I joined our book group back in 2004 and it had already been going for quite a few years even then – it’s never had a name. Our group has male and female members of all ages, and we read a wide variety of books from classics to genre, plus non-fiction. We generally meet in an Abingdon pub with occasional forays out, (although at the moment we’re zooming of course). We welcome new members most of the time, so if you’d like to join us, do contact me.
Listed below are all the books we’ve read since I joined – those that provoked particularly good discussions are starred accordingly and books are listed in the month we discuss them, (links to my report backs in brackets). We try to read a really wide variety of books including occasional non-fiction. Nothing scares us! At the moment, we’re working through the alphabet to choose our books; everyone pitches in with suggestions, and we either concur on a title use the proverbial hat to choose!
2026
J: Christmas read: Persuasion by Jane Austen – Review
F: Flora & Fauna – ‘V’ – The Vipers by Katy Hays – Review
M: Flora & Fauna – ‘W’ – The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graham – Review
A: Flora & Fauna – ‘X’ – Black Woods Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey – Review
M: Flora & Fauna – ‘Y’ – The Rose and the Yew Tree by Mary Westmacott (Agatha Christie) – Review
J: Flora & Fauna – ‘Z’ – Ice Station Zebra by Alastair MacLean – Review
J: Want to read: Fair Play by Louise Hegarty
A: Want to read: A Hymn to Life by Gisèle Pelicot
S: Want to read: The Names by Florence Knapp
O:
N:
D:
2025
J: Christmas read: The Colossus of Maroussi by Henry Miller – Comments
F: Flora & Fauna – ‘K’ – Murder at Kingfisher Hill (Poirot) by Sophie Hannah Review
M: Flora & Fauna – ‘L’ – The Leopard by Lampedusa
A: Flora & Fauna – ‘M’ – Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen – Review
M: Flora & Fauna – ‘N’ – Mythos by Stephen Fry (for Narcissus) – Review ***
J: Flora & Fauna – ‘O’ – Oleander Jacaranda by Penelope Lively – Review ***
J: Flora & Fauna – ‘P’ – The Peacock and the Sparrow by I S Berry – Review
A: Flora & Fauna – ‘Q’ – some awful YA-SF Quagga book – didn’t read
S: Flora & Fauna – ‘R’ – Rabbits by Hugo Rifkind – Review ***
O: Flora & Fauna – ‘S’ – Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann Review
N: Flora & Fauna – ‘T’ – The Tiger in the Smoke by Margery Allingham – Review
D: Flora & Fauna – ‘U’ – Songs in Ursa Major by Emma Brodie – Review
2024
J: Book Association 10b Innocence + a Classic for Christmas: The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton – Report
F: Book Association 11 Pulitzer winner: Now in November by Josephine Johnson (won in 1935) – Report
M: Flora & Fauna – Wild card: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (Octopus) – Report
A: Flora & Fauna – ‘A’ – The Antelope Wife by Louise Erdrich – Review
M: Flora & Fauna – ‘B’ – Bear by Marian Engel – Review
J: Flora & Fauna – ‘C’ – Cat’s Eye by Margaret Atwood
J: Flora & Fauna – ‘D’ – Black Dogs by Ian McEwan – Review
A: Flora & Fauna – ‘E’ – The True History of the Elephant Man by Peter Ford & Michael Howell
S: Flora & Fauna – ‘F’ – Animal Farm by George Orwell – Review
O: Flora & Fauna – ‘G’ – Some Tame Gazelle by Barbara Pym – Review
N: Flora & Fauna – ‘H’ – War Horse by Michael Morpurgo – Review
D: Flora & Fauna – ‘IJ’ – White Ivy by Susie Yang – ** Review
2023
J: Christmas: The Box of Delights by John Masefield
F: Jubilee Read 2010s: The Promise by Damon Dalgut – *** Review
M: Book Association 1: The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
A: Book Association 2 Sea: The Kon-Tiki Expedition by Thor Heyerdahl – Review
M: Book Association 3 Norwegian: The Bell in the Lake by Lars Mytting
J: Book Association 4 Bell: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
J: Book Association 5: Similar themes: Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Suzanne
A: Book Association 6 Doll: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John Le Carre (Russian Dolls on 1st cover) – Review
S: Book Association 7 Soldier: The Good Soldier Švejk by Yaroslav Hašek – Review (DNF)
O: Book Association 8 Czech: The Museum of Broken Promises by Elizabeth Buchan (set in Prague) (Read half, skimmed rest)
N: Book Association 9 Museum: The Museum of Innocence by Orhan Pamuk *** – Review
D: Book Association 10a Turkish author: The Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak – (CGS)
2022
J: Christmas: The Misteltoe Murder by PD James Review
F: “V” is for: Vurt by Jeff Noon. Review
M: “W” is for: The Salt Path by Raynor Wynn ** Review
A: “X” is for: Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
M: “Y” is for: Young Stalin by Simon Sebag Montefiore * Review
J: “Z” is for: Zeitoun by Dave Eggers ** Review
J: Jubilee Read 1950s – To Sir, With Love by E R Braithwaite * Review
A: Jubilee Read 1960s – Death of a Naturalist by Seamus Heaney Review
S: Jubilee Read 1970s – Clear Light of Day by Anita Desai
O: Jubilee Read 1980s – The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
N: Jubilee Read 1990s – Paradise by Abdulrazak Gurnah Review
D: Jubilee Read 2000s – A Golden Age by Tahmima Anam Review
2021
J: “J” is for: Spring Festival by Xia Jia
F: “K” is for: Kundera, Milan – The Unbearable Lightness of Being – Review
M: “L” is for: Lanny by Max Porter** – Review
A: “M” is for: M is for Murder by Keri Beevis – Review
M: “N” is for: Nora Ephron – Heartburn – Review
J: “O” is for: The Little Red Chairs by Edna O’Brien – Review
J: “P” is for: The Murders on the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe
A: “Q” is for: Q&A by Vikas Swarup (original novel of Slumdog Millionaire)
S: “R” is for: The Road Home by Rose Tremain
O: “S” is for: Drive by James Sallis – Review
N: “T” is for: The House of Trelawney by Hannah Rothschild
D: “U” is for: The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead **
2020
J: Classic: The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte – I failed – didn’t read!
