BookClub Meeting No. 7: The Silver Swan

Hi Everyone,

Just a bit about our last BookClub meeting where we discussed The Silver Swan by Benjamin Black. First off, I'd like to welcome our newest members; Kate and Frances.

I think that the overall feeling towards this novel was that it wasn't very good at all. It was overly descriptive of scenes and settings. The characters were not very likable and also, it wasn't much of a "mystery." From the beginning of the novel, it was quite obvious who the killer was (not to me though because I didn't manage to finish it on time. Tut tut!). It was suggested that John Banville tried to adapt his tried and tested manner of writning to a different genre of novel, and the end result was that it just didn't work. Perhaps highly descriptive passsages are more at home in his other books such as The Sea etc. for which he was nominated (or won?) the Booker Prize. Personally, I think that he was trying to break the mould in terms of the formula that runs through crime thrillers in the main...even if it didn't work very well. The hero of the story, Quirke, in the end didn't even solve the crime, It was a lesser involved character, Hackett! This is one of the reasons why I believe that Banville was trying alter traditional story-telling formulas. Also, I believe that he was trying to avoid the "easy-read" style associated with this genre by being highly descriptive and historically accurate. The Swastika Laundry did exist in Dublin during the period in which the novel is set for example.

Some of the scenarios in the story were very very unlikely, especially his daughter Phoebe falling in love with one of the villainous characters, Leslie White, who was Quirke's nemesis I suppose.

Ok, I admit, I still haven't finished it yet either. It is a tough read. I find it very easy to loose concentration. The pace is slow and there is no real need for the copiously descriptive passages or the flashbacks (Phoebe and the leverets when she was a child...). However, I'm still enjoying the book. I do like the historical aspects of it and it does paint a vivid picture of Dublin City, even if it is hard to differentiate the period of the story's setting from the present or any other time within the last 100 years.

To surmise, the majority of the members who read the book didn't enjoy it at all apart from myself and Tristan C. But I want to give John Banville the benifit of the doubt. I do think that he was trying something new, not just in terms of the kind of books he generally writes himself, but of the style of writing associated with the mystery/thriller genre overall. That can't be a bad thing altogether in my opinion at least. So, as I won the BookClub lotto this week, I get to choose the next book. I really want to see how The Silver Swan compares to John Banville's other works so therefore, I am choosing another of his books, The Sea. It could be a quiet week in Galway BookClub :)

By the way, those who attended the meeting were as follows:
Tristan C
Hugh
Anne Marie
Paul P
Sandra
Kate
karl
Hazel
Frances and
TristanPeter

Looking forward to our next meetin and hope to see you all there

p.s. I don't know how to do a spell check on this so please forgive my terrible spelling.

100 Must Read Books

Art of Manliness has listed it's 100 essential books

There's a few interesting ones on the list which might serve as inspiration for book choices.

Upcoming Books 6-5-2008

Hi All,

Here's the upcoming booklist:

13th May
To Discuss: The Silver Swan by Benjamin Black

27th May
To Discuss: The Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley

10th June
To Discuss: The Siege of Krishnapur by J.G. Farrell

See you on the 13th,
Happy Reading!

Willy Vlautin Live at The Crane

Hi All,

I thought it was a really worthwhile outing to The Crane Bar last night to see Willy Vlautin live. What a coincidence that the author of one of the first books we read at Book Club should show up in Galway a few weeks later. I'm beginning to wonder if Matt had insider knowledge of Mr. Vlautin's tour schedule before he nominated the book :)

I felt that the €15 ticket price was a little steep for The Crane to begin with but in the end it was a nice intimate venue which was by no means overcrowded. Maybe that was just because most people in Galway wouldn't be aware of who Willy Vlautin is.

As you can see from the photo on the left, kindly taken by Hugh this evening, I asked Willy to autograph the book on behalf of all the members of Galway Book Club. He seemed genuinely flattered that The Motel Life was chosen as one of the first books to be discussed at the club. He was very friendly too. I'd say he's a nice guy and as for his music, personally I really enjoyed it. The supporting acts were fairly entertaining also although the first guy, Chad ??? sounded a bit like a Johnny Cash impersonator to me. But this is about books so there's no point in me trying to sound like a music critic who doesn't know what he's talking about especially seeing as I never even heard of Richmond Fontaine. However, as the author said himself, his tour which was initially supposed to showcase a "soundtrack" to his latest novel,Northline, gradually became more focused on the music of his band in general. He did play one or two instrumentals though.

BookClub members who attended the gig included Hugh, Tristan C, Sandra, Anne-Marie, Matt Kid, Karl and myself. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 13th may in Bar No. 8 for 8pm to discuss The Silver Swan. Hope to see you all there.

Regards

TristanPeter

Book Club Field Trip: Willy Vlautin at The Crane Bar

Hi All,

It looks like there's a good bit of interest in a field trip to go and see Willy Vlautin doing a set and reading from his latest book 'Northline'.

It's on in The Crane Bar on Tuesday 29th April at 9pm, tickets are €15

Here are the details

As this falls on the same night as the discussion of 'The Silver Swan' we'll have to push that back.

Please comment here if you are interested in going to this gig.

Also what do people think, should we give another two weeks for 'The Silver Swan' or should we switch it to the week after the field trip?

Thanks,
Hugh

Hugh's Book Choice

Hi All,

My Book Choice is:

'The Siege of Krishnapur' by J.G. Farrell

Details here...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Siege-Krishnapur-J-G-Farrell/dp/1857994914

There might be a change in dates due to the upcoming field trip, so I'll post an updated book/date list when I get a chance

The Silver Swan on Sale in Dubray Books

Hi All,

I just picked up The Silver Swan in Dubray Books on Shop Street for €12, normal price is €18!

I've just been on their website too, and it seems if you register your book club with them you can get a 10% discount on your book club selections.

I'm away this weekend, but maybe Tristan could call into them to inquire?

Thanks!
Hugh