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!

Wayzgoose has a home

Jade has found us a place to hold our meetings - it's a bar with a library!

Meet us on Thursday May 7
6.30pm - 8.30pm
at the North Fitzroy Star Hotel
32 Georges Road, Fitzroy North (Here's a little map to get you there.)

An executive decision has been made regarding our first book. We'll be starting with The slap by Chris Tsiolkas. Happy reading.

The slap by Chris Tsiolkas

At a suburban barbecue, a man slaps a child who is not his own. This event has a shocking ricochet effect on a group of people, mostly friends, who are directly or indirectly influenced by the event. In its clear-eyed and forensic dissection of the ever-growing middle class and its aspirations and fears, The slap is also a poignant, provocative novel about the nature of loyalty and happiness. Winner of the Commonwealth Writers' Prize (South East Asia and the Pacific) and longlisted for the Miles Franklin.

Read an interview with Chris Tsiolkas: from the Readings Bookstore interview
See what other people have said about the book: read Radio National's Bookshow review