When the Rain Comes – Jonathan Coe

Bath Big Read – optional extra book for March 2009

Most had read it and four of us (Neil, Mark, Chris and Rob) had gone to hear Jonathan Coe talk about it in the festival - being almost the only men in a room full of several hundred women book club members. The majority view (interestingly those who had read it and been to the talk) of it was very positive, with the device of using the pictures as chapters to describe the story as working and creating a nice, readable framework (but with a contrary view from Mark and Steve). Similarly, the use of the picture as a tool to describe the scene worked for most, but not all (Steve thinking the words became a bit predictable). The only bit that really grated with people was the fate of Imogen - repeating an earlier scene in the book. The ratings put the book around the top quarter.

7.01

According to Queeney – Beryl Bainbridge

Late March 2009

A general view that it was hard going - certainly the first half, though both Mark Th. and Chris E got into it more as the book progressed. Some of the things discussed were:

Some good descriptive bits (dogs, rain and diamonds springs to mind) but a contrary view that an occasionally inspired sentence doesn't make a novel

Some very funny passages and in particular some good one-liners from the folks living in Johnson's house

Does a novel set in a historical context need to tell /inform you anything about the history (Chris - no, me - yes). Whichever, a general view that it didn't.

Felt to be an interesting book about social behaviour and settings of the period (if you're interested in that kind of thing)

Given our oft-discussed point about whether we warmed to the characters - a general view of not doing so, whether that be Johnson, Queeney, Mrs Thrale or whoever.

Apart from the somewhat strained concept of returning to the theme at the end when Johnson died, some confusion about the point of the opening scene (though was widely felt to be the best bit of the book).

So, not highly rated, though Steve, Mark Th. and Chris enjoyed it to an extent.

3.94