‘OK, well, I chose it because I’d read an article about the writer in the paper. And of course I read it to the end,’ said Jocasta, ‘because I’m one of those people who, if I start a book, have to finish it.’

‘Did you not like it, then?’ asked Shona. ‘Because if you didn’t, for once, I have to agree with you—’

‘Shona?’ Jocasta was disappointed more than annoyed. ‘I shouldn’t have to remind you. We wait until one person has finished speaking before we move on to the next.’ Laura was reminded of Bill Edwards and smiled to herself.

‘Sorry,’ said Shona, feigning meekness.

Jocasta gave her an irritated look. She had a copy of the book in her hand and was looking at it, as if it could help her express herself. ‘I thought this book was wonderfully lyrical. The characters were marvellous. The descriptions of the scenery were superb.’

Although Laura should have loved hearing Dermot’s work praised like this there was something about Jocasta’s enthusiasm that seemed a little forced. Jocasta looked at the woman on her left and said, ‘Your turn, Fionnuala.’

Fionnula’s opinions echoed Jocasta’s fairly closely. She praised the writing, the characters, the scenery. It seemed to Laura that they had all missed the point; they were admiring the book from a distance, they weren’t getting into it, living it and, alas, loving it. Was it their fault, or was it the book’s? Laura yearned to bang the glass coffee table and demand, ‘But did you like it?’

Maybe Shona was telepathic because while she didn’t bang the table, she did ask the question.

‘Oh of course! I loved it!’ said Jocasta. ‘After all it’s one of Ireland’s most important books – from recently, anyway.’

‘Not that recent,’ objected Shona. ‘It seemed to me to be set in the Dark Ages, although I didn’t finish it.’

‘You never finish the books, Shona!’ It was not only Jocasta complaining now. ‘You should have more intellectual rigour.’

‘I’d rather have a life,’ she said, unrepentant.

‘Well,’ said Jocasta, ‘perhaps we can hear from Laura now? Any questions you’d like to ask? We find having someone with us who hasn’t read the book can promote some interesting discussion – except Shona, of course, who’s never read it!’

Shona laughed good-naturedly, immune to Jocasta’s reprimands. ‘I did read quite a lot of this one. I might even finish it now,’ she said.

‘So, Laura?’