The Sea by John Banville

Hello Everyone,

So far I think that this book created the least amount of discussion in the long history of BookClub meetings. I personally didn't find it to be a terrible story or anything. It just seemed as though it was written by John Banville with an expectation that it should be minutely analysed word after word by high-brow literary types. There were so many parallels with historical events, mythology, art & culture etc. introduced that I believe the story can't be taken just literally. Therefore I'd say in order to understand it's "brilliance" you would need to be fairly cultured in these categories. If the book is taken just literally, I don't see how it would have won the Booker Prize in 2005? I realise that most novels have a certain amount of these alternate themes running through them...but this was a bit much, unless of course you are into indepth analysis of novels.

Thank God for our next book, A Confedaracy of Dunces, which from what I have heard is a very funny satire. BookClub members seem to be getting a bit disillusioned with our choices so far, not because they are necessarily bad but moreso because they are a bit heavy or lacking in humour. This probably explains the low attendance at this meeting. Perhaps there's an element of "cherry-picking" going on? However, the idea of the BookClub to begin with was that members would take the rough with the smooth and so each member has the freedom to nominate their own choices. This may not be happening but I think it's unfair of members to nominate their own book, attend the meeting to discuss it, and then not go to the discussion of other member's books because they don't like the sound of them. Correct me if I'm wrong but this was a low turn-out and it was said jokingly in weeks leading up to it that it would be a quiet week for discussion.

Members who attended included;

Damien G,
Sandra L,
Caitriona S,
Anne Marie,
Kate B and,
TristanPeter