Dear walking book clubbers,

Somehow the weather gods smiled on us once again! Thank you so much to all of you who joined me for our beautiful blossommy walks in Regent’s Park and on the Heath. And extra thanks, as ever, to Lucy for baking some deliciously 1970s Black Forest brownies. We had much to say about this book, which some people loved to bits, others were luke-warm about and a few gave a solid thumbs down - it made for a great discussion about Improv, class, tea leaves, clothes and much much more.

In case you missed our walking book clubs this time and are keen to discover more about The Bottle Factory Outing by Beryl Bainbridge, please do join me tonight on Zoom where we’ll be continuing the conversation.

Our Zooms are open to everyone. It’s a chance to come together and share thoughts about the book for those who’ve read it; other members, who’ve not yet had a chance to pick up the book, are welcome to join and contribute or just listen as they like. We are usually around 5-20 people on Zoom, a more intimate crowd than our walks, and I’m always fascinated to hear where people are dialling in from - stretching from Hampstead to France and even Florida! Hope to catch you later:

Emily’s Zoom Book Club: Monday 20th April , 8-9pm, £1-15

• Everyone is welcome, whether or not you’ve read the book.

• Feel free to enjoy a glass of wine / dinner / some knitting while you chat. I usually have a whisky in hand - though having read this particular book, I might rethink!…

It is helpful if you can book via Eventbrite using the button below, and pay £1-15.

Book your April Zoom

However, I realise that things often go wrong trying to connect in this way, so please do fee free to join the zoom directly using the link HERE and details:

Meeting ID: 882 4343 6409 | Passcode: Bainbridge

Do have a look at the last couple of newsletters for my webcast (HERE) and my intro to the book (HERE), and a reminder that you can buy it from Daunt Books HERE and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout, or just tell them you’re in Emily’s Walking Book Club if you’re buying it in the shop.

📚🚶May

Owls do Cry by Janet Frame

This luminous masterpiece of New Zealand modernist literature follows the Withers family over the course of two decades, from an impoverished but imaginative rural childhood to a powerful exploration of adult lives that don’t conform to the rigid expectations of post-war society. This extraordinary book is made all the more poignant by Janet Frame’s own harrowing experience in psychiatric institutions.

Keen to discover more? If you’ve not yet done so do watch Jane Campion’s beautiful film adaption of Janet Frame’s memoir An Angel at My Table, the trailer is HERE.

In Regent’s Park: Friday 15th May, 12-1.45pm, setting off from Daunt Books, 84 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QW, £8-£20

Book your May Regent's Park walk

On Hampstead Heath: Sunday 17th May , 11.30-1pm, setting off from Daunt Books Hampstead, 51 South End Road, NW3 2QB, £8-£20

Book your May Hampstead Heath walk

On Zoom: Monday 18th May, 8-9pm, £1-£15

Book your May Zoom

Buy Owls do Cry from Daunt Books HERE and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout, or just tell them you’re in Emily’s Walking Book Club if you’re buying it in the shop.

Next week, look out for April’s On My Reading Radar - considering doing a Provence special...

Happy reading,

Emily

I hope you all had a lovely Easter. For many of us it’s back to school/work/real life today, and I hope that a bit of time with Beryl Bainbridge might ease that transition for you!

I’m very much looking forward to seeing you THIS FRIDAY, SUNDAY and also on Zoom next Monday evening. See below for booking links.

Keep on scrolling to find a rather bleary-eyed webcast. I hope you enjoy the reading and a little chat about the book.

And in case you missed it last week, here is my introductory post with notes and links:

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📚🚶Our April The Bottle Factory Outing events

Please note that for the benefit of your fellow walkers, you need to have read the book before coming along to a walking book club. If you’ve not read the book, you are encouraged to join the Zoom instead.

In Regent’s Park: Friday 17th April, 12-1.45pm, setting off from Daunt Books, 84 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QW, £8-£20

Book your April Regent's Park walk

On Hampstead Heath: Sunday 19th April , 11.30-1pm, setting off from Daunt Books Hampstead, 51 South End Road, NW3 2QB, £8-£20

Book your April Hampstead Heath walk

On Zoom: Monday 20th April, 8-9pm, £1-£15

Book your April Zoom

Buy The Bottle Factory Outing from Daunt Books HERE and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout, or just tell them you’re in Emily’s Walking Book Club if you’re buying it in the shop.

Subscribe now

The April Webcast

I hope you enjoy this introductory chat about The Bottle Factory Outing which I recorded very early before catching the train to France. The reading has a bit of an Eastery theme…

If you do like the webcast, I’d be grateful if you could like or comment on it over on YouTube so the algorithm knows we matter and more people can discover our books and book club. In case you’d like to see more of these little videos, you can find them about all our books from the past few years on my YouTube channel: @emilyrhodeswriter.

📚🚶May

Owls do Cry by Janet Frame

This luminous masterpiece of New Zealand modernist literature follows the Withers family over the course of two decades, from an impoverished but imaginative rural childhood to a powerful exploration of adult lives that don’t conform to the rigid expectations of post-war society. This extraordinary book is made all the more poignant by Janet Frame’s own harrowing experience in psychiatric institutions.

Keen to discover more? If you’ve not yet done so do watch Jane Campion’s beautiful film adaption of Janet Frame’s memoir An Angel at My Table, the trailer is HERE.

In Regent’s Park: Friday 15th May, 12-1.45pm, setting off from Daunt Books, 84 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QW, £8-£20

Book your May Regent's Park walk

On Hampstead Heath: Sunday 17th May , 11.30-1pm, setting off from Daunt Books Hampstead, 51 South End Road, NW3 2QB, £8-£20

Book your May Hampstead Heath walk

On Zoom: Monday 18th May, 8-9pm, £1-£15

Book your May Zoom

Buy Owls do Cry from Daunt Books HERE and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout, or just tell them you’re in Emily’s Walking Book Club if you’re buying it in the shop.

Happy reading!

Emily

Dear walking book clubbers,

I can’t wait to hear everyone’s thoughts about this wacky, dark novel - or ‘deftly distorted’ autobiography as AN Wilson described it in his obituary (see below). Beryl Bainbridge’s sharply observed novel about two women, who share a bedsit (indeed even a bed, with a divisive line of books down the middle!) and work in the titular bottle factory in 1970s Camden Town is truly one of a kind!

Read on to find:

• Details of our April events, including booking links for all three meet ups.

• Discussion points to get you thinking about The Bottle Factory Outing

• Links to read and listen on.

• News of May.

Subscribe now

Our April The Bottle Factory Outing events

Please note that for the benefit of your fellow walkers, you need to have read the book before coming along to a walking book club. If you’ve not read the book, you are encouraged to join the Zoom instead.

In Regent’s Park: Friday 17th April, 12-1.45pm, setting off from Daunt Books, 84 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QW, £8-£20

Book your April Regent's Park walk

On Hampstead Heath: Sunday 19th April , 11.30-1pm, setting off from Daunt Books Hampstead, 51 South End Road, NW3 2QB, £8-£20

Book your April Hampstead Heath walk

On Zoom: Monday 20th April, 8-9pm, £1-£15

Book your April Zoom

Buy The Bottle Factory Outing from Daunt Books HERE and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout, or just tell them you’re in Emily’s Walking Book Club if you’re buying it in the shop.

Subscribe now

The Bottle Factory Outing by Beryl Bainbridge

Introduction & Discussion Points

This darkly comic novel by beloved ‘Booker Bridesmaid’ Beryl Bainbridge follows the misadventures of romantic, domineering Freda and shy, nervous Brenda in 1970s London. From the sharply portrayed social tensions in the wine-bottling factory where they work, to the surreal tragedy that develops when Freda organises an excursion, Graham Greene did well to describe the novel as: ‘outrageously funny and horrifying’.

Here are a few pointers to spark ideas:

Clothes

I know this can’t really be considered a key point but could we take just a moment to appreciate the incredible clothes in the book?! Do you have a favourite outfit? Potentially Patrick, topless save for Brenda’s bright blue dressing-gown, which ‘swirled out like a skirt above his trousers and the gleaming tops of his cherry-blossom boots’? Hard to beat that, but there are certainly some other brilliant combos here.

Community

I liked the way Bainbridge talks in her short clip from The Review Show (see below) about this Italian community in London that is so respectful of authority. Our time with the rural Italians supplanted to London comes just after our time with uprooted Chinese men in Mr Ma and Son, fifty years earlier and there is such a contrast here. What did you make of this little pocket of Italy in London? How did Freda and Brenda connect with it?

Plot

Don’t worry, no real spoilers here, but I think it’s fair to say there’s a feeling of menace and some sinister hints of things to come even from the very first page. But I was surprised time and again by the events of the book. I certainly didn’t expect Brenda’s mother-in-law to show up with a revolver! Did you enjoy being taken on a wild ride, or did you find it too improbable? And, by the end, do you have a clear idea of what actually happened, or does the truth remain unclear?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on all this and more when we meet up later this month.

Subscribe now

Discover more about Beryl Bainbridge

Hopefully you’ve already read THIS enthusiastic piece by Sam Jordison for the Guardian’s book club. Discover more about her life, which was the basis for some of her novels- including this one! - in AN Wilson’s obituary for the Guardian, HERE. There’s more about her life and work in THIS expansive recent piece by Susie Goldborough for The Times (I’ve tried to share but there may be a paywall), and you might also enjoy THIS piece by Susannah Clapp for the LRB about Brendan King’s biography.

