By Lara King
Horsforth Book Club met for its latest monthly gathering this week, welcoming a mix of familiar faces and newcomers.
Now three years old, the group meets at Horsforth Brewery on New Road Side, a fitting spot for a club that values its laid-back, social vibe just as much as its literary chat.
This month’s pick was Daisy Jones and the Six, a 70s rock ‘n’ roll saga the group agreed was essentially a ‘beach read with a bit more bite’. It was chosen democratically: members agree a theme (or none) for the following month, nominate books that fit, and vote for the favourite. August’s theme was novels adapted for TV, while travel books, dystopian novels and Yorkshire fiction have all previously been covered.
Book clubs have surged in popularity in recent years, with platforms like Eventbrite and Meetup reporting huge spikes in interest as people seek both connection and community.
Watching the group in action, it’s easy to see why. Conversation skipped from key moments in the book to lively digressions about Fleetwood Mac’s love lives and the pros and cons of unusual surnames. A discussion guide sat on the table, but members dipped in and out of it as they pleased. Opinions varied, but most agreed the book landed around a six or seven out of 10; enjoyable, but not necessarily memorable.
One of the most charming aspects was how differently members consumed the book: Kindle, iPhone, laptop, revisiting the TV series, or, in one case, finishing the final pages over dinner just before arriving. It was a reminder that reading can still fit neatly into busy modern lives, without the pressure of poring over dusty hardbacks in a quiet library corner.
Phil Sowden, a long-standing member, has handled the admin almost since the club began. He prepares the discussion guides and manages the group’s 250-strong Facebook community, while the in-person meet-ups remain a more modest-but- manageable five to 10 people.
Phil explained: “Everyone is welcome to join our Facebook group, and that’s where we choose the next book. We share the date of the next meeting and invite everyone along. We tend to cap it at 10 to keep things manageable, it’s hard for everyone to participate if it gets too big. We have regulars and people who come and go. Some follow the group and read the books but don’t attend in person, which is fine too. We’ve been going like this for a few years and it seems to work well.”
Horsforth resident Alex has been attending for two years and enjoys both the social side and the variety of reading: “It encourages you to read a wider range of books you might not otherwise choose. It’s really relaxed and feels like a nice social activity. Book groups can seem a bit high-brow, but this one isn’t like that. Anyone can take part.”
Newcomer Sophie agreed: “I live close by and saw the poster advertising the group. Everyone has been so welcoming. I’d definitely come again.”
The group will meet again in September, with the theme already set as novels with a twist. Sarah Waters’ Fingersmith has been chosen, and members joked about bracing themselves for its 600 pages, an unusually long selection.
As the book club scene continues to grow, it was a delight to spend time with this lively little group at the heart of Horsforth, where reading is refreshingly relaxed and everyone is welcome.
To find out more, search for Horsforth Book Club on Facebook.