The Tyneside Book Club started 2020 by going to back to the 19th Century in the company of military scoundrel Flashman.

While many members enjoyed the company of the cad, some did find a little went a long way, with his behaviour taxing their patience.

For many though, this was an entertaining but also informative read. Flashman was reprehensible, dreadful even, but they enjoyed spending time in his company, finding the novel both funny and gripping.

There wasn't just entertainment though. MacDonald Fraser had meticulously researched the events of the First Afghan War and had successfully stitched them into the narrative. And despite the author's right wing reputation, he had avoided glorifying empire with many of the British officials and officers depicted in a far from flattering light.

But for some members the sexual politics of the novel made it tough to like. Flashman is a self-confessed rapist, and no woman is left unmolested and repeated sexual and violent assaults on women are depicted. His use of racist language and stereotypes may have been consistent with the time, but it made it hard to empathise with him. At one stage, a woman does enact some form of revenge upon him, but it was too little, too late for some. There did seem to be a gender divide with male readers generally finding Flashman more appealing than women.

The group included some Flashman devotees, and there were readers too who were looking forward to reading more of his adventures, but for others this would be their one and only fling with Flash.

November saw the Tyneside Book Group discuss The Sentimentalists - an award-winning first novel by Canadian poet Johanna Skibsrud.

Members found this a challenging read. Its fractured narrative making it tricky to get a grip on. There was also some confusion about the relationships described.

For many it also failed to really cover any new ground. Its focus on the Vietnam War and the impact of it on the veteran and his family may have been well-drawn but it was not strikingly original.

There were times when the author's poetic background intruded both positively and negatively. There was some good writing but also some that could have been sharper. Convoluted sentences often acted as a barrier and caused frustration.

Some members did find the power of the novel grew as it reached its conclusion and the details of the veteran's back story emerged. This was an attempt by a daughter to understand her father. For some the author's determination not to provide easy, clear answers was a strength, but for others the ambiguity was irritating.

Many did though find it hard to understand just how much critical praise this novel had received, although there were signs the author could go on to produce something more worthy of an award.