READING
We have 5 reading groups
Reading Group 1.
This was the first reading group formed by Cheddar Valley U3A and has been meeting monthly since September 2002. We meet in each other's homes and this, and the need to discuss, means that we restrict the group size to fourteen. That way we can make sure everyone has the chance to air their observations about the current book. We also lend and borrow amongst the group, so some of each meeting is reserved for circulating our own selections and commenting on their appeal.
We try to choose a wide variety of books and authors for our main discussion, from old favourites and classics to recent publications and have read adventure, travel, science fiction, historical, fantasy and probably other genres not listed here; we take it in turns to review the book and start the discussion. Very soon everyone is waiting a turn to join in as we all have our opinions, likes and dislikes which makes for a most interesting morning.
Reading Group 1
Reading Group 2
Reading Group 2 started in April 2007 since when we have read a variety of books. We have covered biography, travel, classic, science fiction and popular novels as well as non-fiction.
We usually start with a potted biography of the author, followed by discussion. Our meetings are always lively with a good deal of debate particularly when there is big difference of opinion. We finish our meeting with a poem or two.
We all agree that joining a Reading Group has meant that we have read, and often enjoyed, titles that we would not have considered reading otherwise and it has enhanced our reading experience.
We meet at the home of our Group Leader on the fourth Tuesday of every month except December and also enjoy an annual lunch together.
Reading Group 3
When I approached Cheddar Valley U3A in 2008 about joining a book group I was told, “we have two groups, both are full, why don’t you form a third”? Never one to refuse a challenge I advertised at the next coffee morning and in November, just 6 weeks later 8 book group virgins met and reviewed ‘The Conjurers Bird’ by Martin Davies. By the next meeting we were a dozen and the group has remained full ever since.
We try to read a range of books, modern and old classics, biographies and autobiographies, thrillers, travel writing and of course modern novels. We have always valued the help of the library service in Cheddar in finding sets of books. However, the growth in popularity of reading groups and funding cuts mean it is popular fiction that dominates the books available on loan in sets and we do from time to time buy copies of a particular book.
We try once a year to invite in a speaker to further enhance our knowledge. Two local authors, Diney Costello from Shipham who has written several novels set in wartime and Steve Voak, from Westbury-sub-Mendip, an ex primary school headmaster who writes for children of all ages gave us a different insight into books, as did Barry Cunliffe who publishes for children. Our most recent visitor in March 2012, the Reverend Paula Hollingsworth has studied Jane Austen for many years. Paula’s knowledge and enthusiasm for Jane’s life and writing caused many of us to look anew at this popular author.
Our discussions are lively and not the least reverential, two Pulitzer prizewinning novels have been given the thumbs down by us and our different backgrounds and careers ensure a variety of opinions are always forthcoming. We have also found that watching films of books after we have read them can add another dimension to the story and the characters.
Why do we read? Sometimes to learn, sometimes for distraction, it depends on our mood. One thing we all agree on is that belonging to a group has made us read books we might never have chosen for ourselves, and, apart from friendships gained, has much enriched our reading lives.
Reading Group 3 with guest the Reverend Paula Hollingsworth, who spoke about Jane Austens life, her writing, and how her background may have influenced her writing.
Paula has made a study of Jane Austen and recently addressed a meeting of one of the Austen societies.
Reading Group 4
Our group meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month, and we spend a couple of hours in each others' homes, on a revolving basis, talking about the book we have all read in the preceding month (sometimes books - once we all read a different travel book by the same author; sometimes the read is brief, or light, and we read two in the time available).
We take it in turns to nominate the next book, and usually the person who chooses that book writes the brief review that appears in the U3A newsletter. Members of the group come and go for various reasons, and our experience is that the worse the book, the more animated is the discussion that follows. When we all really enjoy the same book, we struggle to find much to say about it, but we all have different reasons to hate the contoversial ones!
Reading groups are particularly sociable gatherings, because the only thing we do is talk, and each member brings their own life experience into the discussions. We discovered that one of our members had been on the last boat out of Singapore when it fell to the Japanese, and another was born and brought up in the former East Germany, coming to live in England with her musician husband at the end of the war. We all bring our own personalities to bear in these meetings, and it is surprising that a group of people with such diverse feelings and opinions, on every topic under the sun, can look forward to meeting up each month and doing it all again!
Reading Group 4 has a couple of vacancies at the moment, and we would very much welcome the presence of a couple of men, to restore a bit of balance to the group, and a different set of opinions.
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