Book Swap

London's Friendly Book Club's pick for January is **Our Evenings** by **Alan Hollinghurst**. Dave Win is thirteen years old when he first goes to stay with the Hadlows, the sponsors of his scholarship at a local boarding school where their son Giles is his contemporary. For Dave this weekend, with its games and challenges and surprising encounters, will open up heady new possibilities, even as it exposes him to Giles’s envy and violence. As *Our Evenings* unfolds over half a century, the two boys’ careers will diverge dramatically, Dave a gifted actor struggling with convention and discrimination, Giles an increasingly powerful and dangerous politician. *Our Evenings* is Dave Win’s own account of his life as a schoolboy and student, his first love affairs, in London, and on the road with an experimental theatre company, and of a late-life affair, which transforms his sixties with a new sense of happiness and a perilous security; but it is also, very movingly, the story of his hard-working widowed mother, whose own life takes an unexpected new turn after her son leaves home. Both dark and luminous, poignant and wickedly funny, Alan Hollinghurst’s new novel gives us a portrait of modern England through the lens of one man’s acutely observed and often unnerving experience. It is a story of race and class, theatre and sexuality, love and the cruel shock of violence, from the finest writer of our age. Please only RSVP if you think you'll be able to make this event. **We host three sessions per book, you only need to attend one.** Everyone is welcome! Grab your copy and join us for a relaxed and engaging discussion.

Hi all! If you want to meet in a casual atmosphere over a drink or even a bite of food 🍔, join us for a discussion of the book and overall chatting about books. Whether you are an advanced bookish person or just starting out: Everybody is welcome! 📚 We usually meet near a pub by the London Bridge, a book will be placed on the table for you to find us. New members are always welcome. :)

A quick note to say that if you would like to help me with the running costs of the book group, you can give a small contribution via Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/annabookgroup Thank you to everyone who helped me with the Meetup fees in 2025! To kick off 2026, we are reading The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan. We will meet from 6:30 onwards at the pub and go to the room upstairs between 6:30 and 7:00. Please check with the bar staff before going up that the room is ready and please don't go up before our start time. We will start the discussion at around 7:00pm and talk about the book for an hour or so before having a break. Then we can vote on next month's book. If you have any suggestions for short (or shortish) books for the next shortlist, please message me ahead of time. Thanks! \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **The Lifeboat - Charlotte Rogan (2012, 279 pages)** In the summer of 1914, the elegant ocean liner carrying Grace Winter and her husband Henry across the Atlantic suffers a mysterious explosion. Setting aside his own safety, Henry secures Grace a place in a lifeboat, which the survivors quickly realize is over capacity. For any to live, some must die. Adrift on the Atlantic, the weather deteriorating and supplies dwindling, the caraways scheme and battle, caught up in a vicious power struggle between ruthless but experienced sailor and an enigmatic matron with surprising powers of persuasion. Choosing a side will seal her fate, but Grace has made her way in the world by seizing every possible advantage. As she recollects the unorthodox way she and Henry met and considers the new life of privilege she thought she'd found, Grace must now decide: Will she pay any price to keep it? The Lifeboat is a masterful debut, a story of hard choices, ambition, and entertainment narrated by a woman as complex and unforgettable as the events she describes. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- Shortlist for February **Who Will Run the Frog Hospital? - Lorrie Moore (1994, 147 pages)** In this moving, poignant novel by the bestselling author of Birds of America we share a grown woman’s bittersweet nostalgia for the wildness of her youth. The summer Berie was fifteen, she and her best friend Sils had jobs at Storyland in upstate New York where Berie sold tickets to see the beautiful Sils portray Cinderella in a strapless evening gown. They spent their breaks smoking, joking, and gossiping. After work they followed their own reckless rules, teasing the fun out of small town life, sleeping in the family station wagon, and drinking borrowed liquor from old mayonnaise jars. But no matter how wild, they always managed to escape any real danger—until the adoring Berie sees that Sils really does need her help—and then everything changes. **Acts of Desperation - Megan Nolan (2021, 288 pages)** In the first scene of this provocative gut-punch of a novel, our unnamed narrator meets a magnetic writer named Ciaran and falls, against her better judgment, completely in his power. After a brief, all-consuming romance he abruptly rejects her, sending her into a tailspin of jealous obsession and longing. If he ever comes back to her, she resolves to hang onto him and his love at all costs, even if it destroys her… Part breathless confession, part lucid critique, Acts of Desperation renders a consciousness split between rebellion and submission, between escaping degradation and eroticizing it, between loving and being lovable. With unsettling, electric precision, Nolan dissects one of life’s most elusive mysteries: Why do we want what we want, and how do we want it? Heralding the arrival of a stunning new literary talent, Acts of Desperation interrogates the nature of fantasy, desire, and power, challenging us to reckon honestly with our own insatiability. **The Feast - Margaret Kennedy (1949, 308 pages)** Initially was published in a shortened form in a 1949 Ladies Home Journal magazine under the title of Never Look Back A Cornish cliff collapses on top of a seaside resort hotel, squashing everybody but those lucky enough to be away on a picnic. The story tells why some were spared and some were not... The germ of the idea for The Feast - Margaret Kennedy's ninth novel and perhaps her most ingenious, first published in 1950 - came to the author in 1937 when she and a social gathering of literary friends were discussing the Medieval Masque of the Seven Deadly Sins. The talk turned excitedly to the notion that a collection of stories might be fashioned from seven different authors, each re-imagining one of the Sins through the medium of a modern-day character. That notion fell away, but something more considerable stayed in Margaret Kennedy's mind over the next ten years, and so she conceived of a story that would gather the Sins all under the roof of a Cornish seaside hotel managed by the unhappy wife of Sloth. Among The Feast's entertaining cast of characters are a clergyman, a gaggle of adolescents and children, a quarter of lovers, and a clutch of frustrated husbands & wives - all serving Kennedy's dark and witty moral fable, which bears out the Biblical adage that many are called but only a very few chosen.

