About

In the winter of 2016, my office moved cities and I faced a regular three-hour train journey. If you’ve ever travelled to work by train in the UK, you probably know that it’s rare to get a seat at peak commuting time.

I often found myself standing in the aisle in the stress position, wedged against other people, enduring odours that can only be described as an assault on the senses – and wishing I had something to make the journey feel quicker.

Social media is entertaining for a few minutes, but it’s not something you can get truly, deeply lost in. I needed something far more absorbing – something so compelling that I’d forget where I was.

It was on one of these journeys that I discovered The Atlantic’s annual list of Slightly More than 100 Fantastic Pieces of Journalism.

After devouring almost every story (and finding several other lists in their series), I started googling ‘narrative journalism’, ‘investigative journalism’, ‘longform articles’ and ‘long reads’, and discovered a treasure trove of superb writing, powerful stories, beautifully woven narratives and compelling investigations into everything from shocking true crimes to climate change and the environment.

This discovery led to something quite amazing; I started really looking forward to my commutes. In fact, I couldn’t wait to get on that crowded, clammy, rattling old train. And that’s the power of a good long read – it completely transports you into another world.

That’s what great journalism is about, and that’s why I started Grown Up Story Club. Hi, by the way! I’m Lara, and I’m excited to share with you the most absorbing, non-fiction long reads I can find in a weekly collection.

Whether you’re facing a long commute on public transport, bored at home in lockdown or simply need to switch your frazzled mind off for a while, these collections are for you.

I’ll be posting a new collection every Saturday, so do sign up to make sure you don’t miss them. I’d also love to hear about any great non-fiction long reads you’ve come across – just leave a comment or drop me a line and I’ll check it out.

Thanks for stopping by – and I hope you enjoy Grown Up Story Club.