We meet on the fourth Wednesday of each month upstairs at The Swan, Dobcross. Discussion starts promptly at 7.30 pm.
You’re welcome to join us—even if you haven’t read the book! It’s a relaxed and friendly group.
To find out more, contact Angela Darvill at: [email protected]
If you’d like to join our Book Group WhatsApp, please ask at one of our monthly meetings.
Available to Saddleworth WI members only.
BOOK LIST 2026
Wed 28th January 2026
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
(Marie Newall)
Alicia:
Alicia Berenson writes a diary as a release, an outlet – and to prove to her beloved husband that everything is fine. She can’t bear the thought of worrying Gabriel, or causing him pain.
Until, late one evening, Alicia shoots Gabriel five times and then never speaks another word.
Theo:
Forensic psychotherapist Theo Faber is convinced he can successfully treat Alicia, where all others have failed. Obsessed with investigating her crime, his discoveries suggest Alicia’s silence goes far deeper than he first thought. And if she speaks, would he want to hear the truth?
REVIEW
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
18 people attended the meeting and 9 people gave reviews by email
Our first book of the year was The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides. Alicia is a famous painter married to a fashion photographer. One evening Alicia shoots her husband five times in the face and then never speaks another word and becomes mute. Alicia is taken to a secure forensic unit in North London where a psychotherapist called Theo is determined to treat her and help her find her voice again. Theo is the story’s narrator and we learn that both he and Alicia have had troubled childhoods.
Michaelides writing draws you bit by bit into a mystery with dark secrets. The reader enjoys a slow burning journey to the big reveal at the end.
All the group found the book to be a real page turner and needed to finish it even if they weren’t enjoying it or whether it made them feel uneasy because they needed to find out why Alicia stopped speaking.
We discussed some interesting questions such as the effect of different forms of communication in the book such as letters, art and even silence. We also puzzled as to why Theo decided to work at the Grove when he could have stayed away safe and sound and avoid any suspicion arising. Perhaps he just felt guilty and wanted to redeem himself and fix his past wrongs or a few of the group wondered if he wanted to find out how much Alicia really knew. Everyone agreed that Theo was the true villain.
A few of the group found the timeline a bit confusing and felt that the characters were not very likeable and even a bit implausible. However, everyone agreed that the book was clever and complicated with a good twist at the end that was unexpected.
A few comments:-
Totally ridiculous but loved it.
Couldn’t put the book down and didn’t twig the ending.
There were times when it was a bit implausible but that didn’t spoil it for me.
The red herring characters were over the top and at times unrealistic. Found this portrayal of a mental health institution unsettling – an interesting book to read.
The score for the book was 3.8 out of 5
Wed 25th February 2026
Swimming Lessons by Claire Fuller
(Angela Darvill)
Gil Coleman looked down from the window and saw his dead wife standing on the pavement below. Gil’s wife, Ingrid has been missing, presumed drowned, for twelve years.
A possible sighting brings their children, Nan and Flora, home, to the old swimming pavilion where they grew up. Together they begin to confront the mystery of their mother through letters left scattered behind in books that litter the house.
Is Ingrid dead? Or did she leave? And do the letters hidden within Gil’s books hold the answer to the truth behind his marriage, a truth hidden from everyone including his own children? Interweaving two narratives of daughters searching for a buried truth and a life told through letters from a woman long-gone Swimming Lessons is a strange and affecting novel about the gaps in our knowledge of each other. It is a story about ghosts: the ghost of a woman who vanished, the ghost of a life only partly known and the ghosts of lives left behind in the wake of profound and life-changing loss.
REVIEW
Swimming Lessons by Claire Fuller
15 people attended the meeting and there were five reviews on email.
There were mixed reviews for the book. Most found it frustrating. This was because of the lack of uncertainty regarding what had happened to Ingrid. This was puzzling and confusing. Ingrid’s abandonment of her daughters seems harsh and grief was not really dealt with. However there was some sympathy with her fighting for her own survival.
Some felt it was difficult to read with the movement of past to present but others like this aspect.
There was a of lack of empathy and warmth towards any of characters. No one liked Gil in particular and felt his behaviour was arrogant, self centred and controlling. The group felt frustrated with Ingrid regarding putting up with his behaviour and not showing him the letters. Some reviewers believed the letters from Ingrid lacked the natural tone of a real letter rather the author setting out the story.
“Too many loose ends throughout the book .
“Some debate about whether Gabriel was Louise’s child”.
“An unusual and well written book with some good descriptions”.
“The epilogue was weird and seemed to raise a doubt that she had died”
Overall score 3.1
Wed 25th March 2026
Shy Creatures by Clare Chambers
(Pam Lever)
Croydon, 1964. Art therapist Helen Hansford is working in a psychiatric hospital, where she has been having passionate but precarious affair with her married colleague, the charismatic Dr Gil Rudden.
Helen’s structured life is upended when William Tapping – a silent, thirty-seven-year-old man with a beard down to his waist – arrives the hospital. As Helen helps William express himself through art, she becomes increasingly entangled in his mysterious past. Inspired by a true story, Shy Creatures is a life-affirming exploration of loneliness, love and the quiet forces that shape our lives, reminding us that freedom can come in unexpected forms.
REVIEW
Shy Creatures by Clare Chambers
20 people attended the meeting and 7 people gave reviews by email
Our March book was called Shy Creatures by Clare Chambers which proved to be very popular with our group. Inspired by a true story, the book follows art therapist Helen’s efforts to make a connection with one of her patients, a silent 37 year old man with a beard down to his waist. Whilst doing this, we learn about the ups and downs of Helen’s relationship with a married colleague and also her family, particularly with a teenage niece who has a kind of breakdown.
The book is set in the sixties with flashbacks to the war years and the group enjoyed the vivid and accurate descriptions of these times making it easy to imagine the scene that is being set.
Many liked the author’s style of writing and enjoyed the mystery surrounding William and his aunts. It was also interesting to have a few different threads so that there was more than one story to read about.
A few members found that it was a bit slow to begin with and that it took a while to get into but then became hooked. The reverse timeline kept it interesting with the drip drip of information leading the reader to want to know more.
Everyone agreed about how lovely it was to have a happy ending.
“Unusual story”
“Structure of the book clever as the reason for William’s isolation only became apparent at the end.”
“Liked the way William’s story was entwined with Helen’s and thought that the ending for both these characters was very satisfying.”
“Interesting twists and turns.”
“A delight to read and nice to have a sensible ending.“
The score for the book was a high 4.3 out of 5
Wed 22nd April 2026
The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier
(Karen Kane)
Venice, 1486.
