The Herd: the unputdownable, thought-provoking must-read Richard & Judy book club pick

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Bob Mortimer wins 2023 Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction with The Satsuma Complex Had me so gripped I raced through it in two days. A story about parenting decisions, betrayal and friendships - guaranteed to spark lively conversations with everyone who reads it. Sarah Turner, The Unmumsy Mum

The story of this book was presented in such an interesting way – I really enjoyed the alternating chapters with the extra POVs from unnamed outsiders to the court case, although I think it would have been great for this to all tie-in with the main storyline. The characters weren’t exactly likeable, but the whole thing was compelling enough to continue reading and their unlikeability even made the story more interesting. The story had a great lawyer burn and I love that I didn’t see it coming, even though there was something off – I couldn’t work out what! I felt a bit of vindictive pleasure watching it all play out since all the characters were so over the top in this debacle. But then on the flip side, there is a woman here who really needed post-partum help (as many do) and didn’t get it – and there is something to be said for bringing that to light. Overall the book was enjoyable and contained interesting observations regarding how people react to things they don’t know anything about, how parents think they know more than doctors and the lasting effects that rash decisions and judgments can have on a person’s community. Brit, VIC, 3 Stars I can remember the exact moment I felt the first spark of an idea for The Herd . It was the sweltering summer of 2018 and I was bouncing on a birthing ball, crotchety and swollen, nine months pregnant with our first son in our overgrown garden, watching my husband James and Sophie, our birth doula, argue. Elizabeth, Bry and others all take their turn at being sympathetic and deeply sanctimonious and annoying. I think the author did a great job of showing how easily people rile each other up on this issue. I am a fervent believer in vaccinations, but even I recoil from someone yelling in my face how I must do this and I must do that or I'm morally-challenged and selfish. I like how the author never presented this as good vs bad because, like most things, it's more complex than that.It is hard to imagine a more timely novel. A fascinating exploration of all sides of a particularly knotty, politicized issue. ' Jodi Picoult I didn’t understand exactly how this was going to pan out for me as it was close to what’s happening in the U.K. at the moment with “herding” as regards to jabs/vaccines and Covid. Each one desperately living their offspring. Mistakes easily made having a domino effect on another with consequences unforgivable. And, unfortunate. But with well meaning at that time. That was it. That was the moment. I stopped bouncing and stopped listening to the row. The choice was terrifying. If we vaccinated, we were – according to Sophie – risking damaging our baby’s nervous system, or, if we chose not to vaccinate, did we cross our fingers and hope they didn’t con- tract meningitis? I was entirely responsible for this new little life, but also helplessly out of control. And that was the moment the idea for The Herd was born. As we’ve seen recently with the difference of opinions over the covid vaccine between those who are pro-vaccination’ and ‘anxi-vaxxers’, there are millions of different perceptions as to what’s right and what’s wrong, and there are many, many different stages in between. Although this book doesn’t focus on the Covid vaccine, rather the MMR vaccinations given to pre-school children, it covers a lot of the same issues, fears and recriminations, and expectations of personal body autonomy and choice that have been raised and discussed in many different ways in the last couple of years.

Elizaebth and Bry have always been close. Until now. They have very differing views on child vaccinations and is something that they have never discussed their whole friendship until a heartbreaking event brings the topic to the forefront.Ultimately though, I think the message is that there is no right or wrong answer to a question like vaccination. It’s all shades of grey and opinion but people aren’t willing to listen to the ‘other’. This book provoked one of the biggest reactions I’ve seen on The Pigeonhole online book club, from those on both sides of the vaccination debate and also right down the middle of the road. It’s well crafted, certainly an excellent debut and very definitely a book of our time. I liked it. I liked how it didn't feel preachy or didactic. One thing I didn't love was the character of Rosalyn because I did not understand why she had no purpose other than to randomly pop up and offer magical hippie wisdom. Also, all the characters were middle to upper middle class, which is typical of anti-vaxxers, and white, which I honestly don't know if that's typical of anti-vaxxers or not. Beautiful writing, a smart (and timely) premise, real and flawed characters with messy lives, and an unexpected, brilliant twist. I loved it. Nikki May

According to Transworld, The Herdprobes the line between individual choice and social responsibility. We have chosen to vaccinate our sons and I believe it was the right thing to do; both for us and to help protect others. That doesn’t mean I didn’t dread the moment the needle entered their soft bodies. But I knew it would be infinitely worse to watch them contract measles, meningitis or whooping cough – knowing I could have prevented their suffering. Controversial, addictive and clever, and the characters are so multi-layered and complex they are wholly believable. Woman & HomeWhat are your thoughts on the characters? Are there any you couldn’t have in your friendship group?