Book Club

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

As it’s the season to be jolly, la la la la...la la la....fellow foodies are warmly invited to gather round the seasonal table for a Christmas protein feast in a cozy pub atmosphere filled with laughs, cheer, fun chats and unapologetic xmas banter for the exorbitant sum of £14-£17! The menu choices will be: * **Traditional British Christmas dinner**: Roast turkey with pork, sage & onion stuffing, roasted vegetables, pigs-in-blankets, gravy etc - the full good‑quality‑protein experience * **Special one-off non-traditional option:** For anyone already sick of turkey and craving something different (McDonald’s protein arguably superior here — best to skip xmas eve gym session) Price includes a drink (alcoholic & non). Locaton is near the city of London in Islington zone 1 so very central Master Chef Lucas The Saint

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!

Join OverBoard to play the brilliant social deduction game Blood on the Clocktower in person at the brand new board game cafe Otter Chaos in Brixton. If you haven’t heard of Blood on the Clocktower before it is an evolution of classic party games like Mafia/Werewolf where a hidden evil team takes on the good team by lying and killing. The good team has a few tricks up their sleeve but will have to work together to deduce who the evil doers are in their midst. **This is a beginner friendly event so no experience with the game is necessary.** Please note that a gaming cover charge of \~£5 will be payable by each attendee to the venue so that we can make use of the space. We also encourage you to buy food and drink from the bar so we are supporting the business (I can highly recommend their pizzas!) If you want to know more about the rules of the game check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-aZP47Nm9g

Come and play what is simply and by far, the best board game in the world. Whether an experienced regular player, an occasional player, someone who has not played for a long time or a beginner you will be welcome. We meet on the first Wednesday of the month (6pm to 11pm) at the Richard 1st pub. at 52/54 Royal Hill, Greenwich SE10 8RT. As ever beginners wanting to learn how to play are welcome and will be given lessons. For experienced players we have a team (The Greenwich Meantimers) that plays at other clubs and in tournaments. We operate our own club ladder on which results are recorded with all results also being added to the national ladder of the UK Backgammon Federation with whom we are affiliated.