Across the lagoon lies Murano. Time flows differently here – like the glass the island’s maestros spend their lives perfecting.
In secret, Orsola Rosso learns to craft glass. As a woman, she must flout convention to save her family from ruin. We follow her through hundreds of years of war and plague, tragedy and triumph, love and loss. Skipping like a stone across the centuries, The Glassmaker is a virtuoso portrait of a woman, a family and a city that are as everlasting as glass.
REVIEW
The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier
16 attended and 4 sent reviews online. Karen Kane led the discussion on this book. Karen had chosen the book partly because she had visited Venice and Murano and recently having more time to read and listen to podcasts.
The discussion was based around the four themes in the book – The history of Venice and Morano, artisans and the commercialisation of art, the role of family, tradition and the position of women. The book centred around the Rosso family. The story scans hundreds of years of war and plague, tragedy and triumph, love and loss. Some found this difficult to follow but others found the historical element informative, like “the skimming of stones” across centuries.
Ann-Marie told us that the Venetian calendar has its roots in the Middle Ages, when Venice was a maritime and trading power. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, which was introduced in 1582, the Venetian calendar began the year on 1 March. This system was closely linked to the seasons and the city’s economic activities, such as trade and shipping
The characters were found to be believable, although the children’s names were hard to grasp. The descriptions were enjoyed although the accounts of glassmaking were lengthy at times. The Italian phrases were a distraction particularly the need to look up the translation. The Muranese are fiercely loyal to their island, and Orsola the main character displays a clear disdain of “terraferma”. She refused to follow her love Antionio when he went away and he refused to stay.
Many felt the ending was rushed considering the in-depth description earlier in the book. Antonio’s ancestors returned, they had aged and were sending the glass dolphins to her Orsola over the centuries.Overall score 3.3
Take a look at Alexander Armstrong series – Venice
Wed 27th May 2026
The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow
(Gillian Stott)
In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Mary is the middle of the five Bennet girls and the plainest of them all, so what hope does she have? Prim and pious, with no redeeming features, she is unloved and seemingly unlovable. The Other Bennet Sister, though, shows another side to Mary. An introvert in a family of extroverts; a constant disappointment to her mother who values beauty above all else; fearful of her father’s sharp tongue; with little in common with her siblings – is it any wonder she turns to books for both company and guidance? And, if she finds her life lonely or lacking, that she determines to try harder at the one thing she can be: right.
One by one, her sisters marry – Jane and Lizzy for love; Lydia for some semblance of respectability – but Mary, it seems, is destined to remain single and live out her life at Longbourn, at least until her father dies and the house is bequeathed to the reviled Mr Collins. But when that fateful day finally comes, she slowly discovers that perhaps there is hope for her, after all.
Simultaneously a wonderfully warm homage to Jane Austen and a delightful new story in its own right, Janice Hadlow’s The Other Bennet Sister is, at its heart, a life-affirming tale of a young woman finding her place in the world. Witty and uplifting, it will make you feel – and cheer – for Mary as you never have before.
REVIEW
19 people attended the meeting and 6 people gave reviews by email
Our May book was ‘The Other Bennet Sister’ by Janice Hadlow which proved to be very popular with our group. Focussing on Mary, the ‘plain’ other sister, the author imagines an entire future beyond the ending of ‘Pride and Prejudice’. We follow her journey as she breaks free of her cruel parents, finds kindness from the Gardiners and gains confidence and eventual happiness.
The first part of the novel is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice through Mary’s eyes and the group felt that this successfully set the scene for the rest of the book. In Pride and Prejudice, Mary only had a minor peripheral part. However, the group felt that this allowed the author to develop her character in this book and place her in the spotlight. Her parents were emotionally neglectful and even abusive to Mary, constantly doing her down which was very sad to read. It was also noted that Janice Hadlow casts a very different light on some of the characters that we are all so familiar with.
The group discussed how in the Regency period, beauty was the most important element when looking for a wife and wondered that Charlotte’s role in the book was to represent what society felt at the time – women must either marry or become a governess or piano teacher. It was interesting that Mary enabled Charlotte to see Mr Collins in a different light, illustrating that everyone has a redeeming feature.
Mrs Gardiner treats Mary with the kindness that her mother never showed her and eventually she learns that she is worth loving and gains confidence and self acceptance.
When Mary stays with her aunt and uncle, she realises how different their relationship is to her parents. One of the questions discussed was how did Mary’s views of marriage change. Mary’s experience of the Gardiners happy marriage in contrast to her parents did indeed cause her to change her views about marriage in a positive way.
A few comments:-
Mary’s mother was remarkably stupid.
For once, the heroine isn’t beautiful and gorgeous.
Written very well in the Jane Austen style.
The recent TV adaptation is very different to the book.
The score for the book was a very high 4.5 out of 5
Wed 24th June 2026
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
(Pat Ashton)
Taken from the poverty of her parents’ home in Portsmouth, Fanny Price is brought up with her rich cousins at Mansfield Park, acutely aware of her humble rank and with her cousin Edmund as her sole ally. During her uncle’s absence in Antigua, the Crawford’s arrive in the neighbourhood bringing with them the glamour of London life and a reckless taste for flirtation. Mansfield Park is considered Jane Austen’s first mature work and, with its quiet heroine and subtle examination of social position and moral integrity, one of her most profound.
REVIEW
15 people attended the meeting and 1 person gave a review by email
Our June book was ‘Mansfield Park’ by Jane Austen which proved to be quite a challenge for our group. Quite a few ladies didn’t manage to finish the book so decided not to give a score but it was still lovely to see them at the meeting and we all had a lively discussion, made even more interesting by the background sound of two women’s Morris dancing troops performing outside the window!
Mansfield Park is widely considered to be Jane Austen’s boldest and most complex novel. Unlike her other light and witty romances, it tackles serious moral themes, psychological manipulation and the sombre realities of life.
Shy 10 year old Fanny is sent to live with wealthy relatives. Throughout her upbringing, she is often treated as an inferior member of the household and is frequently undermined by her aunt, Mrs Norris. However, she finds a steadfast friend and confidant in her cousin, Edmund.
Our discussion touched on all sorts of topics. Was Fanny a dreary killjoy and a bit of a ‘drip’ or does she have a deep moral core that contrasts with the selfish behaviour of the other characters.
While a romantic relationship between cousins was legal and relatively common in the upper classes during the 19th century, the group found it quite unsettling and also found this concluding part of the book to be a bit short.
