“Age 45, she thinks her life is perfect, as long as she avoids her feckless brother, Edward – a safe distance away in Birmingham. She has a London flat which is ideal for one; a job that suits her passion for logic; and a personal arrangement providing cultural and other, more intimate, benefits. Yet suddenly faced with the loss of her mother and, implausibly, with the possibility of becoming a mother herself, Susan’s greatest fear is being realised: she is losing control. And things can only get worse … at least in Susan’s eyes” Just over a year ago the group made Eleanor Oliphant ‘ their book of the year. So there was always going to be comparisons reading about a single lady living slightly outside of society norms. Would it be as good? The book didn't get off to a good start with the group not taking to the very obvious metaphor - the Cactus = Susan. One of the group thought the book was the product of a creative writing course as it seemed to tick many boxes (the ti