Wednesday 13 December 2017

2017: End of year review

Another year and another wistful look over the shoulder of the year that was. 




What were our favourite books we discussed in 2017

1. “Golden Hill” by Frances Spufford
2. “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao”
3. “First Novel”
4. “Death And The Penguin”
“Unspeakable Things: Sex, Lies and Revolution”
“Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”
“Goodfellas” aka “Wise Guy”
“Fever Dream”  by Samanta Schweblin
“From the Mouth of the Whale” 


What were our favourite albums we discussed in 2017

1. “Transformer” (1972) by Lou Reed
2. “L.A. Woman” (1971) by The Doors
3. “Light” (2010) by DakhaBrakha
4=. “Goodfellas” Soundtrack (1990) by Various Artists
4=. “Back to Land” (2013) by Wooden Shjips
6. “Folkways: The Original Vision” by Woody Guthrie and Lead Belly (2005)
“Urbanity UK” playlist - 1 + 1 = 2
“Christ” (1982) by Crass - 1 = 1
“Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik” (1994) by OutKast 



What were our favourite films we discussed in 2017

1=. “‘71” (2014) directed by Yann Demange
1=. “Everything Is Illuminated” (2005) directed by Liev Schreiber
1=. “Goodfellas” (1990) directed by Martin Scorsese
4. “Gangs of New York” (2002) directed by Martin Scorsese
“The Mask You Live In” (2015) (Documentary) directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom
“Timbuktu” (2014) directed by Abderrahmane Sissako
“Nói albinói” (aka Noi the Albino) (2003) directed by Dagur Kári
“Remainder” (2016) directed by Omer Fast
“Strange Signals from Outer Space!” 


What were our favourite themes of 2017

1. “Three Centuries in New York City”
2. “GoodFellas”
3. “1971”
4. “Oppression”
5. “Ukraine”
“Urbanity UK”
“Other Worlds”
“Icelandic OutKasts”
“Girls and Boys and Revolution”  

Hamish: No theme is a good theme

What was the best book you read this year (could be a Book Group choice or something else)?


Nigel: Jerusalem by Alan Moore
Hamish: All The Light We Cannot See
Tristan: Aurora - Kim Stanley Robinson
Keith: Sion - “From the Mouth of the Whale” will reassess - madman or genius?
Nick: Medium website
Roland: “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao”
Robin: Goldfinch, Donna Tart 


What defined 2017 for you (news item, something personal etc.)?


Nigel: Ongoing Brexit bullshit
Hamish: Family, Low, Exams, Nastiness, Death
Tristan: The unremitting shitparade of Trump and Brexit
Keith: Announcement of a third child for William and Kate, and the announcement of the latest royal engagement for Harry and Megan. Roll on 2018.
Nick: I have thrown away a lot this year
Roland: Brexit and trip to Cambodia
Robin: Trump, Travel and Atalanta FC


What was the best thing about Book Group in 2017?


Nigel: I love it all - but I most especially I love a good theme
Hamish: Beer and lunch outside the Refugio after a great walk
Tristan: Lake Como visit was great fun. Just a shame that our Glorious Leader couldn't be there!
Keith: The euphoric toast as we settled for lunch lakeside after our Saturday morning Como hiking exertions (minus, alas, our leader).
Nick: Climbing up hills in Como and Sussex
Roland: Preparation of all and high level discussion
Robin: 6 go wild in in Italy !


How do we make Book Group even better?


Nigel: Well, it is brilliant, so hard to improve perfection
Hamish: Endorse only the very best
Tristan: More regular meetings: it felt like there were a couple of big gaps this year.
Keith: I think we have the format cracked. Review the schedule - did we lose a meeting or two?
Nick: I still don't think the music works - 90% of the time feels like an afterthought. Better to leave off than feel obliged.
Roland: Less lit crit (boring) more discussion of issues raised (interesting..)
Robin: Can't improve on perfection!


What else do you want to say?


Nigel: Floreat Hova Liber Cohors (Latin for "May Hove Book Group flourish" - like you need me to tell you that)
Hamish: Pronto!
Tristan: Nothing. Apart from thanks for all your dedicated organisation again this year.
Keith: All-round hearty 'thank you' for the cultural input that is HBG.
Nick: - - - - -
Roland: Pleasure to be part of it. Finely led by Sir Nigel
Robin: Will really miss the Christmas do


And finally, here's Keith busting a few moves at Al Duomo....