In November, the Tyneside Book Club took on one of the most-celebrated post-war 20th Century writers - Muriel Spark.

Although she is most famous for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, members read the follow-up to that runaway success, The Girls of Slender Means.

The novel got a mixed reception. Although nobody hated it, there was a split between enthusiasts, and some who felt it didn't quite hit the mark.

For the admirers, it was a novel rich with memorable characters, and pithy humour. But it also offered an insightful portrait of a period of time that has not been explored often by writers - the tail end and immediate aftermath of the Second World War.

Members picked up that despite the threats posed by living in bombed-out London, the era also gave young women some freedom and latitude that might not have been as available both before and after this period. There was an autobiographical element to the setting which gave it an authenticity. 

There was an acknowledgment that the tone of the novel changed markedly towards the end, as we moved from a focus on humour and character to the taut tension posed by the impact of a previously-unexploded bomb. Admirers felt Spark built the tension well.

For some, Spark was daring, though still intelligible, in her decision to dot between different times instead of following events in sequence. But for others, that style fractured the narrative, and led to confusion and irritation. There was a sense of very little happening, and a lot of characters to try and track and get to grips with.

All admired Spark's ability to construct wonderful sentences, but for some there was not enough of a narrative to hook them in. The brevity of the novel was a plus, but, for some, there was a lack of meat.

One member had also read The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie in the same volume and found that a much more satisfying and enjoyable read. But overall members were glad to have sampled some Spark, and enthusiasts were keen to seek out more.