F: Hidden Gem: A Kestrel for a Knave by Barry Hines – Review
M: Pam’s Choice: In the Woods by Tana French – Review
A: “A” is for…: Ackroyd, Peter – Dan Leno & the Limehouse Golem – Review
M: “B” is for…: Becoming by Michelle Obama – Review
J: “C” is for…: Celeste Ng – Little Fires Everywhere – Review
J: “D” is for…: Dune by Frank Herbert – Review
A: “E” is for…: Eric Ambler – The Mask of Dimitrios
S: “F” is for… : Foley, Lucy – The Guest List
O: “G” is for…: Guy Gunaratne – In Our Mad and Furious City
N: “H” is for…: Harris, Robert – Archangel
D: “I’ is for...: Ice – Anna Kavan
2019
J: Classic: We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson – Review
F: Australia(n) The Dry by Jane Harper – Review
M: China/Chinese: Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien
A: Theresa’s Pick: Notes on a Scandal by Zoe Heller – Review
M: Confectionery: Tony Hogan Bought Me an Ice-Cream Float and then he Stole My Ma by Kerry Hudson – Review
J: Water: The Drowned World by J.G. Ballard
J: Fire: After the Fire by Will Hill – Review
A: Turtle: Turtle Moon by Alice Hoffman – Review
S: Air/Wind: A Place Called Winter by Patrick Gale – Review **
O: A Recommendation: East West Street by Philippe Sand – Review
N: Oxford: A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness – Review
D: Grapes: Sideways by Rex Pickett
2018
J: Doors: Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson (1992) – Review **
F: Classic: Vile Bodies by Evelyn Waugh – Review
M: Green: Revenge of the Lawn by Richard Brautigan – Review
A: Red: The Red House Mystery by A A Milne – Review
M: Blue: The Virgin Blue by Tracy Chevalier – Review
J: Black: The Black Prince by Iris Murdoch – Review
J: White: The Devil in the White City by Eric Larson – Review *
A: Orange: Oranges are not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson – Review
S: Purple: The Purple Cloud by M.P.Shiel – Review *
O: Pink: The Gustav Sonata by Rose Tremain
N: Silver: Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
D: Banned Books: A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
2017
J: Classic for Christmas: Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis – Review
F: Central Americas: How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez – Review
M: Children’s Classic: Marianne Dreams by Catherine Storr – Review *
A: Egypt: To War With Whitaker – The Wartime Diaries of the Countess Ranfurly (1939-45) – Review **
M: Medicine: Outbreak by Robin Cook – Review
J: Politics: On a Clear Day by David Blunkett and/or Asterix the Gaul/Asterix & Cleopatra
J: Jenny’s Last Meeting: The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald – Review **
A: SF: Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
S: Naval: Ramage by Dudley Pope
O: Canada & Far North: White Fang by Jack London
N: Farming: Stoner by John Williams
D: Windows: The High Window by Raymond Chandler – Review
2016
J: Steppenwolf by Herman Hesse – Review **
F: The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell – Review **
M: The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant – Review **
A: Spill Simmer Falter Wither by Sara Baume – Review
M: Sex: Skin by Roald Dahl & Philosophy in the Boudoir by De Sade **
J: Travel: A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush by Eric Newby – Review **
J: Noir: The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett – Review
A: Food: John Saturnall’s Feast by Lawrence Norfolk – Review *
S: Music: The Commitments by Roddy Doyle
O: Ghosts/Horror: Dark Matter by Michelle Paver *
N: Sport: Jonny by Jonny Wilkinson
D:
2015
J: The Amber Fury
F: The Twin
M: The Knowledge: How To Rebuild Our World After An Apocalypse
A: The Miniaturist
M: The Bees
J: Season of Migration to the North by Tayeb Salih – O (6/10) – Review
J: The End of Days by Jenny Erpenbeck
A: Polo by Jilly Cooper **
S: Money by Martin Amis **
O: Family Album by Penelope Lively
N: A Short Gentleman by Jon Canter – Review
D:
2014
J: The Explorer
F: Life After Life
M: I Remember You
A: Half Bad by Sally Green – Review
M: Rivers of London (Rivers of London 1)
J: Clean: An Unsanitised History of Washing
J: The Suicide Shop by Jean Teule – Book Group Report
