The Ginger Tree by Oswald Wynd

With 15 attendees, this was by far our largest group ever ! We missed Ulrika...get well soon!!

Sorry to wake you up, didn't know that you were unwell :( and so sorry that you're not there as I had brought some champagne since it's my last book club night. We're leaving the first week of April. Let's make sure we have a night out before we go.

So as far as the book goes, we all loved it. The story of a Scottish woman who travels to China to marry - a decision she comes to regret. She begins a passionate affair with an aristocratic Japanese soldier, but when she gets pregnant, her life takes on a course she never imagined it would. Written in letters and diary entries, we follow Mary's journey to Japan. She has and loses contact with two children and becomes a successful business woman.  The cast of characters is rich and eclectic. Mary is a strong woman constrained by the conventions of the era and culture of the country.

We ate carrot and coriander soup (with Ginger!) by Tse Ching

This was my first actual attendance at this famous book club and it was great, despite the absence of its warm hearted hostess.
The book was a well written page turner with a formidable Scottish heroine whose story had me gripped from beginning to end.  Highly recommended especially for those who have an interest in historical novels with strong themes.