THE BEACON BOOK CLUB
NEXT BOOK CLUB – THURSDAY 28 MAY 2026 – Portraits in words
Last Thursday of every month | 7.00pm – 8.30pm
FREE ENTRY
A book club with a difference! Each month we set a theme that compliments the museum’s changing exhibitions.
The Beacon Book club is an informal, friendly group of likeminded people who want to share their passion for reading and to discover new favourite books and make new friends.
Most of the suggested reading can be found at or ordered through the Cumberland Library Service as print books, e-books or audiobooks, but we also encourage you to take the theme and browse through the library shelves, charity shops and independent booksellers to find something unexpected. You can find a copy of each month’s suggested reading list below, or ask at the museum reception for a printed copy.
Everyone is welcome! Tea and cake will be provided.
Don’t forget to follow our Beacon Book Club Facebook page for all discussions and up to date news – The Beacon Museum Book Club | Facebook
MAY‘S THEME – PORTRAITS IN WORDS
THURSDAY 28 MAY 2026
A picture may paint a Thousand Words…. but let’s read the book anyway!
Inspired by the ongoing Beacon Museum Exhibition celebrating the work of J.D. Kenworthy, the West Cumbrian Portrait Artist, we will be looking at books by such notaries as James Joyce (A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man), Dylan Thomas (A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Dog) and Henry James (The Portrait of a Lady) amongst others.
JUNE’S THEME – CUMBRIAN FOLKLORE
THURSDAY 25 JUNE 2026
Celebrating the Summer Solstice
The Tizzie Whizzie, Black Shuck, The Beast of Cumbria, Black Annis, Bownessie, The Bassenthwaite Eachy and Long Meg and Her Daughters…
Dive into the Tales, legends and proverbs of Cumbria with these books:
Cumbrian Folk Tales by Taffy Thomas
Folklore of the Lake District by Stephen G Rae
The White Dobbie by Jacqueline Harris
Old Fashioned Fairy-tales (in West Cumbrian dialect) by Ethel Fisher
JULY’S THEME – ALL AT SEA
THURSDAY 30 JULY 2026
Celebrating the arrival in Whitehaven of the Tall Ship Neo Santa Maria.
Featuring two Must Read books:
To the Edge of the World by Tilar J. Mazzeo
An incredibly thrilling slice of maritime history: The true story of Mary Ann Patten who steered a clipper ship with immensely valuable cargo through the most treacherous waters in the world. One woman. One ship. One astonishing true story.
All at Sea by Decca Aitkenhead
On a hot still morning on a beautiful beach in Jamaica, Decca Aitkenhead’s life changed for ever. Her four-year-old boy was paddling peacefully at the water’s edge when a wave pulled him out to sea. The tide swept Tony away, plunging Decca into the dark chasm of random tragedy.
Or try
Mutiny on the Bounty by John Boyne, or Moby Dick by Herman Melville