Wolfson Contemporary Reading Group
The WCRG meets roughly bi-monthly to discuss a piece of contemporary writing, usually a novel, chosen by those present at the previous meeting. Besides novels, the Group has discussed a collection of short stories and some biographical writing since its foundation in 2005, and is open to suggestions for other forms (e.g. poetry and drama). The chronological limits of 'contemporary' are not defined, giving us scope to consider a wide range of literature.
The WCRG is open to all Wolfson members, and a commitment to attend meetings on a regular basis is not required. Some come along when the book particularly appeals, others use it as an opportunity to explore works they might not otherwise choose to read. The reading group format works particularly well in Wolfson, a community which brings together people with so many different backgrounds. Everyone (from any academic discipline or none) brings their own perspective to a book, and the aim is simply to have an enjoyable chat sharing views and ideas, not a formal academic discussion. Serious highbrow literary criticism isn't expected, and everyone who comes along should find it easy to contribute.
Mailing list
The Wolfson-Reading-Group list is used to share ideas about books for future discussion and to announce forthcoming meetings. You can subscribe to the list (called "wolfson-reading-group"), using either an @cam or other email address, here. Meetings are also advertised once in advance via the wolfson-events mailing list, and are included in the online College Calendar.
Next meeting
Wednesday 12 June, 8.00pm (Plommer A)
Herman Koch, The Dinner
“An evening in Amsterdam and two couples meet for dinner. They need to discuss their teenage sons. The boys have committed a horrifying act, caught on CCTV. They remain unidentified - except by their parents. How far will each couple go to protect their child?” (from publisher’s website)
It's available in paperback, from Amazon and elsewhere (do remember to use the link on the Wolfson Alumni & Development website if you choose to buy from Amazon, as College will benefit from the sale: http://www.wolfson.cam.ac.uk/alumni/amazon/).
Suggestions of titles for future sessions are very welcome. Please send them via the mailing list (details above).
Books previously discussed
2012-13
7 November 2012
Madeline Miller, The Song of Achilles
12 December 2012
Lawrence Norfolk, John Saturnall's Feast
6 February 2013
Zadie Smith, NW
27 March 2013
Jonas Jonasson, The one-hundred year old man who climbed out of the window and disappeared
1 May
Jeanette Winterson, Lighthousekeeping
2011-12
28 September 2011
Alan Hollinghurst, The Stranger's Child
2 November 2011
Julian Barnes, The Sense of an Ending
14 December 2011
Stephen Kelman, Pigeon English
1 February 2012
Irène Nemirovsky, The Wine of Solitude
28 March 2012
Andrew Miller, Pure
16 May 2012
Beryl Bainbridge, The Bottle Factory Outing
4 July 2012
Iris Murdoch, The Sea, The Sea
12 September 2012
Michael Cunningham, The Hours
2010-11
30 September 2010
Barbara Kingsolver, The Lacuna
10 November
John Banville, Infinities
15 December
John Irving, A Prayer for Owen Meaney
9 February
Paul Torday, The Irresistible Inheritance of Wilberforce
Wednesday 30 March
William Boyd, Ordinary Thunderstorms
Wednesday 25 May
Antal Szerb, Journey by Moonlight
Wednesday 6 July
Jonathan Franzen, Freedom
2009-10
23 September 2009
Italo Calvino, Invisible Cities (1972)
11 November 2009
Salley Vickers, Where Three Roads Meet
16 December 2009
Hilary Mantel, Wolf Hall
3 February 2010
Jane Gardam, Old Filth
17 March 2010
Xiaolu Guo, A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers
12 May 2010
Sarah Waters, The Little Stranger
9 June 2010
Sebastian Barry, The Secret Scripture
7 July 2010
Haruki Murakami, A Wild Sheep Chase
2008-9
29 October 2008 Lloyd Jones, Mister Pip
3 December 2008 Kate Atkinson, Behind the Scenes at the Museum
28 January 2009 Kate Summerscale, The Suspicions of Mr Whicher: Or, The Murder at Road Hill House
18 March 2009 Rose Tremain, The Road Home
6 May 2009 Doris Lessing, Alfred & Emily
8 July 2009 Primo Levi, The Periodic Table
2007-8
14 November 2007 Margaret Attwood, Oryx and Crake
30th January 2008
W.G. Sebald, The Rings of Saturn
26 March 2008
Rebecca Erdrich, The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse
28 May 2008
Amos Oz (translated by Nicholas de Lange), A Tale of Love and Darkness
2006-7
William Trevor, After Rain
Orhan Pamuk, Snow
Kiran Desai, The Inheritance of Loss
Stef Penney, The Tenderness of Wolves
Jill Dawson, Watch Me Disappear
2005-6
Ian McEwan, Saturday
J. M. Coetzee, Disgrace
Michael Ondaatje, Anil's Ghost
Salley Vickers, Miss Garnet's Angel
Kazuo Ishiguro, Never Let Me Go
Zadie Smith, On Beauty
Alexander Masters, Stuart: A Life Backwards