About WBS Reading Group

Welcome to the Warwick Business School Reading Group. The group has been running since 2007, and although it is known as the WBS group, you don't have to work at WBS to be a member. As long as you enjoy reading, are open minded about what you read and want to chat to others about books, you are most welcome to come along to our bi-monthly get together. Or just follow this blog if you are unable to attend.

We usually meet at 12.30 in the WBS staff lounge, with our packed lunches and a few books to talk about.

The Forty Rules of Love

The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak took us to modern day East Coast USA and back into the 13th Century Middle East and Turkey.

It's fair to say that most in the group weren't particularly interested in the modern day story of Ella, to the point that we pondered if you'd miss anything by skipping her chapters! The 40 rules themselves didn't resonate that much either. Was this then a poor choice? Definitely not, as the tale of Rumi and Shams was most interesting, delving into a new world of Sufism. After a quick bit of research on Rumi and Shams, comes the realisation that these are indeed two important historical figures and having learnt a little about them through The Forty Rules of Love makes the book a worthwhile read.

You can find out hear more from the author: Radio 4

Other books we discussed include:
The Postmistress by Sarah Blake
City of Thieves by David Benioff
Slade House by David Mitchell

Next time:
The City and The City by China Mieville
Thursday 10th March 2016

Don't forget to join Sarah Moss discussing Bodies of Light on 10th February - please get in touch with Natalia Dale or Charlotte Wilkes for more information. 

The Dinner

November's read was The Dinner by Herman Koch.



Likened to We Need to Talk about Kevin and The Slap, this book sees two sets of parents meeting over dinner to discuss an outrageous deed which their children have carried out. The interaction between the diners and the waiting staff provides an interesting backdrop and a little light relief, to what is otherwise an unpleasant story. This was certainly a thought provoking read and well received by the group, it would be difficult to describe it as enjoyable - most likely because none of the characters had any sense of decency, quite the opposite. Even Paul, who for much of the book you felt some empathy, turns out to be 'a few pages short of a novel'.

Other books that we talked about include:

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes by Anna McPartlin
The Ice Twins by Tom Knox - recommended by Richard and Judy and described as 'gripping'
The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak
Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee, described as very point driven rather than the plot taking precedence by one of our group.
The Burned Bridges of Ward, Nebraska by Eileen Curtright
In Order to Live by Park Yeonmi

Next time:
The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak
Thursday 14th January 2016

H is for Hawk

Continuing on our nature theme over the summer, H is for Hawk was September's chosen title.

The group mainly enjoyed the book, and certainly found it more readable than The Bees.

H is for Hawk is about a woman grieving over the death of her father and her reaction to this loss is to rear a goshawk. The book is as much about grief as it is about this beautiful bird. Some found that references to T H White's study The Goshawk was the most interesting part of the story, whereas others felt it was a distraction. One much debated point in our group was how on earth did Helen Macdonald have the time or finances in place to withdraw from life and spend time training Mabel. The clip that follows doesn't answer that question directly, but does give us further insight into the author's state of mind (and some very cute goshawk images):

Other titles we discussed included:
The Sunrise by Victoria Hislop. Having previously recommended Victoria Hislop, this book is best avoided! 
The group also looked at the University's reading group's booklist and found plenty of overlap.

For the November book, no signs of nature except the human type. Apparently The Dinner is a controversial book, can't wait to find out what that's all about!

Next time:
The Dinner by Herman Koch
Thursday 12th November 2015

The Bees

The Bees. A book with a great premise, the tale of a sanitation bee called Flora, loosely based on the Indian caste system (it's this element that drew me to the book in the first place). A worthy book, we were all glad we read it, except for one of the group who admitted defeat. The author's in-depth research earned our admiration but The Bees could not be described as a page turner. Many points were verified by one of the group who had taken a bee keeping course, although she was able to confirm there were some elements of artistic licence. It may have been the same person who wondered if the work had been sponsored by the Bee Society - I for one feel a bit worried now about eating honey in case I traumatise a bee colony...

