March meeting

Ah, the joys of a plan coming together. I did indeed feel like Hannibal when we all ended up at Edin's on the same night.

We argued about Cutting for Stone, by Abraham Verghese. A book with a phenomenal amount of medical detail; all scrupulously accurate, according to our many experts. It had us rushing to the interweb to become instant experts on Italio-Abyssinian relations. Go on, ask us anything.

In other news, we lined up a whole raft of books and dates for the future. It was a remarkable case of planning, the like of which will never be seen again. Until the autumn, anyway.

And from next month, we will be meeting in Edin's - but downstairs. Yes, they have a comfy lower floor, without the noise of other less literate geniuses than ourselves. We'll be in our own little secret lair, awaiting the Bat-signal flying over Market Square. At which point we'll either turn into avenging angels, or just order some more wine.

February's meeting...

What a strange meeting. What with being locked out of our usual venue by the grasping hand of capitalism. Score one for the Big Society. We had to change our venue to Edin's on Broad Street (opposite the Broadway cinema). Sorry to anyone we didn't manage to collect before finding a new warm place to sit.

Emma Donoghue's highly-successful Room was the order of the day. A book that divided rather than united. The 5-year-old's perspective was either a triumph of creativity, or ruined much of the book's purpose. The escape scene was either necessarily glossed over, or feebly plotted. Take your pick. No-one was invited outside to 'settle the issue of first-person perspective once and for all, sunshine'. Thank goodness. I hate holding people's coats when they fight.

A new venue, a new member (welcome, Emmeline!), and some books and dates arranged for the next few months. We're just unstoppable.

January meeting

Welcome to 2011. You know it's a new year when the private service provider operating in a partnership with public services provides additional facilities on an ongoing, symbiotic basis.

Yes, they've changed the chairs and tables in the cafe. Enjoy.

We discussed The Stars in the Bright Sky, by Alan Warner. Even people who hadn't read it joined the discussion. That's how flexible we are. Overall, we enjoyed it in a "I hope never to meet people like that" kind of way. And we all hated the last three pages.

Welcome back to Sue, previously seen organising meetings for us at Waterstone's. Nick will probably join us again next month; so it's either a Waterstone's reunion love-in, or a matter/anti-matter implosion. Who knows?

Next month is Emma Donoghue's 'controversial' Room. Almost bound to create a debate, if only because I already know one person with whom I completely disagree on it. Not hard to find a copy, either.

See you next month