English Books & Literature

Hey lovely people, Join us for another gathering of the **Queer Reads Collective**. Since we have been reading some quite heavy books lately, we decided to do a round of something lighter for the spring. Our April read will be the famous bestseller, *The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo* by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job. Summoned to Evelyn's luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the '80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love.

Let's meet to write ! Schedule : 11:00 - 11:30 am : Presentation tour. Share briefly with the group about your project and your "goal of the day". 11:30 - 13:30 : Let's write ! 13:30 : Conclusion tour. Did you achieve your goal of the day ? See you soon !

**PLEASE READ THE ATTENDANCE POLICY (below) IF IT'S YOUR FIRST TIME** **SUNDAY COFFEE & JAPANESE CONVERSATION** 日曜日のコーヒー＆日本語会話 Our "Japanese/English Conversation Exchange" offers you a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of Japanese culture and language, all while helping native Japanese members to learn their target language. 私たちの「日本語/英語会話交流」は、日本の文化と言語の世界に没頭しながら、ネイティブの日本人メンバーが英語、フランス語、またはオランダ語を学ぶのを手助けするユニークな機会を提供します。 **Date: /** 日付：**(almost) every Sunday** **Time: /** 時間：**from 4.00 pm to 6.00 pm** **Location: /** 場所：**Cafe Caberdouche - Place de la Liberté 8, 1000 Bruxelles** **Venue Note: /** 会場の注意：**The manager of the cafe kindly accepted us to book a table on a regular basis. To thank him for his kindness, please order AT LEAST ONE DRINK**. カフェのマネージャーが親切にも私たちに定期的にテーブルを予約することを承諾してくださいました。その親切に感謝の意を示すために、少なくとも1杯のドリンクを注文してください。 **Location Assistance: /** 場所の案内：**If you can't find us, ask one of the waiters. They know where we are :) You can also send us a message.** 私たちを見つけられない場合は、ウェイターの一人に尋ねてください。彼らは私たちがどこにいるか知っています :) メッセージも送っていただけます。 **Event Agenda: /** イベントのアジェンダ： * **4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: JAPANESE CONVERSATION** \- Join us for the Japanese conversation and cultural exploration\. Beginners are welcome / 日本語会話 \- 最初の30分は日本語の会話と文化探求に充てられています。初心者も聞くだけでも歓迎です。30分後に参加しても構いません。多言語交換 \- ベルギーの多様性を体験し、ネイティブの日本人メンバーが英語、フランス語、またはオランダ語を学びたいと熱心に待っています。さまざまな言語で異文化交流の会話に参加しましょう。私たちの日本の友人にベルギーの文化、伝統、生活を紹介しましょう。 * **6:00 PM: EVENT CONCLUSION** \- Please respect the event's start and end times to maximize your language exchange opportunities\. Your participation and enthusiasm are appreciated\! イベントの終了 \- イベントの開始時間と終了時間を尊重して、言語交換の機会を最大限に活用してください。参加と熱意に感謝します！ **Attendance Policy: --->** 以下の日本語 * We're excited to have you join our events and appreciate your commitment to learning and growing together. To ensure a productive and enjoyable experience for all participants, please take note of our attendance policy: 1. **Punctuality:** Please arrive on time for scheduled events. Late arrivals can disrupt the flow of the event and may miss important information. 2. **Language Commitment:** If you sign up for language-specific sessions, such as Japanese conversation or language exchange, we kindly request your commitment to actively participate in that language for the designated duration. 3. **Respect:** Treat fellow participants, organizers, and cafe staff with respect and courtesy. Harassment or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. 4. **Removal Policy:** A participant who is not respectful towards other members will be removed from the group and blocked, with no warning. This point is not negotiable. 5. **Cancellation:** If you are unable to attend an event you've registered for, please let us know as soon as possible. This helps us plan accordingly and allows others to take your place if there's a waitlist. 6. **No-Show Policy:** Three no-shows (failing to attend without prior notice) may result in restrictions on event registration to ensure fairness to other participants. By attending our events, you agree to adhere to these guidelines. We aim to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone can learn and connect. Thank you for being part of our community! **出席ポリシー：** 私たちは、イベントに参加していただけることを楽しみにしており、皆さんが一緒に学び成長することに取り組んでいただけることを感謝しています。すべての参加者が生産的で楽しい経験をするために、出席ポリシーにご留意ください： 1. 時間厳守：予定されたイベントには時間通りにお越しください。遅刻はイベントの流れを乱し、重要な情報を見逃す可能性があります。日本語のみのセッションは午後4時、全言語のセッションは午後4時30分開始です。 2. 言語へのコミットメント：日本語会話や言語交換など、特定の言語のセッションに登録された場合は、その言語での積極的な参加をお願いします。 3. 尊重：他の参加者、主催者、カフェのスタッフには敬意と礼儀をもって接してください。嫌がらせや迷惑行為は許容されません。 4. 退場ポリシー：他のメンバーに対して敬意を持たない参加者は、警告なしにグループから削除され、ブロックされます。このポイントは交渉の余地がありません。 5. キャンセル：登録したイベントに参加できない場合は、できるだけ早くお知らせください。これにより、他の人があなたの代わりを取ることができます。 6. ノーショーポリシー：事前の通知なしに3回のノーショー（欠席）がある場合は、他の参加者に公平になるようイベントの登録に制限がかかる場合があります。 私たちのイベントに参加することで、これらのガイドラインに従うことに同意するものとします。私たちはみなさんが学び、つながることができるように歓迎される包括的な環境を作り出すことを目指しています。コミュニティの一部としてご参加いただき、ありがとうございます！ **Note: Please stay tuned to our event page for updates and schedule changes. We can't wait to see you there and exchange languages, cultures, and stories!** 備考：更新やスケジュールの変更については、イベントページをご覧ください。そこで皆さんにお会いして、言語や文化、物語を交換できるのを楽しみにしています！

