Monthly Book Group

A story of small-town secrets in 1972, looking back to events affecting Jewish immigrants and African Americans living in Pennsylvania in the 1920s and 30s. Some big names have enjoyed this book - Barack Obama, Ann Patchett, Bonnie Garmus. Will we agree with them? This is our last meeting of the year so we'll start a little earlier, enjoy some festive treats and share our favourite books of 2026 as well as discussing this month's book.

Something a little darker for the end of October. Centred in folklore, 15 interlinked short stories tell the tale of an inward-facing society imprisoned by the sea. Benjamin Myers says: "immersive and dripping with life, each story a spell, an allegory, a dark, smoky poem". What will we think of it?

Despite struggling with the title, and the cover, of this debut novel, winner of the Merky Books New Writers Prize 2024, everyone enjoyed this account of grief, identity and relationship. Accomplished writing and good characterisation, it was agreed, but the alternating narratives grated with some. The car proved the star for a number of our readers!

An empassioned discussion as members of the group related how they engaged with each of the three women presented in this compelling tale of a small Irish community in the 1990s. The challenges of societal expectations rang true, and the women's dilemmas were felt keenly. The writing was considered beautifully atmospheric. 

This novel divided the group. Some found the central character infantile and bewildering in his decisions, and therefore the story became frustrating. Some felt this was a book full of tropes and lacked originality. Others enjoyed the writing, particularly the world of academia. All were intrigued to learn a litlte more about the artist behind the story - the Venetian master, Gianbattista Tiepolo. 

Described as a love story with a difference, the novel spans the Welsh coast and war-torn Syria. 'A hypnotic tale of lost identity, the quest for home and the wondrous resilience of the human spirit' - what will we think of it?

Another lively discussion where the book divided the group into those who loved it and those who didn’t, and those who thought it was very much a book about a train and others who disagreed! A different title might have caused this group to respond to the book differently, it was suggested. Thee was common ground in the dislike for Paul and a desire to learn more about the secondary characters, and also an appreciation of the beautiful writing which displayed great insight into relationships, 

Fremlin is called 'Britain's Patricia Highsmith' and the novelist Clare Chambers describes this 1950s mystery as a 'dark delight. Witty, unsettling domestic noir. Imagine Barbara Pym with arsenic'.  What will we make of it?