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
1
October Book of the month - Dungeon Crawler Carl
Corner Hotel, 57 Swan St, Richmond VIC 3121, Melbourne, AUBook Club: Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
What if the apocalypse didn't end with a whimper or a nuclear blast, but with a galaxy-wide broadcast and a glowing corporate notification? In Dungeon Crawler Carl, Matt Dinniman weaves a wildly inventive, darkly hilarious, and surprisingly layered story about survival, corporate exploitation, consumerism, and finding humanity in the most absurdly inhumane of circumstances.
The novel follows Carl, a normal guy whose life is upended when an alien corporation flattens Earth to clear space for an intergalactic reality game show. Left with nothing—not even his pants—except his ex-girlfriend’s prize-winning Persian show cat, Princess Donut, Carl has no choice but to step into the world-spanning, 18-level dungeon to stay alive. Forced to battle mutated monsters, psychotic rivals, and rigged game mechanics, Carl and Donut must learn to play for an audience of billions of alien viewers who treat human tragedy as prime-time entertainment.
At the heart of the story is an unlikely partnership. Carl transitions from a reluctant survivor into a calculating, defiant folk hero, while Donut gains sapience, a growing vocabulary, and a fiercely loyal fan base. As they navigate deadly floors filled with exploding goblins and drug-dealing llamas, the boundaries between a tactical game and a horrifying reality blur. The dungeon becomes more than just an obstacle course; it becomes a brutal mirror reflecting the worst excesses of corporate greed, media sensationalism, and a society that turns suffering into content.
Dinniman combines relentless, laugh-out-loud comedy with a genuinely chilling critique of modern capitalism and systemic cruelty, creating a story that is both wildly entertaining and unexpectedly poignant. Dungeon Crawler Carl explores how people hold onto their morals when a system is explicitly designed to reward brutality, how trauma is masked by humor, and whether it is possible to beat a game that was never meant to be won.
Discussion Points- How does Dungeon Crawler Carl use humor as a coping mechanism for trauma? Where does the line blur between laughing at the absurdity and confronting the actual horror of the situation?
- What does the relationship between Carl and Princess Donut reveal about loyalty, companionship, and chosen family under extreme pressure? How does Donut's character evolution challenge traditional tropes of animal sidekicks?
- The dungeon is fundamentally a televised reality show. How does the novel critique our own society's obsession with ratings, clout, views, and turning real-life suffering into public entertainment?
- How does Carl's definition of heroism change as he descends deeper into the dungeon? Is his defiance a genuine threat to the system, or just another form of entertainment for the elites?
- What role does the System AI play in the narrative? Is it merely a background game engine, or does it develop a personality and agenda that complicates the ethics of the crawl?
- How does the novel handle moral compromise? The dungeon rewards ruthlessness and penalizes compassion—how do Carl and other crawlers try to maintain their humanity in a system rigged against them?
- In what ways do the corporate structures of the Borant Corporation mirror real-world monopolies, bureaucracies, and unchecked power dynamics?
- How does the loot box and leveling mechanic act as a metaphor for consumer addiction and the illusion of upward mobility?
- Were there moments where the tonal shifts—swinging wildly from laugh-out-loud slapstick to devastating tragedy—caught you off guard? How did that affect your reading experience?
- Ultimately, is Dungeon Crawler Carl a story about helpless subjugation to an uncaring universe, or does it offer a genuine message of hope and resistance against impossible odds?
If your group enjoys discussing dystopian power structures, sharp satirical social commentary, LitRPG/sci-fi tropes, unconventional found families, and stories where heroes fight back against rigged systems, Dungeon Crawler Carl offers an absolute mountain of material to unpack. It is also a fantastic entry point for exploring how modern speculative fiction uses absurdity and gamification to hold a mirror up to our own world!
5 attendees
Past events
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