English Books & Literature

Welcome to [Hidden Lotu.s] This is not just another meetup. This is a space created for self-awareness, intentionality, mindfulness, and growth in mind, body, and soul. Our purpose is simple: • To provide a safe container for you to explore healing, self-discovery, and spiritual practice. • To guide (not do) your healing journey — giving you tools, practices, and insights so you can ground your own energy, manifest your own visions, and connect with your own power. This group is for anyone who walks a different path — seekers, dreamers, practitioners of light. Whether you identify as a mystic, magician, alchemist, healer, “weirdo,” societal outcast, or simply someone tired of the surface-level distractions of this world… you are welcome here. 💰 Energy Exchange 300k VND (in-person or Zoom) This isn’t just a ticket—it’s a commitment to yourself and the group, showing you’re serious about your growth and respectful of everyone involved. I’ve spent 3 years and over $10K deepening these practices, and I’m keeping this intentionally accessible because I believe this work should reach our community. This pricing won’t last forever—it’s my way of giving back to those who are ready now. Your investment includes: • Guided practices and wisdom to align and ground your energy. • An environment designed to support your highest good (not your self-destruction). • The opportunity to be part of the FIRST dedicated spiritual awareness group in VN — a community built on respect, curiosity, and authenticity. 🧘 What to Expect • Breathwork, grounding, and energy-alignment exercises. • Space to reflect, share, and connect without judgment. • Practices that can be taken home and applied to your own spiritual journey. 📜 Ground Rules (Read Carefully) This is a space of respect, awareness, and truth. To keep the energy clean: 1\. Zero Judgment – all religions\, lifestyles\, and beliefs are welcome\. 2\. No Toxicity – destructive behaviors \(to self or others\) won’t be tolerated\. 3\. Consent is Key – no touching\, pressuring\, or bothering anyone without their explicit consent\. 4\. No “Fixing” Others – share only if asked\. Everyone has their own path\. 5\. No Selling/Preaching – outside services\, agendas\, or recruitment are strictly prohibited\. 6\. No Babysitting – we guide\, you walk\. Your healing is yours to claim\. 7\. Only Light Energy – leave ego\, drama\, and bad vibes at the door\. 8\. Arrive Sober & Present – no alcohol\, no drugs\. This is about awareness\, not escape\. 📍 Location Tina Cafè Address: 13-15 Nguyễn Thanh Sơn, Phường Thạnh Mỹ Lợi, Thủ Đức, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam We’ll meet inside the cafe where I’ll already be 📞 Questions? Reach out via WhatsApp: (+1 704-449-2595)

Welcome, readers! ❄️ Our December read is **_A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella._** A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella is a tender, character-driven novel that follows three people in a small Pennsylvania town as they each cope with loss and seek connection. Chuck, a widower, struggles to find meaning after his wife’s death; Ella, a young woman, faces the heartbreak of her missing daughter; and Kirsten, a veterinary technician, grieves her father while contemplating her future. Their stories intertwine gently, revealing how grief and hope coexist—and how even small acts of kindness can help people rediscover purpose and peace in the aftermath of tragedy. Looking forward to discussing with everyone! At this meeting, our third annual White Elephant book exchange will take place! If you'd like to participate, bring a gift-wrapped book that you already own. On the gift wrap, write the genre of the book. 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! 📖

