January 2026
LEGACY by Thomas Harding. Fascinating, epic story of the origin and development of the J Lyons empire. European, Jewish, immigrant and social history in a family setting over two centuries. The family member who writes the book takes us through their start in mass catering to the opening of Lyons Corner Houses, the Trocadero, the Regent and Strand Palace Hotels and Wimpy bars. The family was intensely loyal and ran a unique financial set up which protected and looked after a huge family. Although lengthy it is highly readable.
Satisfaction: 7. Writing style: 7. Recommend: Yes. Read more by author: Yes
February 2026
RAISING HARE by Chloe Dalton. How a political adviser rescues a leveret during Covid and the life-changing impact on both lives. Our group (mostly) found it a delightful, well-written story, both appropriate and elevating for this time of year. Although an animal lover, the writer had no knowledge or experience of hares but set about researching and learning in detail to help the hare. A unique, unusual, and beautifully written book.
Satisfaction: 7.5. Writing style: 8. Recommend: Yes. Read more by author: n/a
March 2026
A LOVELY WAY TO BURN by Louise Welsh. Fast-paced psychological thriller which started out well but didn’t quite maintain momentum or attention. The story is about a killer virus and was written before the pandemic. There were some parallels but also some unrealistic ideas. The book is quite well written and easy to read.
Satisfaction: 5. Writing style: 5. Recommend: No. Read more by author: No
April 2026
A TOWN LIKE ALICE by Nevil Shute. A simple but ingenious classic novel. At times brutal but also a gentle war romance. Set in Japanese-occupied Malaya the key character, Jean Paget, leads a group of captured women and children. The story falls into three parts but the narration slides seamlessly between times. It keeps moving at a good pace but is easy to read. Sometimes ahead of its 1940s/50s setting it illustrates how women were establishing and asserting themselves in challenging times.
Satisfaction: 9. Writing style: 9. Recommend: Yes. Read more by author: Yes
May 2026
RUN by Ann Patchett. Set in Boston with a background in Ireland this is a story of complicated family relationships and the legacy of a stolen Madonna statue. After a slightly confusing start the story emerges slowly and surprisingly but leaves plenty to the reader’s imagination. Interesting characters who prompted lively group discussion. The book also raised questions about race, parenting and expectations.
Satisfaction: 7.5; Writing style: 8; Recommend: Yes; Read more by author: Yes
June 2026
JAMES by Percival Everett. A reimagining of Huckleberry Finn, James is an adventure story about a dangerous journey made by friends Huck and Jim along the Mississippi River in 1861. It is narrated by Huckleberry’s friend, the slave Jim, who is erudite and loves to read and has a need to write. An important part of the book is the emphasis on the brutality of slavery, but it is perhaps stressed too forcibly at times and without much subtlety. Many dangerous situations for the pair come quickly one after another, and with a lack of more in-depth explanation, it seems a little too simple at times.
Satisfaction: 6; Writing Style: 7; Recommend: No; Read more by author: No.
July 2026
THE NIGHT WATCHMAN by Louise Erdrich. A warm-hearted story about a community of Native American Indians in North Dakota in the 1950’s. The main character Thomas (who was inspired by the author’s own grandfather) motivates members of the Turtle Mountain community to oppose a government policy to assimilate them into mainstream American society, which would entail taking their land and destroying their culture. There were many concurrent themes in the novel which made the structure a little confusing at times. The characters were strongly developed and the Native American culture, way of life and spirituality was interwoven into the story without sentimentality.
Satisfaction: 7; Writing Style: 7; Recommend: yes; Read more by author: No