*This event is supported by [languagecalendars.com](https://www.languagecalendars.com/)* Get **£5 off** their language calendars, posters & tees 👉 use code **HOLA5** or click this link: [https://www.languagecalendars.com/discount/HOLA5](https://www.languagecalendars.com/discount/HOLA5) **🌍 Connecting locals and internationals in London 🌍** Join us every Tuesday evening in Holborn for the London Language Exchange, where over 60 people gather each week to practice new languages, share cultures, and make new friends. See pics of our previous events on our [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/babblelondon), and chat to other members who are coming via our [whatsapp group](https://languagexchanges.com/whatsapp/). **🙋 Who is this for?** All languages and levels are welcome, and we are inclusive of all ages, races, religions etc. Whether you're a polyglot, a beginner just starting with Duolingo Spanish, or you just want to come and socialise, you will be welcomed to our community of language learners and international friends. **🙌 What to Expect:** * **Language Practice:** Whether you’re fluent in Spanish, Italian, English, Arabic, Russian, Mandarin, or any other language, our hosts will help you connect with people who match your language interests. * **Friendly Hosts:** Our hosts will greet you at the entrance, give you a label where you can write the language(s) you speak and the ones you’d like to learn or practice. * **Inclusive Atmosphere:** We welcome all languages and levels, and make sure everyone feels comfortable—especially if you're coming alone! It’s a relaxed environment perfect for making new friends and practising languages at your own pace. * **Socialising:** Coming alone or with friends, this is a great opportunity to meet new people in the city. Unlike some other meetup ‘groups’, we do not fill our events with fake members, and you can check how many people attend each week via our [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/babblelondon). **👋 How does it work?** * **Arrive!** No need to register, just come to our event any time between 7-9pm and our event host will welcome you. They will have an orange lanyard and will be sitting next to our sign. * **Write your ‘Language Label’.** Here you can write your name, the languages you are learning, and the languages you can help others with. * **Pay.** Our £1 event fee pays for our lovely event hosts and keeps the event going. Card only please. * **Get talking!** With the help of our host you will be able to find other people attending the event with compatible language interests - we are all very friendly and the majority of our attendees come alone, so there’s no need to worry about getting involved! **📌 Where are we?** We’re normally located in the downstairs room of The Penderel's Oak Pub, 283-288 High Holborn, London WC1V 7HP [https://g.co/kgs/57H1Wbr](https://g.co/kgs/57H1Wbr) However, always check the location on this meetup event and in our [WhatsApp Group](https://languagexchanges.com/whatsapp) just in case there is a change. **💡 Important Info:** Please disregard the attendee numbers shown on Meetup or Facebook. Because we meet at the same time and place every week, many regulars do not sign up beforehand, but we always have a great turnout, often exceeding 70 people. We also have many more participants who join through other platforms. **🔗 Connect With Us:** Stay updated by joining our WhatsApp and Facebook groups or following us on Instagram. You’ll get event updates and stay connected with the community! [https://linktr.ee/londonlanguageexchange](https://linktr.ee/londonlanguageexchange) **FAQ:** **Who is this for?** Anyone interested in languages, from complete beginners to fluent speakers! We welcome all levels and languages. **Do I need to sign up?** You don’t need to sign up, but feel free to join our WhatsApp group for updates and announcements. **Can I come alone?** Absolutely! Many people come solo, and it’s a great way to meet new friends in a relaxed environment. **How does the event work?** When you arrive, you’ll get a sticker to write your native language and the one(s) you’d like to practice. Our hosts will help you find people to chat with based on your preferences. **What if I don’t speak multiple languages?** No problem! Whether you’re fluent or just starting out with a new language, everyone is welcome. **More Questions?** Check out our [full FAQ here](https://languagexchanges.com/what-is-a-language-exchange/) **💛 WHAT THEY SAY** **🗣** “It's so great that people are very friendly and nice here. I practised my English speaking and listening.” - Gerome 🗣 “The language exchange events are a really great way not just to practise languages but also to meet new people in your area. I’ve made many local friends since I moved to the area” - Monika 🗣 “Everything was perfect. The host was so friendly and wonderful!” - Mojtaba 🗣 "It was a lovely language exchange, with lovely people. I practised so much German!" - Sara **About Languagexchanges:** We started in Leeds back in 2014 with the desire to provide a welcoming space that brings people together from all different walks of life, with a shared love of learning languages and culture. We now have communities across the UK including Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield and York - [see all our locations.](https://languagexchanges.com/product-category/events/) 👔 Interested in working with us? [https://languagexchanges.com/work-with-us/](https://languagexchanges.com/work-with-us/) ✍️ Feedback form: [https://languagexchanges.com/events-feedback](https://languagexchanges.com/events-feedback) 📩 Email: [info@languagexchanges.com](mailto:info@languagexchanges.com)

