BOOK CLUB

Open to members of Whiteley WAGS WI only

We meet monthly to discuss our wide choice of books.

If you are a member of our WI and would like to take part in discussions please let us know by emailing

whiteleywags@gmail.com

NOTE: NOW MEETING AT

The Talisman, Park Gate

Third Monday of every month 7.30pm

June 2026

Orbital by Samantha Harvey

Orbital by Samantha Harvey The book unfolds over sixteen orbits around the Earth, which is roughly one day. It is following an international crew of six on the International Space Station, witnessing sixteen sunrises and sunsets in a single day. As they conduct experiments, observe the planet below them, and drift through the routines of life in microgravity. Orbital creates meaning through fragments: a memory of home, the grief of a lost parent, the unease of illness, the distant terror of a typhoon seen from orbit. They resonate because of the vastness which surrounds them in space. It is a very descriptive and often breathtaking, in the way of capturing both the beauty of Earth and the intimacy of life in space. A reflection of Earth’s beauty and aspirations. The planet seen from above is both familiar and alien- fragile and alive. The astronauts, suspended between worlds, become conduits to the climate change, human cooperation, and the passage of time. They are not characterised, they function as a whole, shared perspective of gazing back at their home. It is less about space than about Earth itself. Score 6.5/10

May 2026

Silas Marner by George Eliot

Silas Marner by George Eliot was written in 1861 and is considered a classic in literature terms. The story involves the changes that Silas,a solitary weaver, undergoes when he comes across an orphaned child. It was generally well received by book club members.

The story begins with Silas, who's wrongly accused of theft and leaves his community to live a solitary life as a weaver in the country village of Raveloe. He lives for his work, has nothing to do with the local community and his only pleasure appears to be hoarding his gold coins. When the gold is stolen he's bereft and begins to gain the sympathy of locals. Shortly afterwards an orphaned child, Eppie, finds her way into his house and his life is transformed when he adopts her. We also follow the son of the local landowner, Godfrey Cass, who's own life is intrinsically linked to the story..

The novel highlights the differences between the poor and the wealthy in Victorian times, and explores themes of community care, the effects of industrialisation, adoption and isolation v belonging.

All of our members enjoyed the book, some liking the descriptive prose more than others.

Score 7.5/10

April 2026

Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

The Silent Patient (2019) is a psychological thriller centered on Alicia Berenson, a famous painter who shoots her husband and then stops speaking entirely. Theo Faber, a psychotherapist, becomes obsessed with uncovering her motive and breaking her silence. What follows is a story of trauma, obsession, and shocking revelations

The writer uses alternating narratives—Theo’s perspective and Alicia’s diary—to slowly unravel the mystery. The pacing is deliberate, building suspense with each chapter. At first, the plot feels straightforward, but subtle clues are planted throughout, leading to a powerful twist at the end.

We all agreed that the story essentially focused on Alicia Berenson and Theo Faber, both of whom had troubled childhoods which we gradually learn shaped their behaviour and actions. The other characters served mostly to support the central mystery rather than stand out independently.

The book was easy to read and was not overly complex but fairly effective in creating tension and atmosphere. The use of psychological concepts and Greek tragedy (especially the play Alcestis) added another layer.

The main themes were:

Trauma and repression
Obsession and control
Silence as both protection and punishment

On the whole, most of us enjoyed the book especially the twist at the end, which we didn't predict (although this ending did annoy one of our group). We generally felt that The Silent Patient is a compelling, fast-paced psychological thriller that creates atmosphere and surprise. While it may not fully satisfy readers looking for deeply layered character studies, it delivers an engaging and memorable reading experience

Score :7.6/10

March 2026

The Trial by Rob Rinder

The story opens with a murder but there is a twisty tale to discover the who, and the why, done it! Drawing both from the drudgery and high pressured experiences of early career barristers, Rob Rinder's character, Adam Green, has to cope with social situations, high flyers and competition from others in his field, while plagued with a lack of confidence and self doubt. Of course the journey to the truth is not straight forward and there are distractions and red herrings along the way. There are also has several humorous moments, especially in Adam's phone conversations with his mother.

When the truth is finally discovered does it allow for justice to be done? Our book club members had many opinions about the ending, but mostly found this novel an easy and enjoyable read.

Book club score: 7/10

February 2026

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

A large group of school boys emerge, relatively unscathed, from a plane crash and are stranded on a deserted tropical island. Without adult guidance they find they have the basic needs to survive, learn to light a fire and make plans to signal in hope of a rescue. A tussle for leadership ensues and has the elements of democracy verses autocracy. Written in 1954 this book has several terms and colonialist references which we consider outdated today, but the essence of the story is about the characters of the boys and the depths of good and evil.

There is much symbolism in the narrative: the scars on the island of the plane crash, the deep darkness of the almost impenetrable jungle of its heart that holds unseen terrors, the foreboding of an out of control fire and the head of a dead pig - "The Lord of the Flies".

This is a tough read that exposes the uncomfortable truths of human nature and gave our readers much to agree and disagree about. Whatever your opinion this is a book that makes you think.

Book club score: 6.9/10

January 2026

The Strange Disappearance of Bollywood Star by Vaseem Khan

This is the third novel in an Indian set detective series and, maybe, it would have given greater understanding to the background of Inspector Chopra's detective agency and the adoption of a baby elephant, Ganesha, if we had read the earlier two. This book had all the dazzle and opulence of a rich Bollywood lifestyle against the poverty and injustice for so many living in India and police corruption.

The main plot line was the apparent kidnapping of a major Bollywood star and playboy, Vikram Verma. A second storyline, concerning a community of eunuchs, ran along side but there wasn't a great deal to connect the two, although both involved rich and controlling mothers.

While the novel was mostly regarded as an easy but not gripping read, for many the number of supporting characters caused confusion. But it was the inclusion of the baby elephant that really divided opinion; some felt in was charming and appreciated the symbolism of Ganesha ("remover of obstacles, patron of arts and sciences, deva of intellect and wisdom"), for others it was ridiculous. What we did agree on, however, was that Vikram who had seemed so unlikable was thought well of by the end.

Book club score: 5.3/10