Reading Group Ayr functions under the auspices of Opportunity in Retirement (OIR), a voluntary organisation by the retired, for the retired. OIR provides activities, physical, artistic and intellectual for retired persons in south-west Scotland.
The group couldn't function as it does without the co-operation of the staff of the Carnegie Library in Ayr. An excellent meeting room has been made available to us, and the staff have devised a system that allows us to borrow books for an extended period — a considerable benefit.
We meet once a fortnight throughout the year. The other OIR reading groups recess for the summer, but we derive so much interest and stimulation from our meetings, which by the way are teetotal, that we would suffer withdrawal symptoms from a suspension.
We read contemporary English literature, such as True History Of The Kelly Gang by Peter Carey, with a leavening of biography — The Liar's club by Mary Karr — and travel — In Siberia by Colin Thubron.
As a general rule we avoid books that have a won a prize, as all too often the selection process is issue driven and produces a winner that is PC but brain-numbingly boring — like The English Passengers for example.