A: All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque – Book Group Report & Review
S: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt – Book Group Report & Review
O: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark – Book Group Report & Review
N: An assortment of Chekhov plays & short stories – Book Group Report & Review
D: We are all completely beside ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler – Review
2013
J: Jude the Obscure 
F: Raffles: The Amateur Cracksman 
M: Gone Girl
A: The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared
M:Me Talk Pretty One Day
J: The Jew’s Beech
J: The Three Evangelists
A: Waiting for Sunrise
S: The Dinner
O: The Weir
N: Slaughterhouse 5, or The Children’s Crusade – A Duty-dance with Death
D: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
2012
J: Selections from Complete Ghost Stories
F: Riders
M: Stasiland: Stories from Behind the Berlin Wall
A: The Canterbury Tales (Penguin Classics)
M: The Bottle Factory Outing
J: Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus
J: Nights At The Circus
A:Saki, The Complete Short Stories (Penguin Modern Classics)
S: City Of Veils
O: City of Thieves
N: The Good Soldier: A Tale of Passion
D: A Monster Calls 
2011
J: Moby Dick (Oxford World’s Classics)
F: All Quiet on the Orient Express
M: One Day
A: True Grit
M: The Snowman
J: Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
J: The Little Stranger
A: Themed reading month – ‘Dystopias’. (Report)
S: The Radleys
O: Candide
N: Half of a Yellow Sun
D: Jamrach’s Menagerie
2010
J: The Moonstone (Oxford World’s Classics)
F: Breathing Lessons
M: The Death of Grass (Penguin Modern Classics)
A: My Shit Life So Far
M: Ella Minnow Pea
J: Alice in Time
J: The Junior Officers’ Reading Club: Killing Time and Fighting Wars
A: Julie & Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously
S: The Intimate Adventures Of A London Call Girl
O: Peyton Place
N: The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (Penguin Modern Classics)
D: Don’t Look Now and Other Stories (Penguin Modern Classics)
2009
J: Love in a Cold Climate
F: Poetry night! cancelled due to snow!
M: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
A: Marching Powder
M: Riddley Walker
J: The Secret Ministry of Frost
J: As You Like It / Julius Caesar / Twelfth Night by Shakespeare
A: Bad Science
S: The New York Trilogy: 
O: Me Cheeta: The Autobiography
N: What a Carve Up!
D: Dead Until Dark: A True Blood Novel
2008
J: Tokyo Cancelled
F: Beowulf (Bilingual Edition)
M: The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart
A: The Ruby in Her Navel
M: Arthur and George
J: Boy A
J: Mutant Message Down Under: A Woman’s Journey into Dreamtime Australia
A: Kim (Oxford World’s Classics)
S: The Player of Games
O: Sharp Teeth
N: 1984 Nineteen Eighty-Four
D: Blindness
2007
J: The God Delusion
F: Angels and Insects
M: We Need To Talk About Kevin 
A: Old Filth
M: The Eyre Affair 
J: A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian
J: The Observations
A: The Wedding Officer
S: The Testament of Gideon Mack
O: The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat 
N: Under the Glacier (Vintage International Original)
D: Fiesta: The Sun Also Rises (Arrow Classic)
2006
J: The Crow Road
F: Acqua Alta
M: The Bookseller of Kabul
A: Labyrinth
M: Watchmen
J: The Time Traveler’s Wife
J: Snow
A: The Master and Margarita (Penguin Classics)
S: Gorky Park
O: Quite Ugly One Morning
N: A Town Like Alice (Vintage Classics)
D: The Prestige
2005
J: Kitchen Confidential
F: Lake Wobegon Days
M: Changing Places
A: Casino Royale
M: Cocaine Nights
J: Northern Lights (His Dark Materials)
J: Cheri 
A: Flashman and the Dragon (Flashman 10)
S: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince 
O: The Portrait
N: The Comedians
D: The 100 Minute Bible
2004
J: The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
F: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
M: Maximum Bob
A: The Death of Vishnu
M: The Lovely Bones
J: Morvern Callar
J: Hamlet by William Shakespeare
A: Disgrace
S: Tender is the Night
O: Middlesex
N: Major Barbara
D: A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Writings (Penguin Classics
