Book Club

Von oben betrachtet sieht die Welt gleich ganz anders aus: Sechs Astronauten schweben in einer Raumstation durchs All. Den Planeten Erde umkreisen sie einmal in 90 Minuten, sechzehnmal in 24 Stunden. Die zwei Frauen und vier Männer aus ganz unterschiedlichen Nationen arbeiten, essen und schlafen auf engstem Raum - und doch ist alles losgelöst vom Alltag, Schwerkraft und Zeitempfinden sind außer Kraft gesetzt. Was passiert, wenn man seine Heimat nur aus weiter Ferne durch ein kleines Fenster sieht? Wie verändern sich Denken und Fühlen? In dem Zeitraum von nur einem Tag, während die Sonne sechzehnmal auf- und untergeht, betrachtet dieser ungewöhnliche, kraftvoll poetische Roman die großen und kleinen Fragen der Menschheit und bringt uns der Schönheit des Universums ganz nahe. Quelle: Klappentext Man muss gar nicht selbst im All gewesen sein, um wunderbar überzeugend und "augenöffnend schön" über einen Tag auf einer Raumstation zu schreiben, lernt Kritikerin Christiane Lutz von Samantha Harvey, die für dieses Buch den Booker Prize gewonnen hat. Eine richtige Handlung oder einen Spannungsbogen gibt es nicht, für Lutz steht eher die "atemberaubende Gleichzeitigkeit der Dinge" im Vordergrund, die die sechs aus unterschiedlichen Nationen stammenden Astronautinnen und Astronauten bei ihren 16 Erdumrundungen erleben - und alle großen Fragen nach dem Sinn der menschlichen Existenz. In einem immer wieder zwischen der Winzigkeit des Menschen und der Großartigkeit des Alls changierenden Wechsel schreibt Harvey der Rezensentin zufolge in einem fließenden, gefühlvollen, aber nie pathetischen Strom über Mutter Erde und Vater Weltraum. Quelle: Süddeutsche Zeitung via Perlentaucher

Inspired by Nigeria's folktales and war, Under the Udala Trees is a deeply searching, powerful debut about the dangers of living and loving openly. Ijeoma comes of age as her nation does; born before independence, she is 11 when civil war breaks out in the young republic of Nigeria. Sent away to safety, she meets another displaced child, and the star-crossed pair fall in love. They are from different ethnic communities. They are also both girls. When their love is discovered, Ijeoma learns that she will have to hide this part of herself. But there is a cost to living inside a lie. As Edwidge Danticat has made personal the legacy of Haiti's political coming of age, Okparanta's Under the Udala Trees uses one woman's lifetime to examine the ways in which Nigerians continue to struggle toward selfhood. Even as their nation contends with and recovers from the effects of war and division, Nigerian lives are wrecked and lost from taboo and prejudice. But this story offers a glimmer of hope - a future where a woman might just be able to shape her life around truth and love. **Suggest and vote for future books in this google sheets document**: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1lIdNT7Z_nyzkpSq9jjnQe_jZoZDEHU0dACEFEvLaf40/edit?gid=855607985#gid=855607985 *\*\* Our venue, Cranberry in Zurich, do not charge us to use their space - therefore I would like to request that everyone buys at least one drink and / or food from Cranberry, so that they continue to be happy to have us be there. \*\**

\*\*\* Event in Italian \*\*\* 🎭 Carnevale sul palco 🎭 Una serata di letture, teatro e improvvisazione, dove maschere, parole ed emozioni prendono vita sul palcoscenico. Un Carnevale fatto di storie, gioco teatrale e sorprese… e un contest per il cappello più bello 🎩✨ 📅 Martedì 17 febbraio 🕢 Ore 19.30 📍 ABZ – Wollishofen 🎟 Ingresso libero 👉 Aperto a tutti! Prenota il tuo posto scrivendo a libriamozurigo@gmail.com