Spoiler alert here, so I’d only watch this after reading the book, but in THIS wonderful 4-minute clip from BBC’s The Review Show we see Bainbridge talking about the book.

You can listen to Harriet Gilbert enthuse about the novel in THIS vintage episode of A Good Read, and of course Bainbridge has an episode of Desert Island Discs too, HERE - enjoy!

📚🚶May

Owls do Cry by Janet Frame

This luminous masterpiece of New Zealand modernist literature follows the Withers family over the course of two decades, from an impoverished but imaginative rural childhood to a powerful exploration of adult lives that don’t conform to the rigid expectations of post-war society. This extraordinary book is made all the more poignant by Janet Frame’s own harrowing experience in psychiatric institutions.

Keen to discover more? If you’ve not yet done so do watch Jane Campion’s beautiful film adaption of Janet Frame’s memoir An Angel at My Table, the trailer is HERE.

In Regent’s Park: Friday 15th May, 12-1.45pm, setting off from Daunt Books, 84 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QW, £8-£20

Book your May Regent's Park walk

On Hampstead Heath: Sunday 17th May , 11.30-1pm, setting off from Daunt Books Hampstead, 51 South End Road, NW3 2QB, £8-£20

Book your May Hampstead Heath walk

On Zoom: Monday 18th May, 8-9pm, £1-£15

Book your May Zoom

Buy Owls do Cry from Daunt Books HERE and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout, or just tell them you’re in Emily’s Walking Book Club if you’re buying it in the shop.

Happy reading,

Emily

Before the Easter break, I’m thrilled to share with you some of my cultural highlights of the last few weeks, as well as a few things to look forward to!

From Clarence House to Limehouse…

I still can’t quite believe this happened! My work setting up Bookbanks made me a finalist for a new “National Reading Hero” medal created by the wonderful Queen’s Reading Room. Not only did I get to chat to the King and Queen, but also the likes of Lee Child, Ann Cleeves, David Nicholls and other book world big wigs. And let’s not forget the other shortlisted people, including Sheila Hayman from Freedom from Torture, and winner Selina Brown of the Black British Book Festival. It was certainly a night to remember, and is a great moment to send huge thanks to the many of you are such generous supporters of Bookbanks - I couldn’t have got there without you.

Thanks also to Michael and Carole for sending me the link to THIS lovely piece on Spitalfields Life about THIS fascinating and free new exhibition about Chinese lives in Limehouse - a perfect fit for our March reading.

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Viewing

I enjoyed being completely immersed in 1970s Brazil in the Oscar-nominated film, A Secret Agent. Quite. Moreover, I loved seeing it at The Garden Cinema - as you can see from the pic, what an incredible venue! A must for any cinephile.

I also loved hearing everyone’s glowing reports of A Pale View of the Hills.

And - of course - I was moved to tears by Netflix’s I Swear.

Next up, I’ve got two operas booked in, which is a bit of a treat:

• Rigoletto at the Opera House

• Orfeo at Glyndebourne, which is directed by the artist William Kentridge, so looks extra exciting!

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Talks

On 5th May, please come and say hi when I’m interviewing Nell Frizzell at The Owl Bookshop in Kentish Town about her Ladies’ Pond book - it’s always such a delight to see your friendly faces there, and have a glass of wine together.

Also the kind people at Kent House Series, in Knightsbridge, are offering us 10% off tickets to see author Tom Bradby, ITV’s news guy, talk about his new thriller Red Scorpion on 16th April. Details HERE, just use the code BOOKCLUB2026 at checkout.

📚🚶April

The Bottle Factory Outing by Beryl Bainbridge

This darkly comic novel by beloved ‘Booker Bridesmaid’ Beryl Bainbridge follows the misadventures of romantic, domineering Freda and shy, nervous Brenda in 1970s London. From the sharply portrayed social tensions in the wine-bottling factory where they work, to the surreal tragedy that develops when Freda organises an excursion, Graham Greene did well to describe the novel as: ‘outrageously funny and horrifying’.

Keen to discover more? THIS enthusiastic take by Sam Jordison for the Guardian is brilliant.

In Regent’s Park: Friday 17th April, 12-1.45pm, setting off from Daunt Books, 84 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QW, £8-£20

Book your April Regent's Park walk

On Hampstead Heath: Sunday 19th April , 11.30-1pm, setting off from Daunt Books Hampstead, 51 South End Road, NW3 2QB, £8-£20

Book your April Hampstead Heath walk

On Zoom: Monday 20th April, 8-9pm, £1-£15

Book your April Zoom

Buy The Bottle Factory Outing from Daunt Books HERE and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout, or just tell them you’re in Emily’s Walking Book Club if you’re buying it in the shop.

A reminder that you can see all our upcoming books and events HERE.

Next week, look out for my introduction to our next book.

Happy reading!

Emily

Dear walking book clubbers,

What a joy to be in the sunshine again, and discussing Mr Ma and Son by Lao She, translated by William Dolby - a beautiful book about Chinese life in 1920s London. I wonder if this could have been the very bench where Mrs Wedderburn sits down, daydreams and then loses her dog, Napoleon?!?

I’m incredibly grateful both to La Fromagerie for providing delicious snacks for the Daunt Books Festival Regent’s Park walk; Lucy - as ever! - for our Hampstead Heath spiced almond biscuits, and also to Badiani Gelato, who offered us all free ice cream at the end. Who knew that reading could bring in so many delicious treats? Speaking of which, it’s been great hearing from you all about the fun night out at the film screening of A Pale View from the Hills - and I loved thinking of you all bumping into each other there, brandishing our book club book as a secret signal.

In case you missed our walking book clubs this time and are keen to discover more about Mr Ma and Son, please do join me tonight on Zoom where we’ll be continuing the conversation.

Our Zooms are open to everyone. It’s a chance to come together and share thoughts about the book for those who’ve read it; other members, who’ve not yet had a chance to pick up the book, are welcome to join and contribute or just listen as they like. We are usually around 5-20 people on Zoom, a more intimate crowd than our walks, and I’m always fascinated to hear where people are dialling in from - stretching from Hampstead to France and even Florida! Hope to catch you later:

Emily’s Zoom Book Club: Monday 23rd March, 8-9pm, £1-15

• Everyone is welcome, whether or not you’ve read the book.

• Feel free to enjoy a glass of wine / dinner / some knitting while you chat. I usually have a whisky in hand - though having read this particular book, I might rethink!…

It is helpful if you can book via Eventbrite using the button below, and pay £1-15. However, I realise that things often go wrong trying to connect in this way, so please do fee free to join the zoom directly using the link HERE and details:

Meeting ID: 819 6234 0407 | Passcode: She

Book your March Zoom

📚🚶April

The Bottle Factory Outing by Beryl Bainbridge

This darkly comic novel by beloved ‘Booker Bridesmaid’ Beryl Bainbridge follows the misadventures of romantic, domineering Freda and shy, nervous Brenda in 1970s London. From the sharply portrayed social tensions in the wine-bottling factory where they work, to the surreal tragedy that develops when Freda organises an excursion, Graham Greene did well to describe the novel as: ‘outrageously funny and horrifying’.

Keen to discover more? THIS enthusiastic take by Sam Jordison for the Guardian is brilliant.

In Regent’s Park: Friday 17th April, 12-1.45pm, setting off from Daunt Books, 84 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QW, £8-£20

Book your April Regent's Park walk

On Hampstead Heath: Sunday 19th April , 11.30-1pm, setting off from Daunt Books Hampstead, 51 South End Road, NW3 2QB, £8-£20

Book your April Hampstead Heath walk

On Zoom: Monday 20th April, 8-9pm, £1-£15

Book your April Zoom

Buy The Bottle Factory Outing from Daunt Books HERE and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout, or just tell them you’re in Emily’s Walking Book Club if you’re buying it in the shop.

A reminder that you can see all our upcoming books and events HERE.

Next week, look out for my March cultural round up landing in your inbox.

Happy reading!

Emily

How are you getting on with Mr Ma and Son? I’ve really enjoyed spending some time moseying around 1920s London in their company.

I’m excited to see some of you later this week, for our Friday morning Regent’s Park walk at the Daunt Books Festival (note the earlier start time and see the full line up HERE), or on Hampstead Heath on Sunday. This glorious Spring weather is set to stay! Scroll down to find this month’s webcast - an introductory chat about and reading from the book.

In case you missed it, you can find my introductory post with notes and links about the book, here:

So get reading, and I’ll look forward to seeing you very soon!

ICYMI, here is the post announcing all our next books!

Subscribe now

📚🚶Our March Mr Ma and Son events

Please note that for the benefit of your fellow walkers, you need to have read the book before coming along to a walking book club. If you’ve not read the book, you are encouraged to join the Zoom instead.

