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

Next Read

November 2025

A Place Called Winter by Patrick Gale

January 2025 - Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

For 1960's women life is simple; look after the house, care for the children, have sex on demand and the dinner ready at six! Hmmm, that's what most 1960's men seem to think anyway. But what happens if you are both beautiful and intelligent and want to do things your own way? Well, you could try presenting a live cooking show...

Bonnie Garmus' tongue in cheek narrative style (and the wonderful dog's point of view) belies some pretty dreadful challenges for women and people that don't quite fit the "norm". Elizabeth Zott is not worried about men, relationships or having children. She is a chemist and wants to research Abiogenesis. However, in a male dominated environment, where women exist as secretaries at best, her life is made difficult, very very difficult, and nothing goes to plan.

By creating Elizabeth as a straight talking feminist hero, Bonnie Garmus brings much humour and many laugh out loud moments to the story. This serves to make the darker and often outrageous aspects bearable but does not diminish their impact. The novel shows us a sweeping range of injustices, towards women and those that are seen as outsiders, at the hands of men in powerful positions. Dysfunctional family life, homosexuality, religious hypocrisy and rape all feature. Elizabeth, however, is not just a survivor, she is a challenger. The chance to present a live TV show, and cast aside the directions she is given, is a catalyst for change that even Elizabeth has not envisaged.

There are a few moments in the novel that don't quite ring true, even for the era in which it is set, but this was a lively story, with much to discuss, and enjoyed by our readers.

Book club score: 8.5/10

February - It ends with us by Colleen Hoover

Set mainly in Boston USA, this novel examines a young woman's romantic life and reflects on her upbringing through her recordings in a teenage diary. We soon discover Lily's history growing up with a father who regularly beat her mother and her growing relationship with and kindness towards a homeless student, Atlas, from her school. Step forward approximately eight years and Lily meets Ryle Kincaid, a handsome and charismatic Neurosurgeon (our thoughts were that he was a controlling, arrogant, **** from the start, but then we are not in our early twenties!). The surface is glossy, sexual and romantic, however Ryle has deep seated anger issues following a tragedy in his childhood. While her dream business flourishes and his career goes from strength to strength seemingly small misunderstandings trigger a pattern of violence towards Lily from which she has to find the determination to escape.

There was a strong message in the book about violence being unacceptable whatever the root cause and finding the inner strength to leave. The story was based on some of the author's own experiences and probably aimed at a younger reader than our group, (that, shall we say, has a bit more life experience). Although none of us enjoyed it we all felt that if someone could be helped by reading about Lily's relationship with a man she thought she loved, then it was worthwhile. There were happy outcomes for Lily and the positive message through Atlas' character that much could be achieved in spite of a difficult childhood.

Book club score: 5.8/10

March - Wave Walker by Suzanne Heywood

Many of our book club meetings start with questions about the book and the first question this time was "Did anyone find those parents annoying?". The answer was a resounding "Yes!". Suzanne Heyward's recollections of her childhood and teenage years spent on board the yacht "Wavewalker" were disturbing to say the least. Following her father's dream to sail in the wake of Captain Cook's third voyage, the family set off, originally with sponsorship, to sail via South America to Australia and home again. After the first part of the journey very little when to plan as her father insisted on continuing their passage and funds ran out, exposing the family and a small, changing, crew to storms, 50 foot waves, injury, armed threats and almost completely ignoring the children's need to build friendships and have an education. Alongside this was Suzanne's heart wrenching accounts of her dysfunctional relationship with her mother, who appeared would do anything for their father, while she held on to her G&Ts, but not her children and demonstrated a preference for her son at Suzanne's expense.

It seems that Suzanne was a very strong, intelligent and determined young person. She found her own way to education and developed huge resilience. Some of our group found elements of the book repetitive and boring, however that is what Suzanne's life became before she was able to return to England and build her own life. There were periods of reconciliation with her parents during her adult life but subsequently they refused to see her again when she told them she was writing this book.

Book club score: 6.8/10

April - The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

"In love we find out who we want to be; in war we find out who we are." (from Novel's first line).

Sisters Vianne and Isabelle have already had difficult starts in life. Their mother dies when they are young and their father, deeply distressed by his WW1 experiences in France, is unable to cope with the loss of his wife and distances himself from his daughters. Vianne is quiet and co-operative but falls pregnant at 16 and marries her beau. Isabelle is rebellious and daring, challenging authority and running away from schools and people she hates. When the Nazis invade lives are forever changed and each of the sisters find their own ways to stay strong, fight for good, and survive.

The book illustrates the challenges and hardships for those in occupied territory. Every day becomes a risk whether helping friends and family, finding food or establishing escape routes for Allied Airmen. Who, if anyone, could be trusted? There are heart breaking moments when sacrifice is made, children are torn away from their mothers and in the horrific treatment of Jewish people and anyone viewed as a saboteur by the Nazi's. Ultimately the strength of love and family bonds shine through.

Kristin Hannah's writing mostly gave a believable feel to life in France for ordinary people during the war. It was perhaps a little spoilt by the over use of American terms in her descriptions and some of the dialogue. There was a sense of danger throughout and the suspense of knowing whether both sisters survived was cleverly kept to the end of the story.

