Helpful Score: 10
I was disappointed with how little focus there was on the books they read and the monthly discussion. You could hardly even tell who said what in those meetings, the dialogue was often not assigned to a character (like with "Harriet said" or "Clare pointed out"). It seemed like the author threw the books and meetings in as an afterthought. "Oh crap, I guess they better actually read a book or two considering the title!"
I was also annoyed with how much the author 'tortured' her characters. Everyone went through agonizing dilemma after agonizing dilemma. We hear about the book-of-the-month for a page or two, then we get 30 pages about how they deal with their dilemma. When the next month came along... rinse, repeat. It got so angsty I got bored. They made so many stupid choices I couldn't care about the characters. You'd think that a book called "The Reading Group" would have more focus on the meetings, you know, maybe a few good *reading group* scenes. Apparently logic failed there.
There was one thing I liked about the book... the British phrases and words. They're why I even bothered to finish reading. But they're no reason to start reading.
I was also annoyed with how much the author 'tortured' her characters. Everyone went through agonizing dilemma after agonizing dilemma. We hear about the book-of-the-month for a page or two, then we get 30 pages about how they deal with their dilemma. When the next month came along... rinse, repeat. It got so angsty I got bored. They made so many stupid choices I couldn't care about the characters. You'd think that a book called "The Reading Group" would have more focus on the meetings, you know, maybe a few good *reading group* scenes. Apparently logic failed there.
There was one thing I liked about the book... the British phrases and words. They're why I even bothered to finish reading. But they're no reason to start reading.
Helpful Score: 9
Quick, engaging read. It's not really a book about a reading group, but more of a book about the lives of a few interesting women.
Helpful Score: 8
engrossing story of 5 british women who are in a book club. Their lives intersect in interesting ways. And a bonus...their book discussions suggested several books that I would like to read or reread.
Helpful Score: 6
This book follows 5 people that are in a reading group. Each chapter starts out with the book that they read in a month with a short summary. The rest of the chapter follows the friends and their lives. The books that they have read for the month are also intertwined with their lives. This book made me want to check out some of the books that they read.I enjoyed the way these friends' lives changed during the book.
Helpful Score: 5
One of the best female bonding books I've read in a long time. Smarter than your average "chick lit," too!