Of course, with the imminent release of Go Set a Watchman, we had to talk about Harper Lee. Whilst some in the group were going to preserve their memories and avoid the sequel of To Kill a Mockingbird, others were looking forward to the much anticipated offering by Lee. It will be good to hear from others in the group who weren't able to attend what their stance will be on the topic.

It was mentioned that Sarah Moss was featured in the Times Top 10 historical novels. The other reading group on campus will be reading Bodies of Light shortly, and we look forward to hearing what they made of the book.

Other titles we discussed included:
Do No Harm by Henry Marsh
A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson
The authors Kate Mosse, Victoria Hislop and the nature writer Robert Macfarlane
The Perfect Son by Barbara Claypole White
The Photographer's Wife by Nick Alexander
Discussed Iranian literature and Bitter Lake (on the iPlayer).　

Next time:
H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald
Tuesday 8th September 2015

Bodies of Light

The book for May 2015 was Bodies of Light by Sarah Moss. Sarah is an academic based at the University of Warwick and we thought it would be interesting to read the work of a resident author.

Set in the 19th century, the first few chapters of the book look at a young couple starting out in life and we soon move on to finding out about their two daughters, Ally and May. Their mother Elizabeth makes a priority of the poor/destitute women she works with and cares for, over and above the physical and emotional needs of her own daughters. Their father doesn't seem to have much of a voice in the girls' upbringing. In pursuit of her own interests, Elizabeth determines that her daughter Ally become one of the first female doctors in the country (set against a backdrop of the early suffragette movement).

The subject matter was fascinating - medical history at a time of social upheaval. The characters were thought provoking - one compliant overachieving daughter, one rule breaking daughter, an artist father and an abusive mother. Whilst we all read the book and we all enjoyed the book, it wasn't likeable - it was hard to warm to Ally's character. The appalling treatment of women was a stark reminder of how far we have traveled in this country at least.

Here's the author in action, talking about her work:

Other titles discussed:
The Iceberg by Marianne Coutts
The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell
Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell

Next time:
The Bees by Laline Paull
Tuesday 7th July 2015

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

March's title was Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, written by Jamie Ford. The story is set over two periods, firstly during WWII and then in the 1980s. Our hero is Henry, a young Chinese American boy who befriends a Japanese American girl called Keiko. Unfortunately, this friendship starts during a time of deep suspicion of the Japanese in the USA, since the bombing of Pearl Harbour. Keiko and her family are eventually interned - a part of WWII history which was new to many in the reading group. We fast forward some forty years to find out what happened to Henry and Keiko. 

The historical setting looking at the Japanese internment was probably the most fascinating part of the story, possibly because in the UK we focus on what was happening closer to home in Europe and the day to day impact of war in the USA feels more remote. 

Henry has a tense relationship with his father, and his relationship with his son isn't much better.As an observer, you can see why Henry's father behaves the way he does - he wants his son to do well in the USA, but at the same time there is a conflict as his parents hold onto their heritage in China. We talked about two people living together and not speaking to one another, and how difficult life must have been in such an environment. Then history repeats itself with Henry and his son, who also struggle to communicate effectively, until a girlfriend comes along and changes the dynamic between Henry and his son. Keiko's family on the other hand come across as far more accepting of their American life and their situation. 

Most people enjoyed the story, although a few commented that they were getting a bit tired of the 'set over two periods' formula that is commonplace in contemporary literature. It was an easy to read book, although some parts of the story required the reader not to question too deeply the reality of events actually happening (Henry moving in and out of the internment camps, the all too convenient relationship with the school's cook and her philanthropic misdemeanors). All in all, a good read introducing a lesser-known part of history for us. 

Other books that we discussed: 

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton
Wreckage by Emily Bleeker
Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beacher Stowe
Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey
Black Mischief by Evelyn Waugh

Next time:
Bodies of Light by Sarah Moss
13th May 2015