In Regent’s Park with the Daunt Books Festival: Friday 20th March, 10am-11.45, setting off from Daunt Books, 84 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QW, £10

PLEASE NOTE THE EARLIER START TIME

Buy your March Festival Walk ticket

On Hampstead Heath: Sunday 22nd March, 11.30-1pm, setting off from Daunt Books Hampstead, 51 South End Road, NW3 2QB, £8-£20

Book your March Hampstead Heath walk

On Zoom: Monday 23rd March, 8-9pm, £1-£15

Book your March Zoom

Buy Mr Ma and Son from Daunt Books HERE and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout, or just tell them you’re in Emily’s Walking Book Club if you’re buying it in the shop.

Subscribe now

The March Webcast

I hope you enjoy this introductory chat about and reading from Mr Ma and Son. I talk

If you do like the webcast, I’d be grateful if you could like or comment on it over on YouTube so the algorithm knows we matter and more people can discover our books and book club. In case you’d like to see more of these little videos, you can find them about all our books from the past few years on my YouTube channel: @emilyrhodeswriter.

📚🚶April

The Bottle Factory Outing by Beryl Bainbridge

This darkly comic novel by beloved ‘Booker Bridesmaid’ Beryl Bainbridge follows the misadventures of romantic, domineering Freda and shy, nervous Brenda in 1970s London. From the sharply portrayed social tensions in the wine-bottling factory where they work, to the surreal tragedy that develops when Freda organises an excursion, Graham Greene did well to describe the novel as: ‘outrageously funny and horrifying’.

Keen to discover more? THIS enthusiastic take by Sam Jordison for the Guardian is brilliant.

In Regent’s Park: Friday 17th April, 12-1.45pm, setting off from Daunt Books, 84 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QW, £8-£20

Book your April Regent's Park walk

On Hampstead Heath: Sunday 19th April , 11.30-1pm, setting off from Daunt Books Hampstead, 51 South End Road, NW3 2QB, £8-£20

Book your April Hampstead Heath walk

On Zoom: Monday 20th April, 8-9pm, £1-£15

Book your April Zoom

Buy The Bottle Factory Outing from Daunt Books HERE and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout, or just tell them you’re in Emily’s Walking Book Club if you’re buying it in the shop.

Happy reading,

Emily

I hope you’re enjoying spending some time with Mr Ma and Son - booking links for our next walks below, and look out for our webcast landing in your inbox next week.

But now, it’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for. I’m really excited to share with you our next four books:

• April: The Bottle Factory Outing by Beryl Bainbridge

  Friday 17 Regent’s Park | Sunday 19 Hampstead Heath | Monday 20 Zoom

• May: Owls do Cry by Janet Frame

  Friday 15 Regent’s Park | Sunday 17 Hampstead Heath | Monday 18 Zoom

• June: The Return by Hisham Matar

  Friday 12 Regent’s Park | Sunday 14 Hampstead Heath | Monday 15 Zoom

• July: The Greengage Summer by Rumer Godden

  Friday 10 Regent’s Park | Sunday 12 Hampstead Heath | Monday 13 Zoom

If you would like to book on to all four of our Regent’s Park walks, you can do so here:

Book all 4 Regent's Park walks

If you would like to book on to all four of our Hampstead Heath walks, you can do so here:

Book all 4 Hampstead Heath walks

Or please scroll down to find links to book tickets for individual events, after details for March…

📚🚶Our March Mr Ma and Son events

Please note that for the benefit of your fellow walkers, you need to have read the book before coming along to a walking book club. If you’ve not read the book, you are encouraged to join the Zoom instead.

In Regent’s Park with the Daunt Books Festival: Friday 20th March, 10am-11.45, setting off from Daunt Books, 84 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QW, £10

PLEASE NOTE THE EARLIER START TIME

Buy your March Festival Walk ticket

On Hampstead Heath: Sunday 22nd March, 11.30-1pm, setting off from Daunt Books Hampstead, 51 South End Road, NW3 2QB, £8-£20

Book your March Hampstead Heath walk

On Zoom: Monday 23rd March, 8-9pm, £1-£15

Book your March Zoom

Buy Mr Ma and Son from Daunt Books HERE and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout, or just tell them you’re in Emily’s Walking Book Club if you’re buying it in the shop.

Subscribe now

📚🚶April

The Bottle Factory Outing by Beryl Bainbridge

This darkly comic novel by beloved ‘Booker Bridesmaid’ Beryl Bainbridge follows the misadventures of romantic, domineering Freda and shy, nervous Brenda in 1970s London. From the sharply portrayed social tensions in the wine-bottling factory where they work, to the surreal tragedy that develops when Freda organises an excursion, Graham Greene did well to describe the novel as: ‘outrageously funny and horrifying’.

Keen to discover more? THIS enthusiastic take by Sam Jordison for the Guardian is brilliant.

In Regent’s Park: Friday 17th April, 12-1.45pm, setting off from Daunt Books, 84 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QW, £8-£20

Book your April Regent's Park walk

On Hampstead Heath: Sunday 19th April , 11.30-1pm, setting off from Daunt Books Hampstead, 51 South End Road, NW3 2QB, £8-£20

Book your April Hampstead Heath walk

On Zoom: Monday 20th April, 8-9pm, £1-£15

Book your April Zoom

Buy The Bottle Factory Outing from Daunt Books HERE and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout, or just tell them you’re in Emily’s Walking Book Club if you’re buying it in the shop.

Subscribe now

📚🚶May

Owls do Cry by Janet Frame

This luminous masterpiece of New Zealand modernist literature follows the Withers family over the course of two decades, from an impoverished but imaginative rural childhood to a powerful exploration of adult lives that don’t conform to the rigid expectations of post-war society. This extraordinary book is made all the more poignant by Janet Frame’s own harrowing experience in psychiatric institutions.

Keen to discover more? If you’ve not yet done so do watch Jane Campion’s beautiful film adaption of Janet Frame’s memoir An Angel at My Table, the trailer is HERE.

In Regent’s Park: Friday 15th May, 12-1.45pm, setting off from Daunt Books, 84 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QW, £8-£20

Book your May Regent's Park walk

On Hampstead Heath: Sunday 17th May , 11.30-1pm, setting off from Daunt Books Hampstead, 51 South End Road, NW3 2QB, £8-£20

Book your May Hampstead Heath walk

On Zoom: Monday 18th May, 8-9pm, £1-£15

Book your May Zoom

Buy Owls do Cry from Daunt Books HERE and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout, or just tell them you’re in Emily’s Walking Book Club if you’re buying it in the shop.

Subscribe now

📚🚶June

The Return by Hisham Matar

In this award-winning memoir, Matar returns to his native Libya after 30 years in exile, searching for the truth behind the disappearance of his father, a political dissident under the Qaddafi regime. Part travelogue, part political history, part family portrait, and part exploration of grief, this intense and lyrical book is ultimately a testament to human resilience.

Keen to discover more? HERE is a one-minute interview with him about the book.

In Regent’s Park: Friday 12th June, 12-1.45pm, setting off from Daunt Books, 84 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QW, £8-£20

Book your June Regent's Park walk

On Hampstead Heath: Sunday 14th June, 11.30-1pm, setting off from Daunt Books Hampstead, 51 South End Road, NW3 2QB, £8-£20

Book your June Hampstead Heath walk

On Zoom: Monday 15th June, 8-9pm, £1-£15

Book your June Zoom

Buy The Return from Daunt Books HERE and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout, or just tell them you’re in Emily’s Walking Book Club if you’re buying it in the shop.

Subscribe now

📚🚶July

The Greengage Summer by Rumer Godden

This evocative, tense coming-of-age story, written in 1958 and set in France soon after the First World War, follows five English children, who are stranded in a French hotel when their mother is taken ill. Narrated by 13-year-old Cecil, a summer of freedom rapidly sours into a shocking discovery of adult desire and deceit.

Keen to discover more? HERE is a really lovely, illustrated piece by Hugh Schofield for the BBC about visiting Château-Thierry, where it’s set, many years’ on.

In Regent’s Park: Friday 10th July, 12-1.45pm, setting off from Daunt Books, 84 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QW, £8-£20

Book your July Regent's Park walk

Opening the Idler Festival: Friday 10th July, 4.30 - 6pm, setting off from Fenton House, Hampstead Grove, London NW3 6RT, £155 (for the whole festival weekend!)

Buy your Idler Festival ticket

On Hampstead Heath: Sunday 12th July, 11.30-1pm, setting off from Daunt Books Hampstead, 51 South End Road, NW3 2QB, £8-£20

Book your July Hampstead Heath walk

On Zoom: Monday 13th July, 8-9pm, £1-£15

Book your July Zoom

Buy The Greengage Summer from Daunt Books HERE and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout, or just tell them you’re in Emily’s Walking Book Club if you’re buying it in the shop.

Here are those links to book onto all the walks again.

If you would like to book on to all four of our Regent’s Park walks, you can do so here:

Book all 4 Regent's Park walks

If you would like to book on to all four of our Hampstead Heath walks, you can do so here:

Book all 4 Hampstead Heath walks

Happy reading,

Emily

In true Emily’s Walking Book Club tradition, it’s time to guess the books!

Can you spot what we will be reading over the Spring and Summer months?

Please DON’T leave a comment!

All will be revealed, along with booking links in Monday morning’s newsletter.