# Join Us for an Epic Night at Albert’s Schloss in Soho! 🎉🍻 Get ready for an unforgettable evening at **Albert’s Schloss**, the coolest German Alpine bar in the heart of Soho, London! 🏔️✨ Step off Shaftesbury Avenue and dive into a vibrant fastnacht filled with Alpine charm and Soho swagger. We’re gathering **downstairs at the main bar** for a night of pure fun! 🕺💃 **What to Expect**: * 🎶 **Live Music & Entertainment**: The main stage comes alive with joyous sounds that’ll have you dancing on benches! * 🍴 **Delicious Alpine Feasting**: Savor mouthwatering dishes from the Cook Haus, bursting with hearty flavors. * 🍺 **Central Bier & Cocktail Bar**: Sip on frosty biers or expertly crafted cocktails in a warm, buzzing atmosphere. * 🪑 **Cozy Vibes**: Grab a spot in a booth, perch on a bar stool, or join the party on communal benches—everyone ist willkommen! 📍 **Where**: Albert’s Schloss, 20-24 Shaftesbury Ave, Soho, London 📌 **Meet Us**: We are right of the stage downstairs. Some steps for elevated area Come for the drinks, stay for the music, and leave with memories! Let’s make it a night to remember at this Alpine gem. 🥨🎤 See you there! 😎 \*\*\*\*\*\*\* \*\*\*\*\*\*\* \*\*\*\*\*\*\* **Some Tips:** 1. **Let’s all commit to updating our RSVPs if plans change**—it helps us plan better and ensures great attendance for everyone. If you RSVP “yes” but don’t attend and don’t update your RSVP, you may be removed from the group to keep things fair. No stress, though—you can rejoin for a small £10 fee! Just send me a DM, and I’ll share the PayPal details to get you back in. 2. **Turn Up on Time at the start!** This helps the quality of the event and helps you. 3. If you are struggling with the **app**, use the web page instead, that's what I use. 4. **Attendee Numbers & Guest Lists:** We have this event listed at least on two groups and the guest list includes attendees from all. You can see the list of attendees here: [https://www.meetup.com/zensingles/](https://www.meetup.com/zensingles/) [https://www.meetup.com/cityzenlondon/](https://www.meetup.com/cityzenlondon/) [https://www.meetup.com/LoveLife](https://www.meetup.com/LoveLife) 5. Join our **social media**: **Instagram**: [https://www.instagram.com/cityzen.london/](https://www.instagram.com/cityzen.london/) **X:** https://x.com/CityZenLondon 6. **Our WhatsApp group:** [See private comment in the comments section below]. We have a few rules including no ads, no DMs unless recipient is in the "Direct Messaging List" or risk removal and £10 rejoin fee. 7. **Support Our Amazing London Event Hosts! 🙌** Our incredible crew of hosts is the heartbeat of London’s buzzing meetup scene, bringing people together for unforgettable experiences that spark connection, growth, and fun! 🌟 From museum adventures to flirty dating mixers, these rockstar hosts pour their energy, time, and passion into creating events that level up your social and communication skills. But hosting isn’t easy—it takes resources, effort, and heart. 💖 Please consider supporting our hosts with a donation to keep the good vibes flowing and help us make London the ultimate social hub! 🚀 Below, meet our hosts for this event and see how you can chip in to fuel their amazing work. 8. To encourage signing up early to events and regulate the number of attendees a late joiner/overflow fee may be applied to an event for any **additional** people wanting to join the event. This may happen on the day or even an hour before the event. So there may be people who obtained a free RSVP to network with our group and some who had to pay. If you have successfully signed up to our event on meetup paid or not then you are in. Happy networking **Zen & The Meetup Groups** *The Visionary Social Connector* Zen, our AI guru with 25 years in the game, founded these meetups to transform his own social skills and now helps others do the same. From sparking in-person networking to coordinating epic events, Zen’s passion for connection is unstoppable. Help him keep the momentum going! Support Zen: Donate to cover event planning tools, venue bookings, and more. **[Donation Link](https://paypal.me/Zenswalks)** \*\*\*\* **Disclaimer, Liability Waiver & Media Consent** By attending this event, you acknowledge and agree to the following: **Organiser Identity** – The organiser operates under the community name **“ZEN”**, which is used as an alias for privacy and branding purposes. By joining, you understand that “ZEN” refers to the organiser and/or designated hosts of this event. **Assumption of Risk** – You understand and accept that participation in any social, recreational, or group activity involves inherent risks, including but not limited to personal injury, illness, property damage, or other unforeseen incidents. You voluntarily choose to attend at your own sole risk. **Personal Responsibility** – You are solely responsible for your own safety, health, wellbeing, and personal belongings at all times. It is your responsibility to exercise good judgment, act responsibly, and take appropriate precautions before, during, and after the event. **No Organiser Liability** – The organiser, hosts, volunteers, and the community known as **ZEN** accept no responsibility and shall not be held liable for any injury, loss, damage, accident, theft, or any other issue that may arise as a result of your participation. **Guests** – If you bring guests, you accept full responsibility for their conduct, safety, and understanding of this disclaimer. **Independent Event** – This event may be held in conjunction with other social or non-singles meetup groups. ZEN is not responsible for the actions, behaviour, or arrangements of any third parties. **Media Consent** – By attending this event, you consent to being photographed, filmed, or recorded. You grant ZEN and its organisers the irrevocable right to use such images and recordings for promotional, marketing, social media, and community purposes without compensation or further approval. If you do not wish to be photographed or recorded, it is your responsibility to inform the organiser in advance and to remove yourself from areas where filming or photography is taking place. **Acceptance of Terms** – By attending, you confirm that you have read, understood, and accepted this disclaimer. You release ZEN, its organisers, hosts, volunteers, and members from all claims, demands, or causes of action, whether known or unknown, arising out of your participation or the use of photography/videography captured at the event. Your attendance at this event signifies your full acceptance of this policy. If you do not agree, you should not attend.

