About us
Books & Us is a vibrant book club based in Melbourne for those who love to dive deep into thought-provoking literature and engage in stimulating discussions. We are a diverse group of passionate readers who come together to share our insights and opinions on a wide range of books. Whether you're a long-time bookworm or just starting to explore the world of literature, Books & Us welcomes you to join our friendly and welcoming community. Let's explore new perspectives, delve into intriguing plots, and connect over our shared love for all things literary. Come and join us for lively debates and enriching conversations!
Book Club Policies & Procedures
Purpose:
To provide a safe, inclusive, and enjoyable environment for all members, ensuring equitable access, respectful interaction, and clear guidelines for participation.
1. Access & Participation
The book club is open to all members, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or background.
Meetings will be accessible wherever possible (e.g., wheelchair access, virtual options, large-print materials if requested).
Members are encouraged to notify the organiser in advance if they require accommodations.
2. Equality & Inclusion
Every member has an equal right to contribute to discussions.
No member should be excluded or treated unfairly based on identity, opinion, or experience.
Diverse perspectives are valued and welcomed; constructive discussion is encouraged.
Guidelines for respectful discussion:
Listen without interrupting.
Avoid personal attacks or belittling comments.
Focus on ideas, not individuals.
Agree to disagree respectfully.
3. Harassment & Safety
Harassment of any kind is not tolerated, including:
Verbal abuse, threats, or intimidation
Offensive jokes or comments
Unwanted physical contact
Repeated unwelcome communication outside meetings
3A. Privacy & Personal Boundaries
Members must respect each other’s personal boundaries at all times.
Excessive or unwelcome private messages (DMs, emails, texts, social media) to any member are considered harassment.
No member should attempt to isolate, pressure, or repeatedly contact another member outside official group communications.
Procedure for reporting harassment or boundary violations:
Notify the organiser or a designated officer immediately.
The club leadership will investigate confidentially.
Possible consequences may include: warning, restricted access, temporary suspension, or removal from the club.
Safety Note:
Members may request restricted contact, and the organiser will enforce protections to maintain comfort and safety in the group.
4. Meeting Conduct
Arrive on time and prepared, respecting others’ time.
Avoid dominating conversations; allow everyone a chance to speak.
Keep phones silent and minimize distractions.
Respect the meeting space and materials.
5. Digital & Online Spaces
Online discussions (email, social media groups, chat platforms) follow the same rules of conduct.
Do not post harassing, discriminatory, or offensive content.
Members should report any inappropriate behaviour to the organiser.
6. Consequences for Policy Breach
Minor breaches: private discussion and reminder of guidelines.
Repeated or severe breaches: formal warning and potential suspension.
Serious breaches (harassment, threats, unwanted messaging): immediate removal from the club and, if necessary, notification to relevant authorities.
7. Review & Updates
Policies will be reviewed annually or as needed to reflect best practices.
Members will be notified of any changes in advance.
Member Agreement
By joining/being part of the book club, I agree to the following:
1. Access & Inclusion
I understand the club is open to everyone, regardless of background.
I will respect all members’ contributions and perspectives.
2. Respectful Participation
I will listen, share, and engage respectfully during discussions.
I will focus on ideas, not individuals, and allow others to speak.
I will avoid language or behaviour that could be considered offensive, discriminatory, or harassing.
3. Harassment & Privacy
I will not harass, intimidate, or threaten any member, in-person or online.
I will respect all members’ personal boundaries and will not send repeated or unwelcome private messages.
I understand that fixating on another member or attempting to pressure them outside group meetings is not tolerated.
I understand that violating this clause may result in warning, suspension, or removal from the club.
4. Meeting Conduct
I will arrive on time and participate thoughtfully.
I will respect the meeting space and materials.
I will follow the same rules online as in meetings.
5. Acknowledgement
All current and new members agree to follow these guidelines and contribute to a safe and welcoming environment for all members.
Upcoming events
2
April Book of the month - Project Hail Mary
The Moat, State Library Basement, 176 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, AUBook Club: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Wake up in a room where you don’t know your own name, surrounded by high-tech machinery and two corpses, and you’ll understand the pulse-pounding start of Project Hail Mary. This gripping sci-fi epic follows Ryland Grace, a disgraced molecular biologist turned middle-school science teacher who finds himself as the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission to save humanity. With the sun’s energy being devoured by a mysterious interstellar parasite, Earth is sprinting toward a literal ice age, and Grace is the only one left to find the cure.
As Grace slowly recovers his memories through a series of fragmented flashbacks, he realizes the staggering weight of his responsibility. But he soon discovers he isn’t as alone as he thought. In the vast, silent vacuum of space, he encounters an unexpected ally—a fellow traveler from another star system facing the exact same extinction event. What follows is a brilliant, heart-wrenching, and often humorous partnership that transcends language, biology, and light-years.
Weaving together hard science with a deeply moving story of sacrifice, Project Hail Mary explores the power of friendship and the sheer ingenuity of the living mind. Weir creates a narrative that is as much about the "Eurekas" of physics and chemistry as it is about the courage required to face the unknown. It is a cinematic, high-stakes journey that asks what we owe to our species, to our friends, and to the strangers we meet in the dark.
Discussion Points:
• The Ethics of Necessity: How do the flashbacks to the "Project Hail Mary" task force change your perception of Ryland Grace’s heroism? Is the forced sacrifice of one or few justified to save the many?
• The Language of Science: Grace and his companion use the "universal language" of math and science to communicate. How does this shared logic bridge the gap between two vastly different cultures and biologies?
• The Nature of Memory: How does the non-linear storytelling—revealing Grace’s past as he lives his present—affect the tension of the novel? Does his character growth feel earned as he remembers his "cowardice"?
• Solitude vs. Connection: At its core, is this a story about the isolation of space, or the impossibility of true isolation when there is someone else to help?
• The Ending: Discuss the final choice Ryland Grace makes. Did he find a new sense of belonging, or was his decision driven by a lingering sense of duty to his friend?6 attendees
May Book of the month - Hekate - The Witch
State of Grace, 27 King St, Melbourne, al, AUBook Club: Hekate the Witch by Nikita Gill
Step into the shadowed spaces where myth, magic, and self-discovery intertwine. Hekate the Witch is a powerful collection of poems that channels the voice of the ancient goddess Hekate, exploring themes of transformation, independence, and feminine power. Nikita Gill gives voice to the marginalized, the mystical, and the misunderstood, weaving a tapestry of verse that is at once haunting, comforting, and profoundly empowering.
Through vivid imagery and spellbinding language, Gill guides readers on a journey of introspection and resilience. The poems confront heartbreak, identity, and personal evolution, reminding us that embracing our own power often requires walking through the darkness. With Hekate as both guide and metaphor, this collection asks us to honor our intuition, our shadows, and the quiet strength that resides in the unseen.
Gill’s work resonates as both a personal and collective call to awaken, offering moments of reflection, rebellion, and radical self-acceptance. Whether read slowly, aloud, or in fragments, these poems linger—like magic in the air, or footsteps in a midnight forest.
Discussion Points:
• Power and Autonomy: How does Gill explore self-sovereignty through the figure of Hekate? Are her poems a call to reclaim personal agency?
• Darkness and Transformation: How are loss, grief, or shadowed experiences reframed as sources of strength?
• Feminine Archetypes: How does the goddess Hekate function as a symbol for modern empowerment?
• Poetic Form and Voice: How does Gill’s style—short verses, repetition, vivid imagery—shape the emotional impact of the work?
• Spiritual and Emotional Resonance: Which poems spoke to your own journey of self-discovery, resilience, or empowerment, and why?3 attendees
Past events
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