Book clubs in Kent

This was the book that got me into reading

This was the book that got me into reading

An absorbing read following three generations of a family.

Emotional, long read, deeply moving and tragic but very engaging.

The richness and detail of the narrative the book tells the story over three different time spans of three people linked by water and the consequences

The depth of world building, the characters and twists keep you hooked to this 7 book series

The story is full of puzzles, conflict, adventure, romance, history and modern reality and spans time from 1790 to 1973, a mystery revolving around a legendary chess set made of gold and silver studded with jewels.

What I particularly enjoy about A Historical Introduction to the Brain and Neuroscience by Mitchell Glickstein is how it combines the historical development of neuroscience with modern research and scientific understanding. Rather than only presenting facts about the brain, the book explains how theories and discoveries evolved over time, making the development of neuroscience feel much more detailed and interconnected. I also like that it balances scientific depth with accessibility, making complex ideas easier to follow while still feeling academically rich.

The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog by Bruce D. Perry is particularly compelling because it combines neuroscience, psychology and real clinical case experiences to explore how childhood trauma affects brain development and behaviour. What makes the book especially powerful is how it explains complex ideas about attachment, stress and trauma in a very human and accessible way through real stories of children and recovery. I also found it interesting how the book connects early experiences with emotional and neurological development, while still emphasising resilience, healing and the importance of supportive relationships.

The Ethics of Ambiguity and the existentialist ideas of Simone de Beauvoir are interesting because they explore freedom, responsibility and what it means to create meaning in an uncertain world. I like how existentialism focuses on human choice, individuality and the tension between personal freedom and social responsibility. Beauvoir’s writing is especially thought-provoking because she connects philosophical ideas to real human experiences, ethics and society rather than treating philosophy as something completely abstract.

Loved the characters and the setting … I fell in love with the Scottish highlands after reading these books.