| Status: | Active, open to new members |
| Leader: | |
| When: | On Friday mornings 3rd Friday |
| Venue: | Wesley Centre |
The Literary Appreciation Group meets in the Wesley Centre (see picture at left) on the 3rd Friday of every month from 11.00 to 12.30..
Members contribute to hire of the venue: the cost for 11 sessions during 2025 is £16. Ramped access is available up to the building and there is a lift to the first floor where meetings are held. A cafe and toilets - including disabled facilities - are available.
The group has 15 members at the moment which seems to be about right as this allows everyone space to freely contribute to the discussion. Members take turns to choose and introduce a book before we open up the discussion to the group. Books chosen range from 19th century classics, through modern classics, recent well-reviewed novels, occasional non fiction titles and a poetry session in December.
If you are interested in joining us, please contact Graeme literaryappreciation1 for further information.
Books for 2026
- January 16th Graeme: The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë (1848: 450 pages, 20 library copies)
- February 20th Karen: Code of the Woosters by PG Wodehouse (1938: 286 pages, 9 library copies)
- March 20th Liz: Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates (1961: 350 pages, 2 library copies)
- April 17th Steve: Seascraper by Benjamin Wood (2025: 162 pages, 16 library copies)
- May 15th Dave: Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro (2021: 340 pages, 35 library copies)
- June 19th Sue: The Names by Florence Knapp (2025: 384 pages, 28 library hardback, 9 paperback and two large print copies plus books on order)
- July 17th Anna: The Dutch House by Ann Patchett (2019: 337 pages, 25 library copies, inc large print and hardbacks)
- August 21st Catherine: And Away by Bob Mortimer (2021: 323 pages, 21 library copies)
- September 18th Jeff: Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut (1991: 157 pages, 4 library copies)
- October 16th Norma: to be decided
- November 20th Jane: This must be the Place by Maggie O'Farrell (2018: 486 pages, 20 library copies)
- December 18th Christmas poetry session
Books for 2025
- January 17th: Pat: Still Life by Sarah Winman (20+ library copies + e-audio book)
- February 21st: Karen: Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell (2 library copies + e-book)
- March 21st: Caroline: On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan (166 pages, 16 library copies)
- April 18th: No meeting: Good Friday
- May 16th: Graeme suggested two short books by two brothers to be read together. No Way But Gentlenesse: A Memoir Of How Kes, My Kestrel, Changed My Life by Richard Hines (288 pages, 13 library copies) and A Kestrel For A Knave by Barry Hines (208 pages, 6 library copies)
- June 20th: Jackie: book to be decided
- July 18th: Sue: novel by John Boyne to be decided
- August 15th: Dave: One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey (17 library copies)
- September 19th: Jeff: Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson (224 pages, 13 library copies)
- October 17th: Raymond: Memento Mori by Muriel Spark (240 pages, 4 library copies + e-audio book)
- November 21st, Jane: Prophet Song by Paul Lynch (320 pages, 21 library copies)
- December 19th: Christmas Poetry event
Coordinator Graeme contact: literaryappreciation1