In the meantime, here are the dates for your diary:

April 17 Regent’s Park | April 19 Hampstead Heath | April 20 Zoom

May 15 Regent’s Park | May 17 Hampstead Heath | May 18 Zoom

June 12 Regent’s Park | June 14 Hampstead Heath | June 15 Zoom

July 10 Regent’s Park | July 12 Hampstead Heath | July 13 Zoom

Happy reading,

Emily

Dear walking book clubbers,

I’m excited to share this lost gem of a London novel with you, written in the 1920s from a Chinese perspective. It’s fascinating! I’ve been really enjoying getting lost in this world that feels so familiar, seen from a refreshingly new angle - it’s quite uncanny.

Also, we have rather a special invitation:

The lovely people who are working on the film release of A Pale View of the Hills (adapted from the Ishiguro novel) have invited us to a preview screening at 6pm on 10th March at the Vue West End. I’m gutted that I can’t make it, but I would love to extend the invitation to you all. They have 10 spaces for Emily’s Walking Book Club, so if you’d like to take one of them please reply to this email so I can put your name on the list. It’s totally free, including a complimentary drink. First come, first served.

Read on to find:

• Details of our March events, including booking links for all three meet ups (including the Daunt Books Festival one).

• Discussion points to get you thinking about Mr Ma and Son.

• Links to read and listen on.

• Dates for April - July.

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Our March Mr Ma and Son events

Please note that for the benefit of your fellow walkers, you need to have read the book before coming along to a walking book club. If you’ve not read the book, you are encouraged to join the Zoom instead.

In Regent’s Park with the Daunt Books Festival: Friday 20th March, 10am-11.45, setting off from Daunt Books, 84 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QW, £10

PLEASE NOTE THE EARLIER START TIME

Buy your March Festival Walk ticket

On Hampstead Heath: Sunday 22nd March, 11.30-1pm, setting off from Daunt Books Hampstead, 51 South End Road, NW3 2QB, £8-£20

Book your March Hampstead Heath walk

On Zoom: Monday 23rd March, 8-9pm, £1-£15

Book your March Zoom

Buy Mr Ma and Son from Daunt Books HERE and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout, or just tell them you’re in Emily’s Walking Book Club if you’re buying it in the shop.

Subscribe now

Mr Ma and Son by Lao She, translated by William Dolby

Introduction & Discussion Points

Mr Ma and his son Ma Wei run an antiques shop tucked away in a quiet street by St Paul’s Cathedral. Far from their native Peking, they struggle to navigate the bustling London pavements and numerous social conventions. Inspired by the celebrated author’s time teaching at SOAS, and originally written for a Chinese readership, this is an eye-opening, moving, compelling and at times very funny portrait of a Chinese immigrant experience in 1920s London.

Here are a few pointers to spark your ideas:

Outsiders

Mr Ma and Ma Wei are very much outsiders in 1920s London, as the author Lao She would have been when he lived here, while teaching at SOAS. What’s the impact of their outsider status? Where and how do you see them being demonised? Does this othering also give them a good position to observe the English?

Accessibility

Lao She is celebrated for his contribution to making Chinese literature more accessible, as part of the revolutionary May Fourth Movement. He advocated for the use of Baihua (or plain language) and a modern style rather than classical Chinese. We are (I’m assuming) all reading this novel in translation, but still, do you find it easy to read, or a challenge? I’m struck by how absolutely readable it is, and how easy it is to empathise with the Mas in spite of such a wide cultural and temporal divide.

English Literary influences

Many critics have pointed to Lao She’s love of English literature, and how his admiration both for the Victorians and the Moderns feeds into his work. Did you detect anything Dickensian in his tone, or characters? And how about Joyce, Conrad and Woolf - where did you feel their influence? What do you think is particularly distinct and stands apart from these influences, in Lao She’s writing?

I hope these get points you thinking! Looking forward to discussing them and much more in this gem of a book, when we meet up.

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Discover more about Lao She

If you enjoyed Anne Witchard’s Literary London piece (HERE), do also watch her five-minute video about Lao She in London (HERE) or for more depth, read her book about him (which seems to be free online, HERE).

I enjoyed THIS EPISODE of the Chinese Literature podcast, in which they discuss his sci-fi novel Cat Country, and also share some information about his life and political views, which together provide some helpful context when considering our novel.

THIS is a great piece about Lao She and his work, more generally, for the LA Review of Books by Paul French.

Finally, if you fancy treading in his footsteps, you can visit his blue plaque in Notting Hill (details HERE), and I am extremely intrigued “Mr Ma’s Afternoon Tea” on offer at Bloomsbury’s Academy Hotel (details HERE) - looks like a delightful treat!

📚🚶April - July dates

The books are very nearly confirmed (and I am soon to set aside a day or two writing them all up and creating a million pages on Eventbrite - possibly the slowest website to work with ever) but in the meantime, for those who are keen to plan ahead, please save these dates:

April 17 Regent’s Park | April 19 Hampstead Heath | April 20 Zoom

May 15 Regent’s Park | May 17 Hampstead Heath | May 18 Zoom

June 12 Regent’s Park | June 14 Hampstead Heath | June 15 Zoom

July 10 Regent’s Park | July 12 Hampstead Heath | July 13 Zoom

Happy reading,

Emily

It’s been such a pleasure discussing Naples ‘44 with you this month - even in abysmal weather. In our February webcast, which comes a little later in the month than usual, I introduce the book and discuss a couple of the points we really dwelt upon in our meet ups. I also read a bit out featuring the beloved Latarullo, and his aunt.

In case you missed it, you can find my introductory post with notes and links about the book, here:

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The February Webcast

I hope you enjoy this introductory chat about Naples ‘44 in which I talk a bit about women, belief, and why we all need Laturullo’s aunt.

If you do like the webcast, I’d be grateful if you could like or comment on it over on YouTube so the algorithm knows we matter and more people can discover our books and book club. In case you’d like to see more of these little videos, you can find them about all our books from the past few years on my YouTube channel: @emilyrhodeswriter.

📚🚶March

Mr Ma and Son by Lao She translated by William Dolby

Mr Ma and his son Ma Wei run an antiques shop tucked away in a quiet street by St Paul’s Cathedral. Far from their native Peking, they struggle to navigate the bustling London pavements and numerous social conventions. Inspired by the celebrated author’s time teaching at SOAS, and originally written for a Chinese readership, this is an eye-opening, moving, compelling and at times very funny portrait of a Chinese immigrant experience in 1920s London.

Keen to know more? Read THIS brilliant piece by Anne Witchard for Literary London.

In Regent’s Park with the Daunt Books Festival: Friday 20th March, 10am-11.45, setting off from Daunt Books, 84 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QW, £10

Buy your March Festival Walk ticket

On Hampstead Heath: Sunday 22nd March, 11.30-1pm, setting off from Daunt Books Hampstead, 51 South End Road, NW3 2QB, £8-£20

Book your March Hampstead Heath walk

On Zoom: Monday 23rd March, 8-9pm, £1-£15

Buy Mr Ma and Son from Daunt Books HERE and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout, or just tell them you’re in Emily’s Walking Book Club if you’re buying it in the shop.

Book your March Zoom

Look out next week for my introduction to our March book.

Happy reading,

Emily

Dear walking book clubbers,

Thank you SO much to those of you crazy people who braved the elements and joined me on the Heath for one of all-time wettest, coldest and muddiest walks. Alfie (as you can see) was distinctly unimpressed. But of course there were benefits to walking in terrible weather - we had the Heath pretty much to ourselves, and the mud was such that it even forced me on to a different route - an adventure! Huge thanks as ever to Lucy who baked us Neapolitan lemony biscuits which tasted like tiny discs of much-needed sunshine.

We all had a great deal to say about Naples ‘44, and in both our walks (Regent’s Park was slightly less muddy but still pretty wet), we couldn’t help but keep on finding points of comparison to Excellent Women, our last book. That they could be set just a decade apart, and be so unbelievably different in two of their key themes - the (limited) choices of women, and the role of the church in society - was remarkable to all of us.

In case you missed our walking discussions, and are keen to discover more about this fascinating, deeply loved classic, do join me tonight on Zoom when we’ll be continuing the conversation.

Our Zooms are open to everyone. It’s a chance to come together and share thoughts about the book for those who’ve read it; other members, who’ve not yet had a chance to pick up the book, are welcome to join and contribute or just listen as they like. We are usually around 5-15 people on Zoom, a more intimate crowd than our walks, and I’m always fascinated to hear where people are dialling in from - stretching from Hampstead to France and even Florida! Hope to catch you later:

Emily’s Zoom Book Club: Monday 16th February, 8-9pm, £1-15

• Everyone is welcome, whether or not you’ve read the book.

• Feel free to enjoy a glass of wine / bowl of pasta (in Neopolitan style!)/ some knitting while you chat. I usually have a whisky in hand, but am considering moving on to marsala with an egg…

It is helpful if you can book via Eventbrite using the button below, and pay £1-15. However, I realise that things often go wrong trying to connect in this way, so please do fee free to join the zoom directly using the link HERE and details:
Meeting ID: 899 5250 4055 | Passcode: Lewis

Book your February Zoom

In case you missed it you can read my introduction and find useful links about the book here:

And a reminder that you can buy Naples ‘44 from Daunt Books HERE and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout, or just tell them you’re in Emily’s Walking Book Club if you’re buying it in the shop. (N.B. This discount is just for you - I don’t get a commission!).

