Ink Affair (Book Club)

Apr 2024
Title: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Author: Philip K. Dick
Description:

Set in 1992 San Francisco following an enormous world war that’s destroyed most of the natural world and left Earth’s surface dangerously irradiated. People with talent and intelligence are sent to colonize other planets, such as Mars, while those who can’t pass the proper tests are left on Earth to eventually die. Furthermore, science has succeeded in building androids so realistic that it’s become virtually impossible to distinguish them from human beings. These androids are used as workers or assistants on other planets, but some escape and live on Earth, disguised as people. The law enforcement officers on Earth try to hunt down these androids and “retire” them—i.e., kill them. Police officers run elaborate psychological tests on suspects. One such test, the Voigt-Kampff, is designed to measure humans’ natural empathy—androids, who supposedly have no empathy, can’t pass the test.

Rick Deckard has this license to kill. Somewhere among the hordes of humans out there, lurk several rogue androids. Deckard's assignment - find them and then..."retire" them. Trouble is, the androids look exactly like humans, and they don't want to be found!

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General Attendance Policy:

• We encourage you to have read the book (or most of it), but if you didn't get a chance to, don't let that stop you from attending. Some members find it beneficial to read the book after discussing it. 3 no-shows and you will be removed from the group. You have 48 hours prior to the event to withdraw.
• It is your responsibility to purchase/borrow the month's book. If you are struggling to locate a copy, please let us know and we will endeavour to locate a copy.
• Please respect everyone's opinions and ideas and use common courtesy when participating.
• Members take turns hosting the book affairs. The host for the month is responsible for leading the discussion but anyone in the group can ask questions.

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First time attending an ink affair meetup? On the day, you will be asked the following questions as a way of introduction:

1. Name
2. A little bit about you (i.e. resides in Tauranga, visiting)
3. What are your current reading habits?
4. What are you hoping to get out of being part of a book club?

Jun 2024
Title: Hannah & Huia
Author: Charlotte Lobb
Description:

Hannah is in a mental health unit, in shock and rendered speechless following the sudden death of her husband and baby son. She pays little attention to her surroundings as events play and replay inside her head. There is no way out, no way back, and no future she can possibly imagine, just an endless, unbearable present. Huia is also there, a long-term resident who lives entirely in her own inner world. Her mutterings, her sleeve-plucking, her foot-tapping? Well, that's just Huia. But who is she? What is her story and why does the mystery of the older woman start to play on Hannah's mind? Gradually drawn out of her own web of misery, Hannah learns to read Huia and decides to follow the tiny clues back to the source and discover the truth of Huia. In the process, she uncovers the strange bonds that unite them and finds it might, after all, be possible to save her own life - that families can and should heal. And that Huia may be her path to redemption. Two women, two literally unspeakable tragedies, two families, one powerful and unforgettable story. No one should ever be made to feel invisible. And you are never alone.

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General Attendance Policy:

• We encourage you to have read the book (or most of it), but if you didn't get a chance to, don't let that stop you from attending. Some members find it beneficial to read the book after discussing it. 3 no-shows and you will be removed from the group. You have 48 hours prior to the event to withdraw.
• It is your responsibility to purchase/borrow the month's book. If you are struggling to locate a copy, please let us know and we will endeavour to locate a copy.
• Please respect everyone's opinions and ideas and use common courtesy when participating.
• Members take turns hosting the book affairs. The host for the month is responsible for leading the discussion but anyone in the group can ask questions.

-----
First time attending an ink affair meetup? On the day, you will be asked the following questions as a way of introduction:

1. Name
2. A little bit about you (i.e. resides in Tauranga, visiting)
3. What are your current reading habits?
4. What are you hoping to get out of being part of a book club?