Book Swap

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 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)

*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 Sunday evening in Isington for the London Language Exchange, where over 20 people gather each week to practice new languages, play some darts, 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. * **Free Darts:** We have one darts booth reserved for our group which you can play on for free during our event! * **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 upstairs of Flight Club Islington 56 Upper St, London N1 0NY: https://maps.app.goo.gl/4noxd4tLWTkVHnqL8 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 50 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, Cardiff, 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)

**Do you enjoy discussing life's big questions?** Then this group is for you! Open for three weeks only. **Christianity explored** is an informal and relaxed three-week discussion group. We will read a short book (21 pages) from the famous book, the Bible and have discussions. It's for anyone who wants to think about the meaning of life. **If you are open-minded and want to discuss life questions from a new perspective, then come join us!** Come ready to listen, ask, laugh and enjoy socialising and chatting in a relaxed environment at our beautiful venue free of charge. No knowledge of Christianity or the bible is required to attend. **You can ask any questions**, or simply sit and listen. You will not be asked to read, pray or speak. Join us if you would like to meet others and be part of this three-week reading group. Dates: Every Tuesday for three weeks Venue: Inspire St James Church, EC1R 0EA \*\*Lunch will be provided from the lovely Noodle Brat restaurant \*\* £5 donations suggested. Look forward to see you!

Please Read 👇 Important event information 🇬🇧🇪🇸🇫🇷🇯🇵🇮🇹🇩🇪🇮🇳🇨🇳🇧🇷🇰🇷🇪🇬🇭🇰🇺🇸🇨🇴🇺🇦🇹🇷🇷🇺🇦🇺 **Join us for our Sunday International Language Exchange and Social!** The event starts at **4pm** and will be hosted at Craft Beer Co. in **COVENT GARDEN** 😊🍻🥂 Welcome to the Highest Rated International Language Exchange group in London,🏆 with 1700+ reviews rated 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [www.languages.london](www.languages.london) WHEN & WHERE **This event takes place at Craft Beer Co Covent Garden on Sunday afternoon.** You are spoilt for choice with public transport options including lots of tube, train and buses close to the venue. **The address is 168 High Holborn, London WC1V 7AA** [https://maps.google.com/?cid=12246258418147807722&entry=gps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=12246258418147807722&entry=gps) **HOW WE DO IT** It's simple .... 1\. When you arrive have your Meetup confirmation visible on your phone\. **Collect your personalised language badge BEFORE ordering your drinks.** We'll be waiting to give you a warm welcome 😃 2\. Pay the £2 event fee\. You can do this by cash or contactless card / phone\. 3\. Wear your badge during the event and always return it before you leave ♻️ .....Start meeting the community and having fun...lots of fun! Please ensure you buy something from the bar to support the venue, who kindly offer us a dedicated space. 🇵🇱🇹🇼🇲🇽🇻🇳🇧🇬🇵🇸🇸🇪🇮🇱🇨🇦🇳🇱🇿🇦🇭🇺🇹🇭🇵🇪🇧🇴🇳🇬🇳🇿🇨🇭 **WHO** Languages in London events are organised for our community - being social, making new friends, building cultural bridges and always very relaxed. We have the largest number of languages and countries represented in our weekly language exchange and social events in London. This is **not** a dating event. Our events are open to Internationals, Locals, Expats, Students, Travellers.....Everyone! Are you an 18 to 24 year old? Come and explore our events. This is the event for a truly global community and citizens from around the World🌎 We're your languages hub in London. Is this the Intercambio you've been looking for? Want to practice your ingles, espanol , francais, italiano, Deutsch, portugues or other European languages? Asian languages ? Or maybe prefer to only speak English.... that's just fine. **All languages and all fluency levels are welcome** Spread the word...Bring your friends 💚 The creator and organiser of **Languages in London - Girish**, will always be visible at the event and there to support you and help with introductions, if you prefer. We want to remain the BEST language events group in London, being the biggest isn't our focus. These are real events with real people. We don't fill our events with inflated numbers and fictitious attendees 👻 **Inactive community members and those that no-show at our events are removed from our group.** **LANGUAGES** Here's a selection of some of the languages that our community speak or have been practicing ... English, Spanish (incl Latin American), French, Italian, Portuguese (incl Brazilian), German, Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin & Cantonese), Russian, Korean, Hindi, Turkish, Arabic, Ukrainian, Polish, Hebrew, Swedish, Bulgarian, Vietnamese, Hungarian, Bengali, Dutch, Catalan, Farsi, Greek, Urdu, Welsh, Romanian, Norwegian, Czech, Slovakian, Estonian, Danish, Finnish, Turkmen, Latvian, Lithuanian, Nepali, Yoruba, Filipino, Thai, Albanian, Croatian, Serbian, Ebo, Afrikaans, Tamazight, Tagalog, Creole, Malagasy, Mongolian, Tok Pisin and more... you get the idea! 🇷🇴🇬🇹🇨🇿🇳🇴🇩🇰🇫🇮🇨🇾🇺🇾🇪🇬🇧🇬🇦🇷🇰🇪🇱🇰🇲🇦🇹🇳🇩🇿🇸🇬🇲🇾 **SUSTAINABLE** 🌎🌳 Like you, we really care about our planet. We don't like single use paper name tags, stickers or wristbands as they can't be reused or recycled and can even damage your clothing ☹️ The Solution? ...Our personalised and completely reusable Languages in London badges! 🏆👍 So, please make sure you return your badge to us, before you leave the event. We'll sanitise it (anti bacterial & disinfectant cleaners) and use it again & again & again. Thanks for helping us do the right thing and keep our costs down🙏 **SAFE SPACE FOR EVERYONE** 👮‍♂️ We don't tolerate prejudice or harassment of any kind, at any time. Be polite and respectful to everyone else and they will reciprocate. Let's keep the space safe, welcoming for everyone and free of any political agendas. Please report any concerns to the Organiser immediately. Please look after your belongings, the venue is a public place. We may take photos or video at the event for future promotional use. Let us know if you'd rather not be included, we respect your choice 📸 **SPREAD THE WORD** 🗣️💬 If you enjoy our events, please tell your friends and colleagues and help us grow **your** community, thank you ♥️ Join our community - [https://www.languages.london/](https://www.languages.london/) We're looking forward to welcoming you at Languages in London 😊👋 🇲🇰🇳🇵🇧🇩🇵🇭🇦🇪🇦🇱🇧🇪🇮🇪🇰🇿🇱🇦🇯🇴🇱🇹🇱🇻🇪🇪🇰🇭🇨🇱🇲🇳🇨🇺

