Only two members of the group had managed to read the book to the end before attending the discussion group.  However, by the end of the session most said they would continue to read it.

Whilst ultimately most of the group enjoyed the fact that they could relate to the social events described in this book, it was heavy going and a slog to get through. The start was too intense, although the characters and history were found to be interesting. The main protagonist was overly passive and inclined to play the victim throughout his life. Amongst the life lessons portrayed was the question of whether you should sacrifice everything for your art, despite the far-reaching effects on your child.

This epic novel follows Roland Baines through the often turbulent political and social changes of the late 20^th century, including the Cuban Missile Crisis, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Covid-19 pandemic.  It centres on themes of love, loss and how personal life decisions are shaped by history.