Our little book group is having its meeting today, and the book for discussion is THE VILLA IN ITALY (author Elizabeth Edmondson). I found this a good read, and it will probably not be a long debate on this book, as I have had feedback from some of the ladies, who haven't been able to get a copy of the book to read in time for the meeting.
Maybe because 3 of us hogged the book from the library, and being over the Christmas/New Year break, didn't get it back in circulation in time.
For those interested in the book here is a brief synopsis
"It's 1957, and four people are summoned to a villa in Italy apropos the will of a mysteries woman named Beatrice Malaspina
Delia - an unhappy opera singer suffering from bronchitis
George - an unhappy atomic scientist haunted by his part in manufacturing the A-Bomb
Marjorie - an unhappy crime novelist with writer's block
Lucius - an unhappy banker about to marry the bitch from hill.
Delis is accompanied by her friend, Jessica, on the run from her bastard from hell husband, a British MP.
Villa Dante is beautiful, tranquil with neglected gardens and a terrace overlooking the sea. In the grounds is a mysterious locked tower, and it's there that the four unhappy souls will find what Beatrice Malaspina deliberately left for them, leading them to the codicil to her Will and the realisation of their relationship to her"
I have set the reading schedule for the year and the books are:
THE WINTHROP WOMAN - Anya Seton February
THE GREENGAGE SUMMER - Rumer Godden March
THE TENDERNESS OF WOLVES - Stef Penney April
SHANTARAM - Gregory David Roberts May
COME IN SPINNER - Dymphna Cusack & Florence James June
THE TEAHOUSE FIRE - Ellis Avery July
MUSIC & SILENCE - Rose Tremain August
THE JANISSARY TREE - Jason Goodwin September
THE FIREMASTER'S MISTRESS - October
FIRST LADY - Michael Dobbs November
SEA CHANGE - Robert Goddard December
Each year I chose the books and endeavour to have a mix of fiction, mystery, biography/autobiography etc. but it still comes down to the fact that we all end up having different views of the books chosen.
To start practising my scrapbooking, I made up a booklet for each member, with a double page spread for each month -the layout features a brief of the story, plus photos, motifs etc.
Lots of hours, but very enjoyable.
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