Reading Group at Rectory Library

I went to the first reading group meeting yesterday (Is it called a meeting? I'm not sure, it does sound a bit too formal though for a gathering of people just having a natter).

We had read the book "The suspicions of Mr Whicher or Murder at Road Hill House", as you may know from my previous posts. I was the youngest there (Being only 21), everyone else was either middle aged or past it. I didn't feel out of place at all though, as everyone made me feel welcome and didn't speak to me like I was a child.


It was interesting to see the different points of views about the book that there are. I have never joined a reading group before, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. We spoke about how the book was written, the good points and the bad points of it's structure. We even spoke about what we believed to be true or not (As the book is a real life crime). We became detectives ourselves as we pointed out the things that were not stated within the book. For example; One of the women noted that not alot of blood was spilled as the throat of the child's was slit down to the bone. Someone else said that the child was suffocated beforehand (as stated in the book), and so the blood was no longer circulating around the body. I mentioned the fact that he had little cuts on his hands and so must've still been alive and trying to protect himself (as described at the end of the book). NOW FOR OUR OWN DETECTIVE WORK TO KICK IN; I suggested that the cuts were caused after he had been suffocated by accident. If you look at the way a child sleeps, they tend to have their hands up either side of the head. Maybe, when the child's throst was slit, the force behind the knife must've slipped and cut his hands at the same time! Another one I pointed out, was that there were a large number of people in the house on the night of the murder, and yet not one person heard a thing. I think that everyone in the house must've been drugged before going to bed so they'd sleep right through.


Overall it was great fun. We spoke about the book (and gave it an overall score of 4/5), then we had tea and biscuits and a chat for another half hour or so before leaving. For next month's metting, we are reading "The Other Queen" by Philippa Gregory :-D

Barking Library

I went to barking Library today. It's not what I expected at all. I got a little bit lost (It's hidden just outside of the highstreet), and I was looking for an old building. I didn't realise they'd done it all up to look so modern.

It's bad really isn't it? I've lived in dagenham all my life, and I've never properly explored Barking. I knew how to get from the station to the shopping centre, and that's it lol

I seem to have gone off topic a bit here... So, as I was saying. The Library is HUGE! Although it's big, I do think that alot of space is wasted, as the bookshelves are spaced quite far apart. The service desk seemed much too large for the amount of staff using it, but then maybe it's quieter on a Saturday.

I must admit, I didn't stay long. I had to rush in and rush out again, so I didn't get to have a good look around, but I did manage to get an events programme and a couple of leaflets.

They have a reading group there on the first Monday of each month, between 6:00am and 7:30pm. On Wednesday 12th August they have an evening with Sara Delphi. She is a leading clairvoyant, astrologer and expert on tarot, palmistry and the newest astrologist on the Steve Wright show (BBC Radio 2). She'll be giving a talk, and doing a book signing. (This event is free and refreshments provided)

I am quite upset that I didn't have the time to explore a bit more. I'll have to do it another time.