💝 **This Meeting’s Theme: “Generosity”** Generosity is the soul of communication! 💖 It's about giving your audience the wonderful gift 🎁 of your full attention, your best ideas 💡, and your genuine passion. It’s also about being a generous listener and evaluator, giving feedback that builds others up 📈. So come ready to share your energy, your applause 👏, and your wisdom freely. Let's make this our most giving meeting yet! \*\*\* 💸 You can **pay directly via Meetup**! For this meeting, we’re collecting **CHF 37**, which also includes a delicious dinner prepared by the restaurant. That’s dinner *and* personal growth in one go—what a deal! 🍽️✨ Per default, you're in for the vegetarian option. If you want meat, let us know via PM before Sunday! \*\*\* **🎤 Practice public speaking, sharpen your communication, and grow your leadership skills** Ever wanted to feel more confident speaking in front of others? Or perhaps become a better communicator and leader? Toastmasters is the perfect place to challenge yourself in a warm, supportive, and safe environment. Here, you can practice, learn, grow, mentor, and share—while having a laugh or two along the way. 😄 With over **16,600 clubs worldwide**, Toastmasters helps people reach their full potential as confident speakers and inspiring leaders. \*\*\* **👋 Welcome to Zuriberg Toastmasters Club** We usually meet on the **2nd, 3rd, and 4th Tuesday** of each month in the beautiful **Zunftsaal** at *Restaurant zum Grünen Glas* in Zurich. (We’ll always notify you if there's a change in venue.) \*\*\* **🗓️ What to expect at a meeting** Each meeting is hosted by the **Toastmaster of the evening**, who welcomes guests and introduces the *Word of the Day*. Then, we move into the main event: **🎙️ Prepared Speeches** – 3–4 speeches, each 5–7 minutes long **🍽️ Dinner Break** – Enjoy a delicious meal together **📝 Speech Evaluations** – Supportive and constructive feedback **🎯 Table Topics** – Fun impromptu speaking, open to guests too! **🔍 Meeting Evaluation** – A general overview and suggestions for improvement **🗣️ Guest Feedback & Closing** – Share your thoughts and wrap up the evening **🍻 After-Hours Conversations** – Stick around for drinks and good chats \*\*\* **❓ FAQs** **Do I have to speak at my first meeting?** Nope! You’re welcome to just observe. If you feel comfortable, you can introduce yourself and maybe even try Table Topics. Totally optional! **Is there a teacher or instructor?** There’s no formal instructor. The club is run by elected members, and learning happens through practice and peer feedback. You’ll receive a speaking guidebook and can also request a mentor. **Do I have to pay for the dinner?** Yes, the CHF 37 fee covers dinner and the venue. Soft drinks are not included and cost approx. CHF 6. **How many people attend?** Usually between **20–30 people**, a mix of members and guests. Meetup RSVPs mostly reflect guest numbers. **What is Toastmasters International?** A nonprofit founded in 1924 with **16,400+ clubs** in **141 countries**, Toastmasters helps people become better speakers, communicators, and leaders. **Can anyone join?** Yes! Anyone **18 or older** is welcome to become a member. **What is the refund policy?** Unfortunately, we cannot offer refunds for cancellations. But we know that life can get in the way, so guests cancelling two or more days prior to the event are welcome to reach out via private message and we can coordinate a visit at a later date without further charges. \*\*\* We look forward to seeing you—whether it’s your first word or your first speech. 😊 Come for the skills, stay for the stories!

TUESDAY LUNCH On the third Tuesday of each month we will meet for lunch in a different restaurant. Let's have lunch this time at INSIEME located in the heart of Winterthur's old town. INSIEME is a charming little family Restaurant with lots of character. They offer a wide variety of piadinare, lunch menues as well as à la carte options. Italian dishes, including à la carte and vegan options.Excellent cuisine prepar ed and seved with great care. Lovely atmosphere. Lunch 12.00 - 14.00 hours Please join us for lively chat, great company, and good food. We value the togetherness, discussions and enjoyment. Sign up here on meet up in order to reserve your place. Non-members are always invited to attend our events! This is a wonderful opportunity to experience what we have to offer and see if our club is the right fit for you. After joining us for 1 or 2 events, you can decide if you’d like to become a member. We look forward to welcoming you! About Us: The International Club Winterthur aims to connect, support and integrate individuals and families who have an international connection or interest. We are a non-political, not-for-profit, English-speaking association, actively fostering friendships and networks in Winterthur and its greater area. Follow us on MeetUp for our upcoming events: https://www.meetup.com/the-international-club-winterthur/ Disclaimer: Please note that the International Club Winterthur is not responsible for any injuries or damages that may occur during the event. Additionally, photos may be taken at the event and shared on the club's social media platform.

