Jane Gardham, OLD FILTH

Thanks for being at the last book club meeting! For those not there: We were an extra-ordinary 9 in attendance - Caroline, Catherine, Clare, Hélène, Michel, Monika, Robin, newcomer Sabine and Maren.
The venue, Au Pays du Sourire, got mixed reviews. Robin found back the tastes and textures of her recent traveling to South East Asia, whereas others were surprised by the huge fried spring rolls or the thick wrappings of the dumplings. And there was different reception of the same event by different people: While Caroline was puzzled by the vociferous announcements of the delivered platters and how to organize the table, Maren was rather taken aback by the fact that this happened always exactly when we were about to have a real dip into a topic on the book.

Due to the long table and the big number of participants, the discussion split at different occasions into "local" exchanges which can only partly be reproduced here. So if you are missing some aspects you would like to be shared, don't hesitate to comment on the blog on the related post (www.bookclubdeparis.blogspot.fr)

Very positive feedbacks on Jane Gardam's writing, thumbs up from every side. Most people had read OLD FILTH and at least 3 participants were through all three books (THE MAN IN THE WOODEN HAT and LAST FRIENDS). Quite a number of people had the intention of going further and reading the other books as well. The positive reception and discussion did just reinforce these intentions. What seems interesting is the shifting perception the three books produce on the reader. Listening to the three-book-readers they seem to have a more balanced view on the story, the different characters become rounded up, more comprehensible and their relationships clearer.
Some moments of the evening were used to enlighten and put right some of the glimpses into English society which the book brings to the non-native-English reader (for example about "Inns" which are not hotels, Raj orphans and their upbringing far from their parents but in a place called Home, the class system in Great Britain). For more details on the life of judges, here a recommendation of Caroline: the latest Ian McEwan book THE CHILDREN ACT.
Shortly mentioned but not extended was also the question how much Hong Kong has changed since, knowing that some participants have lived in Hong Kong themselves.
Another big topic was the triangle Filth - Betty - Veneering. Those having read the three books were clearly at an advantage and could explain more about how Filth and Betty met, how they got married and finally what had happened between Betty and Veneering. It was also clearer to them how Filth and Veneering could end up being neighbors in far away Dorset, which seemed rather far fetched to those equipped only with the knowledge based on the first book. Besides, there was also the opinion that life consists of just such coincidences.
There was also the question of HOME and the somewhat strange thing that Filth comes Home for his last days, but dies finally in that officially foreign country, apparently more dear to him than his - on paper - native country.
I personally regret a bit that we drew only very little attention on the character of Filth himself. But maybe it was not necessary to discuss his character for those having a thoroughly understanding of the whole story - and Filth's character and becoming - through all the three books.

Maren