This week we'll discuss chapter 2 of [How Language Began](https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Language-Began-Humanitys-Invention/dp/1781253935/ref=sr_1_1?crid=27SNUKXPY1BWO&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.pTtn5alJgGZxLimiVijnr1oxTj0AiKpPdpaaVkIUio1hwzPu48_laQFrsnpFEGZMkWvnwbcALfmeyhyeuVQbcNCtoB6oD_Bg6K-GRhzBWrI.g5fzcdJdVKVgxgrTe1s6wn3c6dilMbYkHbhe_yGuzbQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=how+language+began&qid=1768693702&s=books&sprefix=how+language+began%2Cstripbooks%2C90&sr=1-1), by Daniel Everett. In this work Everett presents his views about the origin of language -- that it is a culturally evolved tool for communication, not the product of innate biological instinct or pre-wired universal grammar. Please read the chapter before attending.

Discover tango in a truly magical setting at St Matthew’s Church. An open-level class where music, movement and connection meet. No partner needed — just curiosity and a desire to dance. Come explore tango beyond steps, in a warm, welcoming space where the embrace leads the way.

Do you want to meet new people in a relaxing chill atmosphere surrounded by new books? Do you dislike loud and smelly places like pubs and clubs? This is the event for you. Science and Philosophy Book Club is creating a new kind of meetup where people who love books and knowledge can meet new friends in a big book shop. We will explore around different sections of the book shop together as a group while making interesting conversations with each other. We will go to both fiction and non-fiction areas. If you feel shy and feel nervous to come alone, I will make sure you will feel comfortable and accomodate to your needs. I will help introduce you to others so you can go over the barrier of anxiety when approaching a new person. We will meet on the ground floor lounge area of Doubletree Hilton Hotel at 6 p.m. It is an amazing cosy bar with classy vibes. We will wait for everyone to show up while getting some drinks and socializing. At 7 p.m we will head to the Waterstones book store near Russel Square and UCL. After we explore the book store, we will come back to the hotel bar and stay there for the rest of the night. This event requires £5 donation to cover the venue fees. You can pay via cash or card. Thank you for helping the book club!

Starting the year strong and healthy 🏃🏽‍♀️ By reading about nutrition so we can make positive and new changes in the new year by reading the critically acclaimed Ultra Processed People by Chris van Tulleken. You can find us on the Foyles 5th floor cafe where the month’s book will be on the table.

