Code name: operation book group

So recently I was casually assessing the many factors which constitute my non-stop excitement life currently in South Northamptonshire. What did I conclude? My life is missing a book group.

Having tentatively done some market research into "book groups" both as a concept and a practicality I concluded that, perhaps unsurprisingly, they're not the coolest things ever. Especially as most people know I have a penchant for Hardy and Tolstoy with the odd dash of Jilly - an eclectic mix yes, but the right mix for a book group? Probably not. Somehow I can't picture 4 people sitting around discussing "the way Jilly used duck egg blue as her main adjective" and concluding that this "was just, lyrical somehow". Much more likely to be along the lines of "hell of a lot of shagging in these books isn't there? She's a randy old mare Jilly Cooper" and then the conversation would inevitably descend from there.

Not on my watch. I am holding out some determination for this to be an intellectually stimulating affair.

(I am aware by the way, that I will probably look back on this blog (as it's one dedicated reader) in a few weeks time and laugh hysterically at my naiive hopes for it to be "intellectually stimulating" and confirm to myself that I am at times, a complete tosser.)

Anyway, so I figured once I had lured people into the wilderness (aka where I live) they would have little choice but to say yes they would join my book group. Mainly to shut me up, probably, but they would join all the same! The location was decided, the bait, white wine and lasagne. A classic. I recommend it. So my three unsuspecting friends trundled over expecting a light evening of lasagne, white wine and general chat. I did not disappoint. All of the above were provided, but they came with a side serving of... a book group. Not what you might usually expect from a Wednesday night but fuck it. This is the post-big brother era we are living in now, we should be prepared for anything after the detritus which usually fills our televison of a weekday evening (Classics related documentaries are of course not included in this).


Fortuntately, I have some lovely friends, who are willing (or at least appeared willing, which I'm happy with) to indulge me in my ambition for a book group. Despite the rather rocky start - evidently just having a title and an author is not enough information in which to choose a book from (tough crowd) we did eventually settle upon one. Thanks to the on-hand google and some rather frantic searching eventually the democratic vote was taken and "The Wish Maker" by Ali Sethi was chosen. WHAT AN HONOUR. If only the author knew, how would he handle the news - probably by making a Gwyneth Paltrow style acceptance speech I'd hope.

So Operation Book Group somehow turned out to be a success. Careful monitoring of its members has shown that 4/5 have purchased the book so it's off to a pretty good start. I'm fully expecting the discussion part to be a complex and engaging affair demonstrating the power of freedom of speech and the opportunity to explore issues we have not encountered before... followed by shitloads of booze.

Amen to that.