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RE: Book Club Discussion for The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton

Charlotte Lewis — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 19:26:15 GMT

I have tried to log onto the teams but it wasn’t working

Book Club Discussion for The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton

Community CSW2 — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 07:11:40 GMT

Hello book club members, this month's book, The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton should be with you now...

Please feel free to share your thoughts on the book here.

A military space probe, sent to collect extraterrestrial organisms from the upper atmosphere, is knocked out of orbit and falls to Earth. Twelve miles from the crash site, an inexplicable and deadly phenomenon terrorizes the residents of a sleepy desert town in Arizona, leaving only two survivors: an elderly addict and a newborn infant.

The United States government is forced to mobilize Project Wildfire, a top-secret emergency response protocol. Four of the nation’s most elite biophysicists are summoned to a clandestine underground laboratory located five stories beneath the desert and fitted with an automated atomic self-destruction mechanism for cases of irremediable contamination. Under conditions of total news blackout and the utmost urgency, the scientists race to understand and contain the crisis. But the Andromeda Strain proves different from anything they’ve ever seen - and what they don’t know could not only hurt them, but lead to unprecedented worldwide catastrophe.

For kindle readers this book was unavailable and were given a choice of an audible copy or reading Book 2 "The Andromeda Evolution".

We look forward to our next meeting on 20th July starting at 7.30pm on MS Teams.

RE: Book Club Discussion for The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton

Charlotte Lewis — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 19:24:50 GMT

Although I didn’t receive this month’s book, I did purchase The Andromeda Strain myself. I found it an interesting read with a really unique concept and a lot of suspense. However, I did find it quite hard to follow at times due to the amount of scientific detail and technical information. Overall, I enjoyed the ideas behind the story, but it did require a lot of concentration to fully understand what was happening. I would give it a 3 float

RE: Book Club Discussion for The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton

HannahN — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 18:30:08 GMT

This was a tricky read for me and I don't usually chooose science fiction. It could've been that it was on audible which isn't how I usually read, and I thought the narrators voice was quite boring and hard to be engaged by. I managed a couple of hours, but found it so hard to keep going!
Like others, I can see how this book would've been an interesting and novel one when it came out.
Thank you for the opportunity to give it a go though!

RE: Book Club Discussion for The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton

JoShep — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 18:25:13 GMT

I found this book hard to get into but I kept going and have finished it. I found some of the science bits hard to understand. I think it did end abruptly and although it said the strain had mutated to be safe to humans you want to know if it does disappear or if it becomes a problem later. I wanted to know what happened to the baby and the old man did they continue to be ok?
it wouldn’t have been a book I would have chosen to read but that’s why I love book club as I get to read books I wouldn’t normally have read. It was an ok book.

RE: Book Club Discussion for The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton

LMFloss27 — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 17:36:21 GMT

Hi, I have struggled to get in to this book I’m afraid. I’m no where near finished but it’s good to see others are feeling the same, I was worried it was just me! I’m not going to let it defeat me, I will finish it!

RE: Book Club Discussion for The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton

CharlieFoster — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 14:45:15 GMT

Sadly I haven't gotten around to reading this book yet. Work and personal life have been manic! I work in infection control though so I am keen to sit down and start reading it this week! Sounds interesting from the description

RE: Book Club Discussion for The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton

Nettie B — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 12:59:26 GMT

I couldn’t really get into this book. The first couple of chapters i enjoyed but after that it’s been putting me to sleep! I'm no where near finished but looking forward to hearing all your reviews.

RE: Book Club Discussion for The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton

rhiannonBF25 — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 19:43:07 GMT

I may not be able to chat much during the meeting as I will be traveling back from work on the bus and might find the connection drops out. I will try my best to join you all.

RE: Book Club Discussion for The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton

MichelleK — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 18:49:10 GMT

I have to admit that I have barely started this book as I am not really liking the narrator's voice/accent in the Audible version and it's making it difficult to concentrate. Instead, I downloaded a copy of the follow on book from Girl With the Louding Voice from last month as I really wanted to know what happened next for Adunni and I've been listening to it every spare moment. I will try again with Andromeda Strain...maybe it was because it was just too hot to concentrate! I've read all the other reviews so far and there seem to be two distinct camps ....those that enjoyed the sciencey stuff...and those that didn't. Maybe it was a book of it's time (a bit like Jaws)?!

Is there a list of upcoming titles? I seem to recall when I joined that it said 6 months of titles were chosen at a time and I'm sure I've been a member more than 6 months now so presumably the upcoming titles have been chosen? (How are they chosen/by who?) I may not be able to join every month through the summer so don't want to waste resources by books being sent out that I'm unable to read. Many thanks for providing these great clubs

RE: Book Club Discussion for The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton

Kernowemma — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 17:34:00 GMT

I might not make it tomorrow night as its my daughters Leavers Presentation Evening at School and I have no idea what time I will get home.

I enjoyed the book, but I don't think it was exciting as other science fiction, but I can see how in the 1960s it would have been exciting. I just dont think its suited to a 2026 audience. I'm not too sure about the ending, it left quite a few questions open and I wanted to know what happened next and how it was all covered up... I was expecting more of an update on the wider world during the book but that didn't materialise. The narrator of the book did keep me interested by suggesting the scientists had missed something and I was interested to see what they had forgotten and how it turned out.

I wasn't aware that the book had been made into a film.. and that's probably a good thing.

Score 6 and swim (I can see some of my work colleagues enjoying it)

Emma R

RE: Adults Lego Serious Play - June's Homework

Community CSW2 — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 08:22:45 GMT

My scene is my interpretation of 'little garden' from the One Piece Manga/Anime, including the Pocket Pollys for Aggies.

Thank you Judith.