Welcome to our weekly event in the upstairs room of The Sister Café, rue Chair et Pain 3, one block from the Grand Place. Please get there early enough to order your drink at the bar first. Thank you! After introductions we will collect questions from the group participants, choose one by voting then discuss it for an hour. Then most of us stay for drinks and bizarre conversations. Past questions have been wide and not confined to academic philosophy: What is a genuine friend? Is social media turning us into emotional zombies? Do we lose some of the experience of things by defining them? Are we driven by sex? Is loneliness a personal failure? Is morality relative? **Crucially, be kind and respectful and generous** in your disagreements; remember how much you personally enjoy someone else proving you wrong before celebrating your cutting counterexamples.

What's up Friends! 👋 Let’s catch up over a cup of ☕️ (or whatever drink 🍵 or bite 🍪🍰🥐 inspires you in the moment). Where: Leopold PDN. This café may be a bit of a challenge to find on rainy days 🌧️☔️, but that's how adventures begin, right? 😂 Well, don't wait until you get hopelessly lost - text me here before you start cursing google maps 🗺️. The idea: Join the table once you've grabbed your order - mandatory! We'll kick-off with a light intro and move over to topics like activities, travel, music... At some point, if we are feeling it, we may also play some games. We will speak mostly English and French. Any other language is a bonus: 🌍🎭💃🎶🎷🤹🏻🤖 🎲 Games: No giant boards that end up in coffee spills please. Only light, short and fun games (generally card games like uno or exploding kittens💥🐱 will fit). I will bring a game or two myself, however feel free to bring along any of your own favorites. ⏱Timing: We start at 15:00, and you’re welcome to join at any time and for as long as you want. Joining later? Just let me know in advance in the chat so we keep a seat available for you 😊 🚦If you find yourself on the waiting list but you absolutely want to join or if you have any other question - feel free to contact me directly via the chat. 📢 Further details may be shared via the group chat or via DM 💬. Make sure to check your messages 👀 at least on the day before the event to avoid missing critical 🙄 announcements. 🐈‍⬛ The Friends Code:
👉No formalities - just chill 😎
👉Respect and positive vibes, if not 💥🥊 👉Can’t make it? Cancel so someone on the waitlist can grab your spot 🙏 👉 Don't show up (or show up at your own risk:) if you are on the waiting list. There may be no space for extra players and you risk to get disappointed. See you folks 😉

