Newcomers' Club St.John's, Newfoundland: Book Notes September

We were a smaller group than usual as a few people were not able to attend, (but nonetheless had a lively debate).

Pope Joan by Donna Woolkolk Cross drew very positive feedback from mostly everyone gaining an average score of 7.5.

General comments were that the story was "engrossing" and "an excellent read". Our group liked the idea of the intrigue that the story could be true. The book also made us more aware of the scale of political power within the church and the prejudice against women which continues to be an issue even today.

Critiscisms were few, only that some details were perhaps too "sanitised" and too "long " in places.

I think everyone would recommend this book to a friend.

Then next meeting will be at Pia's house on Tuesday 10th October. Our book for October will be:

Midaq Alley by Naguib Mahfouz (an egyptian Nobel prize laureate, 1988. It is available on Amazon.ca $14.70 and can be ordered from any bookstore.

(A note on shipping times though; this book seems to require a 10 - 14 day shipping period, whereas "Sylvanus now" and "the Josephine trilogy" need just 24 hours. Maybe we should reconsider our choice for October. Pia)

(More Links will be added to the other books below, when I have a bit more time. Pia)

Our choices for the next two months are:

Nov: Sylvanus Now by Donna Morrisey(a local author) available in town or from Amazon $18.24.

Dec: The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B by Sandra Gulland. This is the first book in the Josephine B Trilogy. This is available seperately or combined in one paperback. Although we are only going to read the first part as this is for our December choice we have been recommended to buy the combined book as people who have read it are sure that we will want to read the next two parts.

Finally here is the list of other books that we are still considering for future choices: