Nineteen minutes by Jodi Picoult

In nineteen minutes, you can mow the front lawn, colour your hair, watch a third of a hockey game. In nineteen minutes, you can bake scones or get a tooth filled by a dentist; you can fold laundry for a family of five... In nineteen minutes, you can stop the world, or you can just jump off it. In nineteen minutes, you can get revenge.

Sterling is a small, ordinary New Hampshire town where nothing ever happens -- until the day its complacency is shattered by a shocking act of violence. In the aftermath, the town's residents must not only seek justice in order to begin healing but also come to terms with the role they played in the tragedy. For them, the lines between truth and fiction, right and wrong, insider and outsider have been obscured forever. Josie Cormier, the teenage daughter of the judge sitting on the case, could be the state's best witness, but she can't remember what happened in front of her own eyes. And as the trial progresses, fault lines between the high school and the adult community begin to show, destroying the closest of friendships and families.

Read more about it on Jodi Picoult's website. There's heaps of support material to be found here too.

Meeting no 1: The slap / Chris Tsiolkas

Well the Wayzgoose Club has had its first bookmeet! Attendance figures were low, due to a flu epidemic that ravaged our member list. Jade and Jono rocked up to the Star Hotel, to meet with some members brought to us by the ABC, Natasha and Alicia. The venue was described as 'absolutely perfect' with 'beautiful ambience'. The folks had a pleasant meal (vegetable stew with haloumi cheese! chorizo with pasta!) It's such a lovely location that we will probably make this our home for a good while. At least until we tire of the menu.

It wasn't all food and company - the book talk went on for 2 hours! Responses to our first choice, The slap by Chris Tsiolkas, were varied. But it certainly sparked a lively conversation as the group discussed themes and personal stories. After our next meeting we'll try and post some of the group's thoughts on the books.

Next book: majority rules, we'll be reading Jodi Picoult's Nineteen minutes. Jono was up til 3am finishing it, so it seems to be a real page turner.

Next meeting: Thursday June 4, 6.30 - 8.30pm at the North Fitzroy Star Hotel, 32 Georges Road, Fitzroy North (Here's a little map to get you there.) We'll put a calendar on the site real soon!