"Room to Write."

Last Saturday ten avid readers met at Whitworth Hall Hotel for the last Reading Group of the year. This group was formed by the “Room to Write” team – Wendy Robertson; Avril Joy and Gillian Wales – and has been a welcome addition to the writing.

Meeting alternate months in the warm and elegant surroundings of the conservatory; served with coffee in silver cafeterias or cool drinks in tall glasses, we often glimpsed brides and bridesmaids and all the paraphernalia of weddings, going on outside.
We agreed and disagreed on plots and dialogue and characters and every aspect of the authors’ work.

Originally the novels were from the 20^th century and known as “Reading down the Decades,” including such authors as William Trevor, John le Carre, Ruth Jhabvala and Toni Morrison. At the beginning of this year it was agreed that each member should present a favourite book of their own, resulting in a diverse selection.

• March        “The Road” by C McCarthy
•                   “Honesty’s Daughter” by Wendy Robertson

• May            “Suite Francaise” by I. Nemirovsky
•                    “The Summer Book” by T Jansson

• July              "The Secret Life of Bees” by S Monk Kidd
•                     “Restoration” by R Tremain.

• September.  “The Elegance of the Hedgehog” by M Barberry
•                    “Daphne DuMaurier’s Short Stories.”   

• November.   “Letters to Ilio” by Barbara Laurie.
•                     “Spies.” by Michael Frayn.

It has been a stimulating year with people who might never have met, but for their over-riding interest in literature.

Many thanks to the Team and happy reading to you all.