Time is precious. Here we value non-boring chats and interactions that are fully engaging, soulfully enriching, inspiring, and leave you a bit wiser than when you arrived. In that spirit (mind the pun!), today’s fully hosted laid back social coffee chat will offer a perfect haven for the inquisitive & curious - those drawn to the mysteries of the universe, life and everything in between. A tasty caffeine infused fun afternoon of thought-provoking causal chats exploring spirituality/consciousness and related interconnected topics spanning **philosophy,** **neuroscience**, **parapsychology,** **cosmology** and **noetic sciences** over a mug of sweet coffee. Hosted by me - a former Reuters journalist & published empirical researcher exploring spirituality topics in pursuant of the "truth" since a teenager, there'll be no strict structure - a relaxed friendly space to openly chat, exchange ideas & experiences without judgement, but I'll preside to promote inclusivity and zone in on specifics to avoid people digressing onto unrelated tangents to ensure like all of our events - particpants derive maximum utlity and insights from attending. We’ll touch on everything from the limits of scientific understanding to exploring the unexplained using practical fun exploratory divination practices drawing on elements of **psychology, metaphysics, epistemology** and **statistical** **probability** of rare events as we do so. Whether you're a practicing "spiritualist", a curious skeptic, or just someone who loves deep conversation on **life’s big questions**, you’ll hopefully walk away more enlightened with some practical tips you can start applying and inspired to explore more! **Sample of conversational threads** might include: Are we mere organisms pursuing biological survival or does consciousness exist beyond neurons firing in our brains? What explains peoples' paranormal experiences? What would reality look like If our brains were limitless? Declassified CIA files show that as as well as mind control experiments, the US govt employed mediums and remote viewers. If all mumbo jumbo then why? Is Nirvana just a fantasy of deluded people? Does everything happen for a reason? To clarify - we define spirituality here as an exploration of consciousness, Donald Rumsfeld's unknown unknowns and undiscovered aspects of reality, NOT religion. After all, as my philosophy professor once rightly postulated to me: "If God created Adam, who created God Lucas?" Yep - that inconvenient flaw **debunks every fairytale religion** out there including the oldest religion of them all - paganism - so why is witchcraft still practised outside of **Hogwarts** today? I may also share the latest peer reviewed empirical evidence surrounding **paranormal** and **consciousness** phenomena. As well as illuminating chats to guide self-reflection, there'll be FREE Tarot & I-Ching readings, demonstrations of meditation method to activate super powerful gamma brain waves, and pyschic tests for a bit of fun, laughter & intrigue! **=== POTENTIAL CONVERSATION STARTERS ===** 1. Does consciousness survive death or is Cambridge Astrophysics Professor Brian Cox right in asserting if **ghosts** existed then particle accelerators at CERN would have already detected ghost molecules making Ouija boards kids play? Are Poltergiests 100% hoax? Brain scans indicate thalamocortical circuits in our brain (pathways in the parietal cortex & central lateral thalamus) drive **consciousness -** so how can spirit/mind live on after **brain death**? 2. Is **synchronicity/coincidence** simply randomness disguised in the eye of the beholder or can what Einstein called “spooky action at a distance" (quantum entanglement) explain it? 3. Given **neuroscience**'s infancy with much yet undiscovered - could mediation help access functions outside of our BAU alpha & beta brain wave states? Can **Kundalini yoga** really boost natural **DMT** (dimethyltryptamine) levels and if so by what mechanism? Do the artifically created neural signatures using magnetic stimulation observed during mystical experiences debunk them? Is the Maharishi Effect real? 4. Are clairvoyants and mediums just good people readers or are they really able to access time and space in non-linear ways? Is Tyler Henry the real deal or just faking it? 5. The laws of statistical probability, Drake Equation & common sense tells us there should be other non-microbial life out there. If so, then what explains the Fermi Paradox? Was that 1976 WOW signal aliens? How about the recent strange bahaviour of Boyajian's star or Oumuamua/Atlas interstella object that has just entered our solar system? 6. Could metaverse explain deja vu & reincarnation vs theories from the **psychology** literature (Mandela Effect?) or do we just live in a **simulation** as **Elon Musk** proposes? 7. **Stephen Hawking** once said: "The past, like the future, is indefinite and exists only as a spectrum of possibilities" If matter only manifests when observed as the double slit experiments shows, does that mean everything is consciousness? Does the discovery of *quantum superposition /* disappearing neutrons imply **parallel universes**? 8. Do **NDEs** result from neurochemical changes in the brain close to death or something beyond physicality? 9. Can photons omitted by our bodies explain auras that people see? 10. Could limits in our understanding of quantum physics, space and time explain paranormal experiences? 11. What existed before the **big bang** \- how do you get something from "nothing"? I believe our reality is the product of a black hole\. What you reckon? ***So how do we get to the "truth"?*** Both in my journalism days and applying the most advanced empirical research techniques in my client consulting work - it becomes clear the truth is often elusive. No matter how much we triangulate evidence - we can only provide part answers. "All models are wrong, but some are useful" George Box What we think we know and reality diverge leading to that great **paradox of knowledge.** And as the boundary between knowns and unknown converge, we end up with cognitive dissonance and more questions. In that spirit - every credible philosopher & scientist acknowledges - we'll never get to the complete truth but could **experimental methods** get us closer to it? A balanced approach guided by Immanuel Kant's pragmatism and Aristotle's deductive reasoning seems the most rationale framework here but are there any other methodologies? How about the **"spirituality"** toolkit? **=== RENDEZVOUS POINT ===** We will meet in the Penderel's Oak. *283–288 High Holborn, Holborn WC1V 7HP* zone 1 central london so very easy to get to. I'll be wearing a **Starwars identifier** and will share mobile hotline just before event start and table number/location Lucas - The Unenlightened Desperately Seeking Answers

