Dave and Max’s Literary Harem

A group that started in London after we left uni and has stretched as far as Barnard Castle almost 20 years later. After lockdown showed us that virtual meetings were perfectly acceptable we have maintained a mix of Zoom and in person meets typically once every two months or so. We read anything and everything as long as it isn’t John Updike. Our favourite writer (the only one who we agree on unanimously) is John Steinbeck. It was a bad day when we mixed up the writing Johns… we give a score out of five and a hit/miss/maybe rating once we’ve discussed the book. The debate continues as to whether it is possible to give a thumbs up (hit) and a score of 2. Sometimes we discuss the book like proper critics, often we get a bit side-tracked by home-made snacks, someone’s cute child or gossip. We have been reading and arguing for almost 20 years and in that time been through weddings, babies, many house moves, bereavements, illness - good and not so good times - but book group has been a bit of a rock, a constant source of solace, support, a pseudo family united by our appreciation of Dave’s Christmas Spread and the shared joy of Dave’s Turkey Sandwich with all the Trimmings.

Tags audio, ebook, online