Salut tout le monde 😃 je vous propose de nous retrouver le mardi 17 février à l’Amboss Rampe à Zurich. Pour ceux qui ne sont jamais venus, ce groupe est simplement l'occasion de discuter en français (quel que soit votre niveau) en buvant un verre avec des gens sympas, n'hésitez pas à vous joindre à nous ! A mardi! :) Nico

**🎲 What?**
 A games evening where everyone brings their favourite games. Cooperative games, competitive games, boardgames, card games, everything is welcome! **📍Location** The event will take place at [Kalli Craft](https://maps.app.goo.gl/xvA37vBxLCLResuL6), a bar with plenty of space and near the train station. **⌛Time**
 The event will kick off at 19:00 and will go on as long as our gamers have energy and Kalli Craft is open! **🎒What to bring** 
Bring your favourite games! Kalli Craft does not have a collection of games, we need to bring these ourselves. **💬 Baden WhatsApp Community**
 A WhatsApp community for these Baden meetups, event announcements and chatting with others can be found here: [Join our WhatsApp group](%E2%80%A8https://chat.whatsapp.com/GxJlB1F1bmSBNmYUVTCDH5)

Every last Sunday of the month ( Women only event) A chance to meet - swap books, grab a coffee and have a chit chat How it will work • Bring a book or two you have read and happy to swap (please do not expect it to be returned we are swapping ) • Grab a coffee have a chat and browse through the books on offer • Rule - please take the same amount of books you donate ( this enables all who donate get a book and also means the host is not carrying home left over books 😅) * If you dont have a book - please still feel free to join for coffee and chit chat join the WhatsApp chat here https://chat.whatsapp.com/IQ44Sqnm2iIDanJAEzqAzb

📚 **Zug Book Club: A Gathering of Minds** ✨𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨, 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙✨ A moment for the curious, the reflective, and the wildly bookish. Park Hotel - Industriesstrasse 14, Zug 🗓️ **Date & Time:** 21 of Feb at 10:00 AM 📍 **Location:** https://maps.google.com/maps/place//data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x479aaa57f042687f:0x1ba31b802080ab32?entry=s&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwja9-3U4vyRAxWfbEEAHZ_6AlsQ4kB6BAgVEAA&hl=en 📦 **WHAT’S THIS ABOUT?** This isn’t your typical book club. Just a space to explore ideas, share perspectives, and connect through stories — both on the page and in our lives. Each month, we gather around a theme, a book, or a question that stirs something in us. We read to remember we’re not alone. We meet to be reminded why that matters. 📓 **HOW DOES IT WORK?** * Bring your favorite book * We open with a short reflection or quote * Phones off. Minds on. 🧧 **HOW TO JOIN?** Everyone is welcome. 💛 **WHO IS THIS FOR?** Readers and thinkers. You don’t need to be eloquent. Just honest. You don’t need to be well-read. Just open-hearted. 💛

Welcome to THE KIMCHI CLUB : an authentic Korean cooking experience in Zurich 🇰🇷 🥬 👩‍🍳 In this class, you’ll learn to make 2 types of kimchi — prepared from scratch and adapted to seasonal ingredients. 📅 Date & Time: Saturday, 21 February | 14:00–17:30 📍 Location: Seestrasse 49, 8002 Zürich 📝 What’s included: ✅ All ingredients ✅ Printed recipes to take home ✅ Small apero prepared by chef ✅ A fun, relaxed atmosphere with a K-pop playlist 👜 What to bring: ❤️ Your enthusiasm 🥡 🥡 Two Tupperwares to take Kimchi to home (1L size*2 ) 💳 Reserve your spot: 1️⃣ Complete the Google Form https://forms.gle/N3sJvvJhD5HPGHjr7 2️⃣ Complete the payment Twint recommended 😊 💰 120 CHF via Twint to 078 480 67 96 👩‍🍳 Limited spots for a cozy, private, hands-on experience! 📲 any questions please DM via Instagram: @the.kimchiclub / seojkim@outlook.com

Join us for our “Open Topic Night,” where any issue — current or timeless — is fair game. Bring a topic you’re passionate about, along with your sharpest arguments, toughest questions, and an open mind. Friends of the Salon is an extension of our more formal events, focussing on facilitating similar discussions, but in more intimate settings. We also hope to provide a chance to get to know one another. You are encouraged to purchase drinks at the bar of The Alehouse. Because of the limited capacity, attendance is per reservation only.

