Philosophical Fiction Book Club

4.8•589 ratings

About us

We think, therefore, we read!
We meet once every two months to discuss fiction that explores the nature of existence, challenges social and political concepts and tries to get to the core of what it might mean to be human.

For you, if you like fiction that is considered:
• Philosophical
• Existential
• Experimental
• Postmodernist
• Novels of ideas

N.B. We will never contact you asking for money to read or review your book. If you have received an email claiming to be from us, please be aware that this is a scam. Please report it to your email provider and let us know via Meetup's messaging function.

Upcoming events

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The Bell - Iris Murdoch [In-person Meeting]
Wed, Mar 11 · 7:00 PM GMT
Prince of Wales, 150-151 Drury Lane, London, GB
This event is supported by The Royal Institute of Philosophy’s Local Partners Programme.

N.B. this meeting will be held in person in the Prince of Wales pub near Covent Garden. There is also an online session held on Thursday if you are not in London or are not able to attend in-person.

Our 2026 theme, 'Quest', takes a more inward turn this month. We join the residents of Imber Court, people yearning for spiritual meaning in a lay religious community, each pursuing their own paths to goodness and meaning. When art student Dora arrives, recently having left her husband, conflicts and secrets come to the fore, forcing the residents to confront one another and themselves.

The meeting starts at 7pm with drink breaks at 8 and 9. The discussion will end around 10pm, but leave whenever you need to.

Here's the blurb from Penguin.co.uk

Imber Court is a quiet haven for lost souls. It offers a sanctuary for those who can neither live in the world, nor out of it. But beneath the gentle daily routines of the community run currents of suppressed desire, religious yearning and a legend of disastrous love. Charming, indolent Dora arrives in the midst of all this, and half-unwittingly conjures these submerged things to the surface.

Our confirmed 2026 books are:
- January - The Wizard of Earthsea, Ursual K. Le Guin
- February - The Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingway
- March - The Bell, Iris Murdoch
- April - Haroun and Sea of Stories, Salman Rushdie
- May - Journey to the West/Monkey - Weng Cheng-En
- June - The Odyssey, Homer
23 attendees
The Bell - Iris Murdoch [Online Meeting]
Thu, Mar 12 · 7:00 PM GMT
Prince of Wales, 150-151 Drury Lane, London, GB
This event is supported by The Royal Institute of Philosophy’s Local Partners Programme.

N.B.: this meeting will be held online via Google Meet. There is also an in-person session being held on Wednesday in the Prince of Wales pub near Covent Garden.

Our 2026 theme, 'Quest', takes a more inward turn this month. We join the residents of Imber Court, people yearning for spiritual meaning in a lay religious community, each pursuing their own paths to goodness and meaning. When art student Dora arrives, recently having left her husband, conflicts and secrets come to the fore, forcing the residents to confront one another and themselves.

The meeting starts at 7pm with drink breaks at 8 and 9. The discussion will end around 10pm, but leave whenever you need to.

Here's the blurb from Penguin.co.uk

Imber Court is a quiet haven for lost souls. It offers a sanctuary for those who can neither live in the world, nor out of it. But beneath the gentle daily routines of the community run currents of suppressed desire, religious yearning and a legend of disastrous love. Charming, indolent Dora arrives in the midst of all this, and half-unwittingly conjures these submerged things to the surface.

Our confirmed 2026 books are:
- January - The Wizard of Earthsea, Ursual K. Le Guin
- February - The Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingway
- March - The Bell, Iris Murdoch
- April - Haroun and Sea of Stories, Salman Rushdie
- May - Journey to the West/Monkey - Weng Cheng-En
- June - The Odyssey, Homer
13 attendees