Thanks to everyone who braved the weather on a windy September evening to come to the Bookclub, especially our latest new members – you are very welcome.

This month we had lively discussions on a wide range of contemporary and classic fiction, including the latest from both William Boyd (Gabriel’s Moon) and Kevin Barry (The Heart In Winter), an ambitious exploration of female creativity (Artist. Lover, Forger by Shiela Sharpe), a witty novel on family and aging (Sandwich by Catherine Newman) and the classic masterpiece on the trauma and legacy of slavery, Beloved by Toni Morrisson.

The Bookclub is a friendly, informal community that welcomes anyone who enjoys a discussion on books, a laugh and a drink or two.

If you would like to join us just read one of the titles below (or more than one if you have time) and come along to tell us what you think. We can guarantee a warm welcome and lively discussion.

Next meeting …

Our next meeting is on Wednesday 15 October 6-8pm.

This month’s selections …

CLASSIC The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie – Muriel Spark

A sharp, witty classic about a charismatic Edinburgh schoolteacher whose influence over her pupils is both profound and dangerous. Spark’s novel is an exploration of power, manipulation, and female ambition.
Page Count: 160
Review Quote: “Spark’s genius lies in her economy and her irony; her prose shimmers with control and nuance.” – The Guardian

Precipice – Robert Harris

Weaves the true‑life affair of PM H. H. Asquith with aristocrat Venetia Stanley into the tense backdrop of Europe on the brink of World War I and a fictional Scotland Yard investigation into the dangerous consequences of exposed state secrets. Features Walmer Castle

Page Count: 523
Review Quote: “Gripping.” – Financial Times

FACTUAL Didion and Babitz – Lit Aholik

This dual literary biography examines the intersecting lives, careers, and contradictions of two Los Angeles icons: Joan Didion and Eve Babitz. Through cultural critique and intimate portraiture, it explores how both writers shaped—and were shaped by—L.A. in the 20th century.
Page Count: 224
Review Quote: “A fascinating double act—cerebral, sensual, and searingly smart.” – LA Review of Books

The Vegetarian – Han Kang

A haunting and surreal tale of rebellion and repression, The Vegetarian follows a woman who stops eating meat—and gradually withdraws from her entire life. This Booker Prize-winning novel is a chilling meditation on control, violence, and transformation.
Page Count: 160
Review Quote: “A work of startling beauty and horror… a modern classic.” – The Independent