Book club score: 7.9/10

May - When All is Said by Anne Griffin

Aged 84, lonely following the death of his wife two years before, an Irish farmer sits, with determination, at the local hotel bar to raise a toast to the five people who brought the greatest influences to his life. Reflecting on joy and love, sadness and regrets Maurice's history is revealed. This novel was an interesting way to tell a life story that not only reflected on the man's life but changes in Ireland too. The subject matter is thoughtful and encompasses poverty, abuse and bullying, learning difficulties and a multitude of different relationships. All were handled with sensitivity by the author and raised many questions for our group to discuss including who we might wish to raise a toast to in our lives. Several readers did not like the main character, Maurice, but all found it an easy, accessible read. At the end there is a letter to a son and an inevitable outcome. A poignant novel with a few laughs along the way.
Book club score: 7.5/10

June - Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

With topical relevance, our discussion questions for this book were AI generated this evening. While the story was not to everyone's liking it raised many questions about love and friendship, parental pressure and decisions, belief systems, whether machines are capable of emotional feelings and the impact of unchecked "progress" in our world. In fact there was so much contained in Kazuo Ishiguro's writing that it is difficult to encompass it all in one short review.

The story is told through Klara's vision of the human world. She is an artificial friend with an exceptional talent for observation. There were some pertinent details as Klara often had to make rapid adjustments to new situations, with pixilated 'vision', and noted pollution, interactions and time spent with the 'oblong'. Ultimately the novel reveals the inadequacy of humans adjusting to a rapidly changing world with significant social challenges, love in several forms, coping with mourning and the disposal of the outdated.
Book club score: 6.7/10.

July - That Bone Setter Woman by Francis Quinn

An older, physically beautiful sister is unmarried and pregnant. She is sent away to live with an aunt in London accompanied by her younger, clumsy and well-built sister. Both sisters have ambitions and the younger, Durie's, is unusual. She wants to be a Bone Setter like her father.

The novel was inspired by a real life, 18th century, female Bone Setter, an occupation that was previously little known by our group. The challenges facing women at the time were further beset by misogyny and prejudice. Durie, a much liked character, demonstrated determination and resilience to be accepted and progress in her chosen work. But everyone has a weakness and Durie's was a yearning to be loved. Add to this a selfish and spiteful sister, a very business savvy aunt (but not without poor judgement in matters of men and love) and a group of male doctors that would rival some of today's social media trolls, we have an easy to read, if somewhat predictable, story. An interesting account of 1750's social history.

Book club score: 7.3/10

August - The Sewing Machine by Natalie Fergie

With an intriguing start, Natalie Fergie links several periods of the 20th and 21st centuries together to form a warm hearted novel. The Sewing Machine features large in the lives of the characters and gives a background to the social history of each era.

A long lost letter is discovered and posted. The mystery of what the letter contains is not revealed until the end of the novel but has links to several characters across the decades. They all use a Singer Sewing Machine manufactured in the Glasgow factory, which once had its own railway station for the workers. The main characters are likeable and we are given an insight to changing working lives and, in particular, the impact of social changes and challenges on women. Some of the jumps between the eras was perhaps over used and a little confusing at times, but the author was always clear about who was narrating each chapter. Our group liked the small details that brought the story, and social history, to life.

The crafters among us especially enjoyed the way records of the machine's work were kept, using brief descriptions and a scrap of fabric in note books. We were also reminded of the importance of "make do and mend", especially at times of hardship, and the rise of upcyling and repurposing today. The history of the Singer Sewing Machine factory in Glasgow was also enlightening. At one time it was the biggest sewing machine factory in Europe, possibly the world, and at it's height of production employed 16,000 workers. The factory close in 1980 but many Singer machines are still in use today.

Overall this was an enjoyable read about ordinary, hard working people, love and kindness.

Book club score: 7.7/10.

September - Light Over Liskeard by Louis de Bernieres

The story starts with a dream, or is it a dream within a dream? Set in the not too distant future Humans have made them selves pretty much redundant, walk around (if they walk at all) in whatever historical or animal outfit they fancy and are reliant on their devices and self-drive cars. Q is a quantum cryptographer, earning a fortune by seeing off hacking attacks and devising similar attacks on behalf of the UK government. He foresees that the system is in danger of imminent collapse and decides to seek a simpler life by buying a derelict farm on Bodmin Moor. Relationships with family and new friends evolve and change as he builds his new life and learns practical skills.

The novel is populated with eccentric characters, formerly extinct rewilded animals and several happenings that can only be described as bizarre. It was a challenging read because of this and many felt that the author was being self-indulgent. However, it is well written and enjoys a sweeping range of vocabulary, there were many humorous moments and it gave rise to much discussion about how our own lives are evolving alongside technology and weather changes. After all, when was the last time hacking attacks impacted many in this country? It's bound to happen again...

Book club score: 5.6/10.

October - Songbirds by Christy Lefteri

Many women from South East Asia leave their homes and families to seek a better life and work in other countries. For most this search is driven by poverty in their own lands in which, women in particular, are unable to earn sufficient to house and feed their families. Nisha is such a woman, widowed young and with a daughter and mother to care for she goes to Cyprus to work as a maid and send money home for their needs.

The novel is narrated through the eyes of her friend Yiannis and employer Petra. From the start we are introduced to the analogy of bird hunting as Yiannis traps, then kills, migrating songbirds in mist nets for sale to high end restaurants. Nisha is luckier than many, having been employed by Petra, also a widow and mother, and housed in good living conditions. However, she is trapped by the poverty at home and the extortionate fees charged by the agency that made the arrangements for her to work in Cyprus. While Nisha and Petra have much in common, Petra is unaware of her maid's life and takes her employee for granted. When Nisha goes missing, to the reader, there are a number of possibilities for her plight. What soon becomes clear is that the two people searching for her are dismissed by the authorities who view Nisha as a person of no relevance. They are not deterred and continue their own difficult and heart-breaking search.

The story is cleverly constructed and, for most, our views of Yiannis and Petra changed as the novel progressed. The beauty of countries such as Sri Lanka and Cyprus is astutely contrasted with the dreadful living conditions of many. Although a little slow and repetitive in places, the undercurrent of foreboding, believable characters and the dreadful conditions for many migrant workers (even when legal) was well expressed and memorable.

Book club score: 7.6/10.

April - The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah