Book Club

We're off to the NYT for some vampire action! Please note everyone is responsible for buying their own tickets, I've gone for the £25 stalls seats https://underbellyboulevard.com/tickets/let-the-right-one-in-2026/ We will meet somewhere nearby, or in the theatre bar for a drink beforehand (TBC nearer the time) Blurb below: \*\*\*Let the Right One In \*\*\*is an enchanting, brutal vampire myth and coming-of-age love story adapted from the best-selling Swedish novel and award-winning film by John Ajvide Lindqvist. Oskar is a bullied, lonely teenage boy, living with his mother on a housing estate at the edge of town, when a spate of sinister killings rock the neighbourhood. Eli is the young girl who has just moved in next door. She doesn’t go to school and never leaves the flat by day. Sensing in each other a kindred spirit, the two become devoted friends. What Oskar doesn’t know is that Eli has been a teenager for a very long time. PLEASE NOTE: All performances of *Let the Right One In* are **Relaxed Horror**. This is an experiment in access. We will take a relaxed approach to movement and noise in the audience. Latecomers are admitted, and you are free to leave the performance space and come back in. Further details on accessibility are on the website.

Join us to read through a play, script in hand. You don't need to memorise any lines, but you'll get the chance to read, and bring as much character and performance to your reading as you like. You don't have to read aloud if you don't want to, and there's no expectation of ability - we're an encouraging, good-natured group! Play script: August: Osage County, by Tracey Letts [https://drive.google.com/file/d/12c-BAnxdz4mUhbqtWE7llqdx5gAK-Vp1/view?usp=sharing](https://drive.google.com/file/d/12c-BAnxdz4mUhbqtWE7llqdx5gAK-Vp1/view?usp=sharing) You will need: \- a digital or physical copy of the text \- enthusiasm for theatre

***"In this complex and terrible development which has carried the epoch of class struggles toward new conditions, the proletariat of the industrial countries has completely lost the affirmation of its autonomous perspective and also, in the last analysis, its illusions, but not its being. It has not been suppressed. It remains irreducibly in existence within the intensified alienation of modern capitalism[.]"*** **\- Guy Debord\, *The Society of the Spectacle*** Welcome back readers! By popular request, we're bringing back (for a new generation of LMRG readers) an old favourite: the always-relevant Guy Debord and his masterful *Society of the Spectacle*. This is meeting two, where we'll be reading the fourth, fifth and sixth chapters. Find the classic text here: https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/debord/society.htm Or an alternative, possibly more readable translation here: [https://files.libcom.org/files/The%20Society%20of%20the%20Spectacle%20Annotated%20Edition.pdf](https://files.libcom.org/files/The%20Society%20of%20the%20Spectacle%20Annotated%20Edition.pdf) Often maligned as theorymaxxed nonsense but little-read, this slim volume is certainly dense with ideas - all of which carry as much relevance today as those half-forgotten postwar years when the Situationist International made its mark on the world, if not more. With the rise of the Internet and social media, the decline of literacy and the closing of the mass mind, the endless doom-loop of doomscrolling and bed-rotting, increasingly performative protest, the commodification of everything, the Epstein-approved culture war, and the theatre of spectacular cruelty that is imperialist colonial policy from Gaza to Venezuela, we really are living an age where everything that was once directly participated in has passed into representation. Every hand-grip one searches for to get some kind of grasp on the world seems to be a mirage; "participation" in anything, from politics to culture, has been reduced to fandom - limited to nothing more than expressing approval or disapproval through totally mediated social media platforms. Above it all stands an utterly corrupt, irresponsible elite class more and more transparent in how it relishes in conspiratorial play, power-games with unlimited stakes for us and no consequences for them. Such a world where power wears a shit-eating grin and keeps us off our balance by endlessly[ "flooding the zone"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flood_the_zone) (in Steve Bannon's terms) with distractions so intricate they short-circuit the collective brain is exactly what Debord not only predicted but described in frightening detail, with more than a little bit of humour. So let's dig in and find out: just what can we do to unplug from the spectacle? Is the spectacle even un-plug-from-able? Debord haters, cope and seethe: as a much more orthodox Marxist than he ever gets credit for, there really are some strategies in here. We just need to be creative. Take care and happy reading!

Our very first meet! Join us at \*a to be determined location\* to discuss The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson! We'll update the event with the location closer to the time. Please come having read the book and is possible with fun/creative discussion questions!

