This group started in 1986 and limits its membership to 11 people.

Over time our reading has ranged widely to include books published during the preceding 50 years, but currently we are confining our choices to books published in or since 2000. Books chosen must be available in paperback.

Each year members introduce a book of their own choosing to the rest of the group, their presentations forming the basis for the subsequent, often very lively, discussions. They advise the group leader by October every year which book they would like to present in the following year so that a reading list can be prepared and circulated in good time.

John Mullan’s book "How novels work", based upon his weekly Guardian column "Elements of fiction" aimed at reading groups, has proved useful to some members in the preparation of their presentations but no-one need feel bound to follow his suggestions.