Book Swap

In the second meeting in May, we discuss Isabella Hammad's *Enter Ghost*. Published in 2023, the novel sees a 'woman reeling from a disastrous love affair finds love and hope in Shakespeare and Palestine.' 'The author of the bestselling *The Parisian* delivers a moving, thought-provoking story about family, resistance and reconciliation, as a London actress returns to her native Palestine to visit her sister and joins a production of Hamlet in the West Bank.' -Waterstones https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/183932814-enter-ghost We will hold our meeting at Caravan City (in the Bloomberg Arcade). Please join us for some delicious food as we dive into this intriguing novel. N.B. We will be charging an event fee of £3, non-refundable, to discourage no-shows and contribute to the running costs of the group. Please only sign up if you intend to come along as space is limited to make for an effective discussion!

Join us in discussing Gloria Don't Speak by Lucy Apps - Longlisted for the 2026 Women's Prize for Fiction. Gloria has a learning disability. She's nineteen, and there's nothing to do except wander the local parks, look for friendship and keep out of trouble - or go round Jack's. Jack needs Gloria's company, but he's unpredictable and angry at the world. After an act of violence, their friendship has to end. Now Gloria's on her own. But when she hears Jack's out of prison, her whole world is turned upside-down. Heart-breaking and beautiful, Gloria Don't Speak is an insightful portrait of a woman dealing with vulnerability, violence - and the desire for connection. Everyone is welcome, regardless of what they thought about the book; we love hearing all kinds of opinions! You can join even if it's fully booked. Hope to see you soon! You can also join our Instagram account here: [https://www.instagram.com/goodbook.bookclub?igsh=djlwMW9wYXg2anFt](https://www.instagram.com/goodbook.bookclub?igsh=djlwMW9wYXg2anFt)

Get your kids book written! This is an un-hosted meetup for anyone who wants to come and write for a couple of hours in the company of other kids writers. It's a great way to move your project forward in a lovely arty atmosphere. The only rules are to say hello to other writers and leave them to work until 8:30 when you are free to have a chat. If you're by yourself, don't worry. You'll get two hours of writing closer to your goal. Enjoy and Write Write Write!

Artists of all ability are welcome at the All Good Bookshop Art Club. Each session has a theme to inspire creativity but there is no set image to create, allowing attendees to explore their own skills and interests. A range of art materials are supplied, but bringing your own supplies is also welcomed. Suggested donation £5

Let's read Modern Standard Arabic together and help each other. This get-together continues weekly. Please disregard attendee numbers, as most members come without registering here. There is no charge for this time together.

Basic Ideas: 🌞 📚☕ Any books sitting there collecting dust? Some holiday gifts? Or it’s a book that has changed your life that you want to share? Feel free to bring book(s) to discuss or swap, we usually have more books than people in the end, so feel free to pop along just to have a chat as well. Aiming for every 4 weeks book swap meetup. Note: The event is free to attend, so the only cost for you will only be buying a drink at the location, so coffee/tea/beer etc.

We are reading Mustafa Suleyman’s The Coming Wave to learn more about AI and tech this month 🤖

We will be meeting at The Racketeer! We will divide into smaller groups to discuss this month's book. It will be very obvious when you arrive to the pub, where our group is, but please feel free to give me a call if you are struggling to find us. For new members, shoot me a message on meetup and I will send through my phone number!

Hi ladies and gentlemen! My name is Ken and I am the organizer of this group. My birthday party is coming up on the 30th May at 7 p.m in 100 Queens Gate Hilton Hotel in South Kensington. I would like to invite my dear friends from the book club to join my special day. Unlike the usual events I organize, there will be special rules and restrictions for this one. You will not be able to enter if you don't fulfill these requirements. 1. Since the venue is a 5 star hotel, an appropriate attire is required. Smart casual or smart is preferred. If you are underdressed, you won't be able to enter. 2. You have to be a person who knows me and came to my events before. If I dont recognize you, you will not be accepted. 3. This is an obvious thing but you will have to bring a birthday present no matter how small or big to be able to enter. I want to make sure that everyone who comes will have a great time including myself. I am very excited for it and want to share my joy with you.

Hi all If you are interested in joining an Ottolenghi potluck, look no further! Join us for an afternoon of delicious food and great company 🍷🍴 I’ve created a separate event page for our meetup - you will need to RSVP and pay to confirm on here: [Link to event page](https://partiful.com/e/WSOtSPiPVJuzT6KKr8UD?c=R0YXGgJv)

Big Ohio Book Con "A convention for book lovers all over Ohio (and beyond)! Author panels, signings, bookish vendors, meet & greets, and more!" Featuring more than 100 authors, more than 50 bookish vendors, and plenty of exciting activities throughout the event! Travel with fellow book lovers or meet us at the event. Park for free at the Medina Convention Center, 735 Lafayette Rd., Medina, Ohio 44256, then hop aboard one of the free shuttles whenever you’re ready for your next bookish adventure! The convention spans three neighboring locations, giving you even more to explore and enjoy.

Welcome, readers! Our May read is **_Kindred_ by Octavia E. Butler.** The story follows Dana, a Black woman living in 1976 California, who is suddenly pulled back to a Maryland plantation before the Civil War. She learns her survival is tied to a white slaveholder’s son. Forced to move between centuries, she must endure the brutal realities of slavery while fighting to hold on to her identity. Tense, intimate, and unforgettable, Kindred explores how the past refuses to stay buried. Looking forward to discussing with everyone! 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! 📖

The theme for May is Thriller. • The book we will be discussing is A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson. (determined by votes from April Book Club. Let me know if you'd like a free digital copy of the book) • This event will be at the main library. Feel free to come whether or not you've started or finished the book. • Small snacks will be provided. You're welcome to bring your own snacks & drinks too! Let me know if you’d like to volunteer to bring snacks or drinks for the group.

[Columbus library link to book](https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C3351321) Location: The Goat River South 219 S High St, Columbus, OH 43215 Street parking is free on Sundays [Menu](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/686d3ed16745133042482c5f/t/68ff654dbb03b96875430bde/1761568077220/all_brunch-20250311.pdf) Book summary: On a hot day in Bethlehem, a twelve-year-old Palestinian-American girl is yelled at by a group of men outside the Church of the Nativity. She has exposed her legs in a biblical city, an act they deem forbidden, and their judgement will echo on through her adolescence. When our narrator finally admits to her mother that she is queer, her mother's response only intensifies a sense of shame: 'You exist too much,' she tells her daughter. Told in vignettes that flash between the U.S. and the Middle East--from New York to Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine--Zaina Arafat's debut novel traces her protagonist's progress from blushing teen to sought-after DJ and aspiring writer.

Join us for Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn! Fresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital, reporter Camille Preaker faces a troubling assignment: she must return to her tiny hometown to cover the unsolved murder of a preteen girl and the disappearance of another. For years, Camille has hardly spoken to her neurotic, hypochondriac mother or to the half-sister she barely knows: a beautiful thirteen-year-old with an eerie grip on the town. Now, installed in her old bedroom in her family's Victorian mansion, Camille finds herself identifying with the young victims—a bit too strongly. Dogged by her own demons, she must unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past if she wants to get the story-and survive this homecoming.

Let’s meet and share discussion of the James Baldwin short story collection, Going to Meet The Man.