The Novel Group
| Leader/Coordinator: | Kathie A |
The Novel Group:
This group was previously named 'The 19th C Novel group' and we continue to read 19th C novels during the winter months - one novel every two months if it is a long read (over 250 pages). In the intervening month, we start to read the book and at our monthly meeting, we discuss 'themes and issues' arising' from the text - that we have found of particular interest to ourselves. We do our own 'research' and then talk about our findings as well as talking about the author and the context for writing the novel - as, of course, the 19th C novel is renowned for being didactic. By such means we gain much more interest and enjoyment from the text. Group members participate in discussion of the novel and there are often good natured disagreements which can make for a lively meeting! During the rest of the year we read 20th and 21st C 'classic' novels - texts that many people have heard of, but often never read, and now we lightly research the author and the context for writing the novel and, again, discussion can be spirited. Books are chosen by group members - everyone has one novel chosen and then we vote for others; everyone's opinion is welcome. We plan a programme for the year ahead and sometimes follow a nominated theme: we try to encompass overseas authors and published works. Each member is responsible for obtaining their own copy of the chosen text, and we use the usual second-hand novel websites. We meet at my house in Totternhoe which is convenient for resources and when we wish to watch a film of a book we have read, which happens on occasion.
Maximum number in group 7
updated March 2023