Sophie’s World – Jostein Gaarder.  Looking in her mailbox one day, a fourteen year-old Norwegian school girl called sophie Amundsen finds two surprising pieces of paper.  On them are written the questions: ‘Who are you?’ and ‘Where does the world come from?’

The writer is an enigmatic philosopher called Alberto Knox, and his two teasing questions are he begining of an extraordinary tour through the history of Western philosophy from the pre-Socratics to Sartre.

Next Meeting: Oct 11th.

Check out The Reading Room book stall from 1pm – 5.30pm in the centre of Drumshanbo on Saturday 28th August.

Harvest Feast 2010 will emphasise all that is great about regional food specialities, heritage, eco-tourism and the environment. This year’s Harvest Feast runs from 27th-29th August.

It wasn’t greatly liked – “twisted melon” it was re-named by some!  But I defended my love (renewed) for this old friend.  I acknowledged that it isn’t and won’t ever be a classic but it’s youth in all that it expounds (love, philosophy, arch feminism, mother nature) allowed me to appreciated it differently but again.  And yes I would re-read – hurray for me apparently but for no-one else!

August is a free for all (review individual choices). Next meeting September 6th.

   Martin Dyar & David Means

 David Means

 Martin Dyar

 Martin Dyar

 David shows his appreciation for Martin’s work.

American writer David Means and Irish poet Martin Dyar will read from their work here at The Reading Room on Firday 23rd July at 8.30pm. This is a free event and all welcome.

Sexing the Cherry – Jeanette Winterson

Oh dear god! See Feb 2010 entry.

Next Meeting 9th August

Amongst Women – John McGahern. Moran is an old Republican whose life was forever transformed by his days of glory as a guerilla leader in the War of Independence. Now, in his old age, living out in the country, Moran is still fighting – with his family, his friends, even himself – in a poignant struggle to come to terms with the past.

Next Meeting: July 12th @ 7.30pm

Overall, a luke warm reaction to this lauded collection.  It was agreed that the first story spoiled us and it, as the rest of the stories could not match up. This story was like a masterclass in short story writing, it was perfectly formed (Lisa); a tender story told with restrained but palpable emotion. Beautiful.  The rest were let down primarily by plots, uninteresting stories with characters not to be cared for. That said, she has a very easy style and a natural talent of wrapping you in the world she describes, just not  necessarily interesting places.  We have been assured that her first  collection ” The Interpreter of Maladies” is more than worth the time. Another time perhaps.

What can be said about 1984 that has not already been said and re-said.  Insightful, scary, visionary, philosophical and quite realistic coming from the OTHER side of 1984. The discussion went from the Nazi’s to Doublespeak; Siberia to betrayal; gulags to sex and then love! oi!  And that is without hardly mentioning Winston or Julia. I think we will return to this one, so much to sit with that it is bound to generated further discussion.

Unaccustomed Earth – Jhumpa Lahiri.  Beginning in America, and spilling back over memories and generations to India, Unaccustomed Earth explores the heart of family life and the immigrant experience.  Eight luminous stories – longer and richer than any Lahiri has yet written – take us from America to Europe, India, Thailand as the follow new lives forged in the wake of loss.

Next Meeting: Wednesday 9th June @ 7.30pm