We are a small, friendly club meeting monthly for lively discussion of European crime books chosen by members and to keep abreast of new developments and events in the genre. You can check out details of what we’ll be reading on the 3Ls website/noticeboard and you are very welcome to join us if it kindles your interest. Meetings take place on the third Tuesday of the month from 4.30pm – 6.00pm in room GH232 unless otherwise indicated on the 3Ls website/noticeboard.
Please note that the Club is currently full and we are operating a Waiting List.
Annual subscription £10. To join the group you must first be a member of the 3Ls Association.
Committee Members 2019-20
President: Wendy Clarke
Treasurer: Alan McBride
Committee Member: Alison Johnson
Contact Details: ecbc.pres@gmail.com
Christmas Quiz – 11 December 2018
This was more of a social meeting and the main focus was George’s marvelous Christmas quiz! The first round had a Christmas theme and then we moved on to crime books and related topics. The Reindeers were the winning team, beating the Snowmen by 23 to 16, (although it should be pointed out that the Reindeers had 5 team members to the Snowmen’s 4!). Robert took the winning prize for the most festive outfit with an outstanding Christmas jumper!
We also took time to mark the 30th Anniversary of the 3Ls and celebrate with some Christmas cake and other appropriately European nibbles, including Stollen and Lebkuchen. This provided an opportunity to reflect on the Club’s progress from 2014, when the Nordic Noir Club was launched. Since then
- the membership has grown from 12 to 16
- 22 books have been read and discussed, covering the following countries; Sweden (7 books); Norway (4); Denmark (3); Finland (3); Iceland (3) ; Faroe Isles (1); and Germany (1)
- some authors were known but most were new, many providing pronunciation challenges- Kati Hiekkapelto (Finnish), Jørn Lier Horst (Norway) and Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö (Sweden)
- and 3 speakers have attended meetings covering topics from the role of the translator, the polar pioneers of Svalbard and the influences of Nordic landscape and identity on Nordic crime fiction
There were two books that had left the biggest impression on those members present who had been in Club for a number of years, which were Miss Smilla’s Feeling for Snow (Peter Høeg/ Denmark and Greenland) and Snowblind (Ragnar Jónasson/ Iceland).
We look forward to reading and discussing many more in the years to come.
Open Afternoon – 12 October 2018
The change from the Nordic Noir to the European Crime Book Club has proved popular and we had a very successful Open Afternoon, with 8 new members recruited. The Club is now at full capacity and a Waiting List has been put in place for anyone else interested in joining the Club.
