Longer book choice: Any Human Heart (2002) by William Boyd

NB: This is quite a bit longer than our usual choices (15h43m on Audible vs the usual <10 hours, about 500 pages on Kindle vs usually <300), so please don't leave it all to the last minute...

Longlisted for the 2002 Booker Prize, adapted into a 2010 TV miniseries, and featured on BBC2's Between the Covers - "As a writer, spy, and art-dealer, habitual journal-keeper Logan Mountstuart mixes with the famous men and women who shape the 20th century. But as a son, friend, lover and husband, he makes the same mistakes we all do in our search for happiness." These meetings are often popular; don't forget you can read this free online preview before deciding to attend:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Any-Human-Heart-Penguin-Essentials-ebook/dp/B002RI9MZC/?asin=B002RI9MZC&revisionId=a859bc05&format=3&depth=1

If you've been before and would like to help pay for the Meetup group, you can contribute "£1-2" per meeting (now collected around Dec & Jun). This optional payment does not apply to your first meeting and no-one is turned away for lack of funds.

General plan: by 7pm some of us should be in the upstairs room at the pub but we usually start by discussing books to read in future in case anyone arrives late. Typically we'll talk about the book until after 8pm, when there's a short break to go to the bar, then any further discussion till after 9, though of course you can leave at any point.

The Shirker's Rest takes cards, not cash, and serves a range of soft drinks, wine and spirits in addition to their beer and cider selection [https://theshirkersrest.co.uk/drinks/ ](https://theshirkersrest.co.uk/drinks/)- they don't have a kitchen but encourage you to order from https://yardsalepizza.com/menu/ ..!

COVID-19 safety measures
This is indoors though we should be able to open at least one window. Please do not attend if you feel unwell, or have a positive Covid test/symptoms - you are encouraged to a) be as vaccinated as you can, b) wear a mask if you prefer, c) follow current Covid precautions, especially if you're at risk of passing on or catching the virus.