Quorn Virtual Book Club

Book of the Quarter
'Going Gently'
by David Nobbs

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Do you remember the legendary Reginald Perrin, with his quirky and sometimes unpredictable view on life? David Nobbs, the author of 'Going Gently' was responsible for creating Reginald Perrin, and is known as one of Britain's finest comic novelists.

Although he may be best known for 'The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin', and his other television series, 'A Bit of a Do' and 'Love on a Branch Line', he is also the author of thirteen novels. He has been hailed as one of the successful heirs to Waugh and Wodehouse. Going Gently' is David Nobbs' first new novel in five years, and is his most ambitious book to date.

In 'Going Gently', Kate Thomas, the central character of the book, was beautiful, intelligent, witty, passionate and sexy. Now, at 99, she is trapped in a hospital ward of sad, mad and bad old women. She escapes by playing to herself the video of her life. And what a life it has been.

Kate's six marriages have ended in suicide, a husband's adultery, another husband's deportation as a dangerous alien, a union dispute, a murder, and a natural death. But Kate's journey through the twentieth century has also been a search for the truth.

The book moves from Kate's narrow minded, but loving Welsh family to the bohemian wildness of an artists' colony in Cornwall; from the Midland industrial's scene to life with an investigative journalist whose own life cannot bear investigation.

There are multiple copies available now in Quorn Library, together with postcards for your comments. Our thanks as usual to the Quorn Library and Leicestershire Library Service.

And what did you think of "The Stone Diaries" by Carol Shields, the last Book of the Quarter?

Good insight into how life used to be in Canada.

A very moving and involving book. You almost felt that you were living alongside Daisy.

I found the book a fascinating read. The author very cleverly brought the characters of several generations all together, successful reminding the reader of their place in the family tree.

A fascinating account of relationships both family and friends, and the suppression and expression of emotions. Carol Shields manages to convey the passage of time from a number of perspectives, giving a feeling of individuality but maintaining a sense of coherence. A good read.

Intersting, but odd, but I had to read to the end.

Excellent - very enjoyable as much for what was missed out as left in.

A beautifully written book - full of life's experiences. Very enjoyable.

Similar to Kate Atkinson's 'Behind the Scenes at the Museum', this very enjoyable novel takes the reader on a fascinating journey through the life of Daisy Goodwill. It begins with her birth on the kitchen table and ends with her death in a Florida nursing home at the same time, it incorporates the stories of those close to her. Easy to read and difficult to put down; the novel is highly recommended.

Immediately captivating, not one for the bookshelf to be re-read however.

Hard to get into - too many words! Once the rather strange characters had been sorted out (by about page 85) the book began to come to life and was enjoyable. However, it petered out again towards the end into nothing for me. Not a book I would recommend.

Over the last two years, "The Quorndon" has been able to establish and run this virtual Book Club with the help of Quorn Library and Leicestershire Library Service, and in particular Jo Hopkinson, who is the Group Librarian, Birstell Group of Libraries. Jo will be leaving this post shortly, and moving to a new position in the Nottinghamshire Library Service as she will soon be getting married. "The Quorndon" would like to thank Jo for all her support and wishes her and her husband to be well in the future.