Adults Lego Serious Play - June's Homework

Community CSW2 — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 07:21:48 GMT

This month's homework was to create a Forest or Garden scene.

Our first submission is this wonderful creation:

"I did Titania and Oberon in the fairy garden from A Midsummer Night’s Dream… in front of the fairie door in my flat:

You have set the bar Su!

Film Discussion - Cinema: Disclosure Day - The R.I.P - Home Movie - June / July 26

Community CDW6 — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 16:21:37 GMT

A place to share your thoughts and feelings of this month's Film's

Cinema Film: Disclosure Day

Home Movie: The R.I.P

I will admit I am really looking forward to this month's film choices and I am hoping the Cinema Film will be as good as I am expecting ... crossing fingers

Review club meeting will be on the 13th July for more information please see advert on the RN Forum calendar

RE: Film Discussion - Cinema: Disclosure Day - The R.I.P - Home Movie - June / July 26

OES — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 16:23:32 GMT

Darren's review of Disclosure Day

I didn’t enjoy the movie but it did keep me mildly interested through some of the tension and special effects. Sadly, I guess the most captivating part was the emotions it generated for me when the aliens (who reminded me of ET) were revealed and the shock it caused. I found myself feeling quite sad at their treatment and what as a human race are capable of. The film to me then quickly resumed its downward spiral and I was willing the end on.

To balance my review I am not a sci-fi fan but I thought I would give the film an opportunity to shine - it didn’t.

RE: Film Discussion - Cinema: Disclosure Day - The R.I.P - Home Movie - June / July 26

MichelleK — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 13:03:35 GMT

I went to watch Disclosure Day with a friend and we were both, sadly, very underwhelmed. There were some parts where the film created a little bit of tension and I had high hopes for the final reveal but it just sort of fizzled to the end. There wasn't much to the story line and I was very disappointed with the end - it felt akin to the sci-fi film Ant and Dec were in decades ago!! Are we really still pushing the little green man with funny fingers and big heads!! It didn't feel worth hijacking the world's TV transmission for LOL It wasn't the worst film I've seen - I wasn't tempted to leave (as I kept thinking it must get better)...but it was mediocre at best and a bit of an unimaginative sci-fi film. I wouldn't recommend it.

I wasn't able to watch RIP - I did post a question here at the beginning of the month asking how to access a film that's on Netflix (I don't have a subscription).

I'm away on holiday next week so unable to join the meeting but I look forward to reading other reviews here and finding out what next week's film is. Many thanks for all you do organising these activities for us

RE: Book Club Discussion for The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton

Mary H — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 13:43:23 GMT

I finished it in double quick time! I don't think it was so much about the science, although that was good, but more about the fragility of human responses to threat and how a newly formed team takes time to bed down and learn how to work together.

RE: Adults Lego Serious Play - Recap from July's session

Community CSW2 — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 14:29:40 GMT

Finally finished my Digatron, really enjoyed building this one, thank you

Adults Lego Serious Play - Recap from July's session

Community CSW2 — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 11:53:29 GMT

We had all received a lovely parcel in the post for our creations at our meeting this month. There were different builds all Technic Lego sent to the group members. There was an aeroplane, a backhoe loader, dune buggy, digatron truck ... I think that was all of them, please do correct me if I have missed or got one of them wrong!

Our session always starts with if we have built anything in the last month, or finished off a build that we have already started and shared with the group. There were a couple of us who had done a build, one being the Panda (oh he is so cute) and another had done the Parrot, both fabulous builds and thank you for sharing with us.

We then set about building our Technic Lego, there were some fast builders with us this evening as some finished during the meeting, the rest of us will finish them off over the coming weeks but before the next meeting and hopefully upload to this discussion or please do send them to me and I will upload them for you [emoticon:41d3875e132d40cdaee3dc767007b788]

Thank you to everyone for making the session another great one.

RE: Adults Lego Serious Play - Recap from July's session

Community CSW2 — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 07:20:34 GMT

Thank you Pam for sharing your digger build

RE: Film Discussion - Cinema: Disclosure Day - The R.I.P - Home Movie - June / July 26

rhiannonBF25 — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:38:29 GMT

I found Disclosure Day a little underwhelming. I kept waiting for it to build more tension or deliver a stronger emotional payoff, but for me it never quite got there. It wasn’t a bad film, just one that didn’t leave a lasting impression.

However, watching it with my autistic son completely changed the experience. He laughed out loud throughout the film, and seeing him so engaged and genuinely enjoying himself reminded me that films can resonate in very different ways with different audiences. His enjoyment became my favourite part of the evening.

Although it wasn’t a film I’d rave about based on my own viewing alone, it was absolutely worth watching because of the happiness it brought him. It’s a good reminder that a film’s success isn’t always measured by the critics or even our own expectations, but sometimes by the joy it creates for the people we watch it with.

RE: Film Discussion - Cinema: Disclosure Day - The R.I.P - Home Movie - June / July 26

SusanEddy — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:15:04 GMT

I was really looking forward to this film, and had high hopes, but I've been to the cinema this afternoon and have to say I was a little underwhelmed. I felt it was overly long and there wasn't really much to the story. I'm looking forward to hearing what others thought about it on Monday evening.

RE: Book Club Discussion for The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton

SusanEddy — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:09:11 GMT

Account!!

RE: Book Club Discussion for The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton

ClareR — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 20:24:58 GMT

This book is not for me. When I started listening to it I wondered whether it was fact or fiction. So, from that point of view it was well written. Not sure I’d even watch a film version. But I can see others have enjoyed it, which is good. We are all different.

RE: Adults Lego Serious Play - Recap from July's session

Community CSW2 — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 12:03:09 GMT

Thank you Lauren for sending in your photos of your aeroplane

Great to see it from all angles too.