The comforts of Mansfield Park are funded by sugar plantations in Antigua which rely on slave labour. We talked about Austen subtly using associations with slavery to cast characters in an unfavourable light. For example, the horrible Mrs Norris shares her name with a prominent contemporary slave trader, the untrustworthy Crawfords eventually moved into the vacated London house of the Lascelles family who were notorious slave owners and the title Mansfield Park nods to William Mansfield who, as Lord Chief Justice prepared the path to abolition. One of our group discovered that Fanny’s likeable and heroic brother, William Price may have been named after a Royal Navy Commander also called William Price and it was the Royal Navy that led the suppression of the slave trade as they intercepted illegal slave ships.
All the group felt that some sections of the book were too long and a bit drawn out. The characters were not very likeable and hard to warm to. It was also hard to work out how some of the characters were related. Angela posted a very useful list of characters on our WhatsApp group that was really helpful to refer to. We also discussed how Austen was good at showing social history and gave a good view of different social class in the book.
A few comments:
Tedious!
Enjoyed the challenge
Pride and Prejudice is very different by comparison.
Austen’s language is amazing and shows how the English language has changed over the years.
A bit drawn out, too many words, could have been edited
The score for the book was a 3.3 out of 5
Wed 22nd July 2026
Still Life by Sarah Winman
(Jo Gregory)
1944, in the ruined wine cellar of a Tuscan villa, as bombs fall around them, two strangers meet and share an extraordinary evening.
Ulysses Temper is a young British soldier, Evelyn Skinner is a sexagenarian art historian and possible spy. She has come to Italy to salvage paintings from the wreckage and relive memories of the time she encountered EM Forster and had her heart stolen by an Italian maid in a particular Florentine room with a view.
Evelyn’s talk of truth and beauty plants a seed in Ulysses’ mind that will shape the trajectory of his life – and of those who love him – for the next four decades.
Moving from the Tuscan Hills and piazzas of Florence, to the smog of London’s East End, Still Life is a sweeping, joyful novel about beauty, love, family and fate.
REVIEW
Still Life by Sarah Winman
18 attended, 17 scored and 2 sent reviews online.
Jo Gregory led the discussion on this book. Jo had chosen the book as her sister had recommended it to her.
This was a novel about love, art, and found family. Sarah Winman explained that she wrote the book with a focus on the feminine space both in art, love, relationships and the power of place. She describes that she developed the story based on her own experiences visiting Florence, staying in a pensione, doing an art course, and reading a Room with a View.
The book begins in Tuscany during the second world war. There is a chance meeting with two of the main characters in the book. Ulysses Temper, a British soldier, and Evelyn Skinner, an art historian This meeting and Ulysses’ time in Florence including saving a man’s life sparks a chain of events and connections that span decades. The story develops into sections based on time and place.
Before the war Ulysses lived in the East End of London and developed friendships with people in a local pub. After the war Ulysses, a globe maker returns to the London and subsequently to Venice after being left a house by the man he had rescued.
Overall everyone really enjoyed the book and the complete descriptions of the characters and their relationships. The writer focuses on quiet everyday moments rather than fast-paced action, the group felt that the book needs to be read slowly to appreciate all the nuances of the book. The author explores the concept of the found family where the characters find support and loyalty. Each character is explained in depth leading the reader to care about them and their lives.
The only criticisms were that the start was difficult to follow, and the last chapter was not liked or felt necessary. “Perhaps it should have been integrated in the book or at the beginning”.
We discussed all the characters and our thoughts and feelings about them. Most liked the humour in the book from Cress and his predictions to Claude and his amazing talents! The way the author hints that things in the characters’ future will be explained. Several of the group commented on the lack of standard quotation marks – apparently James Joyce did this in Ulysses. The historical context of the flood was informative, how the community pulled together to help each other and young people travelled to help.
Overall score 4
Podcast Sarah Winman on Still Life https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imqgJUQywPs
Wed 26th August 2026
The Stars are Fire by Anita Shreve
(June Guerin)
1947. Fires are racing along the coast of Maine after a summer-long drought, ravaging thousands of acres, causing unprecedented confusion and fear.
Five months pregnant, Grace Holland is left alone to protect her two toddlers when her difficult and unpredictable husband Gene joins the volunteers fighting to bring the fire under control. Along with her best friend, Rosie, and Rosie’s two young children, the women watch in horror as their houses go up in flames, spending the night frantically trying to save their children. When dawn comes, they have miraculously survived, but their lives are forever changed: homeless, penniless, and left to face an uncertain future.
As Grace awaits news of her husband’s fate, she is thrust into a new world in which she must make a life on her own, beginning with absolutely nothing; she must find work, a home, a way to provide for her children.
In the midst of devastating loss, Grace discovers glorious new freedoms – joys and triumphs she could never have expected her narrow life with Gene could contain – and her spirit soars. And then the unthinkable happens, and Grace’s bravery is tested as never before.
REVIEW
The Stars are Fire by Anita Shreve
18 people attended the meeting and 2 people gave a review by email
Straight away at the beginning of our meeting, everyone agreed that the book was very topical. It felt strange to be reading about the devastating Maine coastal wildfires of 1947 while our newspapers are full of reports about current wildfires all over the world and closer to home on our moors.
The group felt that the fire scenes were well written and very descriptive.
We discussed how Grace proved to have great resourcefulness and resilience and how the author brings great depth to her characters. We also touched upon the difference between life for women in the 40’s and the current day.
Something very surprising happened as we discussed the ending of the book. It is interesting how several people reading the same words can interpret words in a different way. One member felt that the ending was not happy while others thought that it was. We re-read the last paragraph and the words ‘But the grip on her wrist is fierce’ could indeed cause you to consider whether everything is not actually wrapped up as neatly as originally thought or is it a reference to the strong bond between them and a sign that he wasn’t going to lose her again. It appears that the author has decided to let the reader workout for themselves how life will work out for everyone and whatever interpretation you decide to go with is the right one.
One of the lovely things about being part of a book group is that it is fascinating to learn how others view the book you have just read and quite often you learn things that you haven’t realised.
The score for the book was 4 out of 5
Wed 23rd September 2026
What happened to Nina? by Dervla McTiernan
(Susan Newton)
A romantic trip that goes wrong…
Nina and Simon are the perfect couple. Young, fun and in love. Until they leave for a weekend in a cabin in the woods, and only Simon comes home.
A girl who vanishes into thin air…
Simon’s version of events doesn’t add up. And soon, Nina and Simon’s families are locked in a battle of accusations and lies.
