Upcoming courses
- Thu, 14 SeptFirst class in-person; remaining via Zoom14 Sept 2023, 10:30 BST – 12 Oct 2023, 12:30 BSTFirst class in-person; remaining via Zoom
- Tue, 12 SeptFirst class in person; remaining via Zoom12 Sept 2023, 11:00 BST – 10 Oct 2023, 13:00 BSTFirst class in person; remaining via Zoom
- Sat, 09 SeptFirst session in-person; remaining via Zoom09 Sept 2023, 10:30 BST – 30 Sept 2023, 12:30 BSTFirst session in-person; remaining via Zoom
Living Room Literature offers bookish people bespoke, small group enrichment courses in literature.
Whether you studied English at university or dropped it at A Level to pursue a career in the sciences, chances are that nowadays you just don’t get the time to do the sort of deep and satisfying reading that you used to do in your school days.
With LRL you don’t need to go back to school to reclaim space for books; with the institution taken out of learning, you can look forward to classes delivered with a strong personal touch. Pre-Covid, I delivered all classes from my living room in west London. Now, as I live between two places, I favour a hybrid model and have found that most of my clients do too: Zoom is the principal platform for meetings but, whenever possible, I offer at least one class of any course (usually 3 or 4 weeks in length) in person. I keep group numbers low (usually 5 or 6 per group) and this helps to keep the virtual experience warm, intimate, relaxed and crucially, feel ‘real’.
I prepare and lead all my courses. I don’t presuppose existing knowledge about books or how to study them: courses are taught so you can expect classes to be carefully structured with plenty of guidance.
How it works
Course structure
I call my standard courses ‘In Focus’, because this is exactly what they are: courses designed for readers who want to learn about books in depth and understand the background in which they were written and received. LRL is not a bluestocking commune, however, so please don’t take ‘in focus’ to mean dry and populated by competitive clever boxes! It’s much more a coming together of warm, curious people looking to carve out space in a busy week for stimulating discussion. In this respect, friendship and a sense of community are just as important as the literary discussion itself and it’s very often the case that groups go off and do social things together – sometimes it’s related to the book we are studying and sometimes not.
Timings
Classes begin at 10.30 am and finish at 12.30 inclusive of a 10 min tea break. Courses tend to run over four consecutive weeks (occasionally 3 if the text is particularly short) and follow the school calendar.
How to prepare
You'll need to read the text in advance of the course as sessions are structured around key themes or ideas and so we don’t read the text together. Each week I ask group members to bring a visual that is related to the topic up for discussion – so, to give you a concrete example of what I mean: if the focus is setting you may choose an image of a domestic interior – your favourite Vermeer, perhaps. This task need take no longer than five minutes but it’s an incredibly productive way of crystallising ideas and also serves to open discussion when we meet. At the end of each session you will be given a booklet of resources lovingly curated by my good self, packed with contextual or critical material relevant to the topic.
Why I started Living Room Literature
As an English teacher, I regularly come into contact with parents of students who confess to living vicariously through their child’s education with limited access to anything of a similar standard or style in the world of adult education. Continuing Education is still an integral part of British culture but it is severely underfunded and institutions don’t have the luxury of creating courses for anything that might be considered, ‘niche’. My courses are designed to stretch, ignite and inspire further independent study – pitched (roughly speaking) at pre-university/ undergrad level; further enquiry is entirely optional, however and I believe it’s the combination of deep diving and freedom from essay writing that makes my courses unique: this is exploration and enrichment for readers who live busy lives.
The chance to rekindle your love of literature with a small group of like- minded people, sympathetically guided by an expert in cosy, civilized surroundings: what could be more appealing?
Clarissa Farr, Former High Mistress, St Paul’s Girls’ School
Living Room Literature is an inspired idea and perfect for curious readers who want to learn about books without going back to school; not a single plastic chair in view!
Slightly Foxed, Real Reader’s Quarterly
I absolutely loved the sessions; LRL afforded me the opportunity to engage in literature as though a student again – but with the advantage of experience!
Helen Lowe, Former Headteacher, Bute House
Think of a book club on steroids! In fact, I could never go back to a book club after studying with Sarah
Living Room Literature Regular
Every time I enter Sarah’s living room, I feel like I have just arrived at a much needed refuge where time stops still and I get to relax. I love it. I have a new appreciation for Victorian novels.
Living Room Literature Regular
Sarah has devoted much of her life to the reading and discussion of literature. She is an experienced scholar who retains the ability to be enthused and delighted by books and delights in sharing that enthusiasm.
Jonathan Patrick