The New Woman by Charity Norman will be featured on the Radio 2 Book Club on Monday 27 July.
The book was selected with the help of a panel made up of Reading Agency and library staff from across the UK. We have an exclusive extract available for you to read as well as some discussion questions for your reading group.
The New Woman
Luke Livingstone is a lucky man. He’s a respected solicitor, a father and grandfather, a pillar of the community. He has a loving wife and an idyllic home in the Oxfordshire countryside. Yet Luke is struggling with an unbearable secret, and it’s threatening to destroy him.
All his life, Luke has hidden the truth about himself and his identity. It’s a truth so fundamental that it will shatter his family, rock his community and leave him outcast. But Luke has nowhere left to run, and to continue living, he must become the person – the woman – he knows himself to be, whatever the cost.
Selection panel review
Our reading panel of staff from The Reading Agency and public library staff really enjoyed The New Woman – here are some of their comments:
“Well written and entertaining novel exploring issues of gender dysmorphia. The main character, a respected solicitor married for 30 years, finally reveals his deepest secret and almost destroys his family and himself in the process. At times heart-breaking, the novel describes the process of how Luke finally follows the path to realising his ‘true self’ as a woman after years of trying to conform. Well worth the read – very insightful.”
“This book will become a book club classic.”
“This is an amazing book, emotive and sensitive. I could not put it down and I think it will challenge many people’s views and be a lively book club choice.”
About the author
Charity Norman was born in Uganda and brought up in successive draughty vicarages in Yorkshire and Birmingham. After several years’ travel she became a barrister, specialising in crime and family law. In 2002, realising that her three children had barely met her, she took a break from the law and moved with her family to New Zealand. Her second novel After the Fall was a 2015 World Book Night title. The New Woman is her fourth novel.
A word from Charity
“I’m thrilled to have been chosen for the Radio 2 Book Club – and to be in such wonderful company. Library staff read so many books that I’m delighted that they chose mine. When I first started researching this book three years ago I had no idea transgender issues would come to feature so prominently in the news – I actually wondered whether the story of Luke/Lucia would resonate with readers. So this is a wonderful affirmation that this can and does.”
Get involved
Tune in to Simon Mayo’s Drivetime show on Monday 27 July to hear a live interview with Charity Norman talking about her book.
Have you read The New Woman? You can share your thoughts with us on Twitter, or post a review. You can also follow author Charity Norman on Twitter.
Win 10 copies of The New Woman for your reading group – just complete our short survey.
Want to find out more? Take a look at the Radio 2 Book Club Twitter feed or find out more on the Radio 2 Book Club website