Dear Members, As the **early evening from 5pm** [https://luma.com/he99iszf](https://luma.com/he99iszf) unfolds toward sunset, the tone deepens. Conversations shift from introductions to alignment: * Capital meets narrative * Ideas meet execution * Ambition meets backing * Complimentary nibbles & drinks What to expect: Guests arrive at Flex @ Tide, stepping off the street into a space that feels deliberately curated—minimal, elegant, quietly confident. **630-730pm There will be 5 Roundtables** \- Investment\, Tech & Ai\, Film & Music\, Scaleups & GovTech\. If you would like to head a table for discussion please reach out \(Zee Whatsapp 07588812528\)\. **Thank you to Flex @ Tide, The Master Collective**, **YouYaa**, and the **Future Crowd.** Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the river like a living artwork. There’s a subtle soundtrack—low, ambient, almost cinematic—punctuated by the clink of glasses and the first bursts of laughter from early connections forming. Feel free to bring friends and colleagues. If you are looking for future collaborations please let us know. **8pm Carriages** With warm regards, Zee & Team NB For Partnerships or Sponsors zee@picnicbank.com & [zm@mastercollective.xyz](mailto:zm@mastercollective.xyz)

**The creative practice of writing thought experiments gives you the opportunity to:** * investigate ideas (old and new) * work your imagination * write creatively and playfully * produce compelling conversation starters that you can share with friends and strangers to provoke great discussions Over the past 3 years, I've written over 200 thought experiments and learned a lot along the way. [Here's a bit more about why I enjoy the practice.](https://experimentsingroupwisdom.substack.com/p/writing-thought-experiments) **In this workshop,** I'll share my process and together we'll create new thought experiments by: * Identifying areas of interest * Gathering ingredients for thought experiments * Imagining scenarios * Constructing narratives * Generating relevant, thought provoking questions * Participating in a round of small group discussions - you can volunteer your new thought experiment, or if you'd rather, you can pick one out of the hat. **By the end of the evening** **we'll have** * had some thought provoking conversations * become familiar with a new method for creative thinking * written our own original material for future group discussions :-) Although we’ll be learning a new technique we'll also be aiming to have **an enjoyable evening, with good humour and fun**. This will be less like school and more like a fun TEiP night out with an additional creative twist. **Who should come:** Everyone! We believe that the more perspectives, the richer the conversation. This group is not about being experts, it is about thinking creatively together and learning new ways to develop and communicate ideas. **Tickets** Space is limited (15-20) people and tickets are £15. I'd like to make this event accessible, so if cost is a barrier, please send me a DM. **Where we'll meet:** The Fitzroy Tavern in Fitzrovia. The nearest Tube stations are Goodge Street and Tottenham Court Road. We'll be upstairs in the Private Dining Room. Looking forward to meeting & talking with you! Bonny **[SUBSTACK](https://experimentsingroupwisdom.substack.com/) -** newsletter and further reflections on these events **[WHATSAPP GROUP](https://chat.whatsapp.com/D13LHw5BV3rEtUtO3ORklC)** \- stay in the loop **[INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/thoughtexperimentsinpubs/)** & **[FACEBOOK](www.facebook.com/thoughtexperimentsinpub)** \- see what we look like **[WEBSITE](www.alltogether.one)** \- everything else #philosophyinpubs #inclusivity #openmindedness #creativewriting #community #newskills

The first rule of WRITE CLUB is that you do not talk ***during*** WRITE CLUB. This very simple meetup is based on the premise that public and peer accountability enables more productive writing than sitting at home and getting distracted by the fridge. We will write/read for an hour in silence. (I will be writing thought experiments for my other meetup group: [THOUGHT EXPERIMENTS IN PUBS](https://www.meetup.com/thought-experiments-in-pubs)) If you'd like to hang out afterwards, or if you prefer just to hang out, I have another event immediately afterwards in the same place :-) You can find that here: [HANGING OUT AT THE SOUTHBANK](https://www.meetup.com/experimentsin/events/313686740) And if you'd like to finish the evening with a dance, there is a free social salsa meetup just outside The Southbank Centre just afterwards. More info [here](https://www.instagram.com/salserosfriends/). **This event will take place in the foyer of The Southbank Centre.** You can find us by looking out for: * A tote bag with WRITE CLUB sewn onto it * My T-Shirt, which will have HANGING OUT embroidered on the back of it * A big red flag with THE SUNRISE CLUB emblazoned on it (though this clearly isn't THE SUNRISE CLUB! If you want to find out about that, you can do so [here](https://www.meetup.com/the-sunrise-club/).) * Other writers - who may be spread out across the centre. They will have white pieces of paper with the WRITE CLUB stamp at the top of the page. There are plenty of places to buy refreshments, but you can also bring your own if you prefer. [WHATSAPP GROUP](https://chat.whatsapp.com/BpMwnRev0H237KMx4uPnek) [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/experimentsingroupwisdom) [SUBSTACK](https://experimentsingroupwisdom.substack.com/) Looking forward to meeting and writing with you :-) Bonny