Look out next week for my webcast discussing the book, and sharing some of our thoughts on it.

📚🚶March

Mr Ma and Son by Lao She translated by William Dolby

Mr Ma and his son Ma Wei run an antiques shop tucked away in a quiet street by St Paul’s Cathedral. Far from their native Peking, they struggle to navigate the bustling London pavements and numerous social conventions. Inspired by the celebrated author’s time teaching at SOAS, and originally written for a Chinese readership, this is an eye-opening, moving, compelling and at times very funny portrait of a Chinese immigrant experience in 1920s London.

Keen to know more? Read THIS brilliant piece by Anne Witchard for Literary London.

In Regent’s Park with the Daunt Books Festival: Friday 20th March, 10am-11.45, setting off from Daunt Books, 84 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QW, £10

Buy your March Festival Walk ticket

On Hampstead Heath: Sunday 22nd March, 11.30-1pm, setting off from Daunt Books Hampstead, 51 South End Road, NW3 2QB, £8-£20

Book your March Hampstead Heath walk

On Zoom: Monday 23rd March, 8-9pm, £1-£15

Buy Mr Ma and Son from Daunt Books HERE and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout, or just tell them you’re in Emily’s Walking Book Club if you’re buying it in the shop.

Book your March Zoom

Happy reading!

Emily

Dear walking book clubbers,

Thanks to everyone who joined our January discussions of Barbara Pym’s Excellent Women. It was such an uplifting way to begin the year! Now, from post-war London back to wartime Naples (indeed it’s the world of Rockingham from Excellent Women!) and Norman Lewis’s fascinating chronicle of his life there as a British Intelligence Officer.

How are you getting on with Naples ‘44?

The timing is such (mostly to avoid clashing with half-term) that our walks are THIS FRIDAY and THIS SUNDAY, with our Zoom next Monday evening. Please use the links below to book your spot if you’ve not yet done so. Looking forward to seeing you and hopefully spotting some early signs of Spring on our walks.

Read on to find:

• Details of our February events, including booking links.

• Discussion points to get you thinking about Naples ‘44.

• Links to read and listen on.

• News of March, now on sale, including our Daunt Books Festival event.

Subscribe now

Our February Naples ‘44 events

Please note that for the benefit of your fellow walkers, you need to have read the book before coming along to a walking book club. If you’ve not read the book, you are encouraged to join the Zoom instead.

In Regent’s Park: Friday 13th February, 12-1.45pm, setting off from Daunt Books, 84 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QW, £8-£20

Book your Regent's Park February walk

On Hampstead Heath: Sunday 15th February, 11.30-1pm, setting off from Daunt Books Hampstead, 51 South End Road, NW3 2QB, £8-£20

Book your Hampstead Heath February walk

On Zoom: Monday 16th February, 8-9pm, £1-£15

Book your February Zoom

Buy Naples ‘44 from Daunt Books HERE and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout, or just tell them you’re in Emily’s Walking Book Club if you’re buying it in the shop.

Subscribe now

Naples ‘44 by Norman Lewis

Introduction & Discussion Points

Luckily for us, when Norman Lewis was posted to Southern Italy as an intelligence officer towards the end of the Second World War, he kept a diary. In dancing prose, Lewis brings together the absurd and the sublime, the horror and the beauty of his experience. And although he finds little to admire in his fellow soldiers, Lewis is utterly exhilarated by remarkable displays of Neapolitan vivacity and ingenuity. Naples ‘44 is both a fascinating historical document and an enthralling read.

The Second World War

Seasoned book clubbers will know my predilection for books about the Second World War and its aftermath, but so far I think all of our wartime picks have focused on the domestic side of the picture, whether that’s in England (Saplings or The World my Wilderness), France (Little Boy Lost) or Germany (The Past is Myself). Naples ‘44, in contrast, offers rather a more military, and masculine, perspective. How did you find this addition to our wartime library? Were you intrigued by the army and military history angle? Did you feel Lewis managed to get sufficiently inside Neapolitan homes to get a feel for that too?

Powerful moments

There’s not much of a through ‘story’ here, more of a patchwork of striking observations and incidents. Some of these really are incredibly shocking. Are there any particular episodes that stick out in your memory? And what is is that makes them so impactful? For me, the bit with the blind girls in the restaurant (November 1, 1943) is especially haunting. I think both for the quiet horror of the particular incident and then the way Lewis reflects on it to develop a pessimistic view of humanity. Can you think of other moments like this?

Humour

Yes there is a lot of horror here, but - thankfully - there are also occasions that inspire a wry smile. I did in fact laugh out loud when Lewis described interpreting the exchange between Lola and Captain Frazer (October 28, 1943) - let’s just say here, 6 times a night… Were there any parts that you found especially funny? And what did you make of this strange mix of the absolutely inhuman misery of war, with very human moments of humour? Were there any moments when these two strands felt especially closely intertwined?

I hope these get points you thinking! Looking forward to discussing all this and much more in this remarkable book, when we meet up.

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Discover more about Norman Lewis

This book is beautifully produced by the wonderful Eland Books, who publish loads of excellent works of travel writing (and also publish The Ginger Tree, a novel, which was one of our most popular book club picks!). They have a great page all about Norman Lewis and his books on their website, HERE. On it you can also find these wonderful early reviews of Naples ‘44 by Martha Gellhorn, HERE, and Dervla Murphy, HERE.

There’s a fantastic hour-long BBC documentary about Norman Lewis, which you can watch HERE. Highly recommend. As far as I can tell, there is also a film that was made, combining archive footage with extracts of Naples ‘44 read by Benedict Cumberbatch. But alas I can only find the trailer(HERE). Has anyone actually seen it? I’m intrigued.

There’s a paywalled review by James Owen for The Times, HERE, and this detailed Guardian review by Gillian Darley, HERE. And huge thanks to our friends at Slightly Foxed, who have lifted the paywall for us on THEIR FANTASTIC PIECE about the book by Justin Marozzi.

Finally, for some audio: Have a listen to Don McCulllin discussing Norman Lewis with Julian Evans (Lewis’ biographer) on BBC Great Lives, HERE. NB He’s not a great fan of his writing! And, of course, he is on Desert Island Discs: HERE.

📚🚶March ***tickets now on sale***

Mr Ma and Son by Lao She translated by William Dolby

Mr Ma and his son Ma Wei run an antiques shop tucked away in a quiet street by St Paul’s Cathedral. Far from their native Peking, they struggle to navigate the bustling London pavements and numerous social conventions. Inspired by the celebrated author’s time teaching at SOAS, and originally written for a Chinese readership, this is an eye-opening, moving, compelling and at times very funny portrait of a Chinese immigrant experience in 1920s London.

Keen to know more? Read THIS brilliant piece by Anne Witchard for Literary London.

In Regent’s Park with the Daunt Books Festival: Friday 20th March, 10am-11.45, setting off from Daunt Books, 84 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QW, £10

Buy your March Festival Walk ticket

On Hampstead Heath: Sunday 22nd March, 11.30-1pm, setting off from Daunt Books Hampstead, 51 South End Road, NW3 2QB, £8-£20

Book your March Hampstead Heath walk

On Zoom: Monday 23rd March, 8-9pm, £1-£15

Buy Mr Ma and Son from Daunt Books HERE and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout, or just tell them you’re in Emily’s Walking Book Club if you’re buying it in the shop.

Book your March Zoom

Happy reading!

Emily

I always feel like we deserve a collective pat on the back for getting through January. What a difficult month it can be - cold, damp, dark, broke and for many people sober! Anyway, we made it - here comes February.

One thing that really buoyed me this January has been everyone’s collective enthusiasm for Excellent Women by Barbara Pym! Thank you for being so appreciative of this lovely, funny, of-its-time and yet absolutely relatable novel. Our zoom book club was the busiest we’ve ever had, with over 30 people in the room, with people dialling in from all over the UK and quite a few from America too.

I’m looking forward to seeing what everyone makes of the fascinating, hilarious and shocking, Naples ‘44 by Norman Lewis, our February book - my introduction will be landing in your inbox next week, and we are meeting a little early this month (due to half term) so do start reading it NOW, so you’ve got time ahead of our walks on 13th and 15th February. Scroll down for links to book tickets.

First, what else have I been enjoying this month, and what am I looking forward to? And how about you? Please do share your own tips in the comments!

Subscribe now

Books

I should confess straight away that Anna Stothard is a very old friend of mine, so maybe I’m a little biased, but I’ve always been impressed by how ridiculously talented she is at writing. (In the early days of our friendship I was also impressed by how she managed to shorten her trousers with a stapler.) One of her previous novels, The Pink Hotel, was longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction (back when it was the Orange Prize) - SUCH a good book - and now she’s back with a compelling, clever, twisty and really interesting psychological thriller, Follow Her. It’s about a cult, a psychic, Instagram, female friendship, and about the dangers of creating a new life for yourself, when the old one threatens to resurface. The writing is vivid, the topic fascinating, and I’ve been absolutely gripped by the plot - highly recommend. It’s just this second come out, so do buy yourself a copy, and you can also support indie bookshops by getting it here on Bookshop.org. (I don’t get a commission by the way!)