Join us for an social **archaeological Egyptian** temple of fun adventure — venturing into history, myth, and discovery at the Museum’s Egyptian galleries. We'll step into a world of monumental statues, hieroglyphs, and sarcophagi so **extraordinary** that even the most famous archaeologist of them all **-** Indiana Jones himself - might hesitate to enter! But no need for Indy - we'll become direct **raiders of knowledge**, uncovering the secrets of Egypt’s most extraordinary artifacts — no Lucas props, just authentic treasures that have captivated explorers, scholars, and adventurers for centuries. Yep - for thousands of years, Ancient Egypt bestowed extraordinary knowledge and innovation on the world - easily giving the big greek philosophers a run for their money! From **mathematics** to building those monumental structures and advanced **astronomy** to create calendars, they practiced **medicine** and mummification with remarkable skill. Their wisdom, traditions and emphasis on cosmic order influenced civilizations far beyond the Nile, leaving a legacy that still shapes how we understand science, culture, and history today We'll step into the Egyptian Sculpture Gallery and encounter monumental statues of pharaohs, sarcophagi, and hieroglyph‑covered stelae. Texts will help guide us through their hidden stories — from the Rosetta Stone to colossal busts of Ramesses II — revealing the real history behind treasures that could easily rival Indy’s greatest finds. 🗝️ Lost Treasures Trail Following a themed trail through the galleries, we'll piece together clues among mummies, tomb goods, and temple carvings. Inspired by Indy’s relic hunts, this puzzle challenge is grounded in authentic archaeology, encouraging you to see the magnificent collections with your own eyes 🎩 Explorer’s Flair And to infuse some lighthearted fun into the journey - *Indiana Jones* style fedora hats and satchels are welcome! Feel free to strike a pose beside towering statues or ancient sarcophagi for **photo opportunities** blending cinematic fun with the awe of Egyptian relics. Impersonations of Indy welcome too - if yours is better than mine I buy you a drink! We will meet outside a tube station. More details to be updated. Lucas Stone

