Caroline Overington's book stimulates passionate discussion!

I am finding it very difficult to summarise our discussion last Thursday evening as the ideas really ricocheted around the room.

As some of our readers had grown up in country New South Wales they readily identified with the novel's setting. From their experience they thought that the portrayals of Med and Haines were very real and unfortunately easily recognisable. One reader was particularly incensed with Med's attitude to his wife - the notion that a garden and a child would guarantee a woman's happiness was beyond anathema for her! Fat's plight evoked much sympathy.

Another train of thought that created much emotion was the notion that a biological parent would be almost by definition, the best parent for a child. One reader considered this limiting assumption made by the courts and welfare system in this novel, as the source cause of distress in the book!

Our readers seemed to consider that the use of personal letters as the basis of the structure of the novel to be very effective because the novel's content was so intensely personal. Utilising letters in this manner reinforced the effect that such tragic events have on families.

One reader had not progressed far through the book but following our book club discussion was keen to continue reading the book so that they could form their own opinion.

While not exactly uplifting, this novel certainly provoked opinionated discussion which is part of the fun of being part of a book club. It's a great way to extend one's experience of a book through the reactions of other readers. Through a book club one is able to read the same book with more than one set of eyes.

In Cityside Book Club we are going to read our own choice of books over the Christmas break. We will meet again on Thursday 5 February at 6.00pm at Mackay City Library.

Don't forget our MRCL Book Club Christmas Get-together at the Gordon White Community Meeting Room on Thursday 18 December from 6.00 pm till 8.00 pm. Please bring some finger food to share and some beverages that cater to your own taste. It'll be a great chance to meet folk from the other two MRCL book clubs! Looking forward to seeing you there!

Come to say "Hello" at Cityside Book Club

Well it's the last Cityside Book Club for 2014!

 I cannot say I am enjoying Caroline Overington's "I Came to Say Goodbye". I am finding it a very uncomfortable book to say the least and I certainly don't look forward to my evening reading session like I usually do. I hope to have it finished by Thursday but it is going to be close!

Hope you are having more success than I!

Looking forward to seeing you all on Thursday 4 December at 6.00pm at Mackay City Library!