Category: Off The Shelf

Off The Shelf bookclub

“Out of Character” – A Memoir Alison Steadman

OFF THE SHELF

“Out of Character” – A Memoir
Alison Steadman

Alison Steadman grew up in Liverpool and became a celebrated actress known for iconic roles like Beverly in Abigail’s Party and Pamela in Gavin & Stacey. We can all name a beloved, iconic character brought to life by the magnificent Alison Steadman.

She overcame early-stage giggles, pushed creative boundaries from day one, and built a successful career while balancing motherhood. Alison Steadman is a brilliant comedy star who has played many famous roles. Here, with her distinctive warmth and humour, she vividly recalls all the must-read moments of a life spent in and out of character.

We discussed the thread that wove throughout the book – how supportive Alison’s parents were throughout her career (which is unpredictable and very competitive). This was admirable in many ways and shows the importance of this but isn’t always easy from a parent’s perspective.

It was an easy read and very grounded and had warmth throughout. A great read and one well worth reading. The book club gave a score of 7/10.

Chris Munroe

 

Two Books This Month

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“Full Tilt ” by Dervla Murphy

We all thoroughly enjoyed this account of the Author’s cycle ride from Ireland to India. Braving hunger, heat exhaustion, unbearable terrain and cultures largely untouched by civilisation, hers is a highly individual account of her journey in 1963. She travelled across nine countries through snow and ice in the mountains and miles of barren land in the scorching desert. The book is based on the daily diary she kept whilst riding through Yugoslavia, Persia, Afghanistan, over the Himalayas to Pakistan and India. She worked with Tibetan refugee children before returning home to Ireland.

Dervla Murphy died aged 90 in 2022 having written over 25 books. She well earned her reputation as Ireland’s most intrepid, respected and fearless travel writer. We scored this book 9/10.

“The Age of Innocence ” by Edith Wharton

 

This was our book club classic choice for the year. Edith Wharton (1862 -1937) was an American writer who drew upon her insider’s knowledge of upper-class New York Society to portray the lives and morals of the 1870s – ‘A Gilded Age’. It took a little while to get into the story and sort out the various families and their standing in Society. However, after that it became a bit of a page turner. It is a bitter-sweet account of desire and betrayal at a time when society dreaded scandal more than disease. It follows the life of Newland Archer as he prepares to marry the beautiful but conventional Mary Welland. His world is turned upside down when a woman with a past, Countess Olenska, returns to New York after a disastrous marriage. Archer falls deeply in love with her and is torn between duty and passion. No spoilers here, the story continues with the continuing tensions and consequences of his decision.

Edith Wharton was the first woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1921 for The Age of Innocence. We scored this book 8/10.

Patricia Coulthard

“The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides

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“The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides

This month’s book is a compelling psychological thriller that initially drew us in. We felt that the opening half of the novel was particularly strong and well-written. Alicia Berenson’s silence, following the shocking murder of her husband, is a powerful narrative hook, and the gradual uncovering of her past through diary entries is both effective and absorbing.

Theo Faber, the psychotherapist determined to treat Alicia, is an engaging narrator at first. His professional curiosity and persistence appear believable, and the clinical setting of The Grove adds an intriguing backdrop. However, as the story progresses, some of the psychological elements begin to stretch credibility—particularly in relation to boundaries within the therapeutic relationship. Theo’s level of personal involvement with Alicia, and the lack of oversight from colleagues, raised ethical questions that are difficult to ignore.

The novel’s twist ending, while clearly designed to be shocking, felt abrupt and somewhat far-fetched. Rather than a satisfying culmination of the psychological tension, the final revelation relied heavily on coincidence and narrative sleight of hand, which left us questioning its plausibility.

Overall, we rated this as an engaging and well-written thriller that excels in its first half but loses some of its credibility towards the end. It was let down by an implausible conclusion and ethical concerns within the storyline.

Rating: 7/10

“The Colour Purple ” by Alice Walker

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“The Colour Purple ” by Alice Walker

 

 

This is a modern classic first published in 1982. It is a powerful story of severe trauma, domestic abuse, racism and violence that came with being a black woman in the Southern States of America in the early 20th Century. However, it is also a beautiful story of triumph, resilience, love, family and self-discovery.

It is a novel composed of letters written by two sisters, Celie the main protagonist and Nettie who becomes a missionary in Africa. It is not always an easy read. But it does contain humour and the reader can really empathise and sympathise with the characters.

It is well worth the effort and highly recommended. We gave it 8/10

“I Am Malala ” by Malala Yousafzai

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“I Am Malala ” by Malala Yousafzai

For this month’s book, I Am Malala, an autobiographical work by Malala Yousafzai co-written with Christina Lamb, was a powerful and deeply moving read. Beautifully written and highly informative, it combines personal memoir with a clear-eyed account of politics, culture, and the transformative importance of education.

Alongside the political narrative, Malala’s lyrical descriptions of the Swat Valley – its mountains, rivers, and close-knit communities – bring a strong sense of place and poignantly underline what was at stake when extremism took hold of such a beautiful region.