**Founders Running Club** (FRC) brings founders, investors, tech, creative people and startup enthusiasts together for weekly easy runs and networking. We like to be comfortable when we run and finish with coffee and conversations. Choose your pace or follow a pacer—pets, friends, family, are welcome. 🗓️ Launched in San Francisco, July 16, 2022 🌍 Now in 35+ cities 📅 Running + Networking events + Community **Join the community** [http://foundersrc.com/chats](http://foundersrc.com/chats) **Stay updated**: Instagram [http://instagram.com/foundersrc/](http://instagram.com/foundersrc/) Podcast [http://podcast.foundersrc.com/](http://podcast.foundersrc.com/) LinkedIn [http://linkedin.com/company/foundersrc/](http://linkedin.com/company/foundersrc/) Strava [http://strava.com/clubs/foundersRC](http://strava.com/clubs/foundersRC) Website [http://foundersrc.com/](http://foundersrc.com/)

We are gathering to talk about whatever science fiction, new and old, got us excited lately! What was the last novel you read? Is there any blockbuster you look forward to? What's good on streaming? Games, creative writing, comic books, novels, cinema, anything goes. A table will be booked on the organizer's name (Carlos). The available seats will be limited: please confirm if you are attending, or cancel on time if you can't come. If you confirm, it means a seat was booked for you. If this is your first meetup with this group: There is no fixed subject or theme, just feel free to discuss whatever you would like to share about anything Science Fiction. The lingua franca is English, as it is the language we all have in common. However we also switch languages, whenever convenient. We look forward to meeting you. We have a closed chat group on WhatsApp. If you would like to join, please PM the organizer to receive the invitation link. See you soon!

A supper club is a **shared dinner** hosted in an intimate setting. We cook a fixed menu, seat **friends and strangers together**, and let food and conversation flow. We are hosting four evenings: * Sunday 22nd of February, 7pm * Monday 23rd of February, 7pm * Sunday 1st of March, 7pm * Monday 2nd of March, 7pm The dinners take place in the cozy [Zebra Bistro](https://www.zebra-bistro.ch/) (Zürich). We will **start at 7pm** with a cocktail and a standing apero, and then sit all together on a long table full of dishes to share. The dinner costs **90chf** and includes one cocktail. Come alone, as a couple, with friends or bring your date, you’ll have fun and meet new people. We would love to have you over! **To partecipate, please** [register here](https://wiedikoji.substack.com/p/february-and-march-supper-clubs)

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Terrors of Irish Fairylore,”** an introduction to Ireland’s strange and unsettling folkloric “Good People,” with Brittany Warman, former instructor at Ohio State University, co-founder of The Carterhaugh School of Folklore and the Fantastic, and co-author of the new book *Fairylore: A Compendium of the Fae Folk.* [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-irish-fairy-terrors](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-irish-fairy-terrors) .] Today it is common to think of fairies as small, childlike, sparkly creatures with glittering wings and dresses made from flower petals. But the fae of traditional Irish folklore were no such things. Amoral, capricious, even malicious when they chose to be, the too-frequently forgotten fairies of times long past would, more often than not, haunt nightmares. Join Brittany Warman, a folklorist who has earned a devoted following among Profs and Pints fans, as she explores the darker side of Irish fairylore. The figures she'll discuss include: The Leanan-Sidhe, a vampiric fairy who gives artistic inspiration in exchange for your mortal spirit. The Dullahan, a fairy with a human spine for a whip and a habit of hurtling across fields in a death coach made from human skin. The Banshee, a mournful fairy whose cry signals a death in the family to which she's attached herself. Dr. Warman also will examine the surprising impact of fairy folklore on two classics of Irish Gothic literature, Oscar Wilde's *The Picture of Dorian Gray* and Bram Stoker's *Dracula.* It’s a talk that will remind you that the relationship between the Irish and the spooky stretches well beyond Halloween. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: “The Banshee Appears,” an 1862 illustration by Robert Prowse (Wicklow Heritage / Public domain).