**🦄 Zoom Speed Dating for Bromley Singles Mutual Matches After — From Home** During the session, you'll work through focused short video rounds with Bromley singles paired for compatibility by age and quiz, as an experienced host steers the pace. During sign-up, you fill in a quick matching survey — the information you provide there to organise compatible Bromley locals for your session, making every round feel more natural from the first minute. After all the rounds, we disclose mutual matches quietly — with no one-sided reach-outs ever happening — and you take over from there entirely. **Pick your age range and grab a spot:** - **Ages 18-32** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=501.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Bromley&groupurlname=genuine-singles-community-focused-on-future&ar=18-32&face_v=3.0) - **Ages 30-46** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=501.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Bromley&groupurlname=genuine-singles-community-focused-on-future&ar=30-46&face_v=3.0) - **Ages 40-58** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=501.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Bromley&groupurlname=genuine-singles-community-focused-on-future&ar=40-58&face_v=3.0) - **Ages 55+** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=501.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Bromley&groupurlname=genuine-singles-community-focused-on-future&ar=55+&face_v=3.0) **⚠️ Confirmation needed:** Rsvping on meetup does not confirm your spot at the event, so use the link for your age bracket above, sign up, and finish the short personality quiz — attendance is capped so register as soon as possible, and only a completed registration locks in your seat. --- **Event Details** - **Format:** Virtually live in a Zoom video session running short private video sessions back-to-back, sorted by personality quiz and age for every round. - **Where:** All online — on any internet-connected device, no special equipment — just a device with a camera and internet, and at home or wherever you are most relaxed is fine. - **Host:** A focused host keeps the evening smooth and well-paced throughout, which takes all pressure off the format entirely — every transition and every call to move on is handled. - **Duration:** Roughly an hour give or take from host intro to final round, and most people say it flies by. **Ideal if you are:** - First-timers across Bromley done with the app treadmill that goes in circles and are looking for real connection. - Returners from Bromley fed up with conversations that fizzle before a first date and prefer structure over ambiguity. - People around Bromley moving on from apps that waste evenings for no return and want to try something that actually works. - Someone in the Bromley area done with apps that waste evenings for no return and are ready for a genuine first impression. - Women and men living in Bromley who are tired of swiping left and right with no results and prefer structure over ambiguity. **The format** 1. **Select your age range** – by clicking your age group registration link, then fill in the personality questions as part of registration, as completing both steps locks in your place. 2. **Join the video call** – by opening the Zoom link at the event start, no tech headaches involved since you just click and join, and a live host guides every step from there. 3. **Get into the rounds** – brief guided video rounds with Bromley people matched to you by age and quiz, while the host controls the pace so you can relax, because every conversation has been set up to feel natural. 4. **See your results** – we reveal mutual matches once the session ends, with the system keeping all non-mutual selections entirely private, and the next step is entirely in your hands. ⭐ *"Zero awkwardness, which surprised me — the matching was surprisingly good"* – a Bromley attendee 💡 **Before you join:** put your phone on silent before joining, and it only takes a couple of minutes to sort, and a few minutes of prep makes a big difference to the whole evening. --- ✨ Real people, short rounds, no apps — click your age bracket and sign up and we will have you matched and ready while places last. We will see you online. 🕊️ ✨

