About us
The group started off about six years ago and has members from a mixture of ages and backgrounds. The turnout varies between six and fourteen people, though we have about forty people on the list of members. The books we read vary from ‘light’ to ‘heavy’, usually written either by or about gay men. Anyone is free to choose a book but they don’t necessarily have to introduce it themselves. Discussions are quite lively: we have one member (me) who loves virtually every book fairly uncritically and one who virtually savages every book (but he is quite gentle really!).
We meet monthly, usually Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, at 7.30 for 8 in a member’s flat in the centre of Bristol and chat over a glass of wine, beer or cup of coffee.
Some people turn up to every meeting; others choose which meetings to attend according to whichever book is being discussed at any given time. Either is fine
People have commented: “a lovely home and an attentive host”
“a ‘Friendly’ safe space”
“I had a lovely time, thank you”
“a great list of books”
“a much nicer atmosphere than any bar and no distractions from it being a book club rather than any other type of social gathering”
From someone who moved away: “I’ve enjoyed (some of!) the books we’ve read and the insights offered (into the book group members themselves as much as the books).”
Enjoyed last night, good venue, views and lovely to see the wine flowing.
Ffi: bristolbookclub@hotmail.co.uk
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Timothy Jay Smith said
THE HOT NEW NOVEL BY PARIS PRIZE WINNER TIMOTHY JAY SMITH
COOPER’S PROMISE by Timothy Jay Smith
A GAY ACTION THRILLER. ISBN # 978-1-4620-8408-1
This high octane yet literary tour de force tells the story of a gay soldier adrift in a war torn African country who falls in love with a young diamond merchant.
COOPER CHANCE, Army sharpshooter and deserter, wants to go home, but can’t knowing that he’ll be jailed and Cooper is acutely claustrophobic. He’s ended up a mercenary in Africa in a gritty world of thugs, prostitutes and corrupt cops. He trades diamonds to survive and meets Sadiq, a young merchant as lost in the world as he is. They fall in love, but unbeknownst to Cooper, the youth has ulterior motives.
When huge oil reserves are discovered, the CIA offers Cooper a way home without jail time if he carries out a risky high-stakes mission. Cooper balks until a teenage prostitute he’s promised to save is trafficked and disappears. In hopes of rescuing her, Cooper agrees to carry out the CIA’s plot with unexpected consequences.
Cooper Chance is “a complex character in the vein of classical leading men. If Humphrey Bogart were alive today, he’d be attracted to this role…” FRESH VOICES INTERNATIONAL
Cooper’s also gay, and like the characters in Brokeback Mountain, he’s an action hero who defies stereotypes.