⚠️ **Please read the book** 🙏🏽, and avoid last minute AI summaries. 14 votes - The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz 9 votes - It Didn't Start with You by Mark Wolynn 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?** * 2 books have already been voted on selected last month for reading * We will split into two groups based on any of the two books you've been reading this month 💬 * 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 (or key summaries!):** While reading the full book is ideal, even exploring key ideas through summaries or reviews 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 Intellectual 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)

Hello, This event is for anyone who enjoys reading and wants to do it in the quiet company of others. We’ll be reading together in complete silence no pressure to talk, just bring whatever you’re reading and settle in. When you arrive, grab a drink from the café if you like, find a comfy spot, and start reading. We’re usually there for about 2 hours, but feel free to come and go whenever it works for you. Looking forward to meeting you! Dee

**💕 Speed Dating Reimagined for Introverts – Quality Over Crowds!** 🎯 **Perfect for:** - Introverts who want to meet someone special - Shy individuals dreading traditional dating scenes - Anyone who prefers genuine conversations over small talk - Those who want meaningful connections from home **Event Details** - **Format:** Virtual on Zoom – introvert-friendly & intimate - **Location:** Anywhere you feel comfortable (home, café, etc.) - **Host:** Friendly & understanding host who gets the introvert experience - **Pressure-free:** Meaningful dialogue with Enfield singles in a pressure-free zone **Age Groups & Registration** - **Ages 20-36** Event → [REGISTER HERE](https://luv2.ybevents.com/event?eventId=319.0&city=Enfield&groupurlname=pulsenova-single-professionals&ar=20-36) - **Ages 30-46** Event → [REGISTER HERE](https://luv2.ybevents.com/event?eventId=319.0&city=Enfield&groupurlname=pulsenova-single-professionals&ar=30-46) - **Ages 40-58** Event → [REGISTER HERE](https://luv2.ybevents.com/event?eventId=319.0&city=Enfield&groupurlname=pulsenova-single-professionals&ar=40-58) - **Ages 55+** Event → [REGISTER HERE](https://luv2.ybevents.com/event?eventId=319.0&city=Enfield&groupurlname=pulsenova-single-professionals&ar=55+) **How It Works** 1. Register for Your Age Group - Choose and register for the speed dating session that matches your age range above. 2. Fill out a Personality Quiz - Fast and simple! We'll match you with compatible singles. 3. Speed Dating Rounds - Quick, fun conversations with potential matches. 4. Find Your Match - Connect with someone special from Enfield, no awkward bar scenes required. --- ✨ Your ideal partner is waiting. Join us for authentic introvert-friendly dating. ✨

**💕 Speed Dating Reimagined for Introverts – Quality Over Crowds!** 🎯 **Perfect for:** - Introverts seeking meaningful relationships - People who dread loud, crowded dating venues - Conversation enthusiasts who value quality over quantity - Anyone wanting to find love from their comfort zone **Event Details** - **Format:** Zoom-based experience – designed with introverts in mind - **Location:** Your ideal space – wherever you feel most at ease - **Host:** Compassionate facilitator trained in introvert-friendly connections - **Pressure-free:** Genuine chats with like-minded Sutton singles – no pressure, just possibilities **Age Groups & Registration** - **Ages 20-36** Event → [REGISTER HERE](https://luv2.ybevents.com/event?eventId=319.0&city=Sutton&groupurlname=pulsenova-single-professionals&ar=20-36) - **Ages 30-46** Event → [REGISTER HERE](https://luv2.ybevents.com/event?eventId=319.0&city=Sutton&groupurlname=pulsenova-single-professionals&ar=30-46) - **Ages 40-58** Event → [REGISTER HERE](https://luv2.ybevents.com/event?eventId=319.0&city=Sutton&groupurlname=pulsenova-single-professionals&ar=40-58) - **Ages 55+** Event → [REGISTER HERE](https://luv2.ybevents.com/event?eventId=319.0&city=Sutton&groupurlname=pulsenova-single-professionals&ar=55+) **How It Works** 1. Register for Your Age Group - Choose and register for the speed dating session that matches your age range above. 2. Fill out a Personality Quiz - Fast and simple! We'll match you with compatible singles. 3. Speed Dating Rounds - Quick, fun conversations with potential matches. 4. Find Your Match - Connect with someone special from Sutton, no awkward bar scenes required. --- ✨ Your ideal partner is waiting. Join us for authentic introvert-friendly dating. ✨