A fight to discover the truth…
As Simon’s parents hire expensive lawyers to protect their son, all Nina’s parents want is to find their daughter. And maybe if playing by the rules doesn’t work, it’s time to break them…
REVIEW
What happened to Nina? by Dervla McTiernan
Nominated by Susan Newton.
Susan had chosen the book because her cousin recommended it.
13 people attended and there were 6 reviews online.
Most of the members felt that the book was a page turner. This was in some part due to the short chapters from the perspective of the characters. We explored the prologue and thought that this set the scene that Nina was still alive. We then found out what did happen to Nina.
The characters were well drawn. “The families, their insecurities and the flawed relationships made interesting reading”.
We explored the role of the parents and what they did to protect their child and not inform on them when they had committed a crime. “What would you do if it was your child?”
We discussed the role of social media and the press in criminal cases. The behaviour of the press and comments on social media influenced the case and destroyed Andy’s life. Social media’s capacity to fill gaps in knowledge and turn speculation into fact. Most people were shocked when Andy killed Simon even though he was not liked. “I like that he got what was coming to him in the end”.
A criticism was that the ending was thought to be unrealistic.
Several people felt that they would read other books by the author.
Overall score 4.1
Wed 28th October 2026
Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister
(Brenda Boston)
It’s every parent’s nightmare. Your happy, funny, innocent son commits a terrible crime: murdering a complete stranger. You don’t know who. You don’t know why. You only know your teenage boy is in custody and his future lost. That night you fall asleep in despair. Until you wake, and it is yesterday.
Every morning you wake up a day earlier, another day before the murder. Another chance to stop it. Somewhere in the past lie the answers, and you don’t have a choice but to find them.
Wed 25th November 2026
The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan
(Sue Greenhalgh)
Richard Hannay has just returned to England after years in South Africa and is thoroughly bored with his life in London. But then a murder is committed in his flat, just days after a chance encounter with an American who had told him about an assassination plot which could have dire international consequences. An obvious suspect for the police and an easy target for the killers, Hannay goes on the run in his native Scotland where he will need all his courage and ingenuity to stay one step ahead of his pursuers.
BOOK LIST 2025
January 22nd
A Very English Scandal by John Preston (Marie Newell)
In the late 1960s Jeremy Thorp, the charismatic leader of the Liberal Party, was at the height of his political career. But homosexuality had only just been legalised, and a former relationship with a younger man named Norman Scott threatened to destroy Thorp’s carefully curated facade. Helped by fellow politicians, Thorpe schemed, deceived and embezzled until he saw only one way to silence his ex-lover for good.
REVIEW
18 people attended the meeting and 2 people gave reviews by email
The book focuses on Jeremy Thorpe, the charming and charismatic leader of the Liberal party. In the late 1960s, Thorpe was at the height of his political career but homosexuality had only just been legalized and a former relationship with a younger man named Norman Scott threatened to destroy everything. When Scott began to plague Thorpe with demands for financial help and then to make public a collection of embarrassing letters, Thorpe involves fellow politicians such as Peter Bessell to help placate Scott and eventually even contemplates murder. The book captures the moment when British Society discovered how far the Establishment is prepared to go to protect its own.
A few members wouldn’t have chosen to read the book but once they started to read it, found themselves hooked. Interesting and well written, the group found the book to be very illuminating and both fascinating and appalling in equal measures.
A few comments:
“He only wanted a National Insurance card – Why did Thorpe not just give it to him”
“Scott was a victim at first but then became an opportunist”
“Fascinating but annoyed with politicians”
The book scored 4
February 26th
The Guest List by Lucy Foley (Lesley Winrow)
A gripping, twisty murder mystery thriller from the No.1 bestselling author of The Hunting Party. On an island off the windswept Irish coast, guests gather for the wedding of the year – the marriage of Jules Keegan and Will Slater. The wedding cake has barely been cut when one of the guests is found dead. And as a storm unleashes its fury on the island, everyone is trapped. All have a secret. All have a motive.
REVIEW
The Guest List by Lucy Foley
13 people attended the meeting. 7 gave online reviews.
Lesley had chosen the book because she had enjoyed the Hunting party so much. She also recommended the authors new book Midnight Feast. The majority of the group enjoyed the book with scores ranging from 3 to 4.5. Most people liked the format of the book with the different timelines, characters, sense of menace and unexpected twists although some felt there were too many coincidences and some of the plot unrealistic. The characters were not very likeable, Although most liked Hannah. Will seemed too good to be true and the group found it hard to feel sorry for him despite his background.
“The plot gave suspense and intrigue”
“The focus on the other characters except Aoife succeeded in distracting the attention from her as a suspect”
Overall score 3.8
March 26th
North Woods by Daniel Mason (Brenda Boston)
When a pair of young lovers abscond from a Puritan colony, little do they know that their humble cabin in the woods will become home to an extraordinary succession of inhabitants . An English soldier, destined for glory, abandons the battlefields of the New World to devote himself to apples. A pair of spinster twins survive war and famine, only to succumb to envy and desire. A crime reporter unearths a mass grave, but finds the ancient trees refuse to give up their secrets. A lovelorn painter, a conman, a stalking panther, a lusty beetle; as each one confronts the mysteries of the north woods, they come to realise that the dark, raucous, beautiful past is very much alive.
REVIEW
North Woods by Daniel Mason
14 people attended the meeting and 3 people gave reviews by email.
North Woods is a work of historical fiction that tells a story of a single house in New England, Massachusetts over the course of several centuries, from the earliest American colonies to the present day. The author uses a variety of literary styles, from prose to letters and poems and the language guides the reader through several eras changing as the book progresses.
Mason paints a vivid scenic picture and shows how the land changes over time due to human interference, climate change and blights. A few members especially enjoyed his descriptions of flora and fauna. The story is told in fragments that capture the lives of the various inhabitants and visitors including a young couple fleeing a Puritan colony, Native Americans defending their territories, a soldier who grows an orchard, twin sisters, a lovelorn painter and even a pair of mating beetles!
The book drew quite a mixed response from our members with some feeling that the narrative was quite challenging to follow, feeling that they got lost trying to understand the story with no historical dates to enable understanding. The characters changed constantly and a few members found it difficult to link the stories together not helped by some characters reappearing as ghosts. Other members appreciated the cleverness of the literary style and how it drew attention to changing history and the human impact on the natural world and could even imagine it being a future set book for English A Level.
