discussion

This week, we chat about Part 1 (to page 113) of Eowyn Ivey’s The Snow Child. This debut novel from the Alaskan bookseller captivates Alex, Lora and I with its intriguing mix of realism and magic — and, in particular, the character of the little girl.

Alex, Lora and I discuss what a revelation Rachel Joyce’s debut novel is. This unassuming story has immense emotional weight without being melodramatic, and left us in tears at the end – something we weren’t quite expecting when we began reading it.

In this, the second and last part of Mr g by Alan Lightman (page 112 to end), Alex, Lora and I ponder such things as good vs. evil, faith, the meaning of life — and the allure of sparkly dresses.

Actor Sarah Winman’s debut novel, When God Was a Rabbit, is a tantalizing read, with quirky and original characters, an endearing voice, and plotlines that twist and turn and have even the characters gasping out loud.

Lora, Alex and I discuss the concluding section of Gurjinder Basran’s debut novel (page 197 to the end), and how pleased we were with the perhaps unexpected way things turned out for our heroine, Meena, and her family.