Sharing Stories 2014 - Blurbs

Our Book Choices 

The Shock of the Fall - Nathan Filer

WINNER OF THE COSTA FIRST NOVEL AWARD 2013 

‘I’ll tell you what happened because it will be a good way to introduce my brother. His name’s Simon. I think you’re going to like him. I really do. But in a couple of pages he’ll be dead. And he was never the same after that.’ 

There are books you can’t stop reading, which keep you up all night.

There are books which let us into the hidden parts of life and make them vividly real.

There are books which, because of the sheer skill with which every word is chosen, linger in your mind for days. 

The Shock of the Fall is all of these books.

The Shock of the Fall is an extraordinary portrait of one man’s descent into mental illness. It is a brave and groundbreaking novel from one of the most exciting new voices in fiction.

Marbles - Ellen Forney

Shortly before her thirtieth birthday, Forney was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Suffering from (but enjoying) extreme mania, and terrified that medication would cause her to lose creativity, she began a long struggle over many years to find mental stability while retaining her creativity. Searching to make sense of the popular idea of the 'crazy artist', she finds inspiration from the lives and work of other artists and writers who suffered from mood disorders, including Vincent van Gogh, Georgia O'Keeffe, William Styron, and Sylvia Plath. 

She also researches the clinical aspects of bipolar disorder, including the strengths and limitations of various treatments and medications, and what studies tell us about the conundrum of attempting to "cure" an otherwise brilliant mind.Darkly funny and intensely personal, Forney's memoir provides a humorous but authentic glimpse into the effects of a mood disorder on an artist's work, as she shares her own story through black-and-white graphic images and prose.

The Rosie Project - Graeme Simsion

Meet Don Tillman. 

Don is getting married. 

He just doesn't know who to yet. 

But he has designed a very detailed questionnaire to help him find the perfect woman. 

One thing he already knows, though, is that it's not Rosie. 

Absolutely, completely, definitely not.

Elizabeth is Missing - Emma Healy

'Elizabeth is missing' reads the note in Maud's pocket in her own handwriting, and the one on the wall.
Maud's been getting forgetful. She keeps buying peach slices when she has a cupboard full, forgets to drink the cups of tea she's made and writes notes to remind herself of things. But Maud is determined to discover what has happened to her friend, Elizabeth, and what it has to do with the unsolved disappearance of her sister Sukey, years back, just after the war.
A fast-paced mystery, an unforgettable voice: you will laugh and cry but you'll never forget Maud.

The Examined Life - Stephen Grosz

A Sunday Times bestseller

Longlisted for the Guardian first book award

A Radio 4 Book of the Week 

This book is about learning to live. 

In simple stories of encounter between a psychoanalyst and his patients, The Examined Life reveals how the art of insight can illuminate the most complicated, confounding and human of experiences.

These are stories about our everyday lives: they are about the people we love and the lies that we tell; the changes we bear, and the grief. Ultimately, they show us not only how we lose ourselves but how we might find ourselves too.

Stranger than Kindness - Mark A Radcliffe

There is a fine line between madness and magic. It is 1989 and Community Care is about to reboot the industry of psychiatry. In a soon-to-be-closed asylum a bruised nurse, Adam Sands, is feeling less like a purveyor of kindness and more like a concentration camp guard with every passing drink. Years later Adam has got used to the quiet life when his past finds him. Maybe this time he can do some good. Even make a difference. But redemption, like magic, can come from the strangest of places.

* * * * *

2014

JAN - FEB: The Shock of the Fall - Nathan Filer

MAR - APR: Marbles - Ellen Forney

MAY - JUN: The Rosie Project - Graeme Simsion

JUL - AUG: Elizabeth is Missing - Emma Healy

SEP - OCT: The Examined Life - Stephen Grosz

NOV - DEC: Stranger than Kindness - Mark A Radcliffe

2013

Feb: The Silver Linings Play Book - Matthew Quick 

Mar: The Psychopath Test - Jon Ronson 

Apr: I had a black dog - Matthew Johnson 

May: Why be happy when you can be normal - Jeanette Winterson

Jun: Poppy Shakespeare - Clare Allan

Jul: 01 - Birthday Letters - Ted Hughes

Jul: 02 - Ariel - Sylvia Plath

Aug: Tender is the Night - F Scott Fitzgerald 

Sep: Day - A L Kennedy

Oct: Notes from an exhibition - Patrick Gale

Nov: A life too short - Ronald Reng 

Dec: Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte  

* * * * *

Sharing Stories 2014
Chat with Peter Bullimore 2013

Mental Health Reading Challenge 2013

Podcast with Tom at Arts and Minds Leeds 2013

* * * * *

Table of Contents - Guest Stars

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Full Table of Contents

Sharing Stories 2014

Leeds Book Club will be participating in the second Arts and Minds Network's Sharing Stories Project - to raise awareness of mental health; learning difficulties and autism through the use of fiction. 