Hi everyone, in January our theme is authors/ books from South Asia and the chosen book is Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie. Synopsis below: 'A wonderful, rich and humane novel... a classic' Guardian Born at the stroke of midnight at the exact moment of India's independence, Saleem Sinai is a special child. However, this coincidence of birth has consequences he is not prepared for: telepathic powers connect him with 1,000 other 'midnight's children' all of whom are endowed with unusual gifts. Inextricably linked to his nation, Saleem's story is a whirlwind of disasters and triumphs that mirrors the course of modern India at its most impossible and glorious. *WINNER OF THE BOOKER AND BEST OF THE BOOKER PRIZE* **A BBC BETWEEN THE COVERS BIG JUBILEE READ PICK** See you on 29th 🍷 Steph & Christina

⚠️ **Please read any of the books voted below** 🙏🏽, and avoid last minute AI summaries. This is a **book club** after all! 😊 18 votes - Behave - Robert Sapolsky 12 votes - Educated - Tara Westover 11 votes - Love's Executioner - Irvin D. Yalom Join us for Deeper Discussions, where we dive into thought-provoking non-fiction books that challenge perspectives, inspire growth, and spark meaningful conversations. Whether you're an avid reader or just curious about exploring new ideas, this is a space to reflect, share, and gain new insights into the world around us. 🌍💡 **How does it work?** * The above books have already been voted on for reading * We will split into groups based on the book you've read 💬 * Everyone shares summary / thoughts 🧠 * Focused Discussion on a specific chapter or topic / theme from the book for 30 minutes 📚 * Open Q&A regarding the book and any related topics ❓ **What to Expect?** 🔍 **Deep Discussions**: We’ll explore key themes, insights, and arguments from this month’s two books 💬📚 💡 **Critical Thinking & Reflection**: Engage in conversations that go beyond surface-level takeaways. Challenge perspectives, question assumptions, and discover new ways of thinking. 🤔✨ 🌿 **Personal & Collective Growth**: Non-fiction books have the power to transform our understanding of society, relationships, and ourselves 🧠🚀 **How to get the most out of this event?** 📝 **Read the Book:** While reading the full book is ideal, even if complete significant amount can help you engage in the discussion. 📖✨ 🗣 **Respect & Openness:** Every perspective matters. This is a space for discussion, not debate. Stay curious, listen actively, and engage with an open mind. 🙏🌱 🤝 **Be Ready to Share & Learn:** What resonated with you? What challenged you? Personal reflections make the discussion richer and more meaningful. 💡🌍 📌 **Why a Non-Fiction Book Club?** 📖 **Expand Your Perspective:** Learn from diverse ideas, and real-world experiences. 🌏✨ 🧠 **Foster Growth:** Engage in stimulating conversations that challenge and refine your thinking. 💭🔄 💬 **Deepen Connections:** Connect with like-minded individuals who value insightful discussions and continuous learning. 🤝📚 **Who is this event for?** * You love exploring ideas that shape the world. 🌎 * You enjoy thought-provoking discussions. 🗣 * You want to engage in meaningful conversations beyond small talk. 💡 * You’re open to challenging your assumptions and learning from others. 🔄 **What's in it for you?** * 💡 **A Space for Reflection:** Step back and think critically about important ideas. * 📚 **New Perspectives:** Gain insights from both the book and fellow participants. * 🤝 **Deep Connections:** Meet others who share a love for learning and growth. **Ready to dive into big ideas?** 🌊 Join us for an evening of engaging, insightful discussions on a book that **challenges**, **inspires**, and **expands** the way we think. 🌟 We really hope to see you there! 👋 **About Deeper Connections** We have a mission at Deeper Connections to improve the quality of people's lives through conversation. All our events are centred around the concept of connecting deeply, because we believe we all deserve to be seen, felt and understood for who we really are. To have the 'deeper conversation' approach when relating with others can change our lives and can change the world. **Our Values** * **Respect:** Treat everyone with kindness and consideration. ❤️ * **Open-mindedness:** Be open to different perspectives and ideas. 🧠💡 * **Active Participation:** Share your thoughts and engage in meaningful discussions. 🗣️💬 **Staying in touch** Interested in finding out about all the events sooner than on Meetup or staying in touch beyond the events, you can join our WhatsApp channel and community using 👉🏽 [Deeper Connections WhatsApp Channel](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6CBAdIN9ijrEYdv33z) 👉🏽 [Deeper Connections WhatsApp Community](https://chat.whatsapp.com/EqGsmF3021RKTwBpGcuR80) **Keep This Event Free 💝** If this event brings you something meaningful, you can help others access the same transformational experience. Whether it's £5 or £15, every contribution keeps these events accessible to everyone in our community. You'll find a QR code on your conversation sheet during the event, or you can contribute here #SupportYourCommunity 👉🏽 [Ko-Fi](https://ko-fi.com/deeperconnections) 👉🏽 [Buy Me A Coffee](https://buymeacoffee.com/deeperconnections)

It begins as your typical boy meets boy. Tom and Ming meet on a night out at university and fall hard for each other. It’s not long before they are planning a future and building a life. Then Ming announces her intention to transition. As Tom and Ming both face shifts in their relationship and confront the vastly different shapes their lives have taken, they must both ask if it is worth losing a part of themselves – or each other – to become the people they want to be. ————————————— Join us at Canova Hall to discuss Bellies over a coffee!

