Join us and share your passion for reading! In Other Words by Jhumpa Lahiri has been revealed as our new Book Club book.

Every two months we will meet virtually over tea and biscuits to discuss some of the best works in contemporary literature. We’ll explore short stories, novels, non-fiction, poetry, and works in translation, making these informal and friendly sessions the perfect way to meet like-minded readers and to discover exciting new reads. We’ll always choose books that are easy to purchase in hard copy online or via Kindle.

Virtual Book Club: In Other Words

Our next virtual book club will discuss In Other Words by Jhumpa Lahiri (published by Bloomsbury), a stunning meditation on the process of learning to express oneself in another language. On a post-college visit to Florence, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri fell in love with the Italian language. Twenty years later, seeking total immersion, she and her family relocated to Rome, where she began to read and write solely in her adopted tongue. It is at heart a love story of a long and sometimes difficult courtship, and a passion that verges on obsession. The Washington Post called In Other Words ‘exquisite. . . . Strikingly honest, lyrical, untouched by sentimentality. . . . The most evocative, unpretentious, astute account of a writing life I have read.’

There are plenty of ways for you to get involved with the book club from home:

Subscribe and listen to the Writing Life podcast

Tune in to our episode of The Writing Life podcast where Flo Reynolds gives a brief introduction to the Book Club and Jhumpa’s book.

Join our online community

We’ve launched a new community space on Discord to help readers and writers connect in these unusual times. Book Club members were the first to be invited, so come and join the discussion! Find out more

Take part in a virtual book club discussion via Zoom

If you’re looking for something a little more interactive, you can join us for a virtual book club discussion by video! Just sign-up for free and we will send you instructions ahead of time.

Spaces are limited so we recommend booking your place in advance.

Virtual book club discussion: Friday 16 July, 5.30 – 7pm BST, online

Book club discussion at Dragon Hall: Tuesday 20 July, 6 – 7.30pm BST

Suggested activities, writing exercises and further recommended reading

Read ‘questions for readers’

 

Where can I buy the book?

Place an order with The Book Hive. Mention the NCW Book Club and they will give you 10% off!

In Other Words is also available for purchase as an eBook from the Bloomsbury website.

Many of your favourite independent bookshops are continuing their business online or by phone and will deliver anywhere in the UK. Why not give them a shout?

You can shop over 150 independent bookshops online now at uk.bookshop.org

Norwich – The Book HiveJarroldTombland BooksBookbugs and Dragon TalesAbstract SprockettNorfolk Children’s Book Centre

London – Burley Fisher BooksDaunt BooksBrick Lane BookshopPages of HackneyDulwich BooksStoke Newington BookshopSouth Kensington BooksNewham BookshopPages of Cheshire StreetThe All Good BookshopPickled Pepper BooksOwl BookshopPersephone Books

Edinburgh – Golden Hare BooksTypewronger Books

Wadhurst – Barnetts Books

York – Ken Spelman Books

Petersfield – The Petersfield Bookshop

Stockton-on-Tees – Drake the Bookshop

Arundel and Chichester – Kim’s Bookshop

Nottingham – Five Leaves Bookshop

Hexham, Northumberland – Cogito Books

Explore The Bookseller’s list of independent bookshops and the services they can offer