Book Swaps Sydney

Social and Book Swap: Gay Men of Letters Sydney

A book swap and social for the book group. Bring along your witty conversation and sparkling repartee and an optional book or two to swap.

Books and Bevvies

Welcome to **Books & Bevvies** — a casual book swap and drinks social in the Sydney CBD. This is not a book club with homework. It’s a simple, low-key way to meet people, chat about what you’ve been reading, and walk out with something new. **HOW IT WORKS** Bring a book you’re happy to part with. Pop it on the swap table when you arrive. Mingle, chat, and swap recommendations. When the swap opens, take a book that catches your eye. Stay for a drink and a conversation after. **WHAT TO BRING** One book, any genre and any reading level. **GOOD TO KNOW** The venue relies on accurate numbers for staffing, so if you can’t make it, please change your RSVP to “not going”. Repeated no-shows may result in removal from the group. The venue is kindly not enforcing a minimum spend, but please support them by buying a drink, soft drink, or some lunch during the swap if you can. There is no mandatory entry fee, but voluntary contributions are **very much** appreciated. The group costs around **$65 a month to keep running**, so if you enjoy the swap and are in a position to chip in, even $5 or $10 makes a real difference. Please feel free to contribute with cash or via PayID at any stage through the swap. **WHERE WE’LL BE** We’ll be in the Market Street Garden Bar, with a table full of books and bevvies.

November Book Club: "End Times Fascism"

Welcome to Meet the Moment Book Club, where we read books that meet the moment and make sense of it all together. Please see our [group page](https://www.meetup.com/meet-the-moment-book-club/) for a list of upcoming books. *Nerd Reich* last month delved into tech fascism, and now we deepen our understanding of fascism beyond just tech, via the just-released *End Times Fascism*, the latest book by bestselling authors Naomi Klein & Astra Taylor. From what I've read so far, it's an extremely worthy companion to *Nerd Reich*, detailing fascism in a such a way that I finally get its context in today's political-economic system. \*\*\* "A blistering expose of the new far-right apocalyptic alliance that's on the move around the globe - and how we resist. The far right is on the march again - but this time it's different. A new, apocalyptic alliance of religious fundamentalists, billionaire Silicon Valley tech kings and ethno-nationalists is on the move. They're united in their belief that some kind of cleansing cataclysm is coming, and they welcome a future of shocks, scarcity and collapse, convinced they'll be among the saved on the other side. In this blistering reckoning with our age, Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor take us deep into this man-made Armageddon complex - and show us how to resist it. Around the globe, they investigate how those who are making our world unliveable are preparing to protect themselves from the fallout, whether it's by repairing to luxurious private islands, or bunkering nations against a dehumanized 'other'. If we're to meet this critical moment and defend what's left of democracy before it's smashed up beyond repair, Klein and Taylor argue, we must break the doom loop, and tell a story not of end times - but of better times." https://www.penguin.com.au/books/end-times-fascism-9780241848395 'This urgent and essential book explains why we should be extremely frightened of, and extremely angry about, the man-made wreckage of the present. It is an indictment of those that engineer and profit from this apocalyptic moment. But it also a vital rallying call for a new universalism, a humane and inspiring project which might ensure our collective emergence from this crisis' Max Porter > [A] bold, clarifying intervention... Their valuable contribution is to map out the frightening new territory in which we find ourselves, and point to an escape > Daniel Trilling, Guardian > For those who since Trump’s first term have debated whether fascism is back, Klein and Taylor make a convincing argument in the affirmative... But they warn that history is not a repeating loop. Instead it spirals, taking us to places that look familiar but are changed by unpredictable new developments. Watch for yellow stars or jackboots and you’ll miss the facial-recognition databases... The value of *End Times Fascism*, as always with Klein, is in the connections it makes. She noted recently that her work is pattern recognition. The particular genius of her writing has been to combine compelling reporting with an ability to see the oblique lines linking apparently disparate trends > Anthea Lawson, Observer \*\*\* We will be meeting at The Erko Hotel. If it's sunny, we'll be outside in the back; if rainy, we'll be at the big square raised table next to the bar. We will start and end on time. There's no fee, but please purchase your own food/drinks from the venue. \*\*\* If you have trouble getting the book, message me. On reading the book: I encourage people to read the book over just interviews or summaries, because nothing beats the slow digesting of the beauty and nuances in a book. Especially for the books in this book club that challenge our worldviews and help us see the world as it truly is, these books need to be really grappled with, to be fully engaged with, to receive the full benefits. For reference, I use book clubs to motivate me to finish the books I want to read, so the date of the book club becomes a deadline to finish the book by. I calculate the number of pages in a book and the number of days I can realistically read, and work out how many pages on average I need to read each day. That's how I've finished many books. Invariably, they're worth reading to the end. Of course, life happens and we're all busy. If you really can't finish a book or can only watch videos this time, that's okay. Come by with an attitude of listening, open to being inspired, and take in what others have to say; perhaps you'll want to read/finish the book afterwards. Just know that books are like most things in life: what you put in is what you get out of it. A podcast or ChatGPT can give you the high-level points, sure, perhaps to BS your way to a decent grade in class; but we're not in school anymore, and we read these books because they better our lives and help us see more clearly. But they can only do so if we read them, because reading is what makes all the new concepts come to life enough to maybe change us. For the full magic, you just gotta read. Alright, thanks for reading my ode to reading. \*\*\* If the RSVP list is full, please join the waitlist as there will likely be fluctuations closer to the date. If you RSVP'ed and can't make it, please edit your RSVP so that others can attend. No-shows will be noted and barred from the book club. Look forward to seeing you there!

