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Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “Next month is the first meeting of my new book club and I can only hope that our club is nearly as fun and filled with warmth, good people and good conversation as was the reading group in this delightful story. `THE READING GROUP' takes us through a very turbulent year in the life of four...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “Isabelle S said: 1 star |
Newest Reviews
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“My mother read this book and didn't read the "books within this book". She still enjoyed it. But I read all of the books that the women talk about first. I would argue that I enjoyed the book more because I actually felt like I was a part of the reading group and connected with the characters in a way that I would have connected with them if I hadn't read the other books first. ”
Melissa J wrote this review Friday, October 16 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A fun chick lit book that makes me want to join a book club and bond with other women in this same way. ”
Kristen B wrote this review Tuesday, October 13 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A nice easy chick lit book, but a lot of characters. When reading a book by Noble with lots of characters, I found it good to note the main characters on an envelope and have with you. If I don't do this, I get lost with the characters. This was a fairly typical story of a book reading group, and I forgot to write down the titles of the books they read. Some looked very appealing. approx 450 pages”
CheleBelle wrote this review 3 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“good characters; easy to relate to; strong women; women's issues;”
Sue D wrote this review Wednesday, September 23 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
0 of 1 members found this review helpful“Better than "The Jane Austen Book Club"”
wendy f wrote this review Wednesday, August 12 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Kind of a neat book about women who form a book club. They read a variety of literature from all time, giving the reader an interesting cross section of things, but the story is more about how their relationships evelve - and a secret that binds two of the women.”
Christina A wrote this review Saturday, July 4 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I really enjoyed this book because I have a bookclub myself and I could really relate to the ladies in the reading group. They were down to earth people with real problems we face.”
lovestoread247 wrote this review Wednesday, July 1 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Reads Like a British Soap Opera
ReadingQueen12/17 wrote this review Thursday, May 28 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
When I lived in Ireland, one of the things that continued to elude me was the nationwide obsession with the two major soap operas, Coronation Street and Eastenders. Unlike the soap operas of the United States, wherein the entire cast is impossibly beautiful and a typical episode might involve a transvestite giving birth to an alien, the British soaps are cast with everyday people involved with everyday, mundane activities. Turn on the “telly” and buckle your seatbelt, kids: Today on Coronation Street Sir Charles continues his quest for a postage stamp whilst Mary Sugarbottom struggles to come to grips with the recent discovery of curdled milk minutes before her friends arrive for tea. Seriously?
You’re essentially watching scripted reality television with ugly poor people.
In any case, The Reading Group has a similar feel in that it you’re reading about the day-to-day goings on of 5 women, their families, their failing relationships, and their monthly book club. There is a lot of description, relatively little dialogue, and enough female musings to send someone straight into menopause.
Now, where a plot twist in Coronation Street might involve a power outage at the local grocer, the plot twists in Reading Group involve slightly more titillating topics of teen pregnancy, Alzheimer’s disease, infidelity, etc. I liked this book because I have a hopeless love for all things UK and I was in the right “mood” for it. But honestly, this is not a fast read, nor is it fun, uplifting chick-lit (it actually gets really depressing at some points). But overall I will say it was a satisfying read.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
Suggested With: White wine and a lazy afternoon.
”“A fun book. All about women in a book club and what is happening to them. Fun to talk about.”
Becky H wrote this review Tuesday, May 12 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
