It was an intriguing discussion again about Richard Yates' Cold Spring Harbor. Personally, I didn't really know what to make of the book. I found it really easy to read but none of the characters were particularly likeable. All the women seemed to be trapped and desperately looking for a man to rescue them. Was life really like this in the 1940s? And the final sentence in the book irritated me as I didn't know how to interpret it. Was this the author's view or was he just reflecting how life really was?
As usual, my students provided interesting insights, arguing that a final sentence which provokes an emotional response, even if that response is irritation, is a good thing.
For our next book club we'll be heading back to Nigeria to read The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi. You can read more about the book in this New York Times review.
We'll meet on Monday 5th July at the usual time of 7.30pm to discuss the book. I assume that we'll do the lesson again by Zoom (or we can meet outside) and hopefully we'll be back to the in-person lessons later in the year.
Click here to find the dates for the book club and here if you want to discover some tips about learning English.
Would you like to maintain and improve your advanced English skills by taking part in the book club? Send a message via the contact form at the base of the home page if you would like to join us.