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 8.30 pm, and 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, 28 September 2023

Portnoy's Complaint — Philip Roth

Book cover for Portnoy's Complaint by Philip Roth Portnoy's Complaint in the South Manchester, Chorlton, Cheadle, Fallowfield, Burnage, Levenshulme, Heaton Moor, Heaton Mersey, Heaton Norris, Heaton Chapel, Northenden, and Didsbury book group Doctor, do you understand what I was up against ? My wang was all I really had that I could call my own ...

The frank revelations of his shame and humiliation told by Alexander Portnoy — a sexually-obsessed, mother-fixated bachelor — told to his psychoanalyst, Dr Spielvogel, leave no stone unturned ...

This week's book is Portnoy's Complaint by Philip Roth and we'll be meeting at Ye Olde Cocke on Wilmslow Road in Didsbury — contact us for details.

Thursday, 14 September 2023

The Crossing — Cormac McCarthy

Book cover for The Crossing by Cormac McCarthy The Crossing in the South Manchester, Chorlton, Cheadle, Fallowfield, Burnage, Levenshulme, Heaton Moor, Heaton Mersey, Heaton Norris, Heaton Chapel, Northenden, and Didsbury book group Sixteen-year-old Billy Parham and his younger brother Boyd are ascinated by an elusive wolf that has been marauding their family's property, Billy captures the animal — but rather than kill it, sets out impulsively for the mountains of Mexico to return it to where it came from.

When Billy comes back to his own home he finds himself and his world irrevocably changed. His loss of innocence has come at a price, and once again the border beckons with its desolate beauty and cruel promise.

This week's book is The Crossing by Cormac McCarthy and we'll be meeting at Ye Olde Cocke on Wilmslow Road in Didsbury — contact us for details.