* **Join Us for a Fun Language Exchange!** 🎉¡Hola Amigos Hispanohablantes! Get ready for a fun and interactive language exchange fiesta; practice your Spanish and English, chat with native speakers, and have an amazing time with fascinating people from around the world! 🍹 **Courtesy Note:** To support our venue and keep the event free, **you must** **buy at least one or two drinks from the bar.** **Our members enjoy exclusive discounts** **on food and drinks**. 📍 **Location:** We meet in a great place with a large indoor space over two floors and a spacious terrace for the summer events. Our reserved area will be the main lounge in front of the bar on the ground floor. Enjoy a massive selection of craft beers, wines, soft drinks as well as many delicious food options from around the world. ✨ **Event Type:** This is a non-academic, laid-back event. Just for fun, practicing languages, and making new friends. 🚩 **Find Us:** Look for the Spanish flag if you're new to the group. 📅 **RSVP:** **Don’t forget to add your name to the event. Thanks!**

**✨ Date Night on Zoom for Sutton Singles Mutual Matches After** As a participant, you'll engage in short one-on-one Zoom rounds with compatible Sutton singles sorted by age and personality, as a welcoming host takes care of everything. Prior to the event, you take a quick personality and preferences survey — those answers are used to pair you intelligently with Sutton locals, so you walk in with the right people already lined up. When the session ends, we share who chose whom — without any awkward one-way messages — and you follow up whenever it suits you. **Age-grouped registration — select yours:** - **Ages 18-32** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=501.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Sutton&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=Sutton&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=Sutton&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=Sutton&groupurlname=genuine-bonds-formed-over-weekend-brunch&ar=55+&face_v=4.0) **⚠️ Confirmation needed:** This rsvp is not enough to hold your place in the rounds, so register through your age group link above and complete the personality quiz — places close once the group is full so sign up early, and the registration is what actually counts, not the RSVP. --- **Ideal if you are:** - Returners around Sutton done with unread messages and dead-end conversations and want to talk to real people tonight. - Professionals based in Sutton getting away from swiping left and right with no results and want to meet real locals without the faff. - Women and men calling Sutton home moving beyond the app treadmill that goes in circles and are looking for real connection. - Daters in the Sutton area fed up with swiping with nothing to show for it and are ready for a genuine first impression. - Those in the Sutton area who have given up on swiping with nothing to show for it and want to talk to real people tonight. **How the evening works** 1. **Lock in your place** – by tapping the link for your age group, then fill in the personality matching questionnaire, because registration closes once spots fill. 2. **Get online** – via your Zoom registration link at the right time, no Zoom account is needed — just click the link, and a friendly host manages everything once you are on. 3. **Rotate through dates** – quick back-to-back rounds with age-matched Sutton locals paired by quiz, while a host ensures every round feels natural, because the format is built so every round is worth having. 4. **See your results** – we share mutual match results after the session closes, as your data only goes to someone who matched you back, and the next step is entirely in your hands. **Quick Details** - **Format:** Live via a live hosted call with back-to-back private rounds per pair, quiz-and-age matched for every single round. - **Where:** No venue required — on any internet-connected device, all tech requirements are camera mic and Wi-Fi, and you just pick your most comfortable spot and join. - **Host:** A real human host takes care of all the logistics from beginning to end, giving the whole session a relaxed and easy feel — from opening to close everything is taken care of. - **Vibe:** Relaxed short conversations with genuine Sutton singles, and the conversation always feels more real than an app date. - **Duration:** Most sessions run for an hour and change from first round to last, and you will barely notice the time. 💡 **Worth knowing:** test your camera and mic before the event, because the first impression starts before the first word, and a few minutes of prep makes a big difference to the whole evening. --- ✨ Done with apps — start here — book your spot above and you are completely set as soon as you are ready. See you on the other side. 🌈 ✨