**🦄 Online Dating Rounds Hosted connecting Enfield People — Private Rounds** Joining means you'll participate in brief timed Zoom sessions with Enfield people compatibility-matched and age-grouped, as a welcoming host takes care of everything. Right after registering, there is a short quiz about your personality and preferences — that information feeds the matching to pair you intelligently with Enfield locals, so the chemistry in each round is not left to chance. Once it is wrapped up, your mutual matches are disclosed — so you only hear from someone if they chose you too — and you take over from there entirely. **Select your age group to secure your place:** - **Ages 18-32** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=501.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Enfield&groupurlname=genuine-singles-community-focused-on-future&ar=18-32&face_v=3.0) - **Ages 30-46** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=501.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Enfield&groupurlname=genuine-singles-community-focused-on-future&ar=30-46&face_v=3.0) - **Ages 40-58** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=501.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Enfield&groupurlname=genuine-singles-community-focused-on-future&ar=40-58&face_v=3.0) - **Ages 55+** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=501.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Enfield&groupurlname=genuine-singles-community-focused-on-future&ar=55+&face_v=3.0) **⚠️ Confirmation needed:** Just clicking rsvp will not save your spot in the session, so register through the age group link, complete the form, and take the two-minute personality quiz — spaces are purposely limited so move fast, and your spot is held only when both steps are done. --- **Who shows up:** - Anyone in Enfield ready to move past swiping with nothing to show for it and are ready for a genuine first impression. - Anyone calling Enfield home who have given up on matches that ghost after two messages and value real conversation over curated profiles. - Locals from the Enfield area moving on from endless scrolling and zero real dates and are serious about meeting someone. - Anyone locally in Enfield looking beyond matches that ghost after two messages and prefer meeting people in person first. **About the Event** - **Format:** Host-managed in a Zoom video session with short one-on-one video rounds, matched by your quiz and age group in advance. - **Where:** No venue required — on any internet-connected device, a connected device with a camera is everything you need, and whichever room suits you best is ideal. - **Host:** A real human host coordinates every round and every transition, giving you the space to just enjoy the conversation — not a single logistical thing is left for you to manage. - **Vibe:** Comfortable hosted conversations with real Enfield singles not avatars, and the host keeps everything comfortable throughout. - **Duration:** Expect about 60-90 minutes overall, and most people say it flies by. **The breakdown** 1. **Book your spot** – via the link for your age group above, then complete the short matching survey, since this combination is what actually registers you. 2. **Launch Zoom** – through the Zoom link provided after registration, no download is needed since it works in any browser, and a host keeps everything smooth from that point. 3. **Enjoy the rounds** – focused private rounds with compatible Enfield singles in your bracket, with a friendly host making sure every round feels easy, because the format is built so every round is worth having. 4. **Get your mutual matches** – we share mutual match results after the session closes, with non-mutual picks remaining completely private, and then the rest is yours to decide entirely. --- ✨ The right person might already be registered — register through your age group and the evening takes care of itself right now. Your matches are waiting to be found. 🌈 ✨

**🪷 Zoom Speed Dating for Harrow Singles from Your Couch** Throughout the event, you'll participate in rapid one-on-one Zoom dates with Harrow locals selected for your age range by quiz results, while everything stays on track thanks to a live host. Prior to the event, there is a brief matching questionnaire to fill in — we use those answers to identify compatible Harrow singles for your rounds, giving the whole evening a better shot at real connection. After all the rounds, we send out mutual matches — with privacy guaranteed for all non-mutual picks — and it is yours to follow up without any rush. **Select your age group to secure your place:** - **Ages 18-32** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=501.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Harrow&groupurlname=genuine-bonds-formed-over-weekend-brunch&ar=18-32&face_v=4.0) - **Ages 30-46** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=501.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Harrow&groupurlname=genuine-bonds-formed-over-weekend-brunch&ar=30-46&face_v=4.0) - **Ages 40-58** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=501.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Harrow&groupurlname=genuine-bonds-formed-over-weekend-brunch&ar=40-58&face_v=4.0) - **Ages 55+** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=501.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Harrow&groupurlname=genuine-bonds-formed-over-weekend-brunch&ar=55+&face_v=4.0) **⚠️ Do not skip this:** Rsvping here does not hold your place in the event, so use the link for your age range, complete sign-up, and submit the personality questionnaire — capacity is intentionally small so get in early, and both are needed — the RSVP alone counts for nothing. --- **Who it is for:** - Singles across Harrow fed up with app fatigue and empty match queues and are ready for something that feels natural. - Singles near Harrow done with the app treadmill that goes in circles and are ready for something genuine instead. - Daters in the Harrow area who are tired of unread messages and dead-end conversations and value real conversation over curated profiles. - First-timers living in Harrow moving on from matches that ghost after two messages and need a better way to meet people. **Here is how the evening goes** 1. **Pick your age group** – by tapping the link for your age group, then take the brief personality quiz, since your spot is held only once this is done. 2. **Join Zoom** – by clicking the Zoom link at the event start time, no app is required since Zoom runs in your browser, and a friendly host manages everything once you are on. 3. **Do the rounds** – timed one-on-one speed dates with Harrow locals in your personality-matched group, while the host runs the clock so you can focus on the conversation, and the people in your rounds were sorted specifically for you. 4. **See your mutual connections** – mutual connections are confirmed and sent after the session, as privacy is guaranteed for all non-mutual selections, and then the rest is yours to decide entirely. ⭐ *"Finally something that is not swiping — real conversations with real people"* – Harrow single --- ✨ Harrow singles worth meeting are in this event — pick your age group and sign up and the evening takes care of itself while places last. The host will see you shortly. 🍀 ✨

