Share thoughts and ideas about what you are reading, with books chosen by the group. Please come to the first session on Friday 19 September with suggestions (contemporary fiction in paperback) and having read Ripenessby Sarah Moss. Meetings take place on18/9, 23/10, 20/11, 22/1, 19/2, 19/3, 30/04, 28/5, 25/6
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
This is not so much a course as a forum for a group of us to share our feelings about and reactions to a selection of contemporary novels.
What will we cover?
You will read books chosen by group consensus, considering a range of contemporary fiction, written in English. During the session we will discuss the novel in question by considering various aspects such as theme, plot, characters, etc. We will also discuss how successful we think the author has been in the particular work.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
- read books you might not have considered before - focus on key points when discussing a literary work - express your opinion clearly
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
The level of the course is introductory. No previous knowledge or experience of Literature is necessary. However, learners will, ideally, need the following skills and attributes: -An enthusiasm for reading and discussing a range of texts in large and small groups. -A willingness and ability to do some reading and preparation outside the class. You will be expected to read the selected novel for each session. -An interest in, and ability to listen to, the responses of other students to the work discussed. -A commitment to acquiring and developing ways of understanding how the writer uses language to achieve effect.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
The group will select a novel to be read before the following session, when there will be a group discussion on the merits of the book in question. For our first session, please readRipeness by Sarah Moss.
Meetings take place on18/9, 23/10, 20/11, 22/1, 19/2, 19/3, 30/04, 28/5, 25/6
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You will need to read and bring a copy of Ripenessto the first session. You will be required to borrow or buy the selected book in paperback for each session.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
We also have HLT14 Reading Group 2 that meets 3 times a term on Fridays from 12.45-2.45pm on different dates, and an online Evening Reading Group HLT173 that runs 3 Mondays a term from 7-8.30pm. HLT12 Summer Reading Group: memoirs and diaries of women will run for 3 Fridays in May, June and July from 12.45-14.45. Look up other fiction courses on the City Lit website under History, Culture and Writing/Literature at www.citylit.ac.uk.
Kate is a teacher and researcher in English literature. She holds a PhD in English from Queen Mary, University of London, where she has also taught on a range of literature courses. Kate’s specialist interest is twenty-first-century fiction, and she’s delighted to be teaching new City Lit courses about contemporary writing. Kate is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Authority, and a member of the British Association for Contemporary Literary Studies. She has published articles in academic journals and is now working on a book about contemporary novels and letters. Kate is fascinated by new writing, and only gradually coming to terms with the fact that there will never be enough time to read everything she’d like to.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/city-lit-reading-group-11436236City Lit reading group 1https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/c/i/city-lit-reading-group-hlt06-square.jpg259259GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Literature/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Literature/Fiction22851177118711881228511771187<p>Share thoughts and ideas about what you are reading, with books chosen by the group. Please come to the first session on Friday 19 September with suggestions (contemporary fiction in paperback) and having read <em>Ripeness</em><em></em>by Sarah Moss. Meetings take place on18/9, 23/10, 20/11, 22/1, 19/2, 19/3, 30/04, 28/5, 25/6</p>003047203City Lit reading group 1259259https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/c/i/city-lit-reading-group-hlt06-square_12.jpgInStockDaytimeFriKeeley StreetAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-09-18T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allSep 2026Culture, history & humanitiesHLT06259259City Lit reading group 1207168259Kate Wilkinsoncity-lit-reading-group-1/hlt06-2627<p>Share thoughts and ideas about what you are reading, with books chosen by the group. Please come to the first session on Friday 19 September with suggestions (contemporary fiction in paperback) and having read <em>Ripeness</em><em></em>by Sarah Moss. Meetings take place on18/9, 23/10, 20/11, 22/1, 19/2, 19/3, 30/04, 28/5, 25/6</p>0000-Available|2026-09-18 00:00:00<p>This is not so much a course as a forum for a group of us to share our feelings about and reactions to a selection of contemporary novels.</p><p>Share thoughts and ideas about what you are reading, with books chosen by the group. Please come to the first session on Friday 19 September with suggestions (contemporary fiction in paperback) and having read <em>Ripeness</em><em></em>by Sarah Moss. Meetings take place on18/9, 23/10, 20/11, 22/1, 19/2, 19/3, 30/04, 28/5, 25/6</p><p>You will read books chosen by group consensus, considering a range of contemporary fiction, written in English.