South Manchester Book Group

We're a friendly and open reading group, and we share a love of books and discussing them with other people. We meet every fortnight, but you don't have to come to them all. It's dead simple; choose a book you like the sound of, read it (or even part of it) beforehand and turn up with a few ideas and money for beer / wine / flirtinis. It's very informal, and we're quite a friendly bunch.

We meet at a pub in Didsbury around 8 pm. We can usually be found on the table with the books and flirtinis.

We've become rather popular recently so unfortunately aren't accepting new members just at the moment. But please drop us a line on the Contact Us form and we'll add you to our mailing list.

Our reading list, past, present, and future, appears here and a short version of what we’re reading next is here.

Thursday 23 March 2017

The Information Officer — Mark Mills

Book cover for Mark Mills's The Information Officer in the South Manchester, Chorlton, and Didsbury book groupYou want to know who I am ? I'm the last living soul you'll ever set eyes on.

Summer, 1942. For the people of Malta, suffering daily bombing raids, the British are the last line of defence against the Nazis. And it is Max Chadwick's job as the information officer to ensure the news the islanders receive maintains morale.

So when Max is given proof suggesting a British officer is murdering local women, he knows the consequences of discovery are dire. With the violence on the war-ravaged island escalating daily, he embarks on a private investigation, hidden from the eyes of superiors, friends and the woman he loves. But Max finds himself torn between patriotic duty and personal honour in his efforts to track down the killer: an elusive figure always one step ahead of his hunter.

This week's book is Mark Mills's The Information Officer and we'll be meeting at The Fletcher Moss on William Street in Didsbury.

Thursday 9 March 2017

1984 — Eric Blair

Book cover for Eric Blair's 1984 in the South Manchester, Chorlton, and Didsbury book groupWinston Smith works in the Ministry of Truth, altering historical records to fit the needs of the Party. He notices a coworker, a beautiful dark-haired girl, staring at him, and worries that she is an informant who will turn him in for his thoughtcrime. One day, Winston receives a note from her that reads “I love you”.

If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face — forever.
This week's book is Eric Blair's 1984 and we'll be meeting at The Fletcher Moss on William Street in Didsbury.