Glad to organise a film meetup for this tender astonishing heart breaking yet at peace documentary by the Belgian director Caroline Guimbal. An extract from her description: « My mother Nathalie will die in two years. My son will be born in nine months. From the past remains a spiral of violence and precarity we still have to decipher. But also the strength of my mother, and the poetry in her way of being in the world. By filming her, I learn to see through her eyes. » This is in French with English subtitles. Let’s meet in front of the ticket office, inside though I recommend you buy the tickets online. Afterwards, let’s go for a drink to recover from the film :)

Last movie from the famous director Gus Van Sant with Bill Skarsgard, Drake Montgomery, Al Pacino. VO English with FR/NL subtitles STORY: In 1977, former real estate developer Tony Kiritsis puts a dead man's switch on himself and the mortgage banker who did him wrong, demanding $5 million and a personal apology. Rotten tomatoes: 92%

What's up Friends! 👋 If the weather behaves🤞let’s head out for a walk in nature together.🌳✨ If it looks rainy, we’ll have to call it off - so let’s hope the sun🌤️shows up! 🏞️ Where: This time we are off to explore the magical Halle forest🪻🌳! 📍Meeting Points: (check map on the event page) • Point H: 10:20 Halle Train Station (not shown on the map): from here, you can hop on the free shuttle or rent a bike to get to Point B. • Point A: 11:00 Parking 1a (Hogebermweg – 1500 Halle) - best spot if you're coming by car. • Point B: 11:00 Parking 2 (⚠️ Not accessible by car) Bosmuseum (Vlasmarktdreef 4, Halle) - best spot if you take the shuttle from the train station Point AB: around 12:00-12:30 - perfect spot to catch up with the group if you started the walk elsewhere • Point C: around 13:00-14:00 - picnic area: our recharge station. ‼️The main group will start from point A. Check the event page the day before just in case there are any changes! ⏱Timing Be at point A around 5-10 minutes in advance. We will be on the move at 11:00 sharp. And if you get there later… well, good luck finding us! 👀😜 We will picnic at point C around 13:00. 💡 The idea We will walk for about 2-3 km and enjoy the views and the fresh air. We'll hang around point AB for some time to allow others to join the main group. Once we reach the picnic area we will take a longer break and recharge with some snacks. 👉What to bring? Enough food 🥪 to keep your soul happy (snacks 🍪 to share with the group are of course welcome). Don't forget your comfy clothes 🧥, walking shoes 👟, and most impotantly enough water 💦 to stay hydrated. ☝️Good to Know: About the venue: https://www.hallerbos.be/en/ 📝Practical info: https://www.hallerbos.be/en/visitors-info/ 🤑 Access to the forest is free. Getting there: 🚘 By car: https://www.hallerbos.be/en/visitors-info/car/ 🅿️ Free parking is available however spots can be tough to get at peak hours. To be on the safe side, you can also park for free in Halle (Welkomstlaan) and take the free shuttle (see below). Parking 2 is not accessible by car. 🚌 Free shuttle bus, available on the day of the event (every 30 min) can take you from Halle station (Stationsplein) to Parking 2 (point B) 🚂 For other (paid) public transport options from Halle station check here 🔗 https://www.hallerbos.be/en/visitors-info/public-transport/ 🚴‍♀️🚴‍♂️ Bike rentals available at Halle station (about 5 km from the forest). 🔗 https://www.blue-bike.be/en/location-details/station-halle-e-lock-/ 🚦If you find yourself on the waiting list but you absolutely want to join or if you have any other question - feel free to contact me directly via the chat. 📢 Further details may be shared via the group chat or via DM 💬. Make sure to check 👀 the event page at least on the day before the event to avoid missing any critical 🙄 announcements. 🐈‍⬛ The Friends Code:
👉Respect nature 🚯♻️ & forest rules: https://www.hallerbos.be/en/visitors-info/bluebell-festival-2025/ 👉No formalities - just chill 😎
👉Respect and positive vibes, if not 💥🥊 👉Can’t make it? Cancel so someone on the waitlist can grab your spot 🙏 👉 Don't show up if you are on the waitlist See you there folks😉