For January, we’re reading Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy. For fans of Flight Behavior and Station Eleven, a novel set on the brink of catastrophe, as a young woman chases the world's last birds--and her own final chance for redemption. Franny Stone has always been a wanderer. By following the ocean's tides and the birds that soar above, she can forget the losses that have haunted her life. But when the wild she loves begins to disappear, Franny can no longer wander without a destination. She arrives in remote Greenland with one purpose: to find the world's last flock of Arctic terns and track their final migration. She convinces Ennis Malone, captain of the Saghani, to take her onboard, winning over his eccentric crew with promises that the birds will lead them to fish. As the Saghani fights its way south, Franny's dark history begins to unspool. Battered by night terrors, accumulating a pile of unsent letters, and obsessed with pursuing the terns at any cost, Franny is full of secrets. When her quest threatens the safety of the entire crew, Franny must ask herself what she is really running toward--and running from. Propelled by a narrator as fierce and fragile as the terns she is following, Charlotte McConaghy's Migrations is both an ode to our threatened world and a breathtaking page-turner about the lengths we will go for the people we love.

Join us for a special afternoon celebrating books, conversation, and community. **Who:** Jessica Strawser in conversation with Thirti Umrigar **When:** Sunday\, February 1 \| **2:00 p.m.** **Where:** Auditorium, Main Library 96 S. Grant Ave. **Event Schedule** **1:00 p.m.** – Library doors open & book sale begins (hosted by Prologue Bookshop) **2:00 p.m.** – Jessica Strawser in conversation with Thirti Umrigar **2:45 p.m.** – Audience Q&A **3:00 p.m.** – Book sale & author signing Come early to check out the books, settle in for the author talk, and enjoy a laid-back afternoon with fellow book lovers. We’d love to see you there!

**I’m planning future book club meetups and would love your input. Please choose your top three from the list below—your picks will help decide what we read next!** **Book Options** *The Hong Kong Widow* – Kristen Loesch *American Spy* – Lauren Wilkinson *God of the Woods* – Liz Moore *Listen for the Lie* – Amy Tintera *The Swallows* – Lisa Lutz *The Drowning Kind* – Jennifer McMahon *The Eights* – Joanna Miller *The Quiet Librarian* – Allen Eskens Thanks so much for sharing your pick! Please **reply in the comments** with your top three. I can’t wait to see which books rise to the top and to discuss them together at our next meetups.

**Our February novel is: Julia by Sandra Newman** **This month is a classic, dystopian, fiction, literary fiction, women’s fiction, and science fiction novel. The book is 394 pages in print and 14 hours and 20 minutes on audiobook.** **An imaginative, feminist, and brilliantly relevant-to-today retelling of Orwell’s 1984, from the point of view of Winston Smith’s lover, Julia, by critically acclaimed novelist Sandra Newman.** Julia Worthing is a mechanic, working in the Fiction Department at the Ministry of Truth. It’s 1984, and Britain (now called Airstrip One) has long been absorbed into the larger trans-Atlantic nation of Oceania. Oceania has been at war for as long as anyone can remember, and is ruled by an ultra-totalitarian Party, whose leader is a quasi-mythical figure called Big Brother. In short, everything about this world is as it is in Orwell’s 1984. All her life, Julia has known only Oceania, and, until she meets Winston Smith, she has never imagined anything else. She is an ideal citizen: cheerfully cynical, always ready with a bribe, piously repeating every political slogan while believing in nothing. She routinely breaks the rules, but also collaborates with the regime when necessary. Everyone likes Julia. Then one day she finds herself walking toward Winston Smith in a corridor and impulsively slips him a note, setting in motion the devastating, unforgettable events of the classic story. Julia takes us on a surprising journey through Orwell’s now-iconic dystopia, with twists that reveal unexpected sides not only to Julia, but to other familiar figures in the 1984 universe. This unique perspective lays bare our own world in haunting and provocative ways, just as the original did almost seventy-five years ago.