Every two months, we'll read one of books listed below and pay special attention to descriptions, characters and plot that include those facing mental health issues. Hopefully, we will then take part in a vibrant discussion online, on social media and IRL at book clubs.

We'd be delighted to invite you to join us - if you'd like to offer a review of one (or more) of the books on the list, please drop me a line at leedsbookclub@gmail.com or via twitter (@leedsbookclub) or contact the ever-cheerful Tom via @ArtsMindsLeeds 

Where indicated, I’ll happily post blog posts anonymously – I appreciate that not everyone will want to discuss their personal reflections on a sensitive topic on a public forum like this. Obviously, on the other hand, I'll also include links to twitter names, your blogs and so on if so desired.

Also, read any books that feature mental health? Then let us know - the good, the bad and the ugly!

* * * * *

2014

JAN & FEB: The Shock of the Fall - Nathan Filer

MAR & APR: Marbles - Ellen Forney

MAY & JUN: The Rosie Project - Graeme Simsion

JUL & AUG: Elizabeth is Missing - Emma Healy

SEP & OCT: The Examined Life - Stephen Grosz

NOV & DEC: Stranger than Kindness - Mark A Radcliffe

2013

Feb: The Silver Linings Play Book - Matthew Quick 

Mar: The Psychopath Test - Jon Ronson 

Apr: I had a black dog - Matthew Johnson 

May: Why be happy when you can be normal - Jeanette Winterson

Jun: Poppy Shakespeare - Clare Allan

Jul: 01 - Birthday Letters - Ted Hughes

Jul: 02 - Ariel - Sylvia Plath

Aug: Tender is the Night - F Scott Fitzgerald 

Sep: Day - A L Kennedy

Oct: Notes from an exhibition - Patrick Gale

Nov: A life too short - Ronald Reng 

Dec: Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte  

* * * * *

Sharing Stories 2014
Chat with Peter Bullimore 2013

Mental Health Reading Challenge 2013

Podcast with Tom at Arts and Minds Leeds 2013

* * * * *

Table of Contents - Guest Stars

* * * * *

Full Table of Contents

Huge Thanks

This year has been a roller coaster for Leeds Book Club and me personally.
I'd like to take a moment to thank a few people who've gone above and beyond in their support, help and/or friendship.
Naturally, I know that the moment I post this, I'll instantly think of 10 people I should have included as is always the way with these things! Apologies in advance if you are excluded on the page - I'm ever so grateful in my heart *bats eye lids*.

First and foremost, I have to give huge props to my two partners in crime @Gazpachodragon (aka Booky O'Hare or the Kirstlicious one) and Book Elf Leeds. Without you, I'm sure I'd have crumbled into little dusty pieces months ago!
T'Elf, longtime blogger at the Travelling Suitcase Library has recently created her own personal blog HERE where you can keep up with her adventures and book reviews!
All of my Guest Stars are absolute superstars. To share their time and voices isn't always an easy task - we're all delighted to have fresh perspectives on different things. Huzzah for y'all!

Though each person has been spectacularly awesome, I shall single out (and possibly embarrass) @WoodsieGirl who powered through the Man Booker Shortlist like a trooper for us! Massive props!

Ditto to those actors and authors that have been gracious enough to allow us an interview! Looking forward to hearing an update from y'all soon!
Singled out for particular praise must be Chris Nickson who has been so generous with our little book club - providing us with exclusives and meet and greets and all sorts of goodies! Thanks so much! Can't wait to finally get stuck into the latest book - if you've actually done what I think you might have, you'll hear the squeals in Nottingham!


My best bud @Lainibop has been working her way through her 130 To Be Read pile and has been kind enough to keep us appraised of her progress.
She's recently created her own blog Fizzy Elephants and I recommend it to all! Not because she's my bestie and I'm slightly scared of her...because its the best blog on fizzy elephants you'll ever find! *Nods emphatically*

Obviously, Leeds Book Club would be nothing without its venues - each providing its own spirit and vibe (that's right, man, I said vibe). So, as always a huge holla holla to our LBC Mothership Arcadia Bar and to Cafe 164, Giraffe Restaurant and Bar, Medusa Bar and the White Swan pub. We'd be nowt without you!


