Our classic this year was “1984” by George Orwell. When it was written in 1949 it served as a warning  about the dangers of totalitarianism, surveillance states and the erosion of individual freedom. Its themes still remain relevant today. We all enjoyed “The Family Upstairs” so wanted to read the sequel to see what happened next. Alan Johnson’s “The Late Train to Gypsy Hill” is  an exciting  political thriller, although it was difficult to get to grips with all the Russian and Ukrainian names! “The Beekeeper of Aleppo” is a moving, compassionate story about just how much hardship and suffering  refugees from war -torn countries must face to flee to safety.

Our reading group is full at the moment (19 July 2025)

Barbara Howse

Some books we have read recently: