The Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction – the inaugural international celebration of women’s non-fiction writing – is celebrating 2024’s exceptional shortlist by joining six reading groups from across the UK to read and discuss the wonderful titles. Read on to meet each of the groups and find out what makes them special and what titles they’ll be reading.
The Geordie Book Group
The Geordie Book Group started in January of 2016 and was initially based at Blackwell’s Bookshop in Newcastle. With 15-20 regular attendees, some of which have been with us since that very first year, they mostly focus primarily on literary fiction (mostly contemporary), non-fiction and prize shadowing. They always use the Women’s Prize for Fiction winner announcement as an excuse for their annual social (as pictured).
The Geordie Book Group are reading Thunderclap: A Memoir of Art and Life and Sudden Death by Laura Cumming
Heritage Reads Book Club
The Heritage Reads Book Club is a tapestry of avid readers, each from distinct backgrounds and vibrant cultures. Their shared passion for reading unites them, and their diverse heritages enrich their discussions, opening their eyes to the boundless perspectives literature has to offer. Together, they explore the vast world of books, finding common ground in the pages that tell of life’s many colours.
Heritage Reads Book Club are reading A Flat Place by Noreen Masud
The Eaton Rise Book Club
Eaton Rise is a small development of houses in Norwich built in the 50s and 60s, and The Eaton Rise Book Club was started in 2012 by Bridget who recruited fellow readers via the local Newsletter. They usually borrow books from their very obliging local library (Tuckswood Library, Norwich) and over the last ten years their choice of reading has been eclectic, often provoking lively debates as mixed as the reading tastes of the ten members. They self-describe as an all-female book club, with a mixed age range of busy retirees and working women who love books and the value they add to our lives.
The Eaton Rise Book Club are reading All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley’s Sack, a Black Family Keepsake by Tiya Miles
The Page Turners
The Page Turners are a book club that was formed through Community Links’ Scotland’s Healthy Pathways Project. A group of women within the project had a real passion for reading and came together to create The Page Turners in July 2022. The group meet fortnightly to discuss the book when its halfway read and then when completed. They currently have read 22 books, which were picked in turn by each group member and range from crime thrillers to literary classics.
The Page Turners are reading Code Dependent: Living in the Shadow of AI by Madhumita Murgia
Stirchley Book Club
Stirchley Book Club are a friendly, community book club based in South Birmingham. Set up 5 years ago by husband-and-wife Josh & Tab, they meet monthly at the local community centre to discuss award winning paperback bestsellers across a variety of genres. They consist of around 20 regular members and have been featured on TV’s “Sky Arts Book Club” and BBC West Midlands radio. The book club chats often include some healthy disagreement with a range of reviews!
Stirchley Book Club are reading Doppelganger: A Trip Into the Mirror World by Naomi Klein
Read with Yeovil
Read With Yeovil is a fairly newly formed book group which meets monthly, welcoming readers and listeners alike. They have approximately 20 members, both male and female, who read 2 fiction or non-fiction books each month. They also support a network of local authors who often come and talk about their books, or join socially, when not writing.
Read with Yeovil are reading How to Say Babylon: A Jamaican Memoir by Safiya Sinclair
Get involved
Are you interested in reading any of the shortlisted titles? Find out more about the shortlist here.
If you work in a library or workplace and would like to promote the shortlist, you can download a free digital pack from our shop.
What do you think of the 2024 shortlisted titles? Which have you read and what will be added to your TBR pile? Add your comments below, or click any title above to leave a review.
Share your thoughts with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using #WomensPrize.
Keep up with all the latest news on the Women’s Prize website.
Want to make sure you never miss the latest reading group news? Sign up for our free monthly newsletter.
