We borrow our books from the library, who provide multiple copies free of charge - and no library fines! We meet every month to six weeks. Our next meeting is on May 12th at a Park Friend’s house. Please get in touch if you would like to join us.
April
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
Thanks to Dawn for hosting our inaugural meeting. The first book choice was Liz’s - see what we thought!
Goddington Park Book Group
May
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
This book is serialised on Paramount TV
Liz says:
American Dirt was a deeply immersive read that stayed with me long after I finished it. Jeanine Cummins’ writing brought scenes vividly to life, I could picture the 1600 mile journey.
She shines a light on the experiences of refugees in a way that connected with me, especially given how relevant the topic is today. I felt a strong sense of empathy and admiration for those forced to take such dangerous paths, like Lydia and Luca. It’s a story that both moved me and gave me a new perspective, I recommend this book.
Dawn says:
American Dirt follows a woman and her son as they flee Mexico for the United States. I found myself both gripped by the gruelling tale of their journey with all its horror, comradeship and unexpected kindnesses, and wanting it to be over!
Despite not being convinced by the opening story line and some of the characterisation, I was glad to read the novel for bringing me into the experience of refugees and in particular the Mexican situation. It motivated me to want to read more.
Michelle says:
I didn’t know what to expect when I started this book. The story is harrowing but Jeanine Cummins’s writing was gripping and I constantly found myself having to stop skipping to the end of a chapter to find out what happens to the characters. One can’t help but consider one’s own family in the circumstances that the characters face and that affects you deeply. The themes brought out by the book are very important and I’m pleased that it was chosen for us to read by the FOGP Book Club.
Trizia says:
One of the great things about a book group is being introduced to books you wouldn’t otherwise have chosen and that’s true of this one. I hadn’t read anything else by this author and I thought she captured the characters and landscape really well. For me, the relationship between Lydia and Javier was a refreshing attempt to portray the nuances of human behaviour and I would have liked the author to have made more of this concept. I will definitely seek out more of Jeanine Cummins’ work.