We're so fortunate to be part of a broader network of bloggers in this city, Leeds does often feel like a giant community on twitter. Sites like Culture Vultures, Leeds Guide, My Life in Leeds, Leeds Online, Leeds - live it, love it and Culture Leeds (who also help us {read SAVE OUR LIVES}out with our write ups). The community have taken us under their wings and advised us, dragged us kicking and screaming into the 21st century!

We've become fast friends with @LeedsLibraries, who've bent over backwards to help us with book availability and kept us posted on talks and signings - some very exciting projects in the offing! Do join us and support this invaluable resource by signing up for membership if you aren't one already!

The West Yorkshire Playhouse have been brilliant at keeping us up to date with their literary productions and we'll hopefully be working together a bit more n the year so double huzzah and hugs and overexcited squealing for that!

On the booky front once more, there are two places I can't help but visit every chance I get.
Leeds Waterstones - who have arranged the Leeds Book Club card for us and put up a shelf for book clubbers (eagle eye members - this should be returning in January!).

OK Comics is, of course, my other must visit spot. Jared and Ollie, the childlings, gun-running A and Sam - ye've kept me sane this last year - no easy task - and provided me with a much needed sanctuary from the real world! Whether I'm in for 30 minutes or 3, I'm always made feel part of the family. Thanks so much!

It's so much fun joining in with projects like Beyond Guardian Leeds and the BBC Radio Leeds - becoming part of something so much bigger than ourselves. Thanks so much for the opportunity and looking forward to chatting away with ye again!

Last, but by no means least, it's been fantastic watching Leeds Playlist grow - not least as it is run by book clubber and general cool dude @Wandapops. We've enjoyed listening to a variety of selections and sharing our literary ones. Can't wait to see what you've in store for us next year!!

We've laughed, we've learned and we're looking forward to doing it all over again in 2013!

J.R.R. Tolkien - Blue Plaque in Leeds

Did you know that J.R.R. Tolkien lived in Leeds for 5 years?

From 1920-1925; Tolkien held his first academic position at the University of Leeds. It was during this period that he co-released Sir Gawain and the Green Knight - for many the definitive academic piece on this topic. 

Though his time at the university was brief; he had already advanced to Professor by the time that he relocated to Oxford to take up the Rawlinson and Bosworth Chair of Anglo-Saxon. 

For the final year of his sojour in Leeds; he and his family lived at No 2 Darnley Road, West Park - indeed, his youngest son Christopher was born here.

Yesterday - Monday the 1st of October - a Blue Plaque was unveiled at this address arranged by Leeds Civic Trust (with sponsorship from a variety of places)by Dr Kersten Hall - a visiting Fellow at the University of Leeds; who spoke eloquently about the author and city. 

The rain just held off and it was lovely to see members of the Tolkien Society - many of whom had traveled from around the country to attend. After the unveiling, Weetwood Hall hosted a reception with refreshments and a chance to chat. 

I had been invited to attend by the Tolkien Society who were aware of a visit that Daragh Corcoran of BBC Radio Leeds and I had madeto the house last year. We had agreed that a Blue Plaque for Leeds would ensure that Tolkien and his works can truly be regarded as national treasures.  

It was an honour to be part of a day that marks a literary icon and his links to Leeds. 

Just so you know - this is an actual residence; so if you do pay a visit; make sure you don't worry those who live there!

Visit the Tolkien Society HERE 

Considering membership? That's right HERE

What I Read During My Holidays Part 1-The Luddites

Last week I broke with tradition and spent my holiday lying on my Dad's sofa and reading. And it was, as it always is, utterly blissful.

I took originally three books to read with me, this soon rose to four as I went via my Auntie S, who's always good for a lend, and I managed all but one of them. Then I went to Headingley on Friday and had a bun and very stupidly went into Oxfam Books and came out with a bagfull (this Mount TBR is never going to happen, admit it) so I had to read one of those IMMEDIATELY. Anyway, this is what I read.

Inheritance by Phyllis Bentley.

I inherited three things off my mother; my chin, my hair, and my love of historical fiction.

My obsession with the Luddites started as a child hearing the story of the Dumb Steeple in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, where they gathered on 12 April 2012 (still not established a proper time frame, sorry Father) to march on Rawfold's Mill, run by Mr Cartwright, in protest of the new machines that, as they saw it, were stealing their jobs leaving them and their families to starve. Seeing as it's the 200th anniversary of the Luddites this year, a shed load of activities are happening surrounding them. Myself and Father set off on Thursday on a fascinating and at times quite emotional tour of the route of the Luddites-including the beautiful Norman Church in Hightown, Liversedge, where those that died in the ensuing ambush at the mill were secretly buried, and the site of the mill itself, now Cartwright Street, which houses a liposuction clinic.

