Join us and share your passion for reading! Sudden Traveller by Sarah Hall has been revealed as our new book.

Every two months we meet in person and 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.

NCW Book Club: Sudden Traveller

Our next book club read is Sudden Traveller by Sarah Hall (published by Faber) – her third story collection. Featuring her signature themes of identity, eroticism and existential quest, these new stories travel far afield in location and ambition. A winner of the BBC National Short Story Award 2020, the book has been described as ‘an ambitious, powerful and, at times, deeply unsettling book’ (Observer).

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

Subscribe and listen to the Writing Life podcast

Find out more about our new book club read on The Writing Life podcast, as Flo Reynolds introduces Sudden Traveller.

Join our 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 or in-person book club discussion via Zoom

If you’re looking for something a little more interactive, you can join us in-person in the grounds of the beautiful Dragon Hall or zoom in for a book club discussion by video! Just sign-up for free and we will send you instructions ahead of time.

Virtual book club discussion: Friday 17 September, 5.30 – 7pm BST, online

Book club discussion at Dragon Hall: Wednesday 22 September, 6 – 7.30pm BST

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

Where can I buy the book?

Place an order with The Book Hive. Mention the NCW Book Club and you can purchase Sudden Traveller at the special discounted price of £6! Please note this offer is available for the first ten customers only – first come, first served.

Sudden Traveller is also available for purchase as an eBook from the Bloomsbury website.

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