To celebrate National Reading Group Day 2015 on 20 June, we launched a nationwide search for the book that reading groups were most excited to read and champion this year – our Reading Group Newcomer of 2015.
The Temporary Bride, a memoir of love and food in Iran by London-based writer Jennifer Klinec was the outright winner, receiving over a third of the total votes on our online poll. Three lucky reading groups were chosen to review the book and have a very special meeting with Jennifer herself.
Whitegrove Library Book Group in Bracknell Forest were the first of those groups. Find out what they thought of the book and meeting Jennifer below.
What did you most enjoy about the The Temporary Bride?
The book has an honesty about it. Jennifer’s openness allows the reader to be drawn close to her and her story, which is both refreshing and compelling. The insight into Iranian culture was fascinating and gave us a window into life in Iran.
What were the main themes you discussed?
Love (and perceptions and conditions of love); global adventure; freedom; Iranian culture; merging into different cultures; family relationships; Iranian relationships with each other.
Did anything surprise you about the book?
Jennifer’s adaptation to life in Iran in such a short time and her blossoming relationship with Vahid was profound and amazing. It seemed different to many memoirs where the reader feel lots is left out. Here, Jennifer shared so many of her inner-most feelings, drawing you closer to her and her story. This was surprising and remarkable.
How would you describe the book in three words?
Honest, inspiring and colourful.
Tell us a little about your experience meeting Jennifer Klinec
Jennifer was an absolute delight to meet and had the innate ability to immediately put you at ease. Jennifer was generous in spirit, her time and in preparing chai tea for the whole group!
We appreciated Jennifer’s honesty, independence and acceptance of others. Two hours flew by and we felt we could all have stayed talking for hours more. It didn’t feel like a Q&A session between reading group and author, more like a fascinating and harmonious discussion between fifteen friends.
In The Temporary Bride, Jennifer allows us to believe we know her. After meeting Jennifer, we all felt we did know her and were much richer for having met her. Jennifer’s ease and sincerity made it a memorable occasion on a sunny Whitegrove evening in July.Get involved
The Temporary Bride is out in paperback on 3 September. You can find out more about Jennifer Klinec on her website or follow her on Twitter.
To get your reading group involved in other exciting reading projects, sign up to Reading Groups for Everyone and visit our Noticeboard for all our latest opportunities.