Join us for a thought-provoking conversation as we discuss ***Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It* by Cory Doctorow** Here's the summary: **Explaining the process of the “enshittification” of digital platforms over time and what to do about it.** Cory Doctorow's *Enshittification* takes a witty yet incisive look at the tech landscape, where platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Google start off great—before they inevitably turn terrible. In this contemporary moment of digital decline, Doctorow explores how tech giants lure users in with convenience and then degrade their services over time, squeezing profit at the cost of user experience. With a mix of sharp humor and deep insight, he unveils the slow creep of "enshittification," turning the online world into a worse place, one algorithm at a time. **Let’s meet at Caboose Commons in Fairfax to enjoy some good discussion and meet new friends.**

Join our partners Watermark Woods Native Plants, Loudoun County Public Library (LCPL), and Birch Tree Bookstore for the Read! Plant! Grow! Book Club, which focuses on native plants, sponsored by Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and LCPL. At this meeting we’ll discuss the book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. Both memoir and journalistic investigation, this book explores how the Kingsolver family took on a new challenge: to spend a year on a locally -produced diet, paying close attention to the provenance of all they consume. Concerned about the environmental, social, and physical costs of American food culture, they hoped to recover what Kingsolver considers our nation’’s lost appreciation for farms and the natural processes of food production. You can either buy the book from Birch Tree Bookstore or contact Allison Forbes at [Allison.forbes@loudoun.gov](mailto:Allison.forbes@loudoun.gov) to borrow a copy of the book at the library. There are two ways to participate: attend the event online via the library website or [sign up to participate in person at Birch Tree Bookstore](https://www.birchtreebookstore.com/event-details/read-plant-grow-2026-02-24-18-30). ***Questions:*** *Contact [info@loudounwildlife.org](mailto:info@loudounwildlife.org)*.

Please join us as we discuss **SOMEONE YOU CAN BUILD A NEST IN**, by John Wiswell. This queer romance novel won the Nebula and Locus Awards and was a Hugo nominee, and is a relatively short read, at about 363 pages. Please keep your RSVP updated and accurate! Space is limited for this event. We are intentionally holding some RSVP slots for new members specifically, so if you’re new and the event is full, please get on the waitlist ASAP! You may bring your own food/drinks (no alcohol, please) or you may pick something up in Mosaic or at the farmers market before the meetup. We do ask that you pack your trash out with you. * **[KINDLE](https://a.co/d/52iAE17)** * **[PAPERBACK](https://a.co/d/hYo70W5)** * **[AUDIBLE](https://www.audible.com/pd/Someone-You-Can-Build-a-Nest-In-Audiobook/B0CX7C9FQM)** **BOOK DESCRIPTION:** ***Shesheshen has made a mistake fatal to all monsters: she's fallen in love.*** Shesheshen is a shapeshifter, who happily resides as an amorphous lump at the bottom of a ruined manor. When her rest is interrupted by impolite monster hunters, she constructs a body from the remains of past meals: a metal chain for a backbone, borrowed bones for limbs, and a bear trap as an extra mouth. Badly hurt by the hunters, Shesheshen’s nursed back to health by Homily, a warm-hearted human. Homily is kind and would make a great co-parent: an ideal place to lay Shesheshen’s eggs so their young can devour Homily from the inside out. But as they grow close, Shesheshen realizes that eating her girlfriend isn’t an option. Just as Shesheshen’s about to confess her identity, Homily reveals something else: she’s hunting a shapeshifting monster that supposedly cursed her family. Has Shesheshen seen it anywhere? Shesheshen didn’t curse anyone, so now she has to figure out why Homily’s twisted family thinks she did. As Shesheshen’s hunt for the monster becomes increasingly deadly, the bigger challenge remains: learning how to build a life with, rather than in, the woman she loves. *\*Since missing one of these meetups is taking a spot away from someone else who wants to go, we'll need to have a stricter attendance policy than normal. For book discussions, 3 no-shows in a rolling 3-month period will prohibit you from attending any other book discussion for 2 months after your last no-show. In order to avoid a no-show, please update your RSVP no later than 10pm two nights before a discussion. Thanks for your understanding and cooperation! If you need to drop off because of Covid symptoms or exposure or a positive test or any other illness, there will be no penalty to no-showing or dropping late.*

This is the first of several meetings on *Nature's God: The Heretical Origins of the American Republic*, by Matthew Stewart. For this meeting, please try to read the first three chapters (pages 1-129 in the paperback). **Where did the ideas come from that became the cornerstone of American democracy?** America’s founders intended to liberate us not just from one king but from the ghostly tyranny of supernatural religion. Drawing deeply on the study of European philosophy, Matthew Stewart brilliantly tracks the ancient, pagan, and continental ideas from which America’s revolutionaries drew their inspiration. In the writings of Spinoza, Lucretius, and other great philosophers, Stewart recovers the true meanings of “Nature’s God,” “the pursuit of happiness,” and the radical political theory with which the American experiment in self-government began. [LINK](https://a.co/d/bkTWJNb) I hope to see you there! Fred