Most readers gravitate to their favourite authors or subjects, so I end up reading science fiction a lot. I would like to be more widely read, but have a vague fear that it may be hard work.

Joining a book club was the solution for me. Luckily, Tracey at Spa Striders  started a book club last year and invited me to join.

We meet every 2 months, and take it in turn to host the club in our homes.  Each member picks a book; (any book – a completely free choice). The selections are then sent to each member, and we all read one book to discuss at the meeting.

Sometimes the books are hard to get, or (more often) hard to read! – so not everyone has read the novel, but the meetings are always interesting.  Sometimes they get quite lively when the book is on sensitive subjects such as religion or politics – novels are less contentious.

The current book is “The Dream of Scipio” by Iain Pears. It’s a novel that I would never have picked for myself, and the first 50 pages are so complicated and impenetrable, I would have dropped it like hot coals. But I felt obliged to persevere as a book club choice, and 200 pages later it has become an enjoyable and easy read.

If you want to expand your reading and talk about novels you enjoy, book clubs are the perfect place. Check at your local library, there are sure to be some groups near you.

John McNally