I don't usually pick romance but I really wanted to do a Hanukkah book. It's a bit on the longer side but hopefully a quick read. The library only has 5 audiobooks so please try to remember to "release it" when you're done. Columbus libraries: [https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C3503238](https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C3503238) Location: The Goat Riversouth [219 South High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215](https://www.google.com/maps?q=219%20South%20High%20Street%2C%20Columbus%2C%20Ohio%2043215%2C%20United%20States) [Menu](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/686d3ed16745133042482c5f/t/68ff654dbb03b96875430bde/1761568077220/all_brunch-20250311.pdf) Book summary: Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt is a nice Jewish girl with a shameful secret: she loves Christmas. For a decade she’s hidden her career as a Christmas romance novelist from her family. Her talent has made her a bestseller even as her chronic illness has always kept the kind of love she writes about out of reach. But when her diversity-conscious publisher insists she write a Hanukkah romance, her well of inspiration suddenly runs dry. Hanukkah’s not magical. It’s not merry. It’s not *Christmas*. Desperate not to lose her contract, Rachel’s determined to find her muse at the Matzah Ball, a Jewish music celebration on the last night of Hanukkah, even if it means working with her summer camp archenemy—Jacob Greenberg. Though Rachel and Jacob haven’t seen each other since they were kids, their grudge still glows brighter than a menorah. But as they spend more time together, Rachel finds herself drawn to Hanukkah—and Jacob—in a way she never expected. Maybe this holiday of lights will be the spark she needed to set her heart ablaze.

We will be having an open discussion of the book "the Soul of an Octopus" by Sy Montgomery. [this is the amazon link for this book](https://a.co/d/1bRn8h4)

**Our January novel is: Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan** **This month's featured novel is a 20th-century biographical fiction, coming-of-age, historical romance, women’s fiction, world literature, student biography, heartfelt, magic, and feel-good novel. The book is 311 pages in print and 7 hours and 8 minutes on audiobook.** 1950: Margaret Devonshire (Megs) is a seventeen-year-old student of mathematics and physics at Oxford University. When her beloved eight-year-old brother asks Megs if Narnia is real, logical Megs tells him it's just a book for children, and certainly not true. Homebound due to his illness, and remaining fixated on his favorite books, George presses her to ask the author of the recently released novel The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe a question: "Where did Narnia come from?" Despite her fear about approaching the famous author, who is a professor at her school, Megs soon finds herself taking tea with C. S. Lewis and his own brother Warnie, begging them for answers. Rather than directly telling her where Narnia came from, Lewis encourages Megs to form her own conclusion as he shares the little-known stories from his own life that led to his inspiration. As she takes these stories home to George, the little boy travels farther in his imagination than he ever could in real life. After holding so tightly to logic and reason, her brother's request leads Megs to absorb a more profound truth: "The way stories change us can't be explained. It can only be felt. Like love."

We’ll be reading Brigands and Breadknives by Travis Baldtree this month! We recommend readingading “Bookshops and Bonedust” and “Legends and Lattes” before reading Brigands and Breadknives.

Who doesn't enjoy a twisted tale to go along with their holiday cheer!? Join us as we get together for a psychological thriller and quite possibly the biggest book-to-film release this year: THE HOUSEMAID! The twisty-turny tale follows a young woman who takes a job as a housekeeper for a well-to-do family who could harboring dark secrets! Here’s a description, trailer and plan for this event: DESCRIPTION: Trying to escape her past, a young woman accepts a job as a live-in housemaid for a wealthy couple. But what begins as a dream job quickly unravels into something far more dangerous - a sexy, seductive game of secrets, scandal, power and filled with shocking twists that will leave you guessing until the very end. The Housemaid is directed by Paul Feig (A Simple Favor) and based on the first in a series of books by Freida McFadden. The film stars Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, Brandon Sklenar, Michele Morrone and Elizabeth Perkins. TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48CtX6OgU3s BUZZ: Early buzz is strong with critics calling it an "entertaining,” "twisty" and suspenseful psychological thriller with non-stop twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end! PLAN: Details for this event have already been confirmed! Please purchase your ticket for the 7:15pm showing and we’ll meet in the lobby area between 6:45 and 7:00pm! This fun little twisted thriller is shaping up to be the surprise hit of the season so advance ticket purchase as soon as possible is advised! Once you have yours please list your seat number in the Comments below. The theaters are pausing “Discount Tuesday” pricing for the holidays but we picked some of the lowest price tickets in town! Look forward to seeing you there, Dan