What’s in a name? In this case, our name is important because we are not just a book group. We aim to read challenging texts, studying them in some depth and discussing content and style and how they relate to our experiences. Over the years we have sought to cover a number of different genres: novel, short story, travel writing, play, biography as well as poetry. At the start of each year the group identifies themes that underpin the books and poems to be studied over the following year. A small group of volunteers then meet to suggest a range of books and poems that might fit within the chosen theme/s. The final selection is made after further discussion within the group.  
 
Each month, one main text is read before the meeting followed by one or two poems either related by theme or by author to the main text. The discussions are very lively, extremely informative and always enhance one’s understanding (if not always the liking) of the chosen text!
 
Library copies of the month’s books are made available wherever possible.  Those members who are willing, take turns to research the background and provide notes for other members prior to leading the discussions each month. Themes for a year commence each September.
 
Full details of the programme and monthly books and poems for the year September 2017 to August 2018 can be viewed by clicking here, together with the previous year's programme here.

To see the “history” of all the themes and their books which we have studied from 2006 to 2016 click here

​Literature Group Update:  Programme for September 2018 – August 2019
 
We are in the process of finalising our programme for the coming academic year, and this will be confirmed in August.  In the meantime, if anyone is interested in joining us, this is the draft programme;
 
The programme will be based around 4 main themes: Family Dynamics, 1. New Takes on Classics; 2. Effects of War; 3. Life on the Edge; 4. 
 
The books will be:  The Girl of Slender Means: Muriel Spark; Moon Tiger: Penelope Lively; The Return of the Soldier: Rebecca West; The Gap in Time: Jeannette Winterson; On Beauty: Zadie Smith;  A Thousand Acres: Jane Smiley; Picnic at Hanging Rock: Joan Lindsay; A Severed Head: Iris Murdoch; The Inheritance of Loss: Kiran Desai; The Virgin in the Garden: A.S. Byatt; Home Fires: Kamila Shamsie