Quiet Forest Walk – The Clear Space This is a quiet, low-stimulation activity. It may suit people who feel overwhelmed in typical social settings or who prefer a calmer way of being together. Hi everyone, On Sunday 19 April, I’m organising a quiet forest walk for The Clear Space. We’ll walk together in silence for about an hour, in a calm and gentle way. This is not about performance, conversation, or doing anything special. It’s simply a chance to be outdoors together in a quieter way — with space to breathe, notice, settle, and just be. Sometimes silence can feel more natural than talking, and walking side by side can feel easier than a usual social setting. That is very much the spirit of this walk. When: Sunday 19 April Where: Herrmann-Debroux metro, straight ahead after leaving the platform Time: We start walking at 14:05 sharp, so please come a little earlier if possible. Please wear good shoes, especially if the weather has been rainy, as the forest can be muddy. Afterwards, if people feel like it, we can have a drink at Rouge Cloître. You’re welcome to join, but there is absolutely no pressure. If you’d like to come, or if you have any questions, you can message me at 0474 60 83 70. You are very welcome.

*🎟️ Ticket required to participate (QR code check-in)* Once a year… and only for a short moment… **Hallerbos turns into a surreal purple-blue carpet of wild flowers.** This is **one of the most beautiful natural sights in Belgium** — and we’re going to experience it together. 👉 Expect: nature, good vibes, great people, and a relaxed social atmosphere ⚠️ **This event happens only a few weeks per year and spots always fill fast** ## 🥾 The Plan - **12:30** – Optional brunch at *Time Off (Midi Station)* - **14:14** – Train from Brussels Midi - **14:24** – Arrival Halle + shuttle to Hallerbos - **Walk:** 7–9 km (easy & social pace) - **Duration:** ~2.5–3 hours (with photo & chill stops 📸) - Optional drink after 🍻 👉 You can also join directly at Hallerbos (details in WhatsApp group) ## 🌍 Who Joins? Our events bring together: - Expats 🌍 - Locals 🇧🇪 - Solo joiners (most people come alone!) 👉 **You don’t need to know anyone — you’ll meet people naturally** ## 💸 Participation **Not a member yet?** €10 Or join Sunday Vacations and save: - Explorer (starting at €5/year) → event price: €5 - Voyager (starting at €50/year) → Free - Ambassador (starting at €150/year) → Free 👉 Join here: [https://www.sundayvacations.com/membership](https://www.sundayvacations.com/membership) ## ⚠️ Important - Stay on paths (bluebells are fragile 🌸) - Shoes may get muddy - Dress for Belgian weather 😄 ## 📲 WhatsApp Group Created before the event for: - live updates - exact meeting points - smooth coordination ## 🔥 Why You Should Join Because this is not just a walk. It’s one of those **“wow, I’m glad I came” moments** you remember… and the kind of people you meet make it even better. 👉 **Spots are limited — RSVP early to secure your place** **Sunday Vacations** Living the moment ✨