NOVEMBER BOOK –'The Correspondent' by Virginia Evans

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

Meeting at the usual place, upstairs at the Shakespeare Hotel, Surry Hills, Sydney, on Thursday 5 November 2026, we will be discussing *Lolita* (1955) by the Russian-American author Vladimir Nabokov. This is one of the most famous and controversial novels of the 20th century. Humbert is a middle aged man obsessively attracted to to a 12-year-old girl whom he nicknames 'Lolita.' After he marries her mother, Humbert manipulates circumstances to gain control over Lolita after her mother's death. He then sexually abuses her over a long period of time, convincing himself that (despite her age) she is consenting and enjoying it. For me (Dale), the power of the novel is that morally Humbert is the lowest of the low — a serial child abuser. Yet he would probably be the most captivating guest at a dinner party: cultured, clever, witty and amusing. How do we distinguish between the morality of a person's words and ideas on the one hand, and the reality of their actions on the other? Nabokov forces us to confront an idea sometimes assumed by the ancient Greeks: that a person's intelligence, charm and artistic sensitivity somehow reflects their inner beauty. Or perhaps the most intelligent and witty people can be the most morally corrupt? The novel was initially rejected by several publishers because of its subject matter before being published in Paris. It later became an international bestseller and is now considered a classic. Easily available in hard copies from local libraries (free) or through inter-library loan ($3.50). About $13 from Amazon, ebay and bookshops. Soft copies from our friend Anna or a free pdf from me on request at dalemills@cantab.net We meet upstairs in the pub in a private room conducive to discussion. Look for the sign or ask at the bar for details. There will be about 30 of us. We talk about the book in big group for about 40 mins, before breaking up into small groups. Newcomers are very welcome.

The Curious Mum: Baby-Friendly Books & Ideas Circle (Book via Humanitix)

Have you ever wished there was a space where you could reconnect with the part of yourself that existed before motherhood? I created The Curious Mum after searching for a community where I could discuss books, explore new ideas and connect with like-minded mums—all while bringing my baby along. When I couldn’t find it, I decided to create it. This is a relaxed, baby-friendly gathering for mums with babies and young toddlers (approximately 0–3 years) who enjoy meaningful conversation and lifelong learning. 📖 Our October book: The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter. No pressure to finish the book—come along even if you’ve only read a chapter or listened to part of the audiobook. Expect thoughtful conversation, curious minds, and a welcoming space where babies are part of the experience. 🎟️ Places are limited, so registration is essential. Please register via Humanitix using the link in this event. https://events.humanitix.com/the-curious-mum-a-baby-friendly-books-and-ideas-circle-6rt7psrk

Scion by James Islington | Sun 1 Nov 2026

Short Story Club: 'Bright Hearts' by Kaaron Warren

Short Story Club is a reading club for time-poor people who love speculative fiction. Just like other clubs we read the story and discuss it... though expect to go deeper into craft as writers. This session we're reading Ditmar finalist '[Bright Hearts](https://reactormag.com/bright-hearts-kaaron-warren/)' by Kaaron Warren. Kaaron Warren published her first short story in 1993 and has had fiction in print every year since. She has published six multi-award winning novels (*Slights*, *Walking the Tree*, *Mistification*, *The Grief Hole*, *Tide of Stone*, and *The Underhistory*) and eight short story collections, the most recent being *Calvaria Fell*, with Cat Sparks. No need to bring anything but your thoughts, having read the story.

The Builder's Stone by Melanie Phillips

**Meeting at the usual place, The Shakespeare Hotel, 200 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills, we will be discussing *The Builder's Stone* by Melanie Phillips.** *The Builder's Stone* argues that Western Civilisation is built on an uneasy alliance between Athens and Jerusalem - a fusion of Greek reason and Biblical morality. Phillips contends that the modern West is abandoning the moral and spiritual foundations that once gave it coherence and concludes with a 10-point 'rescue plan' for the West. The format of the meeting is that we talk about the book in a focused way for about 45 mins and then the meeting formally ends. The purpose of the discussion is to explore ideas and minority opinions are given a lot of space. After the meeting, almost all of us stay behind and speak informally about the book or anything else. The book is available from the usual places and the local library system. Otherwise, contact me if you are having issues getting a copy at dalemills@cantab.net

Scion by James Islington | Sat 7 Nov 2026

First Sunday Bookclub-Hannah Kent any of her books