Introducing an Exciting New Component to Novel Tea 'n Pages Book Club

History:

Novel Tea 'n Pages Book Club celebrates its 1st birthday in April, just a few short months away. We are a fledgling club, but are finding our way and the ride so far has been a pleasant one.

We've found our numbers fluctuate at times, but this is quite natural and to be expected. People get busy with life and can't always attend, but they still manage to pop along when they can. Some slow down and manage their attendance well. Others decide they'll do their best to be committed and attend every month.

That's the great part about this book club. It is open to receive everyone, whether you've read the book or not or whether you can attend every month or not. Coming along for the social aspect helps develop friendships and sometimes members become inspired from listening to discussions and go home and read the next month's book. Some members who have joined initially didn't consider themselves readers, but have become readers since making an effort.

Whatever anyone's situation is, we embrace them and think they are all very important members. We are a very relaxed club and we welcome both established and new members at all our meetings. At this point I'd like to thank the dedicated members who come along and keep us ticking.  I'm really looking forward to what 2011 has in store for us.

New Developments:

From Novel Tea 'n Pages Book Club's inception at the beginning of 2010, I've always had in mind another component that I wanted to implement after the book club became established. I needed a little time to get a better feel for what I was doing. After playing around with some initial ideas, I finally introduced Novel Tea 'n Pages to the world and I hosted its first meeting in April 2010.

However, there is always room for improvement and it is my hope that club members will bring their ideas and suggestions along to the book club so that they can make this club their own. With fresh ideas, the club will not stagnate but grow, develop and change.

A New Concept:

It is with excitement that I introduce a new Writers component to the book club. When I thought up the name Novel Tea 'n Pages there were three components I had in mind; a trinity, so to speak (not of the religious nature, though). The first component was Novel (representing book club). The second component was Tea (representing refreshments and a social aspect) and the third component was Pages (representing a writers springboard).

These components represent three things I am passionate about and wish to share with others as my platform of influence, and they include books, coffee and of course, writing.

Currently, Novel Tea 'n Pages offers two of the three components. Now, I am happy to announce that beginning Saturday 19 February, Novel Tea 'n Pages will host its first Writers component in the form of an initial meeting with interested parties to develop an overview of future Writers' meetings.

The Shape of the Writing Component:

Novel Tea 'n Pages will offer a Writers Club for anyone interested in beginning or developing their personal writing projects. Writers will meet once a month and have the opportunity to engage with other people interested in writing and sharing their projects, sharing feedback and participating in short writing exercises. Both experienced and inexperienced writers are welcome to join. You do not need to be a book club member to join the Writers Club.

From now on the club shall be referred to as Novel Tea 'n Pages Book & Writers Club.

If anyone knows of someone who might be interested in participating in our Writers Club, please send this information to them. I invite all interested parties to contact me via Facebook or email to find out more details. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

So, until next time...
Happy reading & writing everyone...

December Meeting: 'Half of a Yellow Sun' by Chimamanda Ngozi and 'The Secret Life of Pi' byYann Martel

Book Clubbers met for the last time in 2010 at our December meeting where we discussed the two books: 'Half of a Yellow Sun' and 'Secret Life of Pi'. The first part of the meeting was dedicated to 'Half of a Yellow Sun'. The second part of the meeting was dedicated to 'Secret Life of Pi' and the third part of the meeting we divided between eating, socialising and watching, 'The Book Show' a UK program screening on Studio TV Fox.

We enjoyed a few little Christmas type treats while we caught up on everyone's adventures since our last meeting back in October. It was good to see those who were able to make it along. Unfortunately a few were either away for their holidays or had other commitments, but we still managed to enjoy a very pleasant evening, hearing each others' thoughts on the two books up for discussion.

'Half of a Yellow Sun' is currently being enjoyed by our book club members. Not everyone managed to finish reading it, so it limited our discussion to a point. Some who did manage to finish it said they enjoyed it and Sue (one of our South African ladies) shared she had always known something was happening in Nigeria, but just didn't know what and she felt the book, although fictional, enlightened her due to the research carried out by author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It opened her eyes to the plight of the country.

Another point raised was the different perceptions of the characters. Some readers were surprised to find out the main characters were actually Africans. The author portrayed them in such a way that they 'sounded' white and professional and adaptive to aspects of Western culture. It was also interesting that Olanna's sister, Kainene would take a white lover, which would have been rare in the era this story was set in, and yet the author did not delve too deeply into the complexities of this relationship.

This tale is set in the 1960's in Nigeria, a country blighted by civil war.

'Three lives intersect. Ugwu, a boy from a poor village, works as a houseboy for a university lecturer. Olanna, a young woman, has abandoned her life of privilege in Lagos to live with her charismatic new lover, the professor. The third is Richard, a shy Englishman in thrall to Olanna's enigmatic twin sister. When the shocking horror of the war engulfs them, their loyalties are severely tested as they are pulled apart and thrown together in ways that none of them imagined...'

Those who currently continue to read this work of historical fiction commented that they are enjoying the read and will continue. Those who finished the book, enjoyed it and were glad they read it. It is a book the club members are happy to recommend.

'The Secret Life of Pi' ... 'one boy, one boat, one tiger...after the tragic sinking of a cargo ship, a solitary lifeboat remains bobbing on the wild, blue Pacific. The only survivors from the wreck are a sixteen-year old boy named Pi, a hyena, a zebra with a broken leg, a female orang-utan - and a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger. The scene is set for one of the most extraordinary works of fiction in recent years.'

Unfortunately not all members were able to complete reading this work of fiction and as a result, it was a little difficult to discuss. Everyone will continue reading this work over the Christmas holidays and enjoy it for what it is. We did manage to discuss a few ideas, etc, however, none of us had progressed too far into the book.

However, I will do my best to blog about it and maybe add some thoughts to help with questions and discussions. If anyone is interested in contributing to the discussion, please add your comments.

I will begin a discussion thread shortly.

The last couple of months have been an extremely busy time for everyone and so I am not all that surprised that members found it hard to keep up with the reading. Does this matter? No! Not at all. That is the whole point of this club, we do what we can, keeping in mind that we are a casual book club and the social aspect is just as important...friends first, books and chats.

I would like to extend my deep gratitude to everyone who joined and came along this year. You have all helped to make the idea of the book club work. What started off as an idea came to fruition and you have all helped to continue to keep it alive. I really hope you have all received something back for your effort in just showing up, because that's all you really have to do...read a book and show up once a month and you receive, for your effort: laughter, stimulating discussions, maybe to make new friends, reconnect with old friends, ideas, delicious treats, drinks and a time for yourself. I know I have had lots of fun hosting the group.

If you have any suggestions on how to make the group more interesting, or more fun, please don't keep it to yourself. I would love to hear from you. Maybe next year, we could sometimes attend poetry readings and set aside some time to attend some sessions at the Brisbane Writers Festival, and maybe take in some author book launches. Tell me what you think? I want this to be 'your' club, so please let us know your ideas.

Home work: Please think about what book you enjoyed reading the most from our 2010 list and email me or let me know in the comments box. Let's take a vote? Write and tell me your top read, and second and third place. I will compile and post the results. Then Novel Tea 'n Pages will have a Top Ten Book List for 2010!

Also, please have ready for our first meeting back a short list of nominations for our reading list in 2011.

Merry Christmas everyone and may 2011 be exciting and rewarding for you and your families. Bless you all and enjoy a safe and happy holiday.

Thanks everyone,
until next time...
happy reading