I have also been trying to read The Master and his Emissary by Iain McGilchrist. In part as Philip Pullman loves it, in part because it inspired the brilliant Complicite production of Figures in Extinction that I wrote about back in November. It’s a big important book about a big important idea, but I don’t seem to quite have the brain power to manage it right now. Does anyone have any tips on how to cope with a weighty demanding massive work of non-fiction (not my usual stamping ground!)? I was thinking about setting myself a chapter a week, and reading alongside some easier fiction? I think I would love it, I just don’t feel quite clever enough at the moment!

Excitingly and very temptingly lining up on my TBR pile are the beautiful Beryl Bainbridges The Bottle Factory Outing and An Awfully Big Adventure that Daunt Books is republishing rather beautifully. I expect these will end up as a book club pick before long!

Performance

I made my first trip to Soho Theatre Walthamstow - what an incredible building! - to see the Philharmonia orchestra perform ‘Mozart Masterpieces’. Naf title, but amazing performance, especially the gorgeous clarinet concerto that Michael Collins both performed as a the soloist and conducted. I took my clarinettist daughter and we both loved it. I particularly enjoyed the pre-show talk, in which Michael Collins told us helpful things to listen out for.

Coming up, I’ve booked (or planning to book) for the following:

The Tempest at the Globe

Inter Alia at Wyndhams (I know I’m very late to the table for this!)

A Doll’s House at the Almeida

Arcadia at the Old Vic

I’m also excited to feel like I’m skiving off with this daytime cello sonata concert at the Wigmore Hall. What a treat!

On Screen

It will come as no surprise that I’ve been enjoying watching The Night Manager, via BBC iPlayer. Hasn’t everyone?

Have I told you about our new family guilty pleasure? We are totally into Downton Abbey. Yes, I know it is completely ridiculous, but somehow it succeeds in entrancing absolutely all of us, even if there have been a few episodes where young eyes had to be covered, and I had to explain that killing off such a major character (no more spoilers I promise) is usually a decision made by scriptwriters when the actor’s gone on to get an exciting new role somewhere else.

Finally, in case you missed this when it came out aeons ago, I recently rewatched the beautiful Jane Campion film about Keats, Bright Star. Gorgeous and extremely moving. I especially love the moment where they have the human orchestra - you can watch this clip here.

And you?

We’d all love to know what else you’ve been enjoying, or are looking forward to. Please leave a comment with your top cultural tips!

📚🚶February

Naples ‘44 by Norman Lewis

Luckily for us, when Norman Lewis was posted to Southern Italy as an intelligence officer towards the end of the Second World War, he kept a diary. In dancing prose, Lewis brings together the absurd and the sublime, the horror and the beauty of his experience. And although he finds little to admire in his fellow soldiers, Lewis is utterly exhilarated by remarkable displays of Neapolitan vivacity and ingenuity. Naples ‘44 is both a fascinating historical document and an enthralling read.

Keen to know more? Read THIS enthusiastic, detailed review by Gillian Darley in the Guardian.

In Regent’s Park: Friday 13th February, 12-1.45pm, setting off from Daunt Books, 84 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QW, £8-£20

Book your Regent's Park February walk

On Hampstead Heath: Sunday 15th February, 11.30-1pm, setting off from Daunt Books Hampstead, 51 South End Road, NW3 2QB, £8-£20

Book your Hampstead Heath February walk

On Zoom: Monday 16th February, 8-9pm, £1-£15

Book your February Zoom

Buy Naples ‘44 from Daunt Books HERE and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout, or just tell them you’re in Emily’s Walking Book Club if you’re buying it in the shop.

Look out next week for my intro to Naples ‘44.

Happy reading!

Emily

Here is our troupe of excellent women readying themselves for our Regent’s Park walk. I was so honoured to welcome a few members of the Barbara Pym Society to the walk, including one especially excellent woman who’s busy writing a Barbara Pym cookbook. (There were a few excellent men as well on the Hampstead one, which also required very sturdy wellies for a seriously muddy Heath!)

We had two really wonderful walks, with great discussions about a book that almost everyone loved. It was a particular joy to read out the passage about the Hawaiian Fire lipstick and for us all to be laughing together about it, through the drizzle. I think that’s what struck me most about Mildred - she’s always able to laugh at her situation (or at least smile at it), however minorly tragic or infuriating it might be.

In case you missed our walking discussions, and are keen to discover more about this real gem of a book, do join me tonight on Zoom when we’ll be continuing the conversation.

Our Zooms are open to everyone. It’s a chance to come together and share thoughts about the book for those who’ve read it; other members, who’ve not yet had a chance to pick up the book, are welcome to join and contribute or just listen as they like. We are usually around 5-15 people on Zoom, a more intimate crowd than our walks, and I’m always fascinated to hear where people are dialling in from - stretching from Hampstead to France and even Florida! Hope to catch you later:

Emily’s Zoom Book Club: Monday 26th January, 8-9pm, £1-15

• Everyone is welcome, whether or not you’ve read the book.

• Feel free to enjoy a glass of wine / bowl of pasta / some knitting - like the President of the Anthropological Society’s wife! - while you chat. I usually have a whisky in hand…

• It is helpful if you can book via Eventbrite using the button below, and pay £1-15. However, I realise that things often go wrong trying to connect in this way, so please do fee free to join the zoom directly using the link HERE, and details:
  Meeting ID: 878 8598 1540 | Passcode: Pym.

Book your January Zoom

In case you missed these, you can:

1. Read my intro and find useful links about the book here:

2. Watch my webcast about it here:

3. Buy Excellent Women from Daunt Books HERE and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout, or just tell them you’re in Emily’s Walking Book Club if you’re buying it in the shop.

📚🚶February

Naples ‘44 by Norman Lewis

Luckily for us, when Norman Lewis was posted to Southern Italy as an intelligence officer towards the end of the Second World War, he kept a diary. In dancing prose, Lewis brings together the absurd and the sublime, the horror and the beauty of his experience. And although he finds little to admire in his fellow soldiers, Lewis is utterly exhilarated by remarkable displays of Neapolitan vivacity and ingenuity. Naples ‘44 is both a fascinating historical document and an enthralling read.

Keen to know more? Read THIS enthusiastic, detailed review by Gillian Darley in the Guardian.

In Regent’s Park: Friday 13th February, 12-1.45pm, setting off from Daunt Books, 84 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QW, £8-£20

Book your Regent's Park February walk

On Hampstead Heath: Sunday 15th February, 11.30-1pm, setting off from Daunt Books Hampstead, 51 South End Road, NW3 2QB, £8-£20

Book your Hampstead Heath February walk

On Zoom: Monday 16th February, 8-9pm, £1-£15

Book your February Zoom

Buy Naples ‘44 from Daunt Books HERE and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout, or just tell them you’re in Emily’s Walking Book Club if you’re buying it in the shop.

Look out next week for the Jan edition of On My Reading Radar.

Happy reading!

Emily

How are you finding spending time with Mildred Lathbury in post-War London, stepping around the rubble to savour weak cups of tea and Hawaiian Fire lipstick?! There is something endearing and extremely English about the lives in Excellent Women by Barbara Pym. I dig a bit more into them in this month’s webcast below.

I can’t wait to discuss the book with you on our walks on Friday and Sunday, at the end of this week, and on Zoom next Monday evening. You can find booking links below, and, in case you missed it, do have a read of last week’s post with notes and links about the book, here:

Subscribe now

Our January Excellent Women events

Please note that for the benefit of your fellow walkers, you need to have read the book before coming along to a walking book club. If you’ve not read the book, you are encouraged to join the Zoom instead.

Emily’s Regent’s Park Walking Book Club: Friday 23rd January, 12-1.45pm, setting off from Daunt Books, 84 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QW, £8-£20

Book your Regent's Park January walk

Emily’s Hampstead Heath Walking Book Club: Sunday 25th January, 11.30-1pm, setting off from Daunt Books Hampstead, 51 South End Road, NW3 2QB, £8-£20

Book your Hampstead Heath January walk

Emily’s Zoom Book Club: Monday 26th January, 8-9pm, £1-£15

Book your January Zoom

Buy Excellent Women from Daunt Books HERE and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout, or just tell them you’re in Emily’s Walking Book Club if you’re buying it in the shop.

In case it’s helpful, you can book a ticket for 2/3 of the first Regent’s Park walks of 2026, using this button (the third will go on sale via the Daunt Books Festival soon):

Book 2/3 of our Regent's Park walks

And you can book on to the first three 2026 Hampstead Heath walks here:

Book all 3 Hampstead Heath walks

Subscribe now

The January Webcast

I hope you enjoy this introductory chat about Excellent Women in which I dig a little deeper into what makes an excellent woman, and how we all struggle to find our individual paths to excellence…

If you do like the webcast, I’d be grateful if you could like or comment on it over on YouTube so the algorithm knows we matter and more people can discover our books and book club. In case you’d like to see more of these little videos, you can find them about all our books from the past few years on my YouTube channel: @emilyrhodeswriter.

