Review of Meeting of 6th January 2026 by Piers Rowlandson
Chair Piers Rowlandspon.
Seven members attended and one guest.
Apologies from Lesley Pardoe.
It was an evening for reading current work.
Neill Soley read the first 1000 words or so of a short story titled The Sun Bird, an intriguing piece of writing about an old wooden boat in a derelict boatyard that was being restored by an old man who at first seemed hostile to the photographer who wandered into the yard. Jennings is the photographer and the main character. His intentions are not yet clear. The description of the yard and the decaying boats was vivid. A few suggestions about words were made. We are looking forward to reading the completed story.
Janet Denny read aloud part of Chapter Six of The Turnstone, her novel about a WWII German pilot. Karl is on a brief visit home, having qualified as a pilot. There is so much to tell; everyone in the family has something to say. Some of the news is troubling. An uncle who has come out as gay has disappeared. Later, we will find out that under the Third Reich, gay people were incarcerated. Already food is running short and Karl's mother, in particular, is tearful and anxious in contrast to Karl himself, who is excited at his coming role in the conflict but hopes he won't encounter his English friend in battle. The characters and their environment are brilliantly handled.
Sharon Hurr read out her review of a Japanese novel, The Woman in the Purple Skirt by Natsuko Imamura. It sounded most confusing, partly because the woman in question hardly ever wears a purple skirt. We all agreed it is hard to get to grips with Japanese novels because the culture is so different. Indeed, so many objects don't have a European equivalent that the text is peppered with Japanese words.
Anna, our guest, read out a piece of Flash Fiction: Death and the Firebird. About 600 words describing an accident at the Devil's Punch Bowl, Hindhead, as seen by school girls on a trip to London to see Stravinsky's The Firebird. They do get to see The Firebird; Their experience is vividly described. Brilliant writing with evocative details.
Excellent tea and doughnuts provided by Sharon.