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The Reading Group
Elizabeth Noble Book Review

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Plot Summary of The Reading Group
"Two English women, 30-ish best friends, start a book discussion group, inviting 3 others, various ages, to meet for good food and conversation at each other's homes, one weeknight evening for the next 12 months. An interesting list of their pre-chosen books, from Nora Ephron's "Heartburn" to du Maurier's "Rebecca," not all fiction, not all new, sets the stage. A brief list of the 5 women and their various family members, each with his or her favorite book or category, gives a snapshot of the characters' differences.

The 5 are introduced individually as they race about, just before the first group meeting. After that, each chapter starts with a brief summary of the month's particular book, and the beginnings of the group's discussion. However, mostly we are immersed in the lives of the 5. Cofounders Harriet and Nicole develop serious doubts about their marriages. 40-ish Polly resists changing her single parent of teens role, and her friend Susan worries her way thru her mother's sudden onset of Alzheimer's. The less-well-known Clare tries to deal with being a childless midwife.

Major life decisions regarding child-rearing, pregnancy, remarriage, separation, aging parents and estranged siblings enter in, but sufficient quirks and humorous episodes bond the 5 to each other as they develop a support network.   
"
, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of The Reading Group
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book? - thoughtful
Time/era of story - present (2000-2010)
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Ethnic/regional/gender life Yes
GROUP of women story? Yes

Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status: - homemaker
Age: - 40's-50's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
Ethnicity/Nationality - British
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 20's-30's
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 4 (a fair amount)
Europe Yes
European country: - England/UK

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - no torture/death
Unusual Style: - No single main character?
Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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