A warm welcome to Carol who joined our busy meeting for the first time!
I’m very glad to say that reactions to Mr Chartwell were generally much more positive than our last couple of books. All but one of us had finished the book (often in one or two sittings), and although two members dis-liked it and two were ambivalent, the rest of us liked or loved the book.
Having said that though, there was a lot of difference in what we liked – for example, some really liked and sympathised with Esther, but others found her frustrating and irritating. Similarly, reactions to Mr Chartwell differed – some found him charming and intriguing, others malevolent. For some the descriptions of his physical presence were just too unpleasant and this coloured their feelings about the book. (We did wonder how much this was influenced by whether or not we liked dogs in real life.) I don’t think, however, there was anyone who had not accepted the concept of depression being characterised by dog, and indeed it was pointed out that the many references to Mr Chartwell’s presence (bits of his coat around the house, claw marks etc) were a reminder to continual presence of depression, even when not at its worst.
There were quite a number of us in the group who had direct or close in-direct experience of depression, and most, though not all felt this was an interesting and valid way to look at the subject without trivialising it. We talked about the different types of depression, how some, like Churchill had suffered on and off all his life, whereas others, like Esther might suffer at certain times after specific events (although it was questioned whether she would succumb to depression so long after losing Michael, and so quickly, over the course of the five days of the book). We also talked about the key scene where Churchill and Esther talk so tentatively around the subject of depression.
Most of us enjoyed the writing and found it an engaging and funny read with good descriptions and interesting details, although one or two members felt it was somewhat over-written, and were annoyed by inconsistencies in Mr Chartwell’s name.
We had previously agreed to combine our December meeting with a Christmas meal, and decided we would try the set menu at the Rex. I’ve sent a separate email round about arrangements – could anyone else who’d like to join us on the night let me know via the comments box here and I can include them in the booking.
thanks
Cathy