“Clever to write in different styles”
“Loved the language used at the beginning”
“A tricky book, didn’t link the chapters very well”
“A bit disjointed and confusing”
“Enjoyed the supernatural element”
From a wide range of votes between 1 and 4 the book scored 2.7
April 23rd
My Fathers House by Joseph O’Connor (Susan Newton)
September 1943: German forces occupy Rome. SS officer Paul Hauptmann rules with terror. An Irish priest, Hugh O’Flaherty, dedicates himself to helping those escaping from the Nazis. His home is Vatican City, a neutral, independent country within Rome where the occupiers hold no sway. He gathers a team to set up an Escape Line.
But Hauptmann’s net begins closing in and the need for a terrifyingly audacious mission grows critical. By Christmas, it’s too late to turn back. Based on a true story, My Father’s House is a powerful thriller from a master of historical fiction. It is an unforgettable novel of love, sacrifice and what it means to be human in the most extreme circumstances.
REVIEW
My Fathers House by Joseph O’Connor
18 people attended the meeting and we had 1 review online.
Based on a true story the book tells the story of Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, an Irish Catholic priest who alongside his colleagues in the “choir” saved thousands of Jews and escaped Allied POWs in Rome. The members of the choir were incredibly brave, planned escape routes, false names and addresses as they prepared a major mission, codenamed the Rendimento.
The group felt that this was an important story to tell. We discussed the characters and the courage of those who resisted tyranny. The plot twists were enjoyable and the majority of the group found the book interesting and recommend that it be read in chunks in order to follow the story in a more complete way. At times it was felt that some of the descriptions were too lengthy and could be less about the characters and more about the story. Some found the sections going backwards and forwards a bit confusing . Some choir members’ stories were more engaging than others. The character of Hauptmann was well written – revealing his cruel/ sadistic side.
Most of the group were not aware of the neutrality of the Vatican during the war and the historical element was very interesting.
Score: 3.7
May 28th
The Hand that First Held Mine by Maggie O’Farrell (June Guerin)
The book is made up of two concurrent story lines. In the 1950s, reckless Lexie Sinclair has escaped her home in the countryside to make a life for herself in bohemian Soho after falling in love with the handsome and exciting magazine editor Innes Kent, whose home life is far from straightforward. In present day London, Elina, an artist and Ted, a film editor, are recovering from the traumatic birth of their first son. While Lexi and Elina never meet in life, a number of things bind them together. Some, such as their shared love of art, are obvious, but others show themselves only gradually.
REVIEW
19 people attended and 2 people gave reviews by email.
The book tells the story of two couples living fifty years apart who have just become new parents and as the story progresses, the reader is kept in suspense wondering what the connection is between the two story lines.
Lexie is a rebellious university graduate who moves to London to live an unconventional life in 1950’s Soho with Innes, a handsome and exciting magazine editor. After his death, she has a child with a TV news reporter called Felix but it is Innes past that will come to haunt Lexie’s future.
In present day London, Elina and Ted have just had their lives turned upside down with the traumatic birth of their little boy. Ted finds that fatherhood has brought back deeply hidden childhood memories that don’t tally with what he knows about his upbringing and this brings a level of unease and intrigue to the book.
The group felt that the descriptive passages about motherhood were well written and quite moving in parts such as how motherhood changes you and makes you less selfish. The author has written a good study of post traumatic birth but some wondered how relevant it was to the rest of the book.
A few comments:
Lexie’s story was more interesting than Elina’s story which was weaker.
Almost unbearably sad to read.
Lexie’s thoughts as she struggled to stop herself from drowning were very moving – ‘How was her son going to manage without her?’
An accurate relection of the emotional challenges of motherhood.
Overall, the group enjoyed the book feeling that it was well written and easy to read and gave it a high score of 4.5
June 25th
You Are Here by David Nicolls (Gill Stott)
Marnie is stuck. Stuck working alone in her London flat, stuck battling the long afternoons and a life that often feels like it’s passing her by. Michael is coming undone. Reeling from his wife’s departure, increasingly reclusive, taking himself on long, solitary walks across the moors and fells. When a persistent mutual friend and some very English weather conspire to bring them together, Marnie and Michael suddenly find themselves alone on the most epic of walks and on the precipice of a new friendship.
REVIEW
(14 people attended and 7 people gave reviews by email)
The author explores themes of loneliness, the search for human connection and writes about the possibilities of new friendship and love, even after taking a battering by life. His book revolves around Michael and Marnie who are both divorced and set out as part of a group who take a hike through the Lake district. Michael is ‘outdoorsy’ and walks in order to not think about his divorce. Marnie is ‘not outdoorsy’, works from home and is seriously isolated. As the rest of the group return home, the two main characters end up continuing the walk on their own and the reader is treated to vivid descriptions of Britain’s weather and spectacular landscape whilst picking up on Michael and Marnie’s growing sexual chemistry.
All the group enjoyed the humour in the book and the contrast between the characters. They also liked the little sketch maps and descriptions of the coast to coast scenery. The walkers among us enjoyed the familiar locations and could relate to the dreadful weather and some of the funny moments described.
A few felt that the book was a bit slow at first but then found themselves being sucked in gently. Although a little predictable in places, some found it less so as the book progressed. The style of writing was good as it showed things from both points of view and we could see their different interpretations of the situation.
“A good, light hearted, easy read that actually made me laugh out loud.”
“The loneliness of the main characters was well described.”
“The two main characters were so down to earth, I looked forward to each chapter to see how things worked out.”
“Would have liked the end to be more definite.”
“Felt that the death of the old gentleman could have been omitted and this sadly diminished the feel good factor.“
Overall the group found the book to be a nice easy read with lots of humour and gave it a high score of 4.2
July 23rd
The Farmer’s Wife by Helen Rebanks (Sue Greenhalgh)
A delve into the labour and glory of keeping a home and raising a family, this memoir offers a chance to think about where our food comes from, and who puts it on the table, Helen helps us all survive with recipes, lists and gentle wisdom to help us get through our days, whatever they throw at us.
REVIEW
The Farmer’s Wife by Helen Rebanks
16 people attended the group and 3 sent in reviews.
The book is set in the Lake District. The author is a farmer’s wife and mother of four. She tells her story as a “life in days”. We discussed her reflections on domesticity, family relationships and rural realities. Most felt it was an accurate description of farming life.
“A well written, conversational book and easy to read”.
Some found the book more interesting at the beginning and others at the end. For some the book didn’t hold their interest. The author conveyed the importance of her life as a farmer’s wife.
“She seemed very defensive about her role as wife and mother”
“It is interesting to compare someone else’s life with your own”.
