The Stubborn Archivist - Yara Rorigues-Fowler

 Not hated  but not loved. Does the odd form ( some almost blank pages. seemingly unconnected jottings)help this readership of older white men understand a young mixed race woman's life? Not most of us...

Jacqueline Harpman -I who have never known Men

 A strange and strangely compelling book . Where , when and why is it set ? 

Jeanette Winterson - The Passion

 Passion- is it always unrequited?  Why the fantastical elements ? Is it written ( first person narrative)  by a mad man?   Some great passages ;and a good discussion ensued.

Alexander Lernet-Holenia --Count Luna

 A strange little volume . Is it parable of the "lunacy" of the Nazi regime? or just about a couple of odd people?  Quite interesting in its way,

Nussaibah Younis - Fundamentally

An interesting setting , about "ISIS brides". Some thought the jokiness detracted and were not convinced-others were more positive  

Aminata Forna The Hired Man

Set in Croatia . Who is good who is bad?   A good read overall

Maghanita Laski - Little Boy Lost

A definite hit. We all thought it very good.. Character, plot ,setting all  well done and not overdone.

Ramita Navai City of Lies:Love Sex Death and the Search for Truth inTehran

 Published in 2012 this  is a fact-based fictionalised account of life in Tehran . Hypocrisy and corruption are normal, life goes on...and some people suffer .Interesting, but a little repetitive in theme and neither fact nor fiction   , but "true"

The Wasp Factory ; Ian Banks

A return to our youth...Shocking and  bizarre but most of us thought very well written 

Intimacies - Katie Kitamura

 An interesting start, about translation/interpreting in an interesting setting , let down about by the less engaging  storyline and character details.Still worth a read

The Power of the Dog -Thomas Savage

 A hit for all of us ...and much better than the film based on it . In our top ten...

Butter by Asako Yuzuki

 How can this be such a best-seller? Some interesting themes - feminism, food , weight, friendship. Took a long time to get going  .  OK but not gripping.

Orbital by Samantha Hardy

 Generally liked  with some reservations  - but short enough for that not to put one off..

Claire Keegan : Small Things Like These / Foster

 Two short books with related themes , They seem much more substantial than they look ..Very good 

Teleophone by Percival Everett

 Good but not great.  Is he too clever and enjoys writing so much that he neglects the story? Originally published in three slightly different versions we managed to source two of them...

RIambel by Priya Hein

 Generally thought to be interesting  ( the setting -  Mauritius and its history) moving  and worthwhile . Some loved it , but some thought it rather worthy and obvious.

David Lodge - Changing Places

 Amusing and a bit show-off with each chapter in a different style . Still relevant satire if a bit dated.

William Boyd- Restless

 A good yarn, some interest but not entirely convincing . Very "filmic".

James Baldwin -Another Country

 A bit over-long and very brutal  in parts , but a great read - We all rated it highly.

Claudia Pineiro A Crack in the Wall

 We enjoyed this . Plot twists that work. Characters one can  see...Recommended