English Books & Literature

Let’s gather to socialize and chase away the Monday blues! 🎉 Here is where strangers become friends:
Through our regular sessions, it creates opportunities for individuals to connect on a deeper level, share experiences, and grow together as a diverse and vibrant community! Met someone whom you find interesting? Feel free to exchange contacts at your own discretion. Strictly no selling or soliciting during the event, however you’re welcome to take it offline if both parties are agreeable 😊 Everyone is expected to order something from the menu, even if it’s just a drink. Do settle your bill before leaving the meetup 💳 You’re encouraged to swap seats or walk around to mingle; it’s also perfectly fine if you prefer to stay put in your comfort zone ⭐️ **Event Fee: $2** _Why is there a need to charge?_ 1. Compensates the time & effort to host this event 2. Offsets meetup organizer subscription costs **_-Event fee will be collected when you reach the venue, payable by PayNow or cash_** As your host, I’m here to ensure that this is a safe, respectful, and welcoming environment for all participants. If you have any concerns, feel free to approach me 🤗 Note: Action will be taken against members who display inappropriate behaviour or violate the above guidelines ⛔️

Hi everyone, Join us this month for our weekday (Monday) evening walk from Raffles Place MRT station to Raffles City Shopping Centre, featuring the following highlights along the way: * Singapore River * Cavenagh Bridge * Queen Elizabeth Walk * City waterfront and skyline * Esplanade For this walk, we'll set off at 6.30pm (be there at least 10 minutes earlier for attendance-taking). We aim to complete the walk within 60 minutes (less than 4km), and we'll have dinner together at Raffles City Shopping Centre. This is a rain-or-shine event; the itinerary may be changed if there is a thunderstorm. **Important - To receive updates including the exact location to meet, please follow these steps to join this event:** (1) After you have joined the event on Meetup.com (regardless of whether you are on the “Going” list or the “Waitlist”), please join the **current event Telegram group: https://t.me/+NHuS9eAp1RJiMDc1**. (2) Participants of our past events will also NEED TO JOIN this current Telegram group as we will NOT be communicating with you about the current event via past event Telegram groups. (3) If your name in Telegram is different from your name in Meetup.com, please let us know your Telegram name by sending us (any one of the event Organizers) a private message on Meetup.com. Otherwise, we may not admit you into the current event Telegram group if we don't know who you are. (4) Once you have requested to join the event Telegram group, please WAIT for us to admit you into the group nearer the event date. Please note that only those who are on the “Going” list on Meetup.com will be admitted into the Telegram group. (5) After you have been admitted into the event Telegram group, please look out for any updates and announcements in Telegram before the start of the event, including the exact location to meet on the event date. For this event, there is a limit of up to 15 participants at the discretion of the organizers, so do sign up soon. RSVP will close one day before the event date. What to bring: * Good walking shoes * Drinking water * Umbrella (in case of rain) Please take note of the following: * All are welcome to join, whether Christian or not; you just need to be open to interacting with participants who may share with you their Christian faith. * To create a safe space for all participants to interact and make friends, please do not promote your business / products / services during this event. * You are responsible for your personal safety and well-being during the walk. If you are feeling unwell before the walk, please let us know and excuse yourself through the Telegram group. * Late cancellations, late arrivals, or no-shows may affect your priority to participate in future events. See you!

Join us for our Squash Sessions happening every Monday / Wednesday / Thursday 6pm to 8pm or 8pm to 10pm Suitable for beginners to the Squash Regulars. Each Session is $15 for pay per play. You can also enquire about being a member when you arrive. We use Meetup.com to advertise the session and our members use a private whatsapp group to register. So should you be the only one signing up, you may still see a full house that evening. Do sign up prior as we are limited to 16 pax per 2 hours sessions. Do whatsapp the organizer at 9006 0909 @Trevor to expedite the reply and confirmation of your bookings.

