Book Swaps Berlin

February book selection: The Path to the Nest of Spiders by Italo Calvino

For our February reading, let's go to Italy, back in time. *Il sentiero dei nidi di ragno*, in English The Path to the Nest of Spiders, is the first novel by Italian author **Italo Calvino**, published in 1947. It is set during **World War II** in a small coastal town in **Liguria, Italy**, at the height of the Italian Resistance against Nazi and fascist forces. The story is told largely through the experiences of a young boy named **Pin**, an orphan who lives with his older sister and is often excluded or mocked by the adults around him because of his sister’s relationships with German soldiers. Calvino presents this harsh historical period through Pin’s eyes, blending gritty reality with moments that feel almost surreal or dreamlike. His narrative combines neorealist sensibilities with poetic touches, making this both a historical portrayal of wartime Italy and a deeply human story of innocence, loss, and resilience. **About the author** Italo Calvino (1923–1985) was an Italian writer born in Cuba to Italian parents and raised in Italy. He took part in the Italian Resistance during World War II, an experience that deeply influenced his early work, including *Il sentiero dei nidi di ragno*. He began writing within the tradition of Italian neorealism but soon moved beyond it, developing a distinctive style marked by imagination, clarity, and intellectual playfulness. Over time, Calvino became known for blending realism with fantasy, allegory, and formal experimentation, as seen in works like *Invisible Cities* and *If on a winter’s night a traveler*. His writing often explores themes such as storytelling itself, the relationship between order and chaos, and the search for meaning in modern life. With a style that is both precise and imaginative, Calvino is widely regarded as one of the most original and influential writers of the 20th century. **About the location of the event** It will be announced at least 2 days before the event takes place with all the details. **Event contribution alert** The event might require a small participation fee (3-5 euros) or the purchase of something to eat or drink in case we are hosted by a coffee shop. I will make sure to communicate that in advance.

Silent Book Club Session n. 31 - Kreuzberg

Hello fellow readers! This event takes place in **Kreuzberg**. Meet us at 7:00 pm at the Another Country Bookshop in Riemannstraße 7. **Agenda:** 19:00-19:15 - *Arrival, greetings, warming up* 19:15-20:05 - *Quiet reading* 20:05-21:00 - *Chatting and sharing thoughts about our books* Can't wait to read with you guys! L&F

February Book Club: Embers by Sandor Marai

We'll come together at a cosy cafe to discuss S. Marai's novel Embers. Before RSVPing yes, ask yourself- Do I have a copy of the book? Can I be there at that place and time? Looking forward to our discussion! :) Also if you would like to join our Whatsapp group to vote on books, please talk to Sneha at the meeting. :)

Women’s Book Club: The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

This week we are discussing Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - The Thing Around Your Neck. We look forward to seeing you! If you have book suggestions, would like to vote on our next reads, or join us for additional activities, please ask someone at the meeting to add you to our WhatsApp group.

Das „Bordbuch“ des Christoph Kolumbus (1492)

Hi, dieses Mal besprechen wir das „Bordbuch“ des Christoph Kolumbus (1492). Hier der Link zum Inhalt und Buch : https://www.suhrkamp.de/buch/christoph-kolumbus-bordbuch-t-9783458348610 Wir treffen uns diesmal im Café Kowski in Moabit. :)

Reading Party ☕️📚

\*\*\*\*\*\* ***For address and more details see the website.*** \*\*\*\*\*\* **Event Info:** Bring along your **current book to read** (or something **creative** to work on 📚🎨🧵) and join us for this mix of a shared focus time + discussion. \- 19:00\-19:30 \- Meet & greet \- 19:30\-20:30 \- Silent focus time \- 20:30 \- Discussion of books/ projects over coffee **Drinks & snacks are included** ☕️ * **To reserve your place, a ticket (€9,90/event) or a community pass (only €14,90/MONTH) [from the website](www.pausify.org) is required** * **Attendance here doesn’t show all sign-ups from other platforms.** ***FAQ: Why does it cost money if I bring my own project?*** Because we rent a beautiful, central space for every event. Ever thought your monthly apartment rent was too high? Well, multiply that – that’s what commercial spaces in big cities like Berlin cost *per hour*. Of course, if all you want is just some quiet time, your home or a library is perfect. But if you’d like to focus & connect with others in an inspiring space – with drinks, snacks included – that’s what your ticket helps to cover. See pics from our events below - and on our Instagram: **[@Pausify (Co-Reading Space)](https://www.instagram.com/pausify_org/) ☕️**📚 **[Pausify Co-Reading Space Website](www.pausify.org/)** For questions, please contact us over [Website](www.pausify.org/) as this platform can have issues. Thank you! *Please note that photos and videos may be taken during the event and used for promotional purposes to highlight and share the experiences at our events. If you have concerns, don't hesitate to approach the event organizers before the event.*

