More A Way Of Life… Look, this is just between you and me

The Book Group

I've talked about this on and off over the years, but I'm determined that I should finally do something about it.

I really, really need to get some non-work, purely social activity into my regular schedule, because my social skills are in the process of dying on the vine.  So the much-mooted book group is back on the agenda.

I'll mail a few likely contenders, but more generally, is anyone up for forming a book group?

Over three years ago, when I first seriously raised this prospect, I outlined a set of working principles, which I repeat with minor amends:

• A reasonable-sized group (maybe up to five/six people), for obvious logistical reasons based geographically close together (ie probably in or around London in this instance, possibly just South London given that even getting across London can be a major exercise).
• Each member of the group hosts a meeting in turn.
• Meetings are held monthly to six-weekly.
• The host of each meeting chooses the book (or possibly occasionally a film for variety) for review/discussion.
• Everyone commits to reading/viewing the specified item and being prepared to discuss it.
• Generally, I think the focus should primarily be fiction, with perhaps the odd non-fiction item thrown in, but I’m flexible regarding form.
• Total cost - a book every month to six weeks and occasionally hosting a get-together.
• Everything else is negotiable.

I'll host an opening session, and the first book would be Bleak House - any takers?