Waterstones to host the new Bluestockings film club

Waterstones Tottenham Court Road is hosting film screenings ahead of London Book and Screen Week this Sunday (10th April) in collaboration with a new book and film club founded by three women working in publishing. 

The Bluestocking Club was co-founded by Katy MacMillan-Scott and Rosie Beaumont-Thomas at Four Colman Getty and Nuzha Nusseibeh at Pan Macmillan, and aims to introduce people to great books and their adaptations in a relaxed, sociable setting.

Inspired by the original Bluestockings of the eighteenth century, who hosted salons in their London homes, The Bluestocking Club merges book and film club with a programme of "thought-provoking" literary adaptations, ranging from period drama to film noir to sci-fi. 

MacMillan-Scott said: "Lots of people want to join book clubs, but don’t know where to start, and the screenings offer an informal way to meet others and discuss books, films and ideas."

The monthly club opens in the basement of the newly opened Waterstones and will show English and foreign language films, ranging from "forgotten classics", like Otto Preminger’s Bonjour Tristesse starring David Niven, Deborah Kerr and Juliette Gréco to "old favourites" such as Trevor Nunn’s Twelfth Night starring Imogen Stubbs and Helena Bonham-Carter. Each will be selected for its "talkability" or "interesting backstory". 

The first film on the roster is Valley of the Dolls, with the screening scheduled from 1-4pm this Sunday. Turning 50 this year, the 1966 book went from multiple rejections to one of the bestsellers of the sixties.

The line up continues with The Third Man (1967), directed by Carol Reed; based on the original book written by Graham Greene, on 15th May; The Fantastic Mr Fox (2009), directed by Wes Anderson; based on the original book written by Roald Dahl, on 11th June; Possession (2002), directed by Neil LaBute; based on the original book written by AS Byatt, on 10th July; The Empire of the Sun (1987), directed by Steven Spielberg; based on the original book written by JG Ballard, on 14th August; and Bonjour Tristesse (1985), directed by Otto Preminger; based on the original book written by Françoise Sagan, on 11th September.

Screenings will be introduced by an expert or super-fan and editions of the books and companion titles will be on sale. Brunch-style snacks and a literary-themed cocktail will meanwhile be provided by Waterstones bar staff. 

Tickets cost £5, including a drink, and a percentage will be donated to the Refugee Support Network. To buy tickets, visit Eventbrite.