Into the walk-in

We waited, and waited a bit more, but it never really warmed up, so off we went on our usual rounds. Strange trends at a book group site; newish members are turning it into a bible-beatin' bookclub. It feels as if we're being dragged back into the mid-twentieth century or even earlier.
It didn't help that the current "historical" novel - from the sounds of it, "hysterical" would be more accurate - centers on birthin' babies a while ago, and religious baloney keeps surfacing. People use the theme to go off on their childbirth experiences and their religious beliefs. It's about as fun as being dragooned into some evangelical church basement, tied to a chair, and being forced to listen to people testify. People whined about political threads, but at least those could be based on actual facts and events. A very odd part of this is, the author of the novel is part of the group, at least for now. I have a hunch she joined to sell the book, and will be gone after it's off the table. We'll see.
Almost done with the G.H. Lewes biography, and have formed some not utterly positive impressions of Eliot and her consort. Sometimes it's better not to know too much about one's favorite artists.