Book Club with a Difference

Welcome to Book Club with a Difference! Join us for a unique reading experience at Alexandria Library, 247 Wilmslow Rd, Manchester M14 5LW . Get ready to dive into captivating stories, share your thoughts, and connect with fellow book lovers. It's called Reading Round, a format developed by the Royal Literary Fund, and it's not your typical book club - we promise a fun and engaging atmosphere where everyone's voice is heard and there's no homework! Don't miss out on this exciting event!

Led by local poet, Dr Peter Kalu, with support from local writer, Clare Ramsaran, Manchester’s Reading Round will be one of a network of only sixteen in the country funded by the Royal Literary Fund in 2024/25, and, unlike other reading groups, there is no homework needed!

‘Each week I will read the group a new poem and a short story aloud, and then we’ll discuss them together,’ said Peter. ‘‘Research shows how good it is for us to be read aloud to but how many of us actually make the time to do this? This is ninety minutes when people can just stop and listen to something new to them.’

The Reading Round scheme was set up to create a space where readers can discover original writing and also rediscover the joys of hearing stories and poems in a friendly group. Other Reading Round groups have run across the country and the feedback has always been very positive.

‘People call it ‘the highlight of their week’ and even ‘life-enhancing’! It’s a lovely thing to be able to bring to Manchester,’ commented Katharine McMahon, novelist and Head of Outreach with the Royal Literary Fund. ‘The discussions get very lively too, and the fact that each group is guided by a writer means there’s always new insights and discoveries.’

The Reading Round will take place in the bookshop, Alexandria Library, Manchester, on (Thursdays, from 6.30pm-8pm) and is open to all.

Although it’s completely free to join, numbers are restricted and pre-booking is essential. Contact Peter Kalu on peter.kalu@rlfeducation.org.uk to find out more and for access details.