**Check out [funeventssg](https://www.instagram.com/funeventssg/) Instagram for the latest updates!** Looking for a fun & easy way to meet new people? Join us for a relaxed **Board Games Social Mixer** where everyone’s welcome! Enjoy **a wide selection of games**, **free-flow snacks & drinks**, & **plenty of laughs** along the way. No experience needed — come solo or bring friends & **make new connections** through **fun & play**! 🎲✨ **All are welcome, regardless of race, language, religion, nationality, age\* or marital status, as long as you are willing to participate in the activities!** *\*Children are welcome as long as there are accompanying adults* ^Couples, large groups of friends or colleagues who wish to play among themselves and/or with members of the public are welcome too as long as RSVP is made in advance **Coming with your own friends, colleagues or family? Feel free to join too & special arrangements for a private table will be made for you!** Date: **20 April 2026 (Monday)** Time: **6.45 p.m. — 10.30 p.m.** (It is fine if you can only arrive later) Venue: **THE MIND CAFE MEGA** **30 Prinsep Street #01-01 Singapore 188647** *Please note that there are 2 outlets within 1 min walking distance. It is the larger MEGA Store.* *For information on car parking & last trains, click [here](https://www.themindcafe.sg/locate-us/)!* Entry Fee: **SGD13 nett (Heavily Discounted Rate)** **Best Deal for the Largest Social + Gaming Event in SG!** Inclusive of **Self-service** **Freeflow Snacks**, **Freeflow Drinks** & **Unlimited Gaming** for the night! * **Nett price including GST & Service Charge!** * **Well-lit**, **spacious**, **high-ceilinged**, **cosy** & **clean environment!** * **The only social + gaming event** that can accommodate **200 pax!** * **More than 800 boardgames** to choose from! * A **wide variety** of **Self-service Freeflow Snacks & Drinks (non-alcoholic) that you can help yourself to!** You may also order a mouth-watering Main Course at SGD12.90nett which is cheaper than usual! * **Complimentary Token of Appreciation** if you **bring & host your own games**! (PM me in advance) * **Special discounts** for purchase of selected **[boardgames](https://www.instagram.com/p/CswLndaPs_r/)** **exclusively for this event**! \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- **IMPORTANT**: 1\. Please ensure you have no close contact with Covid\-19/Mpox positive person\(s\) within the last 5 days\. 2\. Entry fee to be paid to The Mind Cafe upon entry\. Please keep the receipt as proof of payment\. 3\. Participants are strictly not allowed to take photographs or video recording of others at the event without permission\. 4\. Photographs will be taken by the organiser at the event for marketing & publicity\. Should you be uncomfortable with that\, kindly inform the organiser to omit you in the photographs\. 5\. You are encouraged to wear your mask for your own safety\. 6\. Please be considerate\. As seats are limited\, kindly un\-RSVP if you are unable to make it\. 7\. Please observe hygiene when playing the games & treat the games with care\. You may consider using chopsticks/ forks to eat the snacks\. 8\. Please ensure that the games do not get wet\. Kindly use a coaster/ serviette if it is an iced drink\. 9\. No form of solicitation\, MLM\, investment\, scam or harassment will be tolerated\. Kindly inform the organiser on the spot should you encounter anything that makes you uncomfortable\. 10\. Please take care of your personal belongings\. Exchange of any contact information is solely at your own discretion\. The organiser is not accountable for any incidents or loss of personal belongings\. The organiser reserves the right to deny entry to anyone who fails to comply with the rules. By signing up for this event, I agree to the terms & conditions stated above to ensure a safe and conducive environment for all! :)

Come and join us for an Introduction to Meditation! Every week, we meet up to do guided meditation in English. Before the meditation event, there will be a short talk to introduce and explain who we are and what we do. If you are new to Buddhism or meditation, it is an ideal place to start. General information : • public meditation open to beginners • meditation lasts half an hour • session is free of charge • questions : before our meditation starts, and after it’s over, you may receive a introduction to meditation and to Buddhism and answers to your questions on these topics. • no special clothes required Hope to see you there!

Hi Everyone, I am THRILLED that there are other fellow mystery readers out there!! I am excited to announce the first ever mystery book club event to be held at the end of the month. It will be a casual sharing session about favourite mystery books, killer plot twists, tropes you love and all things crime fiction! 😊 **Date: 26 April 2026, Sunday** **Time: 2pm to 4pm** **Venue: Asia Square Atrium** **Theme: All-Time Favourite Mystery Book** For our first session, please bring along and share about your absolute favourite mystery book! (I know, it's hard to pick just the one...🥲) It can be a physical book or an e-book or even just an image of the book cover! Agenda: 15 Min Self-Introductions 1 h 15 Min Roundtable Book Sharing Session 15 Min Closing Notes Looking forward to meeting everyone!! Cheers, Anna

