In a couple of weeks' time (12th. Dec.) when we 'do' The Diary of a Nobody, the Book Group will have reached its second birthday, so well done to everyone who has been with us from the start, and welcome again to anyone who has joined us somewhere along the way!
Before I go on to talk about our January book, thankyou so much for all the excellent, insightful comments on Crossing to Safety - I'm very glad it was well-received, and thanks again to Norm whose recommendation prompted me to choose it.
Our next book comes as a result of a rave review from Juxtabook, one I read a while ago and hadn't forgotten, so when I was looking for something quite chunky and satisfying (sounds like a hearty casserole) for us to read after Christmas and into January when hopefully we'll have a bit of quiet time, I thought this was just the thing.
Testament by Alis Hawkins is "... an elaborate double narrative, zig-zagging between the fourteenth century and the present day." In 1385, "master mason Simon of Kineton is building a great college to rival any in England. But the Bishop of Salster, hostile to free education, is determined to sabotage Simon's project. When rumours spread that the mason's son is cursed, the bishop sees an opportunity to undermine both Simon and the college.
"Six hundred years later Damia Miller has been employed to promote the penniless Kineton and Dacre College. She soon realizes that a grotesque wall painting uncovered during renovations may hold the key to the ancient college's survival."
Reviews of this book are dazzling, and I hope it will appeal to the group; with around eight weeks to read it, we should manage its 568 pages! As to availability, shops should have it or be able to get it easily, it appears on the library catalogues I've checked, US Amazon carries it, as of course do the UK site (reviews here) and The Book Depository (which offers free delivery worldwide).
Let's come back to discuss it from Saturday, 23rd. January onwards.
