Sue: ‘I like the fact you’re not judged by anyone, we have a laugh and learn a lot from each other’ 

National wellbeing charity The Reader is celebrating the first year of a second weekly Shared Reading group at one of the UK’s most innovative city libraries.  

Following the success of the Liverpool-based charity’s popular 90-minute Friday Shared Reading group at Storyhouse, in Chester, a new Monday group launched last spring co-led by retired Public Health Manager, Val Armstrong, and Sue Coyne, previously an English teacher. 

Storyhouse is Chester’s cultural hub, a theatre, cinema and café/bar but it is also the main city library, with books spread throughout its spaces. This converted art-deco cinema opened in June 2018 and featured in RIBA’s list of the best buildings that year. It is open seven days/week until 11pm - the longest opening hours of any library in the UK. 

Retired travel agent Sue, from Blacon, is a member of both Shared Reading groups and explains why she enjoys attending: 

“I retired in 2012 and that’s when I first heard of Shared Reading, as I was looking for things to do. I joined the Friday group at Storyhouse for three reasons - to fill a gap, I enjoy reading and out of curiosity. 

When the Monday group first started, I thought ‘Ooh - it will be nice to do two groups a week!’ 

I will always remember the very first short story we read in the Monday group – The Necklace by French author Guy de Maupassant. What hit me was the concept that a short story has to be told quickly with skill - and the author of The Necklace really wrapped it up very well. As I didn’t really read short stories up until then, it was a whole new concept to me. 

It’s good to be part of these two Shared Reading groups – you get to know other like–minded people. We’re here because we want to be here and it’s nice to listen to other people's views about what we are reading.

I also like the fact that you’re not judged by anyone, we can have a laugh and we learn a lot from each other. 

I like stories. I went to a strict girl's grammar school growing up and had an English teacher who drummed it into us we must read. We used to keep a reading diary and our teacher always used to ask about what we’d been reading.  

I have always kept up the habit. Working in the travel industry all my life, I read a lot, particularly on plane journeys! 

I would say it’s really given me a lift and given me something I can join in where I feel welcome.

Both groups are very relaxed and I do look forward to coming. Our group leaders on Monday, Sue and Val, are very nice, as is the leader of our Friday group. 

Before Covid I was in a Book Club. Our Shared Reading groups are very different as you can dip in and out and, if you miss a week, you don’t feel that you’re ‘missing out’ on any part of the book because each week we read a new short story. 

I’d say the group is good for anyone who likes stories – and you don’t have to read out aloud if you don’t want to. Nothing you say is wrong. Just come and see if you like it!” 

Sue Coyne, the group’s co-leader at Storyhouse, said: “We established a second Shared Reading group here a year ago and it has grown to regularly include 10 or so, and we enjoy leading it, welcoming a range of different people. Many are recently retired, and all are actively engaged and appreciative of how the texts affect them.” 

Val and Sue’s weekly Shared Reading group meets in the Meeting Room at Storyhouse on Mondays from 11am –12.30pm. For more information visit here. A second longer-established Friday group meets 2pm – 3.30pm. For more information visit here. 

The Reader is the UK’s biggest Shared Reading charity and runs more than 490 Shared Reading groups across the UK, 112 of these are in libraries. 

For further information about The Reader’s work in libraries and the community visit here.