**🌻 Hosted Speed Dating for Enfield Singles — Verified Locals** On the night, you'll have back-to-back quick private Zoom rounds with Enfield people in your age bracket who match your profile, with a dedicated host managing each round. Prior to the event, there is a brief matching questionnaire to fill in — those details are used to sort your Enfield matches by personality and age, so your conversations have a better chance of going somewhere. Once the event finishes, match results go out — exclusively for mutual selections — and it is yours to follow up without any rush. **Click your age bracket to register:** - **Ages 18-32** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=501.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Enfield&groupurlname=genuine-bonds-formed-over-weekend-brunch&ar=18-32&face_v=4.0) - **Ages 30-46** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=501.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Enfield&groupurlname=genuine-bonds-formed-over-weekend-brunch&ar=30-46&face_v=4.0) - **Ages 40-58** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=501.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Enfield&groupurlname=genuine-bonds-formed-over-weekend-brunch&ar=40-58&face_v=4.0) - **Ages 55+** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=501.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Enfield&groupurlname=genuine-bonds-formed-over-weekend-brunch&ar=55+&face_v=4.0) **⚠️ Two steps needed:** Just clicking rsvp will not save your spot in the session, so use your age group link above to register and complete the short personality quiz — places close once the group is full so sign up early, and only a completed registration locks in your seat. --- **Ideal if you are:** - Someone across Enfield who have had enough of conversations that fizzle before a first date and are serious about meeting someone. - Daters throughout Enfield moving beyond app fatigue and empty match queues and want actual face-to-face conversation. - First-timers based in Enfield who are tired of endless scrolling and zero real dates and are ready for a genuine first impression. - First-timers in Enfield who have given up on swiping with nothing to show for it and want actual face-to-face conversation. **Here is how the evening goes** 1. **Claim your spot** – through the age-specific link above, then finish the personality questionnaire, as completing both steps locks in your place. 2. **Jump on Zoom** – using the link that will be sent ahead of time, browser-based so no special app is required, and the host controls the pace so you can relax. 3. **Meet people** – brief timed one-on-one chats with Enfield singles matched to your personality and age, as a dedicated host runs every round from start to finish, since personality and age shaped every pairing in advance. 4. **Get your matches** – mutual match details are sent privately after the event, and everything non-mutual stays confidential between you and us, and you are in control of everything that happens next. 💡 **Helpful hint:** prepare one or two opening questions, which means you can focus entirely on the conversation, and two minutes of sorting this saves the whole session. --- ✨ Done with apps — start here — secure your place via the link above and all the logistics are covered for this one. Real connection starts here. 🕊️ ✨