<br>During the session we will discuss the novel in question by considering various aspects such as theme, plot, characters, etc. We will also discuss how successful we think the author has been in the particular work.</p><p>- read books you might not have considered before<br>- focus on key points when discussing a literary work<br>- express your opinion clearly</p><p>The level of the course is introductory. No previous knowledge or experience of Literature is necessary. However, learners will, ideally, need the following skills and attributes:<br>-An enthusiasm for reading and discussing a range of texts in large and small groups.<br>-A willingness and ability to do some reading and preparation outside the class. You will be expected to read the selected novel for each session.<br>-An interest in, and ability to listen to, the responses of other students to the work discussed.<br>-A commitment to acquiring and developing ways of understanding how the writer uses language to achieve effect.</p><p>The group will select a novel to be read before the following session, when there will be a group discussion on the merits of the book in question. For our first session, please read<em>Ripeness</em> by Sarah Moss.<br><br>Meetings take place on18/9, 23/10, 20/11, 22/1, 19/2, 19/3, 30/04, 28/5, 25/6</p><p>You will need to read and bring a copy of <em>Ripeness</em>to the first session.<br>You will be required to borrow or buy the selected book in paperback for each session.</p><p>We also have HLT14 Reading Group 2 that meets 3 times a term on Fridays from 12.45-2.45pm on different dates, and an online Evening Reading Group HLT173 that runs 3 Mondays a term from 7-8.30pm. HLT12 Summer Reading Group: memoirs and diaries of women will run for 3 Fridays in May, June and July from 12.45-14.45.<br>Look up other fiction courses on the City Lit website under History, Culture and Writing/Literature at www.citylit.ac.uk.</p>LiteratureFictionvirtual207259168HLT06NONEFri18/09/26 - 25/06/2712:45 - 14:4512:4514:459 sessions (over 41 weeks)95-10 weeksDaytimeWeekdayKSKeeley StreetKate WilkinsonBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-09-18T00:00:00+00:00Sep 2026Culture, history & humanities259259City Lit reading group 1city-lit-reading-group-1/hlt06-2627<p>Share thoughts and ideas about what you are reading, with books chosen by the group. Please come to the first session on Friday 19 September with suggestions (contemporary fiction in paperback) and having read <em>Ripeness</em><em></em>by Sarah Moss. Meetings take place on18/9, 23/10, 20/11, 22/1, 19/2, 19/3, 30/04, 28/5, 25/6</p>0000-Available|2026-09-18 00:00:00<p>This is not so much a course as a forum for a group of us to share our feelings about and reactions to a selection of contemporary novels.</p><p>Share thoughts and ideas about what you are reading, with books chosen by the group. Please come to the first session on Friday 19 September with suggestions (contemporary fiction in paperback) and having read <em>Ripeness</em><em></em>by Sarah Moss. Meetings take place on18/9, 23/10, 20/11, 22/1, 19/2, 19/3, 30/04, 28/5, 25/6</p><p>You will read books chosen by group consensus, considering a range of contemporary fiction, written in English.<br>During the session we will discuss the novel in question by considering various aspects such as theme, plot, characters, etc. We will also discuss how successful we think the author has been in the particular work.</p><p>- read books you might not have considered before<br>- focus on key points when discussing a literary work<br>- express your opinion clearly</p><p>The level of the course is introductory. No previous knowledge or experience of Literature is necessary. However, learners will, ideally, need the following skills and attributes:<br>-An enthusiasm for reading and discussing a range of texts in large and small groups.<br>-A willingness and ability to do some reading and preparation outside the class. You will be expected to read the selected novel for each session.<br>-An interest in, and ability to listen to, the responses of other students to the work discussed.<br>-A commitment to acquiring and developing ways of understanding how the writer uses language to achieve effect.</p><p>The group will select a novel to be read before the following session, when there will be a group discussion on the merits of the book in question. For our first session, please read<em>Ripeness</em> by Sarah Moss.<br><br>Meetings take place on18/9, 23/10, 20/11, 22/1, 19/2, 19/3, 30/04, 28/5, 25/6</p><p>You will need to read and bring a copy of <em>Ripeness</em>to the first session.<br>You will be required to borrow or buy the selected book in paperback for each session.</p><p>We also have HLT14 Reading Group 2 that meets 3 times a term on Fridays from 12.45-2.45pm on different dates, and an online Evening Reading Group HLT173 that runs 3 Mondays a term from 7-8.30pm. HLT12 Summer Reading Group: memoirs and diaries of women will run for 3 Fridays in May, June and July from 12.45-14.45.<br>Look up other fiction courses on the City Lit website under History, Culture and Writing/Literature at www.citylit.ac.uk.</p>LiteratureFictionconfigurable
11881187Fictionhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/literature/fiction1/2/285/1177/1187/11881/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Literature/Fiction
