Last month, the Book Club covered the Booker prize shortlist 2021 novel by Sunjeev Dahota, China Room.

It is a heartbreaking story of love, family, survival and betrayal which focuses on the story of a forbidden love that echoes across generations.

Mehar, a young bride in rural Punjab, is trying to discover the identity of her new husband. It is 1929, and she and her sisters-in-law – married to three brothers in a single ceremony – spend their days hard at work on the family farm, sequestered from contact with the men. When Mehar develops a theory as to which of them is hers, a passion is ignited that will put more than one life at risk.

Spiralling around Mehar’s story is that of a young man( Mehar’s great-grandson) who in 1999 flees from England to the same now deserted sun-scorched farm. Can a summer spend learning of love and of his family’s past give him the strength for the journey home and conquer his drug addiction?

Club members described it as “loving the mask”, “Indian women’s woes”, “dramatized, restricted gratification” and “lust in the dust”. Most rated this book as either seven or eight out of ten. A great read, a good discussion and well worth being on the Booker Prize long list. One of the most interesting things about the discussion was the way in which Members opened up about their own grandparents and family backgrounds. Discussing books like this is very worthwhile and certainly makes you think about your own family.

For the last Book Club event of the year, the committee is planning to endeavour to a fresh genre by opting for the Sunday Times Number One Bestseller The Women of Troy by Pat Baker.

It is a historical fiction war story, a sequel to Pat Baker’s previous book The Silence of the Girls. So come along and hear the inside story of the Trojan horse.

Please note that the date of the next Book Club event has been updated as per Book Club committee Members’ advice and the event will now be held at 17:30 Tuesday 22 November on zoom.

The Book Club is keen to welcome new Members to their meetings, so contact the team at events@tattersallsclub.org to RSVP for this event and try participating in our Book Club’s gripping and captivating discussion if you haven’t already.