🌟 Hello Yogis and Future Yogis! 🌟 🧘‍♀️🧘‍♂️ Whether you're a seasoned Yogi or a complete beginner, come and join us every **SUNDAY MORNING - from 11:00 to 12:15 - for Queer Yoga in Brussels :)** No need to worry if you've never tried Yoga before – everyone is welcome! 🌈 Just bring yourself in some comfy clothes (mats are provided) and let the magic happen :-). 🌿 **Class Details:** * This is an "open event" - for everyone, LGBTQ people and their friends no matter their **gender, age, race, sexual orientation or level of fitness / practice**. * Classes take place [Merci Wellness - Place Dillens 1, 1060 Saint-Gilles](https://www.merci-wellness.be/plan-acces.php). Very easy to get there, either by bike or metro (Hotel des Monnaies). * Ring bell "MERCI WELLNESS" - third floor ! * ⏰ 11:00 to 12:15 (doors close at 10:55 as **class starts at 11:00 sharp** \- it is not possible to join late\)\. 💸 **Cost:** * First class: 10 euros 🌟 * Single class: 15 euros 🧘‍♂️ * 5-class pass: 65 euros (valid for 3 months - a great deal for regular yogis! 🎉) You can pay your class on site either in CASH or through PAYCONIC. **Come and this great group of Sunday Morning Yogis** \- to spend a moment in a nice atmosphere and discover the benefits of Yoga\, from increased flexibility\, better posture\, a stronger body to a calmer mind\. See you on the mat! 🧘‍♀️🧘‍♂️✨ Edson P.S. Also, make sure to check out our new class **"Yoga for Men"** \- every Wednesday at 18:30 in the same location \- you can find the class list on our Meetup main page \!

Some Sundays don’t end at lunch. After the garden BBQ event we do every Sunday ([link here](https://www.meetup.com/the-club-connect-share-explore-enjoy-repeat/events/313489633)), a smaller group usually stays around, and the evening slowly takes its own direction. Sometimes we play cards. (Uno, Undercover) Sometimes we go for a game of pool. Sometimes we end up exploring a bar or dancing somewhere in the city. There is no fixed plan. The idea is simple: **good people, good conversation, and see where the night goes.** TO RSVP please join our whatsapp chat, [LINK FOR THE CHAT](https://chat.whatsapp.com/F2hTxZ4TT3hHICiihX1Efy) for safety reason we dont share the private address here

🏃‍♂️ Sunday Vacations | Train Together, Finish Together Thinking about joining the **20km of Brussels on May 31st**… but don’t want to train alone? 👉 Join our **after-work training group** and prepare together in a fun, social, and motivating atmosphere. Whether you're a beginner or already running regularly — **you’re welcome.** ## 🏳️ Follow Your Flag (Pace Groups) To keep things simple, we use the official **20km Brussels pacemaker system**: - 🟠 **Beginner (≈ 2h15)** Run/walk friendly — just aim to finish *🟣 **Steady (≈ 2h00)** Comfortable and regular pace - 🟢 **Intermediate (≈ 1h45)** Faster group for those who want a challenge 👉 Not sure? Start easy — you can switch anytime. ## 📊 Long Run Progression (Thursdays) We gradually build up to the race: 6 km → 8 km → 10 km → 12 km → 14 km → 16 km → 18 km 🔥 *lighter week before the race ## 🏁 Goal 📅 Sunday 31 May 2026 🎯 Run the 20km of Brussels — together ## 💡 What to expect - Friendly, international group 🌍 - No one left behind - Natural pace groups - Motivating and social vibe 👉 We start together, run in groups, and finish together. ## ☕ After the run Optional drink or snack — because it’s also about **meeting people and having fun** ## ⚠️ Practical info - Bring water - Wear proper running shoes - Join at your own responsibility - Beginners welcome ## 🌍 About Sunday Vacations We are a **Brussels-based community** organizing social activities, hikes, and trips. 👉 This training is part of our mission: **bringing people together through shared experiences** 🔥 Don’t train alone — join us and enjoy the journey to the 20km!