\*Please note the change of venue. We are no longer able to meet at Charlies and will be looking for a new venue. !!! Beware of scams! If you have been contacted about featuring your work at our meetings or have been asked for any kind of payment it is a scam. Country: Argentina Written in: 1976 Pages: 280 Starting as an experimental study of a romantic female character, Manuel Puig elaborated with streams of consciousness and unspecified dialogue to create this untraditional novel. Fast paced and challenging social, sexual and literature norms, it's seen as his most successful work, having been adapted into multiple films and plays. Here's and excerpt from [an excellent review on Medium:](https://thebiblioraptor.medium.com/literature-as-resistance-reading-manuel-puigs-the-kiss-of-the-spider-woman-9d8ce00c10fa) One of the major ways in which literature has made its presence felt is as a tool of resistance. Manuel Puig’s novel *The Kiss of the Spider Woman* is such a battle waged through words, critiquing authoritative institutions, exploring the quest for freedom, and telling human stories of rebellion, love, and loss. The novel was published in 1976 and is written mainly as dialogues between its dual protagonists — Luis Alberto Molina and Valentin Arregui Paz — detained in a Buenos Aires prison. Valentin is a Marxist rebel who is in jail for waging a political struggle against the government. Molina, who identifies as a woman and homosexual, is imprisoned for the sexual corruption of minors. They are cellmates, who go from strangers to friends and more. One might think that a story that is limited only to one location and written as dialogues between two people might be monotonous. But this is where Puig’s genius lies. Although the physical setting is confined, the reader can transcend that dingy cell, along with the characters, through the sole power of storytelling. \*\*\*\*\* **New to the Hungry Hundred Book Club?** Here's what you need to know: 1. Read the book (If you don't manage to finish it by the meetup date, don't worry. As long as you're not going to be too disappointed by spoilers, you're still welcome to join.) 2. Come to the meeting, usually (but not always!) on the last Sunday of every month. 3. Be prepared to order food/drink at the venue to show our appreciation for letting us use their space. This is a requirement. A lot of time and effort has been put into finding a place that will accommodate our group without an outrageous minimum charge or rental fee, and you'll never be asked to contribute to organiser fees, so please show your respect and support for the restaurant that's letting us use their space. 4. Discuss! It's a casual conversation, so don't be afraid to ask questions and let us know what you think.

Dropping by to grab a drink and read at Shake Coffee before they close on 30 April 2026. This is a limited seats, small group event, so do try to update your RSVP early if your plans change! Thanks in advance! Nearest MRT: Rochor

Welcome! Gist below! :-) 1. Bring a book to the meet! 2. Buy a drink (and a bite if you're hungry). 3. Say hi to the folks. 4. Read! 5. We'll do a short round of intros and a short sharing at the end too. :) Come in and find us (we're probably the only reading group)! In the event that the place is full, we'll find a back up nearby. :-) This is a limited seats, small group event, so do try to update your RSVP early if your plans change! Thanks in advance! Nearest MRT: Stevens

Welcome! Gist below! :-) 1. Bring a book to the meet! 2. Buy a drink (and a bite if you're hungry). 3. Say hi to the folks. 4. Read! 5. We'll do a short round of intros and a short sharing at the end too. :) Come in and find us (we're probably the only reading group)! In the event that the place is full, we'll find a back up nearby. :-) This is a limited seats, small group event, so do try to update your RSVP early if your plans change! Thanks in advance! Nearest MRT: Bencoolen (DT21)

Welcome! Gist below! :-) 1. Bring a book to the meet! 2. Buy a drink (and a bite if you're hungry). 3. Say hi to the folks (pls note the venue is pet cafe so there will be furry friends). 4. Read! 5. We'll do a short round of intros and a short sharing at the end too. :) Come in and find us (we're probably the only reading group)! In the event that the place is full, we'll find a back up nearby. :-) This is a limited seats, small group event, so do try to update your RSVP early if your plans change! Thanks in advance! Nearest MRT: Kovan

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.

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.

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.

"The SOB is a ballet dancer. He’s the best ballet dancer that ever lived, and if I get a good chance I’ll kill him with my bare hands." - W.C. Fields In *City Lights*, Chaplin's Little Tramp meets a blind girl selling flowers who mistakes him for a wealthy man. When he learns that an operation may restore her sight, he sets off to earn the money she needs to have the surgery. He also befriends an alcoholic millionaire who only recognizes him when he is drunk. When the blind girl and her grandmother fall behind in the rent and face eviction, he tries working and even enters a boxing competition to raise the money they need. Regarded as Chaplin's masterpiece, *City Lights* has been ranked on more than seventeen "100 greatest movies of all time" lists. Orson Welles cited it as his favorite picture. *City Lights* is available for streaming on Amazon Prime, Hulu, HBOMax, Tubi and PlutoTV. The Columbus Library lists three copies on blu-ray and eight copies on DVD. Watch the movie on your own, then join us upstairs at East Market to discuss the film. If you want more, *Unknown Chaplin* is a three-episode lost-footage documentary available on Youtube. It covers his time on *City Lights* beginning at the twenty-six minute mark of episode two: https://youtu.be/f8960Uc15hI?t=1558