| Status: | Active, open to new members |
| Convenor: | |
| When: | Monthly on Monday afternoons 2:00 PM-4:00 PM 2nd Monday of month unless otherwise stated |
| Venue: | The Hub - Wadhurst Institute |
| Cost: | £2.50 per session includes hire of room and refreshments (provided by convenor) |
NEXT MEETING: 8th June 2026
BOOK: The Case of Mice and Murder by Sally Smith
SCROLL DOWN FOR OUR FULL READING LIST
If you would like to find out more about this group, please contact Jane by clicking the link at the top of this page.
Format of our Meetings:
One week before the meeting, the convenor emails members with a reminder of the meeting date/time/venue. This is also sent out via WhatsApp.
The member who selected the title for the month acts as the session leader. At the start of each meeting, the leader gives a short synopsis of their chosen book, their opinion of its relative strengths and weaknesses, and why they chose it . Other members are then invited to join in the open discussion.
After the meeting, the convenor sends a reminder to members of the title/author for the next month. All details are kept up-to-date on this webpage (see below)
We communicate by email. We also have a WhatsApp group called "READ or DEAD" !!
Access to books: Members are responsible for acquiring their own copy of each book (potential sources are Barrett’s Book Shop, Wadhurst library, local charity shops, second-hand book shops (such as those at Bayham Abbey, National Trust), Kindle and audio versions from Amazon and used copies can also be bought online from various sellers..
Accessibility: Some of our members with sight difficulties may find it easier to use audiobooks. We always try to find venues that offer easy step-free access but, on occasions, this may not be possible. For any member who is confined to home, we may be able to arrange for you to join our meetings online.
Current Reading List for 2026
| Date | Book Title | Author | Chosen by |
| 8th June | A Case of Mice and Murder | Sally Smith | David Roche |
| 13th July | Prodigal Summer | Barbara Kingsolver | Sue Petrie |
| 10th August | TBC | TBC | Muriel Williams |
| 14th Sept | The Extraordinary Lives of Medieval Woman | Hetta Howes | Pauline Beckett |
| 12th October | Still Life | Sarah Winman | Sheila Phillips |
| 9th November | TBC | TBC | Amanda Bond |
| 14th December | Social: Members' Book of the Year | ALL | |
| 2026 | Previous Titles | ||
| January 2026 | Invasion | Frank Gardner | Amanda Bond |
| February 2026 | The Romantic | William Boyd | Jane Austin |
| March 2026 | Hamnet | Maggie O'Farrell | Laura Forster |
| April 2026 | The Island of Missing Trees | Elif Shafak | Veronica Thomas |
| May 2026 | The Scapegoat | Daphne du Maurier | Tom Maynard |
| 2025 | Previous Titles | ||
| January 2025 | The Offing | Benjamin Myers | Jane Austin |
| February 2025 | The Rose Code | Kate Quinn | Laura Forster |
| March 2025 | The Choice | Edith Eger | Isobel Griffiths |
| April 2025 | The Bravest Voices | Ida Cook | Veronica Thomas |
| May 2025 | North and South | Elizabeth Gaskell | Ellen Mumby |
| June 2025 | The Black Count | Tom Reiss | Tom Maynard |
| July 2025 | Bournville | Jonathan Coe | David Roche |
| Aug 2025 | West | Carys Davies | Sue Petrie |
| Sept 2025 | The Paying Guests | Sarah Waters | Janet Thomas |
| Oct 2025 | Rainsongs | Sue Hubbard | Muriel Williams |
| Nov 2025 | Yellowface | Rebecca Kuang | Pauline Beckett |
| Dec 2025 | Orbital | Samantha Harvey | 2024 Booker Prize winner - Group Choice |
