Since 2019 Kett’s Books has chosen a book every year to be our One Community, One Book choice. It’s a bit like a town-wide, year-long book group, where everyone gets a chance to read the same book.

The project started when we lost a dear friend and one of our original volunteers, Geoff Kirk. When we reflected on our friendship, we realised that the joy of talking together about books is something that has helped form our community.

We wanted to offer that experience to everyone, especially those that don’t find reading or choosing books comes naturally. By narrowing the choice down to one book, and sticking with that one for a year, many people in the town can become familiar with the idea – even being able to say that you’ve heard of a book is a way to join a conversation.

This year we’re thrilled to have chosen a book that really does seem to have something for everyone. The Night of the Flood by Zoe Somerville is about the devastating floods that hit the North Norfolk coast in 1953. Set in the familiar setting of Wells, there’s post-war tension, murder, espionage, love triangles, coming of age – all our readers so far have loved it.

On Friday 25th March we will be holding our first event with the author at Wymondham Baptist Church at 7pm. Please ring 01953 603663 to reserve your ticket ahead. Tickets are £8.99 and include a copy of the book.

Kett’s Books is an independent community bookshop run by volunteers. We saved the shop from closing in 2014, and we’ve been working with the people and schools of Wymondham ever since, promoting reading and the benefits of working together.