Gene Genie by Patricia Mullin

About the book

Michael Barton MP is the Minister for the Family, happily married and with two daughters. He never imagined that an apparent act of selflessness on his part, committed almost thirty years ago, could come back to haunt him.

Reviewed by Biscuits, Books and Banter (Yateley Library):

Interesting subject handled fairly well. The main characters were weak, but the supporting females were very strong – reflection of real life? Raised lots of good discussion points and an interesting and lively meeting ensued. Lots of ethical questions to be thought over.

Star rating: ***

Read the book

Request to borrow a reading group set

Saturday by Ian McEwan

About the book

Saturday, February 15, 2003. Henry Perowne is a contented man – a successful neurosurgeon, the devoted husband of Rosalind and proud father of two grown-up children. Unusually, he wakes before dawn, drawn to the window of his bedroom and filled with a growing unease. What troubles him as he looks out at the night sky is the state of the world – the impending war against Iraq, a gathering pessimism since 9/11, and a fear that his city and his happy family life are under threat.
Later, Perowne makes his way to his weekly squash game through London streets filled with hundreds of thousands of anti-war protestors. A minor car accident brings him into a confrontation with Baxter, a fidgety, aggressive, young man, on the edge of violence. To Perowne’s professional eye, there appears to be something profoundly wrong with him.
Towards the end of a day rich in incident and filled with Perowne’s celebrations of life’s pleasures, his family gathers for a reunion. But with the sudden appearance of Baxter, Perowne’s earlier fears seem about to be realised.

Reviewed by King’s Somborne Reading Group:

Interesting political context, well integrated into absorbing plot. Impressive research and detail. Stunning, accomplished, tedious, self indulgent, thrilling, empathetic, gripping, dramatic tension, formulaic. A brilliant writer.

Star rating: ****

Read the book

Request to borrow a reading group set
 

Enduring Love by Ian McEwan

About the book

One windy spring day in the Chilterns Joe Rose’s calm, organised life is shattered by a ballooning accident. The afternoon, Rose reflects, could have ended in mere tragedy, but for his brief meeting with Jed Parry. Unknown to Rose, something passes between them – something that gives birth in Parry to an obsession so powerful that it will test to the limits Rose’s beloved scientific rationalism, threaten the love of his wife Clarissa and drive him to the brink of murder and madness.

Reviewed by Hayling Readers’ Group:

Highly recommended. A tense and unusual beginning gets the reader involved immediately. This story of obsession set in contemporary Britain, is a dramatic and gripping read.

Star rating: ***

Read the book

Request to borrow a reading group set