ARTSWORDS Reading Group 2010

Matt Holland, Literature Development & ARTSWORDS Officer, reports...

December 2009

The 92nd monthly meeting of the Swindon Artswords Reading Group took place on the evening of 15th December. - We discussed I Served the King of England by Bohmil Hrabal. Set in the seedy opulence of mid twentieth century central Europe, it got comments like these. ‘Marvellous book!’ ‘Vacuous.’ ‘Hyper realistic.’ ‘Ended brilliantly!’ Made for lively and exploratory conversation.

We also talked about books for the first part of 2010. Here they are.

Tuesday 26 January 7.30pm

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. A little girl, who lives with a foster family, because her parents are in a death camp, steals books. We get to know people, as bombs fall.

Tuesday 23 February 7.30pm

Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Prize-winning novel set before and during the Biafran War. Looks at morals, race, revolution, loyalty, and life.

Tuesday 23 March 7.30pm

Frankie and Stankie by Barbara Trapido. Semi-autobiographical novel based on the author's own experiences of growing up in South Africa. (Note. Barbara Trapido is due to appear at the next Swindon Festival of Literature.)

Tuesday 20 April 7.30pm

Touching Distance by Rebecca Abrams. An intimate medical whodunit. A mystery story, love story, and historical drama. (Note. Rebecca Abrams is due to appear at the next Swindon Festival of Literature.)

3 – 15 May: Swindon Festival of Literature

Annual celebration of good writing, reading, thinking, and speaking, in Swindon. Authors come to town!

Tuesday 22 June 7.30pm

Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby. Two decades in the life of one particular football fan. A book about obsession, growing up, and a Wembley cup final defeat, by Swindon!  

Tuesday 13 July 7.30pm

The Rainbow by D H Lawrence. Classic twentieth century novel that chronicles the lives of three generations of the Brangwen family over a period of more than 60 years, setting them against the emergence of modern England. (Note. At this meeting, we also choose books for the rest of the year. Please bring along exciting suggestions!)

Meetings are held at:

Lower Shaw Farm
Old Shaw Lane
West Swindon
SN5 5PJ.

Start time is 7.30pm. -  The cost is £2 per session. - If there is anything else you need to know, please do not hesitate to get in touch. - Happy reading!

Matt Holland

ARTSWORDS & LITERATURE DEVELOPMENT - 01793 771080

matt@lowershawfarm.co.uk  LOVE LITERATURE!   LOVE LIFE!