Famous for his best selling A Gentleman in Moscow, Amor Towles's debut novel Rules of Civility is a charming, captivating read set in late 1930's New York. The Den has recently enjoyed The Lincoln Highway (all in our library.) Whilst not a prolific writer each novel brings his wonderfully crafted style of writing which will transport you to a new moment in time.

As with many of our favourite authors, they are always more special when they absorb you in a country or period of history you know little about. Half of a Yellow Sun follows the lives of five characters during the Biafra Nigeria civil war of 1967-70.

Ali Smith is an award winning, highly imaginative and poetic writer, whose books are a fantastic and easy read for any book club. Autumn is the first in her quartet reflecting the seasonal changes and Britain's mood surrounding Brexit which has divided communities and relationships. Winter and Spring are also reviewed in the Den's Library. All great book club reads.

William Boyd is one of our favourite authors and in Sweet Caress, the idea of a narrative evolving around a collection of photographs truly captured our imagination and transported us into the wonderful world of Amory Clay and her journey as a female photographer in WW2 and Vietnam.

Our personal favourites by Ian McEwan include Enduring Love and Atonement. As well as Solar the Den has reviewed Machines Like Me and On Chesil Beach to be found in the Library. Any of his novels are worth picking for book club and Solar is no exception.  A dark and funny novel about a philandering physicist who wants to save his marriage. 

John Boyne writes addictive page turners and The Heart's Invisible Furies is no exception. Boyne cleverly combines humour and horror in this wonderful tale which starts in Dublin 1945.  A bold and humorous book club favourite.

Or else consider A Ladder to the Sky, also in the Den's Library.

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There are so many Margaret Atwood books to choose from.  Hag-Seed (2016) is a fabulous book, funny, moving and extremely inventive. The only reservation being that you need to have read or seen The Tempest to gain the most from this book - which is why it would be a Wild Card choice. See Library for The Testaments and The Hand Maid's Tale. 

Renowned as the best American novel to emerge from WW1, A Farewell to Arms is a classic Hemingway that is a real treat for any book club.  It is an unforgettable story about a soldier serving as an ambulance driver in Italy where he was severely injured and witness to the harrowing outcome of trench warfare.

Alan Bennett is the master of the everyday and is renowned for his wit and humour found in so many of his books, plays and theatrical productions. The Uncommon Reader is a total gem, and with the royals back in fashion this book never loses its charm.

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Talking Heads can also be found the Den's Library.