Join us and share your passion for reading! Rope by Khairani Barokka, our Associate Artist, has been revealed as our new Book Club book.

Every two months we will meet virtually over tea and biscuits to discuss some of the best works in contemporary literature. We’ll explore short stories, novels, non-fiction, poetry, and works in translation, making these informal and friendly sessions the perfect way to meet like-minded readers and to discover exciting new reads. We’ll always choose books that are easy to purchase in hard copy online or via Kindle.

Virtual Book Club: Rope

Our next virtual book club will discuss Khairani Barokka’s ‘lyrical, defiant’ first full poetry collection, Rope. With a meticulous artist’s instinct, these finely-tuned poems ask urgent questions about our impact upon the environment and examine carefully the fragile ties that bind our lives and our fate to our planet, our ecosystems and to our fellow humans.

There are plenty of ways for you to get involved with the book club from home:

Subscribe and listen to the Writing Life podcast

Tune in to this episode of The Writing Life podcast where Flo Reynolds will give a brief introduction to the Book Club and Khairani’s book.

Join our new online community

We’ve launched a new community space on Discord to help readers and writers connect in these unusual times. Book Club members were the first to be invited, so come and join the discussion! Find out more

Take part in a virtual book club discussion via Zoom

If you’re looking for something a little more interactive, you can join us in March for a virtual book club discussion by video! Just sign-up for free and we will send you instructions ahead of time.

Spaces are limited so we recommend booking your place in advance.

Friday 26 March, 5.30 – 7pm GMT

Tuesday 30 March, 5.30 – 7pm BST

Try our questions and suggested activities based on the book

Rope: Questions for readers

Writing exercise inspired by Rope

Discover more poetry by Kharani Barokka

Join Khairani Barokka plus guest writers Vahni Capildeo, Rishi Dastidar, and Fitri Nganthi Wani, with translation by Eliza Vitri Handayani, to celebrate the publication of her second poetry collection, Ultimatum Orangutan. Book tickets here >>

Send us your thoughts via social media or email

We’d love to hear what you thought of the book. You can email us any time at [email protected] or contact us via Twitter, Facebook or Instagram to share your comments – and if you’re happy for us to do so, we can read them aloud on the Writing Life podcast.

Where can I buy the book?

Place an order with The Book Hive. Mention the NCW Book Club and they will give you 10% off!

Buy Rope from the Nine Arches Press website

Rope is also available for purchase as an eBook.

Many of your favourite independent bookshops are continuing their business online or by phone and will deliver anywhere in the UK. Why not give them a shout?

You can shop over 150 independent bookshops online now at uk.bookshop.org

Norwich – The Book Hive, Jarrold, Tombland Books, Bookbugs and Dragon Tales, Abstract Sprockett, Norfolk Children’s Book Centre

London – Burley Fisher Books, Daunt Books, Brick Lane Bookshop, Pages of Hackney, Dulwich Books, Stoke Newington Bookshop, South Kensington Books, Newham Bookshop, Pages of Cheshire Street, The All Good Bookshop, Pickled Pepper Books, Owl Bookshop, Persephone Books

Edinburgh – Golden Hare Books, Typewronger Books

Wadhurst – Barnetts Books

York – Ken Spelman Books

Petersfield – The Petersfield Bookshop

Stockton-on-Tees – Drake the Bookshop

Arundel and Chichester – Kim’s Bookshop

Nottingham – Five Leaves Bookshop

Hexham, Northumberland – Cogito Books

Explore The Bookseller’s list of independent bookshops and the services they can offer