Still Life by Sarah Winman is a happy book about love, loss and recovery in chosen family. The characters and places are beautifully described and create gorgeous visual images. Winman addresses the topics of age differences and gender attractions well without making them appear false or contrived. She tackles difficult human stories whilst maintaining the…

We all agreed that Lessons in Chemistry was excellent in almost every way. Garmus captures people brilliantly. The writing is witty, joyful, full of comedy - often black. Her criticism of the pharmaceutical industry is astute and she writes with authority on misogyny and women who bully in the workplace. She brings together tough subjects…

Although a challenging read, most members thought it was an excellent book and empathised with the main characters, who were likeable and relatable. Themes covered almost all of the issues arising today in contemporary western society: death and bereavement, mental health, urban poverty, unemployment, racism, adolescence, bullying, loneliness, ageism, homelessness, social isolation, drugs and addiction,…