One day Margaret and Jane started chatting about their favourite books. Minutes turned to hours, a glass of wine turned into a few glasses, and they had such a good time that they decided to do it again. Like-minded people decided to join them; a book was suggested to read before the next meeting, opinions were exchanged along with nibbles and Whaddon’s monthly Book Club was created.

Now the Book Club meets on the second Monday of the month at 7.30 p.m., and we try to source books with the help of the local library book club sets (although our increasing numbers mean we sometimes share books or buy our own copies). Every few months we look at lists of possible books to discuss in the future and try to find something to suit all tastes over the course of the year.

One member bought a notebook for us to record opinions of individual books, and after a couple of years or so we find we have amassed a collection of reviews – perceptive, wry, pithy, gentle, admiring or scornful, they help us judge the books and give them  a mark out of ten. We present them here in the Reading Room for you to peruse, and will also tell you the title of the book we are reading THIS month so that you can read it yourself and then email us your thoughts on the current book.