Der Morgenstern #2

Hey, wir hatten gestern einen tollen Start mit der Gruppe - am 27.02.26 geht es weiter mit dem "Morgenstern". Wir lesen S. 119-344 (Taschenbuchausgabe), das sind die Kapitel von Emil, Iselin, Solveig, Kathrine und Jostein. Ich freue mich auf euch! LG Chris

February Sci-Fi #2.1: "All Tomorrows" by C. M. Kösemen (111 pp)

#4 social reading club – Kreuzberg · Tempelhof (DE)

**Come together. Read. Talk about it.** Vielleicht liest du viel und vermisst Gespräche darüber. Vielleicht hast du Lust, neue Menschen kennenzulernen – in einem entspannten, ungezwungenen Rahmen. Lesen verbindet, und genau dafür ist dieser Club gedacht. Dieser *Social Reading Club* ist für Menschen, die gern lesen und sich genau das wünschen: mehr Zeit dafür – und Raum für Austausch mit anderen, die das genauso fühlen. Wir treffen uns in einem Café am **Platz der Luftbrücke in Kreuzberg**. Nicht als klassischer Buchclub mit Vorgaben oder Pflichtlektüre, sondern als gemeinsames Innehalten: jede\*r liest für sich, egal ob Zeitung, dicker Roman oder Sachbuch. Im eigenen Tempo. Danach kommen wir ins Gespräch – ganz natürlich, ohne Erwartung. Dein Handy kannst du dabei weglegen – ich behalte die Zeit für dich im Blick. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . **So sieht ein Treffen aus** Der Vormittag besteht aus **einer Leseeinheit**. Wir kommen an, bestellen etwas und richten uns ein. Dann lesen wir, zusammen, in Stille – konzentriert, jede\*r für sich. Zum Abschluss gibt es ein lockeres Kennenlernen und Austauschen – über das, was wir gerade lesen, und das, was es bei uns auslöst: Gedanken, Eindrücke, Stellen, die hängen geblieben sind. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . **ℹ️ Hinweise** * Wir treffen uns in einem Café und sind dort normale Gäste. Also plane bitte ein, dort etwas zu bestellen. * Die Teilnahme selbst ist vorerst kostenlos. Als kleinen Ausgleich für die Organisation und um die monatlichen Meetup-Gebühren zu decken, freue ich mich über eine **kleine** **Spende** (Richtwert: 2 € bis 5 €) – vor Ort in **bar** oder per **PayPal**. * Eine Vorbereitung ist nicht erforderlich. Alles, was du tun musst, ist, etwas zum Lesen mitzubringen. * Die Treffen finden auf Deutsch statt. 🇩🇪 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . **🗓️ Agenda** **11:00 Uhr** Ankommen, Einrichten & etwas bestellen **11:15 – 12:30 Uhr** Stille Leseeinheit (konzentriertes Lesen, jede\*r für sich – gerne Kopfhörer mitbringen, falls es im Café etwas voller wird) **12:30 – 13:30 Uhr** Austausch, Kennenlernen & Ausklang

February Sci-Fi #2.2: "All Tomorrows" by C. M. Kösemen (111 pp)

„Der Ausflug der toten Mädchen“ von Anna Seghers (1946)

Hi, dieses Mal besprechen wir den schmalen Erzählband „Der Ausflug der toten Mädchen“ von Anna Seghers (1946) Hier der Link zum Inhalt und Buch : https://www.aufbau-verlage.de/aufbau-taschenbuch/der-ausflug-der-toten-madchen/978-3-7466-3470-8 Wir treffen uns diesmal im Cafe Atlantic in der Bergmannstraße nahe U-Bahnhof Gneisenaustraße. :)

Reading in Companionable SILENCE

Who is in the mood for some quiet togetherness while catching up on their reading? Let’s enjoy literature or non-fiction together and come to our Reading in Companionable Silence meeting on Saturday. While Nathania is away, Miro will welcome members and there is time to socialize and to order some food or a beverage - ca. 30 min. Then we read for an hour in silence. After that - time to exchange impressions, suggestions, ask questions and generally have a good time. There might be a break in the middle in order to allow for more drinks, a bathroom break etc.