Welcome, readers! Our April read is **_Martyr!_ by Kaveh Akbar.** The story follows a young Iranian American poet grappling with grief, addiction, and the aching question of what makes a life meaningful. Drawn into an unexpected friendship with a terminally ill artist, he begins to confront faith, love, and the seduction of self-destruction. Lyrical, darkly funny, and emotionally piercing, the novel wrestles with beauty and despair in equal measure. It’s a story about longing—to be seen, to be forgiven, and to matter. Looking forward to discussing with everyone! We will meet at Zaftig Brewing Co in their event room in the back. We are welcome to bring in our own food, but **drinks must be purchased at the bar.** Happy reading! 📖

Posting this early because seemingly all Sundays in May are holidays or busy! I picked a shorter thriller that's hopefully a fast read/listen. [Columbus library link to book](https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C3458940) Location: Grandview Cafe, *1455 W. 3rd Ave*, Columbus, OH 43212 [Menu](https://www.grandviewcafe.com/menu) Book summary: Daniel leads a rich life in the university town of Athens, Georgia. He's got a couple close friends, a steady paycheck working for a regional airline, and of course, for a few glorious days each Fall, college football tailgates. He considers himself to be a mostly lucky guy -- despite the fact that he's suffered from a debilitating disease since he was a small child, one that has left him unable to speak or to move without a wheelchair. Largely confined to his home, Daniel spends the hours he's not online communicating with irate air travelers observing his neighborhood from his front porch. One young woman passes by so frequently that spotting her out the window has almost become part of his daily routine. Until the day he's almost sure he sees her being kidnapped.

Semi in honor of March being International Women's Month Columbus libraries: [https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C3454709](https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C3454709) Location: SOW Plated Menu: [https://www.sowplated.com/menu-brunch/](https://www.sowplated.com/menu-brunch/) Book summary: In 2006 Julia Lerner is living in Moscow, a recent university graduate in computer science, when she's recruited by Russia's largest intelligence agency. By 2018 she's in Silicon Valley as COO of Tangerine, one of America's most famous technology companies. In between her executive management (make offers to promising startups, crush them and copy their features if they refuse); self promotion (check out her latest op-ed in the WSJ, on Work/Life Balance 2.0); and work in gender equality (transfer the most annoying females from her team), she funnels intelligence back to the motherland. But now Russia's asking for more, and Julia's getting nervous. Alice Lu is a first generation Chinese American whose parents are delighted she's working at Tangerine (such a successful company!). Too bad she's slogging away in the lower echelons, recently dumped, and now sharing her expensive two-bedroom apartment with her cousin Cheri, a perennial "founder's girlfriend". One afternoon, while performing a server check, Alice discovers some unusual activity, and now she's burdened with two powerful but distressing suspicions: Tangerine's privacy settings aren't as rigorous as the company claims they are, and the person abusing this loophole might be Julia Lerner herself. The closer Alice gets to Julia, the more Julia questions her own loyalties. Russia may have placed her in the Valley, but she's the one who built her career; isn't she entitled to protect the lifestyle she's earned?

Let’s meet and share our thoughts about Carson McCullers’ novella, The Ballad of The Sad Café.

This month we’ll be reading Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb. Feel free to come even if you don’t finish the book!

Love getting lost in a good book? [The Book Loft](https://www.bookloft.com/) of German Village is an iconic independent bookstore packed with hard-to-find literary treasures! This isn’t your run-of-the-mill bookstore; it’s a 32-room literary wonderland that would make even the most seasoned bibliophile’s head spin (one of the largest in the country)! **MEET**: We'll gather outside the storefront and then start browsing... **DESSERT**: We'll grab some famous macaroons to start our foodie tour. [Pistacia Vera](https://www.pistaciavera.com/) is a delicious bakery and cafe in the German Village. This charming shop is especially known for its classic macarons. **HAPPY HOUR**: Italian drinks and bites at [Cento's happy hour](https://centogermanvillage.com/menus/). **PARKING**: Street parking all around here. Check the parking time limit. The bookstore and the foodie stops are all on 3rd Street within 4 blocks on the same side of the street.

Join us for our April Book Club gathering where we will come together to discuss *[Stop Me if You've Heard This One](https://www.kristenarnettwriter.com/stopmeifyouveheardthisone)* by [Kristen Arnett](https://www.kristenarnettwriter.com/about) in a safe and welcoming environment. Make new friends who share your passion for books and connect with fellow LGBTQ book enthusiasts.