📚🚶February *** tickets now on sale***

Naples ‘44 by Norman Lewis

Luckily for us, when Norman Lewis was posted to Southern Italy as an intelligence officer towards the end of the Second World War, he kept a diary. In dancing prose, Lewis brings together the absurd and the sublime, the horror and the beauty of his experience. And although he finds little to admire in his fellow soldiers, Lewis is utterly exhilarated by remarkable displays of Neapolitan vivacity and ingenuity. Naples ‘44 is both a fascinating historical document and an enthralling read.

Keen to know more? Read THIS enthusiastic, detailed review by Gillian Darley in the Guardian.

In Regent’s Park: Friday 13th February, 12-1.45pm, setting off from Daunt Books, 84 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QW, £8-£20

Book your Regent's Park February walk

On Hampstead Heath: Sunday 15th February, 11.30-1pm, setting off from Daunt Books Hampstead, 51 South End Road, NW3 2QB, £8-£20

Book your Hampstead Heath February walk

On Zoom: Monday 16th February, 8-9pm, £1-£15

Book your February Zoom

Buy Naples ‘44 from Daunt Books HERE and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout, or just tell them you’re in Emily’s Walking Book Club if you’re buying it in the shop.

Happy reading!

Emily

Dear walking book clubbers,

2026, here we come!

A big hello to everyone after what I hope was a restful Christmas break, and a very warm welcome to anyone who is here for the first time. If you’ve not yet found them, you might find the following pages helpful:

1. About (for a bit more about what goes on here and at our meet ups)

2. Announcing our first books of 2026 (info for all our Jan/Feb/Mar books and walks)

And a reminder that there’s an ever-expanding archive, which you can search for posts about our previous picks.

Our January book is the excellent (!) Excellent Women by Barbara Pym. How have you found Pym’s dry, witty observations? What do you make of her portrait of post-war London? Have you got a favourite minorly tragic moment? I can’t wait to hear your thoughts.

Read on to find:

• Details of our January events, including booking links.

• Discussion points to get you thinking about Excellent Women.

• Links to read and listen on.

• News of February, now on sale.

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Our January Excellent Women events

Please note that for the benefit of your fellow walkers, you need to have read the book before coming along to a walking book club. If you’ve not read the book, you are encouraged to join the Zoom instead.

Emily’s Regent’s Park Walking Book Club: Friday 23rd January, 12-1.45pm, setting off from Daunt Books, 84 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QW, £8-£20

Book your Regent's Park January walk

Emily’s Hampstead Heath Walking Book Club: Sunday 25th January, 11.30-1pm, setting off from Daunt Books Hampstead, 51 South End Road, NW3 2QB, £8-£20

Book your Hampstead Heath January walk

Emily’s Zoom Book Club: Monday 26th January, 8-9pm, £1-£15

Book your January Zoom

Buy Excellent Women from Daunt Books HERE and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout, or just tell them you’re in Emily’s Walking Book Club if you’re buying it in the shop.

In case it’s helpful, you can book a ticket for 2/3 of the first Regent’s Park walks of 2026, using this button (the third will go on sale via the Daunt Books Festival soon):

Book 2/3 of our Regent's Park walks

And you can book on to the first three 2026 Hampstead Heath walks here:

Book all 3 Hampstead Heath walks

Subscribe now

Excellent Women by Barbara Pym

Introduction & Discussion Points

In Pym’s charming, comic masterpiece, ever-capable Mildred Lathbury finds herself reconsidering plans for spinsterhood when dashing Rockingham Napier and his intellectual wife move in downstairs. This wise, witty, beautifully observed satire of post-war Britain, is an elegant - and excellent - way to start the year.

Here are a few ideas to mull over as you go:

Post-War London

As seasoned book-clubbers know far too well, I’m a sucker for portraits of war-time and post-war London. There’s something really fascinating about this familiar landscape made strange, this same urban life transformed into something different. What did you make of Pym’s 1952 portrait of London? Where do you feel the impact of the recent War? I loved the way everyone was busy getting on with life and making the best of it, even though no one can remember what cream looks like, and half the church is full of wreckage from the Blitz!

The Church

Speaking of the church, what did you make of this rather benign picture of a community-focussed, jumble-sale organising, calendar-setting church? It is such a contrast to Philip Pullman’s sinister Magisterium! Is it perhaps just as powerful, only in a very different way? For those of us who aren’t regular church-goers (I write this as someone who is Jewish, so really not regular!), Christmas is the time of year when we’re most likely to take a pew and gather together for some carols, so, while the organ is still resounding in your head, can I ask: Are there any elements of Mildred’s church-centred life that you’d like to bring into your own? Are there other churchy aspects of which you’re glad to steer clear?

Tone

To me, what makes this book such a success is Pym’s arch, dry witty tone. I don’t think I’d care that much about her characters were it not for the fact that she invites us to laugh with them - and at them - so often. It’s often just the insertion of a word, or a brief aside that adds a little barb to an otherwise neutral observation. For instance, Winifred’s volume of Rossetti poems, ‘bound in limp green suede’, or her description of Everard Bone’s ‘well-cut overcoat, his long nose and his fair hair were outstanding in this gathering of mediocrity. I felt that I could almost understand the attraction he might have for the kind of person who is drawn to the difficult, the unusual, even the unpleasant.’ Talk about a back-handed compliment! Anyway, did you find it funny? Any favourite moments? How did Pym’s sense of humour affect your reading of the book?

Lots more to discuss - I can’t wait to get walking with you!

Discover more about Barbara Pym

Wonderfully, you can listen HERE to Barbara Pym on Desert Island Discs in 1978.

I really enjoyed THIS piece by Frances Donnelly in Slightly Foxed, where she writes about changing her mind about Excellent Women as she lost her confidence from being able to ‘Have It All’ to coming to appreciate Pym’s ‘Not So Bad, Really’. There’s also a good Pym episode of their podcast, featuring Lucy Scholes and Paula Byrne, HERE.

Do also listen to THIS terrific Backlisted episode with the Curtis Brown heritage team, which settles into discussing Pym 28 minutes in.

Exciting to read (HERE) that a film adaptation of Excellent Women is in development - or at least was in development last spring - I wonder how that’s coming on…

And my edition has this as an introduction, but in case your edition doesn’t, do read Alexander McCall Smith’s lovely piece about the book on the Guardian, HERE.

Paula Byrne’s biography, The Adventures of Miss Barbara Pym, is highly acclaimed, and if you are after some more Pym novels, you might enjoy one of our previous picks, Quartet in Autumn, and I’ve also heard good things about Some Tame Gazelle. You can discover more about all her works, and much more on the Barbara Pym Society website, HERE.

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📚🚶February *** tickets now on sale***

Naples ‘44 by Norman Lewis

Luckily for us, when Norman Lewis was posted to Southern Italy as an intelligence officer towards the end of the Second World War, he kept a diary. In dancing prose, Lewis brings together the absurd and the sublime, the horror and the beauty of his experience. And although he finds little to admire in his fellow soldiers, Lewis is utterly exhilarated by remarkable displays of Neapolitan vivacity and ingenuity. Naples ‘44 is both a fascinating historical document and an enthralling read.

Keen to know more? Read THIS enthusiastic, detailed review by Gillian Darley in the Guardian.

In Regent’s Park: Friday 13th February, 12-1.45pm, setting off from Daunt Books, 84 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QW, £8-£20

Book your Regent's Park February walk

On Hampstead Heath: Sunday 15th February, 11.30-1pm, setting off from Daunt Books Hampstead, 51 South End Road, NW3 2QB, £8-£20

Book your Hampstead Heath February walk

On Zoom: Monday 16th February, 8-9pm, £1-£15

Book your February Zoom

Buy Naples ‘44 from Daunt Books HERE and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout, or just tell them you’re in Emily’s Walking Book Club if you’re buying it in the shop.

Happy reading!

Emily

Dear walking book clubbers,

Season’s Greetings and thank you for being wonderful reading companions this year.

(Thanks also to Natalia for the photo of our Heath Seasonal Book Swap!)

In case you missed any of our books this year, below is 2025’s stack. Now’s the perfect time to catch up on anything you’ve missed. If you browse or search through the ‘Archive’ tab of this substack you’ll be able to find my introductions to all these books, and you might like to watch my Webcasts about them too.

I’m always thrilled to hear your thoughts by email, so do drop me a line to let me know how you got on with any / all of them. Do you have a favourite?

If I had to pick just one - gosh impossible choice - I think I’d probably have to go for Human Voices by Penelope Fitzgerald. But it’s a tough one, Northern Lights and Little Boy Lost are certainly in the running.

I’m looking forward to reading and walking with you again in 2026. You can find details of all our first books of the year here:

Or scroll down for all you need for January.

I’ll next be in touch with my introduction to Excellent Women, which should arrive in your inbox on 12th January (or possibly the 5th if I am sufficiently organised).

Happy reading, and happy Christmas!

Emily

📚🚶Christmas

In need of present inspiration? Why not consider pairing a subscription to this weekly newsletter with a ticket to our first walks of 2025?

Give a gift subscription

Book 2/3 of our Regent's Park walks

(This is minus the March Mr Ma and Son walk, which will go on sale via Daunt Books as part of their Festival.)

Book all 3 Hampstead Heath walks

📚🚶January

Excellent Women by Barbara Pym

In Pym’s charming, comic masterpiece, ever-capable Mildred Lathbury finds herself reconsidering plans for spinsterhood when dashing Rockingham Napier and his intellectual wife move in downstairs. This wise, witty, beautifully observed satire of post-war Britain, is an elegant - and excellent - way to start the year.

