Penelope Fitzgerald's novel became a movie starring Emily Mortimer
February's meeting discussed Penelope Fitzgerald's 1978 Booker shortlisted The Bookshop. It is a comparatively brief novel, and opinions varied on how much it achieved in fewer than 200 pages.
Those who appreciated it most felt it delivered a powerful punch in its short span, with great economy but also fine writing. Fitzgerald seemed in complete control of her material with focus and purpose.
And for fans, its apparent cosy rural setting belied an undercurrent of darkness and nastiness, as this showed a closed and hierarchical community crushing the life out of the bookshop and its owner Florence.
But as well being a sad and melancholy book, there were flashes of genuine humour and memorable characters.
Members particularly enjoyed Florence's 10-year-old spiky assistant Christine, and her villainous nemesis Violet Gamart.
Class and power featured strongly and although this was a portrait of an individual Sussex village, the themes were universal enough to be recognisable traits of many societies. Its setting on the verge of the 1960s and social change felt significant.
For some though the book did not have the same impact, failing to cohere into a novel that held their attention. They also believed it could have benefited from expansion and a broader canvas. Some found it a slog despite its length.
A supernatural element to the story also felt superfluous to some members, who felt it added little. Some felt Florence's apparent passivity made it hard to connect to her plight.
A member who had seen the film version felt it was potentially preferable to the book. There was agreement though that this was a small book that promoted quite a lot of discussion.
Those who appreciated it most felt it delivered a powerful punch in its short span, with great economy but also fine writing. Fitzgerald seemed in complete control of her material with focus and purpose.
And for fans, its apparent cosy rural setting belied an undercurrent of darkness and nastiness, as this showed a closed and hierarchical community crushing the life out of the bookshop and its owner Florence.
But as well being a sad and melancholy book, there were flashes of genuine humour and memorable characters.
Members particularly enjoyed Florence's 10-year-old spiky assistant Christine, and her villainous nemesis Violet Gamart.
Class and power featured strongly and although this was a portrait of an individual Sussex village, the themes were universal enough to be recognisable traits of many societies. Its setting on the verge of the 1960s and social change felt significant.
For some though the book did not have the same impact, failing to cohere into a novel that held their attention. They also believed it could have benefited from expansion and a broader canvas. Some found it a slog despite its length.
A supernatural element to the story also felt superfluous to some members, who felt it added little. Some felt Florence's apparent passivity made it hard to connect to her plight.
A member who had seen the film version felt it was potentially preferable to the book. There was agreement though that this was a small book that promoted quite a lot of discussion.
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