Welcome, readers! ❄️ Our December read is **_A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella._** A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella is a tender, character-driven novel that follows three people in a small Pennsylvania town as they each cope with loss and seek connection. Chuck, a widower, struggles to find meaning after his wife’s death; Ella, a young woman, faces the heartbreak of her missing daughter; and Kirsten, a veterinary technician, grieves her father while contemplating her future. Their stories intertwine gently, revealing how grief and hope coexist—and how even small acts of kindness can help people rediscover purpose and peace in the aftermath of tragedy. Looking forward to discussing with everyone! At this meeting, our third annual White Elephant book exchange will take place! If you'd like to participate, bring a gift-wrapped book that you already own. On the gift wrap, write the genre of the book. 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 January novel is: Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan** **This month's featured novel is a 20th-century biographical fiction, coming-of-age, historical romance, women’s fiction, world literature, student biography, heartfelt, magic, and feel-good novel. The book is 311 pages in print and 7 hours and 8 minutes on audiobook.** 1950: Margaret Devonshire (Megs) is a seventeen-year-old student of mathematics and physics at Oxford University. When her beloved eight-year-old brother asks Megs if Narnia is real, logical Megs tells him it's just a book for children, and certainly not true. Homebound due to his illness, and remaining fixated on his favorite books, George presses her to ask the author of the recently released novel The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe a question: "Where did Narnia come from?" Despite her fear about approaching the famous author, who is a professor at her school, Megs soon finds herself taking tea with C. S. Lewis and his own brother Warnie, begging them for answers. Rather than directly telling her where Narnia came from, Lewis encourages Megs to form her own conclusion as he shares the little-known stories from his own life that led to his inspiration. As she takes these stories home to George, the little boy travels farther in his imagination than he ever could in real life. After holding so tightly to logic and reason, her brother's request leads Megs to absorb a more profound truth: "The way stories change us can't be explained. It can only be felt. Like love."

If you enjoy knitting, crocheting, working with yarn, this is the group for you. Meet new friends, bring your projects, learn from others.
We normally meet a few times a month during the week from 6-8pm. We will occasionally meet on weekends during daytime hours.

I don't usually pick romance but I really wanted to do a Hanukkah book. It's a bit on the longer side but hopefully a quick read. The library only has 5 audiobooks so please try to remember to "release it" when you're done. Columbus libraries: [https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C3503238](https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C3503238) Location: The Goat Riversouth [219 South High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215](https://www.google.com/maps?q=219%20South%20High%20Street%2C%20Columbus%2C%20Ohio%2043215%2C%20United%20States) [Menu](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/686d3ed16745133042482c5f/t/68ff654dbb03b96875430bde/1761568077220/all_brunch-20250311.pdf) Book summary: Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt is a nice Jewish girl with a shameful secret: she loves Christmas. For a decade she’s hidden her career as a Christmas romance novelist from her family. Her talent has made her a bestseller even as her chronic illness has always kept the kind of love she writes about out of reach. But when her diversity-conscious publisher insists she write a Hanukkah romance, her well of inspiration suddenly runs dry. Hanukkah’s not magical. It’s not merry. It’s not *Christmas*. Desperate not to lose her contract, Rachel’s determined to find her muse at the Matzah Ball, a Jewish music celebration on the last night of Hanukkah, even if it means working with her summer camp archenemy—Jacob Greenberg. Though Rachel and Jacob haven’t seen each other since they were kids, their grudge still glows brighter than a menorah. But as they spend more time together, Rachel finds herself drawn to Hanukkah—and Jacob—in a way she never expected. Maybe this holiday of lights will be the spark she needed to set her heart ablaze.