We invite you to an engaging evening of wine, cheese and lively conversation around NYT Editor's Choice ***All The Worst Humans: How I Made News for Dictators, Tycoons, and Politicians,*** a bridge-burning, riotous memoir by Phil Elwood, a top PR operative in Washington who exposes the secrets of the $129-billion industry that controls so much of what we see and hear in the media—from a man who used to pull the strings, and who is now pulling back the curtain. **From Goodreads:** After nearly two decades in the Washington PR business, Elwood wants to come clean, by exposing the dark underbelly of the very industry that’s made him so successful. The first step is revealing exactly what he’s been up to for the past twenty years—and it isn’t pretty. Elwood has worked for a murderer’s row of questionable clients, including Gaddafi, Assad, and the government of Qatar. In *All the Worst Humans*, Elwood unveils how the PR business works, and how the truth gets made, spun, and sold to the public—not shying away from the gritty details of his unlikely career. This is a piercing look into the corridors of money, power, politics, and control, all told in Elwood’s disarmingly funny and entertaining voice. He recounts a four-day Las Vegas bacchanal with a dictator’s son, plotting communications strategies against a terrorist organization in Western Africa, and helping to land a Middle Eastern dictator’s wife a glowing profile in Vogue on the same time the Arab Spring broke out. And he reveals all his slippery tricks for seducing journalists in order to create chaos and ultimately cover for politicians, dictators, and spies—the industry-secret tactics that led to his rise as a political PR pro. Along the way, Phil walks the halls of the Capitol, rides in armored cars through Abuja, and watches his client lose his annual income at the roulette table. But as he moved up the ranks, he felt worse and worse about the sleaziness of it all—until Elwood receives a shocking wake-up call from the FBI. This risky game nearly cost Elwood his life and his freedom. Seeing the light, Elwood decides to change his ways, and his clients, and to tell the full truth about who is the worst human. As always, please feel free to join even if you have not finished the book - no stress :-) All attendees are asked to please bring one of the following: 1. A bottle of wine 2. Cheese and Crackers 3. An alternate beverage or nosh of your choice Host will provide glasses, wine opener, plates & napkins. To enhance the opportunity for great conversation, we would like to keep the group small. Please feel free to sign-up to meet us along with up to 2 friends. 📚 Exciting Updates for 2026 Book Club! 📚 Starting in January 2026, we’ll be implementing a new system for book recommendations that will make our reading selections even more collaborative and engaging! **Book Recommendations:** From January through October, members can submit book recommendations at each meeting, via email, text or Meetup DM. All suggestions will be added to a shared Google Sheet, which will include links to Goodreads and other pertinent information for each book. [LINK to 2027 BOOK LIST](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18AC_FH9bGGxyH6v7Rw36EvPtKtVl5e_N/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=102804280893316002961&rtpof=true&sd=true) **Voting for 2027 Reads:** Our voting for next year’s book selections will take place during the November 2026 meeting. Members in attendance will have the opportunity to cast 12 votes for their favorite picks. If you’re unable to attend the November meeting, you can still participate! Simply submit 6 votes via email, text, or DM through Meetup before the start of the November meeting. **Announcement of Selections:** The chosen books for 2027 will be revealed at the end of the November meeting. We’re excited about this new process and can’t wait to see the amazing book recommendations you all have! 📖✨ PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE COMMITTED TO ATTEND WHEN YOU RSVP FOR THIS EVENT. We ask that ALL folks honor their RSVP. If you are unable to attend after sending in a YES, please update your status so that others may join us. In the event you do not communicate and are a no-show, your ability to RSVP for future events will be restricted. Thank you in advance for your understanding. If you are unable to join us in June, we hope you'll remain interested and join us for an evening in the future. Looking forward to wine & cheese with you soon - happy reading!

Join us for a discussion of ***The Hollow Half: A Memoir of Bodies and Borders* by Sarah Aziza** Here's the summary: With the lucidity of a poet and the precision of a journalist, Sarah Aziza embarks on a quest to understand her family legacy, tracing three generations of diasporic Palestinians—from Gaza to the Midwest to New York City, and beyond In October 2019, Sarah Aziza, daughter and granddaughter of Gazan refugees, is hospitalized for an eating disorder. This brush with death becomes a rupture which brings both her personal and ancestral past into vivid presence. The hauntings begin in the hospital cafeteria, when a cup of apricot yogurt stirs the taste of Sarah's childhood, summoning the familiar voice of her deceased Palestinian grandmother. In the months following, as she responds to a series of ghostly dreams, Sarah unearths family secrets that force her to confront the ways her own trauma and anorexia echo generations of Palestinian displacement and erasure—and how her fight to recover builds on a century of defiant survival, and love. As silences break, heartbreak opens onto possibility. Sarah begins to grasp the ways her legacies echo and inform one another—through tragedy, and through love. She begins to resist the forces of assimilation, denial, and patriarchy, learning to assert herself in new ways that honor both her ancestors and herself. Weaving timelines, languages, and genres, The Hollow Half probes the contradictions and contingencies that create “history.” This stunning debut memoir ends in a cri de coeur for a world in which every body has a right to contain multitudes. **Let’s meet at Caboose Commons in Fairfax to enjoy some good discussion and meet new friends.**