Robin Hood Inn, East Wallhouses, Northumberland.

A lonely Christmas celebration for the book group!

....  A lovely Chrstmas tree was the most significant presence in this sadly empty restaurant  - the venue for our Christmas get together, 18th December 2012.   Surrounded by streamers and treated to friendly, personal service, we enjoyed simple pub fayre - large portions which were value for money.  The sad silence at the Robin Hood was quite deafening and maybe the result of this pub's relative isolation combined with the seasonal clamp down on drink driving and ongoing no smoking policies. 

....  Spurred on by the forthcoming Jack Reacher movie, we felt that Jack would be poorly protrayed by Tom Cruise.  Jack Reacher is sexy, blonde, 6'5'', tough and can take what people throw at him.  Tom Cruise is not.  

Our discussions  moved naturally onto scientology, pre-nuptial agreements and fantasies of Ewan McGregor as Jack Reacher. 

 

Fast moving light relief
 

....  And!  Eventually to The Persuader!  We appreciated its focus on plot - a refreshing change from previous books crafted to convey a profound social message.  This was light hearted,  fast paced, a page turner, with fiendish violence, a frisson....and a satisfying victory.    Jack Reacher can survive impossible scrapes, only kills baddies, has a well described armoury (? too well described),  and always ends up on top. 

....  As we exchanged seasonal wishes and bid farewell to 2012,  we planned our film review at The Forum Cinema seeing Life of Pi which was our first ever book group book.
 

We read it, we watched it, we loved it!

....  The movie was amazing- captivating opening scenes - and we all felt it complemented the book. 

Please comment and share your views


THE ACCIDENTAL by ALI SMITH

So to our first book of 2013 - The Accidental by Ali Smith - we will be reviewing this at the start of February.  Please comment and share your views. 

                                                                                                                                    December 2012

Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes

'Disturbing discussions in the Darkest Corner of the Angel Inn'

....  Our book club is fast approaching its 10th anniversary and we have just finished this 55th book.  A compelling page turner, full of suspense, but not to be read alone in the dark.  This book generated lots of debate on the central issue of domestic violence.  It brings up questions about victim behaviour, divorce settlements and fact that you never know quite what goes on behind closed doors.

It also gave rise to interesting discussions on recent sex abuse cases and why it is that some people are not believed.  We all enjoyed reading this book because if was refreshing and different and quite definitely disturbing.

....  We met at the The Angel of Corbridge, as it was a mid-week night we had not reserved a table. On arrival, we were amazed to find the restaurant closed and the bar bustling. After a short wait we squeezed onto a table in the corner. A friendly welcome, the offer of drinks and a menu were in short supply. When the menus finally came the choice was limited. We had a Basil Fawlty moment, 'when is a sandwich not a sandwich?', answer, when it's after 6pm! Also, another interesting question, 'when is a pud not a pud?', answer, when the chef's gone home!. Never mind, it did us all good just to have a main course.

....  On a lighter note, the 'in house' entertainment was very amusing, if you are easily amused!  Rude Beer Mats - Enter the 'Rude Beer Mat Challenge'  Leave a comment and let us know where you found your really silly beer mat.

....  The Angel bell has tolled, it's time to pay and go.  11 am, an early night for the hussies.  £21.00 per hussie, no tip.

....  Please join us next month for our erudite critique of, what we hope, will be an excellent crime thriller.

THE PERSUADER by LEE CHILD







 

26 October 2012

My Dear I Wanted to Tell You by Louisa Young

'Mixed Reviews'

....  There were mixed reviews regarding this book.  The story was weak although it does give a good insight into the horrors of war.  Some felt this was a very similar book to 'The Officer's Ward'.  Same wartime angle wrapped around a love story.

....  Way off the beaten track tonight with a trip up to Wark to dine at The Battlesteads.  We were expecting a small pub and found a gem.  Very good food.  Much larger than the average pub and much better food than an average restaurant.  Try it!

....  Join us and share your views on a book recommended by TV book clubs alike ...

INTO THE DARKEST CORNER by ELIZABETH HAYNES

August 2012

Why be Happy When you Could be Normal by Jeanette Winterson

'Very Well Written'

....  Although on the whole the group did not understand this book, they all agreed it was very well written.  Some interesting insights, but disappointing and on occasion frustrating as we wanted to know more about the authors upbringing. We would recommend reading the  novel 'Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit' by Jeanette Winterson, this was made into a television drama some years ago and was very popular.

....  Back to the Black Bull in Corbridge. This turning into quite a favourite.  You have to choose wisely, but the ambiance and service are good.

....  Back to a wartime book.  Share our views on ...

MY DEAR I WANTED TO TELL YOU by LOUISA YOUNG

8 July 2012

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel by Deborah Moggach

'New and Interesting'

....  This was a very easy read, and dealt with an interesting subject, questioning ideas of retirement. The book tackled the issue of growing old in away that was both humorous and sad.  The casting of the film made it very watchable and very funny at times, with a touch of melancholy.

....  Previous visits to the Queen's Head Great Whittington have been very good.  However, this time it was a complete let down.  The Queen's Head had been closed for some time and has now been reopened under new management.  There was one very good starter and we all wished we'd ordered that!. Lets hope next time will be more of a success.

....  A controversial book for next month.  Let us know what you think of ...

WHY BE HAPPY WHEN YOU COULD BE NORMAL by JEANETTE WINTERSON

March 2012



The Miller's Tale by Geoffrey Chaucer

'A Surprising Success'



....  Yes, this was a surprising success, once we battled our way through the 'olde' English.  We were proud to have got through it and enjoyed the comedy.  This tale was made into a drama on the BBC which we watched and also enjoyed.

....  We dined at The Queen's Head, in Great Whittington, tonight.  Good Food, as usual.

....  Our next book was listed for the Orange Prize. Let us know what you think!

THE FRACTION OF THE WHOLE by STEVE TOLTZ

4 September 2008