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By: NELS 023
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2026-03-07 11:19:58 |
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There were mixed reactions to Joe's book - some said it was rambling and random, others said it was insightful and interesting. |
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By: RANGI 003
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2026-03-01 12:28:46 |
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Provoked a good discussion on several levels. |
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By: NELS 002
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2026-02-11 14:05:52 |
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Easy, enjoyable read – many snippets of hard earned wisdom. |
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By: WELL 213
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2025-12-22 16:10:36 |
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Well-written, moderately interesting, not especially popular with our group - though all were ok with having read it. "Eminently readable, eminently forgettable!" |
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By: HAMIL 029
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2025-11-04 10:41:27 |
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The group were divided about From Here to There. Some were disappointed that the style is very different from Joe Bennett's newspaper columns and found the writing dull and the whole book pointless. The rest of us thought it is a model of memoir writing, admiring the way Bennett dealt with the kind of sexual abuse that is sadly common in children's lives, his sang froid in taking up teaching jobs in Europe, the humorous descriptions of people, his early sexual experiences, and his reticence about his family. And so much more. |
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By: WARK 007
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2025-10-31 16:32:37 |
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We were disappointed it wasn't funnier. Although we admired the way he observed his younger self we felt he had painted quite an unlikeable person. |
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By: TAKA 001
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2025-10-14 13:21:57 |
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Apart from one person who grew up in the U.K. at same time as Joe Bennett, and liked the book, the rest of us were disappointed. It was boring, with too many details about some of the sports. We missed any emotional involvement in the writing. We concluded that he might be a better column writer then memoir writer. |
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By: AUCK 055
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2025-10-02 11:34:30 |
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Beautifully written, but most of us felt it was self-indulgent and too long. We would probably not read Volume 2, when it is published. However, it led to lively and interesting discussions about our own childhoods. |
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By: TIMAR 007
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2025-09-01 11:36:34 |
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An interesting insightful easy read which all of us loved. |
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By: RICH 010
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2025-07-03 09:59:41 |
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The book caused some controversy as some loved it and others didn't. The questions brought about a great deal of reminiscing and we had a very enjoyable discussion, so much so that I (who was not a fan) have borrowed another of his books to give him a second chance. |
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By: QUEEN 006
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2025-06-04 12:35:06 |
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Overall disappointing - the first part tedious with a repetitive style, one dimensional and underwhelming. The second half somewhat more interesting, demonstrating his genuine love of literature, and his ability to relate well to his students. |
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By: CHCH 058
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2025-04-02 09:59:42 |
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Universally enjoyed by all. Two members found it reminded them about their own upbringing in similar urban places. It was noticed that the first 6 chapters ( early life) start with reference to a male adult, other than his older brother. Three members intend to buy a copy for themselves. His evolution as a homosexual entity is dealt with in an almost casual way. Brave and effective, and evoking no opprobrium. |
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By: RICH 005
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2025-03-10 12:51:06 |
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The majority of our group found this book to be a huge disappointment. Having read columns written by Joe Bennett in various publications we were expecting insights, depths, and a great many laughs, but this book fell well short of all of these expectations. One of our group spent their childhood in the south of England and enjoyed the first third of the book as could relate to it. |
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By: CHCH 527
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2025-01-29 21:15:51 |
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Enjoyed Joe’s writing - it did lack flow but was saved by the game of cricket . We all read his Wednesday column in the Press. |
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By: CHCH 125
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2024-12-12 09:59:36 |
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Several of the group members, after reading Joe's newspaper columns, found this memoir disappointing - felt he does not reveal much about himself. |
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By: PALMN 013
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2024-10-07 10:23:48 |
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Joe's writing is a treasure! Easy to read, wonderfully descriptive. We would love to have another installment of his later life. Here's hoping. |
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By: NELS 062
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2024-06-05 12:31:36 |
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All enjoyed his writing style and humour. There were the recurring themes of fishing, cricket and rugby. The group could relate to his tales of teaching. An enjoyable but light read. |
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