Join the Hexham Book Group

This group is facilitated by Susie Troup, the director of Hexham Book Festival, and meets at 7.30pm on the first Tuesday of every month at The Forum Cinema in Hexham.

Please tell us some more about yourself so that we can pass your information on to the Hexham Book Group leader.

Please note, meeting dates are occasionally subject to change, so please wait for a response from the group leader before attending your first meeting.

(Please note: This website will no longer be updated and is being kept online for archive purposes only.)

September meeting

I’m looking forward to seeing everyone again after the summer and to discussing the Human Factor and any other interesting books that people may have digested over the last 8 weeks.

2016

I’m looking forward to our first meeting, next Tuesday, and I hope many of you will be able to join me to discuss the ever current issues raised by Gustave Flaubert’s Madame Bovary. Also to look forward to an exciting year of reading – a habit which is always of great consolation at this dark time of the year. Remember the group is free and open to all and most meetings take place at 7.30pm on the first Tuesday of the month in the Forum Cinema Cafe, Hexham.

Summer’s over

Summer (if you can call it that) is definitely over and I am looking forward to a new season of wonderful books this Autumn. So many Festivals happen in September and October that we are spoilt for choice! I’ll be heading off to Durham between 6th-17th October, to see some of the stellar events they have planned. Don’t forget members of this book group are entitled to £2 tickets to hear Patrick Gale talk about his most recent book (our October read) ‘A Place Called Winter’ on Saturday 10th October.

January and February meetings and other news

Two great reads for our first meetings of 2015. Nearly everyone in the group really enjoyed Americanah by Chimamand Ngozi Adiche, although some felt a bit more editing would not have gone amiss. Cover Her Face – Pd James’ first novel was a quick read that some of us thought a bit dated.
We’re all looking forward to our next two books, both by authors who are appearing at Hexham Book Festival. On 7th April we will meet to discuss Anna Hope’s book Wake, then at our Festival Book Group Forum at 7.30pm on 29th April in the Library of the Queen’s Hall, we will get the chance to put our questions to Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl On the Train.
I still have a few specially priced copies of this so do get in touch if you would like one: info@hexhambookfestival.co.uk.
I look forward to seeing everyone at our next meeting
Susie Troup

November meeting

We had great turn out for our meeting on Tuesday – and some interesting exchange of views on Donna Tartt’s third novel – The Goldfinch. It was great to see so many people and especially those who make the trek from Cumbria to be with us! Our next book for December 2nd is Expo 58 by Jonathan Coe , if you can’t make that meeting then join us in January to discuss Iain Banks last book ‘The Quarry’.

September meeting

Thanks to everyone who came to the meeting on 2nd September, some positive reactions to the Mayor of Casterbridge from some of you who had disliked it on a previous read. Our next book is by Dan Vyleta, The Crooked Maid, is set in Vienna in 1948, and was described by The Independent as ‘a thrilling tale of war crimes, family secrets, murder and blackmail’. Dan is also appearing at Durham Book Festival with Lauren Owen on Saturday 11 th October at 3 pm for more information go to http://durhambookfestival.com/programme/event/lauren-owen-and-dan-vyleta-masters-of-the-macabre/

I’m looking forward to discussing the book with the group on Tues 7th October

Susie Troup

July meeting

Thanks to those of you who came to our meeting last night – and especially to our new member from Cumbria- great to see you all before the summer break. For those of you who couldn’t make it we have chosen a classic to read over the next couple of months- Thomas Hardy’s The Mayor of Casterbridge.

Other suggestions from the group, if you are short of reading material for your holidays are: Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers -winner of the Guardian First Book Award in 2012, Blake Morrison -When did you last see your Father, Maya Angelou- I know why the caged bird sings and Jane Gardham -The Stories.

Remember the group doesn’t meet in August so our next meeting will be on Tues 2nd September at 7.30pm in Scott’s cafe at the Forum cinema.

Happy summer reading

Susie Troup

June meeting

Thanks to those of you who came to our meeting on Tues 3rd June to discuss Huckleberry Finn- we had an interesting and lively discussion about this classic. I have a couple of free copies left of our next book ‘The Woman Upstairs’ by Claire Messud for group members so please get in touch if you’d like a copy .

December meeting

Great to see everyone for a last meeting in 2013, it turned out that many of us who had previously not enjoyed Northanger Abbey, found it almost as satisfying as other favourite Jane Austen novels. I’m very excited to see what Val McDermid gives us in her new rendition of  the book.

I hope you all have Christmas stockings groaning with new books and I look forward to some inspired tips for another year of reading at our next meeting on Tuesday 7th January.

Happy Festivities

Susie Troup