Me, next to the Dumb Steeple.

As a personal way of remembering the Luddites this year (I wrote my dissertation on them and also did this talk at Bettakultcha last year on them) I re-read Phyllis Bentley's Yorkshire Classic, Inheritance, that no one but me has ever heard of, and isn't even in print (BUT IS BEING RE PUBLISHED IN AUGUST, THANK YOU BLOOMSBURY*) but was mysteriously part of the Headingley Lit Fest a couple of years ago (I missed that talk and was beyond gutted). Inheritance is basically North and South meets Maureen Lee; a family saga filled with Emotion and Tragedy, but with shit loads of historical references and a really important message about class divide. I love it, and anyone who enjoyed South Riding/The Apple Tree Saga/Gone With The Wind/The Thorn Birds would probably as well. It's also got some cracking examples of Yorkshire dialect, that I always enjoy reading, 'Aye, we're allus thrung a neet' being my favourite line, and was also made into a TV series Back In The Day starring Inspector Morse but YOUNG. Telling the story of the manufacturer and the mill hand, this intermingling of two families, the Bamforths (mill hands, with soft voices and hair like clouds) and the Oldroyds (mill owners, with pulsing veins in their foreheads) over 80 years starts with the old Mr Oldroyd bringing in Frames to him mill for the first time, and the reaction of this by the local community. The characters spend half their time walking about on the moors between their cottages, the mill and the pub, and everything is always incredibly tragic, but if you live in the West Riding (Leeds, I'm looking at you), you need to read this book as the history it contains is IMPORTANT. Just ignore that slightly ridiculous love stories that are mingled in with the cracking descriptions of the wannabe revolutions. There's also not one redeemable woman character in the whole thing, but never mind.

Happy Reading!

BookElf xxx
* as an aside, what is with all these 'ere reprints of amazing books over the past few years? They did Stella Gibbons last year, Dodie Smith just a couple of months ago. Now Phyllis Bentley. Anyone would think that the generation brought up to love these authors by their mothers now were in their late twenties/early thirties with a disposable income...

Holiday Reads 02 - Why be happy when you can be normal?

Holiday Reads 01 - The Luddites

LeedsPlaylists!

LeedsPlaylist

- run by= @Wandapops) 



Please find links to the LeedsBookClub play lists here!

Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll:
Listen on Spotify 


or


 as a 

YouTube playlist 

The HitchHikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams:


Listen on Spotify 


or


as a 

YouTube playlist (make sure you watch the final one – its a stuffed singing turtle!)

AND COMING SOON...

Persuasion by @BookElfLeeds







Persuasion by Jane Austen:


Listen on YouTube - Playlist 










If you fancy joining in, drop a line to @LeedsPlaylist


Don't forget to tweet using the following! #LeedsPlaylist 

Leeds Playlist!

Very rarely do I do the plug thing...but

LeedsPlaylist

...is such a great idea - run by a book club member no less (waves to @Wandapops) - how could I resist!

 - From the blog...

This is how we do it
To take part in Leeds Playlist you must be in Leeds and on Twitter. It is important to me that it is local and social   

• Make a 10 track playlist based on the current set theme, a freestyle theme of your choice or your take on a previous freestyle theme.

• You can only submit 1 playlist of 10 tracks per theme. It’s hard I know!

• Email me your tracklistings  – if it’s for the set theme it must be sent by the deadline given. Freestyle themes can be sent at any time. ( See contact page for details).

• Include an intro paragraph about why you chose the theme/the songs.

• Send me a link to the playlist on Spotify, YouTube or as a mix on Mixcloudor Soundcloud – or ALL! (Providing more than one way to listen makes it more accessible to everyone)

• Please include your Twitter name and the name of the playlist theme in the title.

• I also need an image to go with the blog post. Bonus points for creating your own.

• Chat about the playlists via Twitter using #LeedsPlaylist and comments on the blog.

• Please have fun with it - variety and personality are encouraged!

• Share, share, share!

I will publish as soon as I can – depending on the amount of playlists received and how often I decide to post in the future (there may be a limit on future submissions for this reason). If you have any questions, please ask!
Please note: As it’s all new, the rules may change as we go along so please check back here before submitting future playlists!

We were delighted to see our playlist up over the weekend (Alice in Wonderland).


If you fancy joining in, drop a line to @LeedsPlaylist


Don't forget to tweet using the following! #LeedsPlaylist