Hear from Sophie at IH about our UoL Book Club!

How is your New Year’s resolution to read more books going so far?

This year, you can definitely nail it. If you want a little structure and motivation, come read with us. Every first Wednesday of the month, we gather to talk about one book and share the stories it brought up for us.

Hello, fellow bookworms. I’m Sophie. I’m studying for an MSc in Public Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and I’m staying at International Hall near Russell Square, one of the University of London halls.

Our Book Club is a warm space to talk about books, share recommendations, and meet new people. You do not need to be good at book clubs to join. There is no pressure to speak, and you are always welcome even if you have not finished the book, or if you simply want to listen. We also do book swapping, if you would like to bring a book you are happy to pass on.

In February, we read Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell. Our discussion focused on grief, and on how differently people carry it. We found ourselves empathising with both Agnes and the husband, even when their ways of coping did not match. The book reminded us that grief does not look the same in everyone, and that difference does not mean one person loved less. If you have ever lost someone, it is hard not to recognise yourself, or someone you care about, somewhere in their responses. In that way, the story can be painful, but also strangely comforting, because it gives you a contained space to mourn and feel understood.

As a student studying public health, I was struck by how the story connects illness with social life, fear, and isolation. The scenes of a community closing in on itself felt like a distant mirror of lockdowns and quarantines during COVID-19. Also, as a traditional medicine practitioner, I was also drawn to Agnes’s knowledge of herbology. She is treated with suspicion, yet people still rely on her when they are desperate. We discussed what that contradiction reveals about authority, credibility, and who gets to define real medicine.

We also noticed how the novel keeps William Shakespeare almost unnamed. He is described through roles like husband, father, and tutor. This choice shifts the focus away from fame and toward the family’s inner world, especially toward Agnes. For me, as a Korean reader who did not grow up with Shakespeare as a central part of school, this made the book feel especially accessible.

Next month’s book is The Ax by Donald E. Westlake. It has also inspired a film adaptation, No Other Choice, directed by Park Chan-wook. If you enjoy comparing a book and its screen version, you might like reading and watching alongside the club. Even though the year has only just begun, the film has stayed with me more than most. It kept me thinking about its message long after it ended. I am looking forward to seeing what the book adds, and how our conversation shifts with a different kind of story.

If you would like to join us, our next meet is on Wednesday, 4 March at 4pm at Connaught Hall. Please join our WhatsApp group chat using the link below. Anyone studying at the University of London is welcome to join, even if you are not staying in a hall. See you all in March!