Keen to know more? Listen to THIS episode of Backlisted, where Becky Brown and Norah Perkins from Curtis Brown Heritage join Andy and John to discuss Excellent Women. There’s a lot of preamble, but it gets very Pymian from 28 mins in.

In Regent’s Park: Friday 23rd January, 12-1.45pm, setting off from Daunt Books, 84 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QW, £8-£20

Book your Regent's Park January walk

On Hampstead Heath: Sunday 25th January, 11.30-1pm, setting off from Daunt Books Hampstead, 51 South End Road, NW3 2QB, £8-£20

Book your Hampstead Heath January walk

On Zoom: Monday 26th January, 8-9pm, £1-£15

Book your January Zoom

Buy Excellent Women from Daunt Books HERE and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout, or just tell them you’re in Emily’s Walking Book Club if you’re buying it in the shop.

I’m thrilled to reveal our books and dates for January, February, and March 2026.

Moving back in time from 1950s London, to Naples in 1944, then back to London in the 1920s, I hope this trio of books will encourage laughter, joy and reflection.

• January: Excellent Women by Barbara Pym

  Friday 23rd Regent’s Park | Sunday 25th Hampstead Heath | Monday 26th Zoom

• February: Naples ‘44 by Norman Lewis

  Friday 13th Regent’s Park | Sunday 15th Hampstead Heath | Monday 16th Zoom

• March: Mr Ma and Son by Lao She translated by William Dolby

  Friday 20th Regent’s Park (with the Daunt Books Festival) | Sunday 22nd Hampstead Heath | Monday 23rd Zoom

If you would like to book on to two of our three Regent’s Park walks, you can do so here. (This is minus the March Mr Ma and Son walk, which will go on sale via Daunt Books as part of their Festival.)

Book 2/3 of our Regent's Park walks

If you would like to book on to all three of our Hampstead Heath walks, you can do so here:

Book all 3 Hampstead Heath walks

Or please scroll down to find links to book tickets for individual events.

📚🚶Christmas

In need of Christmas present inspiration? Why not consider pairing a subscription to this weekly newsletter with a ticket to our first walks of 2025?

Give a gift subscription

If you have any bespoke present requests (eg. would you like me to buy, wrap and post the three books, or one of the books, for you, or would you like me to write a little Christmas email to your lucky recipient?), then just drop me a line by replying to this email and I’ll be happy to help.

Subscribe now

📚🚶January

Excellent Women by Barbara Pym

In Pym’s charming, comic masterpiece, ever-capable Mildred Lathbury finds herself reconsidering plans for spinsterhood when dashing Rockingham Napier and his intellectual wife move in downstairs. This wise, witty, beautifully observed satire of post-war Britain, is an elegant - and excellent - way to start the year.

Keen to know more? Listen to THIS episode of Backlisted, where Becky Brown and Norah Perkins from Curtis Brown Heritage join Andy and John to discuss Excellent Women. There’s a lot of preamble, but it gets very Pymian from 28 mins in.

In Regent’s Park: Friday 23rd January, 12-1.45pm, setting off from Daunt Books, 84 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QW, £8-£20

Book your Regent's Park January walk

On Hampstead Heath: Sunday 25th January, 11.30-1pm, setting off from Daunt Books Hampstead, 51 South End Road, NW3 2QB, £8-£20

Book your Hampstead Heath January walk

On Zoom: Monday 26th January, 8-9pm, £1-£15

Book your January Zoom

Buy Excellent Women from Daunt Books HERE and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout, or just tell them you’re in Emily’s Walking Book Club if you’re buying it in the shop.

Subscribe now

📚🚶February

Naples ‘44 by Norman Lewis

Luckily for us, when Norman Lewis was posted to Southern Italy as an intelligence officer towards the end of the Second World War, he kept a diary. In dancing prose, Lewis brings together the absurd and the sublime, the horror and the beauty of his experience. And although he finds little to admire in his fellow soldiers, Lewis is utterly exhilarated by remarkable displays of Neapolitan vivacity and ingenuity. Naples ‘44 is both a fascinating historical document and an enthralling read.

Keen to know more? Read THIS enthusiastic, detailed review by Gillian Darley in the Guardian.

*** Tickets go on sale 1 January ***

In Regent’s Park: Friday 13th February, 12-1.45pm, setting off from Daunt Books, 84 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QW, £8-£20

Book your Regent's Park February walk

On Hampstead Heath: Sunday 15th February, 11.30-1pm, setting off from Daunt Books Hampstead, 51 South End Road, NW3 2QB, £8-£20

Book your Hampstead Heath February walk

On Zoom: Monday 16th February, 8-9pm, £1-£15

Book your February Zoom

Buy Naples ‘44 from Daunt Books HERE and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout, or just tell them you’re in Emily’s Walking Book Club if you’re buying it in the shop.

Subscribe now

📚🚶March

Mr Ma and Son by Lao She translated by William Dolby

Mr Ma and his son Ma Wei run an antiques shop tucked away in a quiet street by St Paul’s Cathedral. Far from their native Peking, they struggle to navigate the bustling London pavements and numerous social conventions. Inspired by the celebrated author’s time teaching at SOAS, and originally written for a Chinese readership, this is an eye-opening, moving, compelling and at times very funny portrait of a Chinese immigrant experience in 1920s London.

Keen to know more? Read THIS brilliant piece by Anne Witchard for Literary London.

*** Tickets go on sale on 1st February ***

In Regent’s Park with the Daunt Books Festival: Friday 20th March, 10am-11.45, setting off from Daunt Books, 84 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QW, £10 PLEASE NOTE THE EARLIER START TIME!!

On Hampstead Heath: Sunday 22nd March, 11.30-1pm, setting off from Daunt Books Hampstead, 51 South End Road, NW3 2QB, £8-£20

Book your March Hampstead Heath walk

On Zoom: Monday 23rd March, 8-9pm, £1-£15

Buy Mr Ma and Son from Daunt Books HERE and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout, or just tell them you’re in Emily’s Walking Book Club if you’re buying it in the shop.

Book your March Zoom

A reminder that if you would like to book on to two of our three Regent’s Park walks, you can do so here. (This is minus the March Mr Ma and Son walk, which will go on sale via Daunt Books as part of their Festival.)

Book 2/3 of our Regent's Park walks

If you would like to book on to all three of our Hampstead Heath walks, you can do so here:

Book all 3 Hampstead Heath walks

Happy reading!

Emily

Dear walking book clubbers,

In true Emily’s Walking Book Club tradition, can you guess our next books from the back covers???

Please DON’T leave a comment!

All will be revealed, along with dates and booking links, on Monday, or indeed on Sunday if you’re joining me for the Hampstead Heath walk and book swap (N.B. Lucy has returned and will be baking for us!):

Emily’s Hampstead Heath Walking Book Club & Seasonal Book Swap: Sunday 14th December, 11.30-1pm, setting off from Daunt Books Hampstead, 51 South End Road, NW3 2QB, £8-£20

Book your December Hampstead Heath walk

Looking forward to sharing our thoughts on these three amazing books next year.

Happy reading,

Emily

How are you finding spending some time with Lyra and Pan in Northern Lights by Philip Pullman? For me it has been a deep deep pleasure!

It was lovely to see some of you on Friday at our Regent’s Park walk - thanks for coping with the date change! Below you can find the links for THIS SUNDAY’s Heath walk - and our gifted baker Lucy is back, ready to create something delicious for us!! - and next week’s Zoom.

You’ll also find this month’s webcast, in which I introduce the book and chat a bit about daemons and the joys of reading children’s books at this time of year.

Look out later this week for my Guess the Books post, with all to be revealed very soon.

In case you missed last week’s post, introducing Northern Lights and sharing some great links - as well as more info about how our Seasonal Book Swap works - here it is:

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Our December Northern Lights events

Please note that for the benefit of your fellow walkers, you need to have read the book before coming along to a walking book club. If you’ve not read the book, you are encouraged to join the Zoom instead.

Emily’s Hampstead Heath Walking Book Club & Seasonal Book Swap: Sunday 14th November, 11.30-1pm, setting off from Daunt Books Hampstead, 51 South End Road, NW3 2QB, £8-£20

Book your December Hampstead Heath walk

Emily’s Zoom Book Club: Monday 15th December, 8-9pm, £1-£15

Book your December Zoom

Buy Northern Lights from Daunt Books HERE and receive 10% off using the code WBC at checkout, or just tell them you’re in Emily’s Walking Book Club if you’re buying it in the shop.

Subscribe now

The December Webcast

I hope you enjoy this introductory chat about Northern Lights, the importance of children’s books, and daemons. (Did anyone do the test linked in last week’s post to help you discover the form your daemon would take? Mine would be a red squirrel!)

If you do like the webcast, I’d be grateful if you could like or comment on it over on YouTube so the algorithm knows we matter and more people can discover our books and book club. In case you’d like to see more of these little videos, you can find them about all our books from the past few years on my YouTube channel: @emilyrhodeswriter.

Watch this space to find out our first books of 2026!

Happy reading,

Emily