Malala’s story powerfully exposes the oppression of the Taliban, particularly their attempt to silence girls through fear and the denial of education. Several of her words stayed with us long after closing the book. When she writes, “I raise up my voice – not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard,” she captures the quiet moral authority that runs through the entire narrative. Her story is never about personal heroism for its own sake; it is about responsibility, solidarity, and the necessity of speaking out when silence allows injustice to flourish.

The idea that “One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world” lies at the heart of her message. Even under brutal repression, Malala shows how education remains a quiet but formidable force. Her simple assertion that “Education is education” cuts through ideology and extremism.

Overall, I Am Malala is inspiring without being sentimental, informative without being heavy, and hopeful without ignoring harsh realities. It sparked thoughtful discussion in our group and left us with a renewed appreciation of the power of education – and of voices raised not to shout, but to be heard.

We rated the book 9.5/10.

 

“Orbital ” by Samantha Harvey

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“Orbital ” by Samantha Harvey

This book made a strong impression on our group.

The novel takes us into the lives of astronauts orbiting the Earth, following the course of a single day in which they circle the planet nine times. From this unique vantage point, Harvey invites the reader to reflect on humanity, fragility, and perspective, as the vastness of space contrasts with the intimacy of the astronauts’ inner lives.

We felt both the tension and the quiet wonder of their experience – the fear, the discipline, and the profound sense of achievement. The writing is thoughtful and atmospheric, encouraging reflection long after the final page.

It was very much worth reading, and our group rated it 9 out of 10.

Ann Gill

 

“Killing Time ” by Alan Bennett

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“Killing Time ” by Alan Bennett

We were looking forward to reading Alan Bennett’s Killing Time, but as a group we were ultimately disappointed. The story follows a group of elderly residents in a care home, among them Winnie — a once-glamorous actress whose memory and health are beginning to fail. Around her, other residents navigate the boredom, indignities and small absurdities that make up the daily rhythm of institutional life.

When COVID arrives, the home goes into lockdown. Residents are cut off from their families, routines crumble, and staff are pushed to their limits.

Although we appreciated Bennett’s flashes of wry humour and the darkly comic moments that surface as the residents pass their remaining time in confinement, the overall tone felt unexpectedly unkind. Instead of the honest, moving and bitingly funny voice we associate with Bennett. The writing struck us as dispassionate, grim, stark and often emotionally distant — at times even edging towards the hurtful in its portrayal of the characters lives.

We also felt the story was rushed and under-developed. Characters appear and disappear quickly, leaving little space to build a sense of connection or emotional investment. Rather than feeling engaged or comfortably moved, many of us were left unsettled by the book’s bleakness and its abrupt handling of both life and death in the home.

As a group we admired Bennett’s skill, but Killing Time didn’t resonate with us as hoped. We gave it 5/10.

“Tell Me Everything ” by Elizabeth Strout

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“Tell Me Everything ” by Elizabeth Strout

“We match up for a moment – or maybe a lifetime – with somebody because we feel that we are connected to them. And we are. But we’re not, in a certain way, because nobody can go into the crevices of another’s mind; even the person can’t go into the crevices of their own mind. We live – all of us – as though we can. […] None of us are on sturdy soil; we just tell ourselves we are. And we have to.”
Bob is the exception to that claim.
Elizabeth Strout once again captures the fragile complexities of human connection and the quiet ache of loneliness. Tell Me Everything is an excellent, absorbing story – one that holds you in every paragraph and lingers long after you finish it.
Strout’s America is a place where loneliness intertwines with a withering society – where people yearn to connect yet continually struggle to bridge the gaps between them.
Our Book Club found it an exceptional read and awarded it 9 out of 10. A must-read for anyone seeking to understand the mysteries of human relationships and the uneasy balance between isolation and connection.

Anne Gill

“Into the Storm ” by Cecelia Ahearn

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“Into the Storm ” by Cecelia Ahearn

Cecelia Ahern is an Irish novelist, known for her works like PS, I Love You; Where Rainbows End; and If You Could See Me Now.
It is a wild night in the middle of December, and GP Enya is crouched over a teenage boy, performing CPR in the rain.
The boy survives, but Enya’s life splinters in two. Trapped in a loveless marriage, the storm propels her to break free. But even in the remote country town that becomes her sanctuary, Enya is haunted by the night in the rain. Beneath the boughs of an ancient tree that tells a thousand stories, can she find the courage to face her demons.
The book was enjoyed by all members of the book club. However, some members found the ending unbelievable because they felt that the author had not set up some of the characters well, particularly the GP in the story who they felt was not credible.
Despite this it was readable and well written, and some members really enjoyed it and would recommend it.
A score of 7/10 was given overall.

“Managing Expectations” by Minnie Driver

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“Managing Expectations” by Minnie Driver

We all really enjoyed this book. It is not an autobiography but rather accounts of episodes in Minnie Driver’s extraordinary life. It is hilarious, happy, poignant and sad. She writes so well about trying to understand the relationships and events that have formed her; her family and friends from England, New York, California and back again. Indeed, how she manages her life in good times and bad. From the very first sentence it is a page turner and hard to put down. We scored it 8/10 and highly recommend this book as a good read.

Tricia Coulthard

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