If you love anime & manga then please join us for our weekly meetups, where we basically just sit, chat and read anime & manga! We usually sit in the back of the pub. If the weather is nice we may sit outside at the back of the pub, or even outside on the downstairs floor. In this meetup, you can BYOM (bring your own manga) or read one from the selection we will bring. See this as an opportunity to discover, recommend or simply enjoy Japanese comics & anime with like-minded people! Note: This is not a book club. Also, the TCR bar is kind enough to allow us to use their space to host this meetup, and has asked if possible for attendees to support the venue by purchasing a drink or food while you're there. Please don't bring your own food or drink to consume at the venue, as the venue does not allow this!

Practice your French conversation with Loraine. We meet every other Sunday morning to practice French (games and speaking activities revolving around a different topic each time) with other learners while our native tutor will moderate the class so everyone can follow along and contribute. À bientôt !

Meet up fee £7 to be paid at the beginning of the meet up. Card or cash payments. Meeting at Mikis Paradise Cafe. Please bring your favourite Tarot deck.

Want to improve your English? 😊 No matter your level, we’re starting a new conversation group where you can practice, build confidence, and make new friends. Everyone’s welcome—come join us! Every Sunday at 2:30pm - 5min walking from Liverpool Street Station Any questions, contact Voni 07310448654

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! 📖

**Our June novel is: *The Eights* by Joanna Miller** **This month’s novel is set during World War I. It’s a 20th-century historical fiction story about friendship and war, with coming-of-age elements and a slightly haunted tone. The book is 384 pages in print and 10 hours and 9 minutes on audiobook.** Oxford, 1920. For the first time in its one-thousand-year history, Oxford University officially admits female students. Burning with dreams of equality, four young women move into neighboring rooms in Corridor 8. Beatrice, Dora, Marianne, and Otto—collectively known as The Eights—come from all walks of life, each driven by their own motives, each holding tight to their secrets, and are thrown into an unlikely, unshakable friendship. Dora was never meant to go to university, but, after losing both her brother and her fiancé on the battlefield, has arrived in their place. Politically-minded Beatrice, daughter of a famous suffragette, sees Oxford as a chance to make her own way - and some friends her own age. Otto was a nurse during the war but is excited to return to her socialite lifestyle in Oxford where she hopes to find distraction from the memories that haunt her. And finally Marianne, the quiet, clever daughter of a village pastor, who has a shocking secret she must hide from everyone, even her new friends, if she is to succeed. Among the historic spires, and in the long shadow of the Great War, the four women must navigate and support one another in a turbulent world in which misogyny is rife, influenza is still a threat, and the ghosts of the Great War don’t always remain dead.

[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 as we discuss our June pick: Metal Slinger by Rachel Schneider! Book description: Even though she's not one of them, Brynn has spent her life among the Alaha, training to be a guard and waiting for the chance to attend the annual market hosted by the Kenta–the very same people who exiled her adopted community to a life at sea. Going to the market is a rite of passage eagerly anticipated by all young guards, but Brynn does not anticipate breaking a century-long peace treaty while there. Nor does she plan for the intense encounter with an enemy soldier that now threatens to unwind the fragile coexistence between their people–and everything Brynn once believed about herself to be true. Brynn's loyalty to the Alaha is tested when the truth of her identity is brought to light by this soldier who's taken an oath to bring her back to where she belongs. Narrowly escaping death on the violent high seas, Brynn's connection to the Alaha is further tested when she learns about the world of magic she's been denied. She was once certain of her fate and where she belonged, but the dark, knowing eyes of this stranger have her questioning everything, including her heart. Packed with knife fights and seafaring adventure, METAL SLINGER is the smash-hit start to the romantic fantasy duology, the Fire & Metal series

Join us for our June Book Club gathering where we will come together to discuss [The Queer Principles of Kit Webb](https://catsebastian.com/the-queer-principles-of-kit-webb/) by Cat Sebastian in a safe and welcoming environment. Make new friends who share your passion for books and connect with fellow LGBTQ book enthusiasts.

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.