The section about their time in Oxford was found to be confusing and lacked detail and the movement backwards and forwards on timelines wasn’t liked.
There was some discussion of the telling of family stories, passing on recipes to children and keeping personal diaries. Most did not see the relevance of the recipes.
“The farmer’s handprints on the sheet was an interesting concept and more could be made of these types of activities”
The section on healthy soil and natural farming techniques were well liked, enjoyable and informative.
For interest Helen Rebanks is the wife of the shepherd and writer James Rebanks, author of The Shepherd’s Life (2015) and English Pastoral (2020).
Overall score 2.8
We discussed recent controversies regarding the Salt Path.
CLICK HERE for the article
August 27th
Foster by Claire Keegan (Angela Darvill)
This short story is narrated in the first-person voice of a little girl, age and indeed name never specified, whom we meet being driven by her father to the home of the Kinsellas where she will be staying for an unspecified time while her mother brings into the world yet another addition to their ever-growing family.
REVIEW
Foster by Claire Keegan
17 members attended and several others sent reviews in by email.
Claire Keegan, widely celebrated for her novellas and short stories, delivers a powerful narrative in Foster—a story that resonated with our group and sparked a wide-ranging, thoughtful discussion.
Set in rural Wexford, Ireland, the novella follows a young unnamed girl who is sent to live with relatives on a farm while her mother prepares for the birth of another child. The couple who take her in, Mr. and Mrs. Kinsella, treat her with care and respect. Over time, a bond forms, and a family secret is revealed.
Many members were moved by the story’s emotional depth and its writing style. Keegan’s decision to leave the narrator unnamed was explored and other unspoken aspects to the story. Some found the novella brief that it left them wanting more.
Although the tone and setting felt like the 1950s, a few clues—mentions of the Troubles and the hunger strikes—anchor the story firmly in 1981.
We had a discussion around the book’s key themes: childhood, care, silence, and belonging. Members reflected on their own experiences and, for some, their professional backgrounds discussed the balance between biological and chosen families.
Other lively points of discussion included:
The symbolism of the post box and the three lights
The understated use of toilet humour
Memorable phrases like:
“All you need is minding”
“He’s making strange”
“Missing an opportunity to say nothing”
“Women are good at eventualities”
“Come on in, leanbh” (leanbh = baby)
Why the girl calls Mr. Kinsella “Daddy”
The group also debated the ending—was it happy or sad? Several members created their own ending.
The book scored 4.2
Foster has been adapted into the film The Quiet Girl, which is available on Channel 4.
September 24th
The Book Club by C J Cooper (Ann Marie Kenny)
The book club was her idea, of course.
It was her way into our group. A chance to get close.
I knew from the day she arrived that she couldn’t be trusted.
And I was right.
Alice didn’t come to the village for peace and quiet.
A psychological thriller about a book club that unravels dark and scandalous secrets between one circle of neighbours.
REVIEW
The Book Club by C J Cooper
14 people attended the meeting and 5 people gave reviews by email
Lucy has left her job in London after an affair with her boss and is now living in a little village in the Cotswolds with the aim of starting afresh. She has made friends with other young people living nearby but when a new neighbour called Alice moves in next door, she comes to suspect that she is out to get revenge and destroy her new life. Alice uses the book club as a way of picking books that reflect hidden secrets in the members lives to cause upset and distress.
The group found the book to be a quick easy read with a real sense of menace that was truly terrifying. However, some felt that the storyline was a bit far fetched with Alice’s plans always falling perfectly into place at the right time without the group ever really taking the opportunity to actually talk with one another about their suspicions. Everyone also found that the motive for Alice’s actions was a bit ludicrous, however, she was certainly a very troubled person.
The theme of everything having consequences was interesting alongside the idea that blaming others for everything that happens is clearly an unhealthy point of view.
A few comments:-
Enjoyed the twists in the book and wanted to know what happened next.
A bit implausible – not realistic enough.
More of a soap opera than a thriller.
A book group meeting every week is definitely not realistic!!!
The book scored 3.5 out of 5
October 22nd
Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy (Pam Lever)
Tess of the D’Urbervilles is an 1891 novel by Thomas Hardy. It was originally serialised in a newspaper called The Graphic. Hardy’s novel follows a young English girl, Tess Durbeyfield, as she goes through life and tries to support her family. Tess faces a lot of suffering and hardship along the way.
REVIEW
Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
15 attended the meeting and 3 reviews were received online.
This month we read one of the classics. Pam chose this book as she read and enjoyed all the Thomas Hardy novels when she was in her teens
Set in 1891, the story follows Tess, a young woman who endures suffering and hardship in a world dominated by social inequality and controlling men. Tess’s character evokes compassion — she is both victim and heroine. Our discussion focused on Tess as a strong yet tragic figure — a woman of resilience and dignity, trapped by the conventions and power structures of her time.
Several found the story slow at the start but became gripping in the second part. We felt Angel Clare and Alec D’Urberville were domineering and controlling, and both emerged as abusive figures.
Hardy paints a vivid and realistic picture of rural life in Victorian England, particularly the harsh realities of dairy farming and the struggles of the working class. His sensitivity to class divisions is evident throughout the novel. The ending was tragic and bleak.
Sue Harding has recently travelled to the area where the book was set and visited Hardy’s houses. She showed us photos of the houses. Sue told us about Hardy’s life including some interesting facts about his burial. His ashes are in Poet’s Corner at Westminster Abbey, while his heart is buried separately in the churchyard of St. Michael’s Church in Stinsford, Dorset, according to his wishes.
Overall score 3.8.
November 26th
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (Pat Ashton)
This story recounts the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. In the process, Scrooge is transformed into a kinder, gentler man.
REVIEW
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
22 people attended the meeting and 2 people gave reviews by email
This month was our final book group meeting of the year, so there was a wonderful festive feel to the meeting with a discussion about A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens followed by a Christmas meal at the Swan in Dobcross where we meet.
Charles Dickens was 31 years old when he wrote A Christmas Carol. It took him just 6 weeks and was published on the 19th December 1843. The book sold out its initial print run of 6,000 copies by Christmas Eve and within a year the story had been reprinted 11 times. Dickens frequent use of the phrase ‘Merry Christmas’ helped to popularize it as a festive greeting – before then it was more popular to say Happy Christmas.
The book is such a well known story that quite a few members contributed interesting articles that they had read about the book. We heard how Lauren Laverne of Desert Island Discs fame was influenced by the story as she recovered from Cancer and that the experience helped her to find joy in the everyday.
