Book clubs in Hertfordshire

I love how this book tackles quite difficult subject matters with as much honesty and acceptance as possible. Ozeki is able to go so incredibly far to the edge that it feels like there is no hope left, to then save you, trying to bring back some comfort. I especially enjoyed the leaning into some magical realism elements towards the end and how she plays with time and space.

O'Farrell uses the historical facts of Shakespeare's life to compassionately explore themes of grief and the passing of a child. Her writing is so captivating that it easily flows you through the text, even holding your hand and the hardest of times. I recently read her memoir and can see how her own experiences with poor health have massively impacted the way she views human life, this insight really adds to her storytelling.

It's a really good romance series, all books link together. So you get the background to the 6 main characters. A really good read if you like to switch off and get lost in a romance story.

A story of extreme hardship and suffering, in Brooklyn tenements and Limerick slums – too many children, too little money, his mother Angela barely coping as his father Malachy's drinking bouts constantly brings the family to the brink of disaster. It is a story of courage and survival against apparently overwhelming odds.

It's a classic spy thriller written by a former CIA analyst - so someone who has first hand experience of the 'great game'.

gorgeously cosy book that deals with some difficult themes such as family, grief, mental health, racism, and generational trauma

Moving memoir on mental health and the experiences women have in healthcare

One of the most poignantly moving books I've ever read, think about it at least once a week

Marquez’s overarching, sprawling style makes you feel intensely nostalgic for a place and people who never even existed

The characters and action is engaging and the writing style, though simple, is illustrative in its omission. Definitely worth a read!

The central character's journey is winding and eventful, where the lines between her perception of reality and actual events are blurred by her stream-of-consciousness writing style.