One of the members read an extract from the Times newspaper saying that A Christmas Carol was considered to be too short and easy a book for GCSE study. However, another one of our members pointed out that schools feel that it is useful for students to study books written in different eras so that they can discover how language has changed.
Dickens was influenced by a parliamentary report on child labour and the group discussed comparisons of child poverty then and now and how inequalities still exist today. One member drew our attention to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation that defines child poverty as children living in households with insufficient resources to meet minimum needs www.jrf.org.uk/child-poverty
Interestingly, the inspiration for Tiny Tim came about when Dickens visited his sister who lived in Manchester. His nephew was disabled and Dickens became aware of the challenges that could be put on a family in such a situation.
A few members pointed out how sad it was that Scrooge had lots of money but never spent it on himself and that sadly there are people like that today.
When we came to score the book, there was a wide range of scores from two to five. Some members enjoyed reading the original words as written by Charles Dickens and some members found the language difficult to understand or unfamiliar.
I think we all agreed that one of the best film adaptations was the old 1951 version with Alastair Sim as Scrooge.
The score for the book was 3.9 out of 5
BOOK LIST 2024
The Machine Stops by E.M Forster
The story describes a world in which most of the human population has lost the ability to live on the surface of the Earth. Each individual now lives in isolation below ground in a standard room, with all bodily and spiritual needs met by the omnipotent, global Machine. the story conjures a world of individual humans isolated in such rooms They pass the time by streaming lectures and videoconferencing as the titular tends to their every need. It is a world in which everything — music, food, even your bed — is summoned by the click of a button.
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
A woman who raised herself in the marshes of the Deep South becomes a suspect in the murder of a man with whom she was once involved.
Abandoned by her family, Kya Clark, otherwise known to the townspeople of Barkley Cove as the Marsh Girl, is mysterious and wild.
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
One of the darkest periods of the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl era, has arrived with a vengeance. In this uncertain and dangerous time, Elsa Martinelli—like so many of her neighbours—must make an agonizing choice: fight for the land she loves or go west, to California, in search of a better life.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo tells the tale of the 79-year-old main character (Evelyn Hugo) and her life as an actress in the golden age of Hollywood.
Evelyn Hugo is famously reclusive but decides to give one last interview at the age of 79. The catch is that she will only speak to journalist Monique Grant.
The Accident Man by Tom Cain
The job is to organise a car crash in a Paris underpass.
But Carver is being set up. When he discovers the real identity of his target, and more importantly the identity of the target’s female companion, he knows one thing – his life is over.
American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld
Alice Lindgren has no idea that she will one day end up in the White House, married to the president. In her small Wisconsin hometown she learns the virtues of politeness, but a tragic accident when she is seventeen shatters her identity and changes the trajectory of her life. More than a decade later, when the charismatic son of a powerful Republican family sweeps her off her feet, she is surprised to find herself admitted into a world of privilege. And when her husband unexpectedly becomes governor and then president, she discovers that she is married to a man she both loves and fundamentally disagrees with. As her husband’s presidency enters its second term, Alice must confront contradictions years in the making and face questions nearly impossible to answer.
The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell
The novel presents a fictionalized account of the life of Lucrezia di Medici, the subject of Robert Browning’s poem “My Last Duchess.” Little is known about Lucrezia, who died in 1561 at age 16, and O’Farrell’s narrative explores Browning’s suggestion that her husband, Alfonso d’Este, Duke of Ferrara, murdered her after she failed to produce an heir.
Every day by David Levithan
Every Day is the story of a 16-year-old entity simply known by the letter A. He wakes up every morning in someone else’s body who is of the same age and geographic area as him. A otherwise has no control over whose body he will enter. Sometimes A wakes up as a boy. A has always been this way and has come to accept it. Until, that is, A ends up inside the body of a boy called Justin and falls for Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon.
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
The story of a mother and son’s desperate attempt to flee Mexico for America.
The mother is a Mexican bookseller who is forced to flee as an illegal immigrant to the United States, along with her son, after her journalist husband exposes a local drug kingpin.
The Salt Path by Raynor Winn
This is a memoir about a married couple who walk the arduous 630-mile South West Coastal Path.
Raynor and her husband, Moth, are in their fifties when they lose their beautiful farmhouse in Wales due to a legal battle.
Triflers Need Not Apply by Camilla Bruce
A fictionalised account of the first recorded female serial killer, Bruce’s brilliantly chilling portrait of Bella Sorensen’s murder spree in turn-of-the-twentieth-century Chicago is a compelling psychological study of a woman determined not to be dictated to by a society of men.
BOOK LIST 2023
The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley
The story of a solitary green notebook that brings together six strangers and leads to unexpected friendship, and even love.
How to Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie
When Grace Bernard discovers her absentee millionaire father has rejected her dying mother’s pleas for help, she vows revenge, and sets about to kill every member of his family.
Missing, Presumed by Susie Steiner
Detective Sergeant Manon Bradshaw tries to sleep after yet another soul-destroying Internet date – the low murmuring of her police radio her only solace. Over the airwaves come reports of a missing woman – door ajar, keys and phone left behind, a spatter of blood on the kitchen floor.
The Perfect Girlfriend by Karen Hamilton
Juliette loves Nate. She will follow him anywhere. She’s even become a flight attendant for his airline so she can keep a closer eye on him. They are meant to be. The fact that Nate broke up with her six months ago means nothing. Because Juliette has a plan to win him back. She is the perfect girlfriend. And she’ll make sure no one stops her from getting exactly what she wants
Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell
THEN She was fifteen, her mother’s golden girl. She had her whole life ahead of her. And then, in the blink of an eye, Ellie was gone.
NOW It’s been ten years since Ellie disappeared, but Laurel has never given up hope of finding her daughter. Then one day a charming and charismatic stranger called Floyd walks into a café and sweeps Laurel off her feet. Before too long she’s being introduced to his nine year old daughter, Poppy. Poppy is the spitting image of Ellie when she was that age….
Dissolution by C J Sansom
Henry VIII has ordered the dissolution of the monasteries and England is full of informers. At the monastery of Scarnsea, events have spiralled out of control with the murder of Commissioner Robin Singleton. Matthew Shardlake, a lawyer, and his assistant are sent to investigate.
A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins
When a young man is found gruesomely murdered in a London houseboat, it triggers questions about three women who knew him. Laura is the troubled one-night-stand last seen in the victim’s home. Carla is his grief-stricken aunt, already mourning the recent death of yet another family member. And Miriam is the nosy neighbour clearly keeping secrets from the police. Three women with separate connections to the victim. Three women who are – for different reasons – simmering with resentment.
The Man Who Forgot His Wife by John O’Farrell
Lots of husbands forget things: they forget that their wife had an important meeting that morning; they forget to pick up the dry cleaning; some of them even forget their wedding anniversary. But Vaughan has forgotten he even has a wife. Her name, her face, their history together, everything she has ever told him, everything he has said to her – it has all gone, mysteriously wiped in one catastrophic moment of memory loss. And now he has rediscovered her – only to find out that they are getting divorced.
The Thread by Victoria Hislop
A beautiful and epic novel that spans nearly a hundred years, The Thread is a magnificent story of a friendship and a love that endures through the catastrophes and upheavals of the twentieth century–both natural and man-made–in the turbulent city of Thessaloniki, Greece.
The Appeal by Janice Hallett
Dear Reader, Enclosed are documents relating to the events surrounding the Fairway Players’ staging of All My Sons, and the tragic death of one of its members. Another member is currently in prison for the crime. We have reason to suspect that they are innocent, and that there were far darker secrets that have yet to be revealed. We believe that the killer has given themselves away. It’s there in writing, hidden in the emails, texts, and letters.
Because of You by Dawn French
Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock . . . midnight. The old millennium turns into the new. In the same hospital, two very different women give birth to two very similar daughters. Hope leaves with a beautiful baby girl. Anna leaves with empty arms. Seventeen years later, the gods who keep watch over broken-hearted mothers wreak mighty revenge, and the truth starts rolling, terrible and deep, toward them all. The power of mother-love will be tested to its limits.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. But it’s the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute takes a very unscientific view of equality. Except for one: Calvin Evans; the lonely, brilliant, Nobel–prize nominated grudge-holder who falls in love with—of all things—her mind. True chemistry results.
BOOK LIST 2022
Meet me at the Museum by Anne Youngson
Professor Anders Larsen, an urbane man of facts, has lost his wife, along with his hopes and dreams for the future. He does not know that a query from a Mrs Tina Hopgood about a world famous antiquity in his museum is about to alter the course of his life. Youngson’s debut novel which was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Awards
How to Play Dead by Jacqueline Ward
A psychological thriller. Ria Taylor is everything to everyone. Wife and mother, the centre of her family. And the manager of a refuge for women whose partners have driven them out of their own homes.
Twenty Years a Stranger by Deborah Twelves
Is it possible for anyone to really know another person?
Based on astonishing true life events, this book takes you through the ever changing life of Grace and her shocking discoveries.
The Couple at No. 9 by Claire Douglas
When pregnant Saffron Cutler moves into 9 Skelton Place with boyfriend Tom and sets about renovations the last thing she expects is builders uncovering a body – two bodies, in fact. Forensics indicate the bodies have been buried at least thirty years. Nothing Saffy need worry herself over. Until the police launch a murder investigation and ask to speak to the cottage’s former owner – her grandmother, Rose.
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
From the exclusive beaches of Monte Carlo to the verdant grounds of Maxim de Winter’s stately home Manderley, where we are transported into a social and psychological world of creeping menace and dark desires.
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Set in the rich farmland of California’s Salinas Valley, this sprawling and often brutal novel follows the intertwined destinies of two families—the Trasks and the Hamiltons whose generations helplessly reenact the fall of Adam and Eve and the poisonous rivalry of Cain and Abel.
Normal People by Sally Rooney
The story of two deeply damaged people, Connell and Marianne, who develop an intense relationship that transcends the norms.
A story that explores the subtleties of class, the electricity of first love, and the complex entanglements of family and friendship.
The Binding by Bridget Collins
A tale of forbidden love, buried secrets and unspeakable betrayal. Set against a landscape that is part Victorian gothic and part medieval outlier.
1984 by George Orwell
Futuristic purgatory becomes real. A nightmarish vision of a totalitarian, bureaucratic world, it follows the life of Winston Smith, a low ranking member of ‘the Party’, who is frustrated by the omnipresent eyes of the party, and its ominous ruler Big Brother.
A Perfectly Good Man by Patrick Gale
Set in Cornwall, paralysed 20 year old Lenny Barnes commits suicide in the presence of priest Barnaby Johnson. The tragedy’s reverberations open up the fault-lines between Barnaby and his nearest and dearest.
The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris
In the waning days of the Civil War, brothers Prentiss and Landry—freed by the Emancipation Proclamation—seek refuge on the homestead of George Walker and his wife, Isabelle. The Walkers, wracked by the loss of their only son to the war, hire the brothers to work their farm.
As I walked out one Midsummer Morning by Laurie Lee
A memoir by Laurie Lee, a British poet. It is a sequel to Cider with Rosie which detailed his early life in Gloucestershire after the First World War.
BOOK LIST 2021
Nigel – My Family and Other Dogs by Monty Don
When Monty Don’s golden retriever Nigel became the surprise star of the BBC Gardeners’ World, Monty wanted to explore what makes us connect with animals quite so deeply.
The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri
The unforgettable love story of a mother blinded by loss and her husband who insists on their survival as they undertake the Syrian refugee trail to Europe.
Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama
A Story of Race and Inheritance is a memoir by Barack Obama, that explores the events of his early years in Honolulu and Chicago up until his entry into law school in 1988.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
The unforgettable novel of a childhood in a sleepy Southern town and the crisis of conscience that rocked it.
The Trouble with Elephants by Julia Wolfendale
One is never enough!
The extraordinary events at the Belle Vue Zoo in the Victorian Era.
The Spy and the Traitor by Ben Macintyre
The double life of a KGB insider recruited by MI6 features microfilm, Soviet secrets and a daring escape.
Those Other Women by Nicola Moriarty
A controversial and darkly comic story of the frustrations of being a childless women in the modern baby-obsessed world.
I am I am I am by Maggie O’Farrell
Maggie O’Farrell’s astonishing memoir of the near death experiences that have punctuated and defined her life.
The Secrets of Sunshine by Phaedra Patrick
A single father gets an unexpected second chance at love as we follow one man’s journey to unlock his heart and discover new beginnings in the unlikeliest places
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet up once a week to investigate unsolved murders. But when a brutal killing takes place on their very doorstep, the Thursday Murder Club find themselves in the middle of their first live case.
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
A fictional account of Shakespeare’s son, Hamnet who died at age 11 in 1596.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Between life and death there is a library. When Nora Seed finds herself in the Midnight Library she has a chance to make things right. Up until now, her life has been full of misery and regret.