Book Club

Hi everyone, in April our theme was a book c. <300 pages and relatively light and easy. The winner was The Wedding People. Synopsis below: The smash-hit international bestseller A Read With Jenna book club pick Winner of the Goodreads Choice Award for Fiction 'Best read of the year' THE TIMES 'Books as fun as this one are few and far between' GUARDIAN 'Sharp, funny and a joy to read' OBSERVER Phoebe Stone arrives at a grand beachside hotel in Rhode Island wearing her best dress and least comfortable shoes. Immediately she is mistaken for one of the wedding people - but she's actually the only guest at the Cornwall Inn who isn't here for the big event. When the bride discovers her elaborate destination wedding could be ruined by a divorced and depressed stranger, she is furious. Lila has spent months accounting for every detail and every possible disaster - except for, well, Phoebe . . . Soon, both women find their best-laid plans derailed and an unlikely confidante in one another. Hilarious and moving, The Wedding People is an irresistible novel about love, friendship, dysfunctional families, and the unexpected paths that lead to happiness. 'As soon as I'd finished it, I wanted to read it all over again' RED 'Laugh-out-loud funny and surprisingly moving' INDEPENDENT 'So funny and romantic . . . A perfect novel' CATHERINE NEWMAN 'Glorious . . . made me wish I had written it' JOJO MOYES 'Utterly charming . . . I loved it' PANDORA SYKES 'One of the few weddings I've attended that I didn't want to end' SAMUEL BURR See you there 🍾 Steph & Christina

*"The Centre is of the opinion that the achievements in construction these recent years are great ... However, in the concrete work in the agricultural and industrial and other sectors, there were some flaws and mistakes that led to some losses. The reason for these flaws and mistakes was fundamentally because **many leading personnel had slackened in the kind of investigation and research work** which had been carried out during the War of Resistance against Japan and the War of Liberation with excellent results, and had become content with reading the reports that appear in the newspapers and listening to other people’s oral reports. **When they went out themselves, it was merely to look at flowers while riding on horseback—they were content with a superficial understanding,** and for a period made some assessments and took some decisions based on data that did not correspond to the actual situation or that were of a biased nature. During this period, exaggeration was indulged in and the abominable work-style of making personal feelings a substitute for policy, reared its head once again. **This is a major lesson, and leading comrades at all levels throughout the Party absolutely must not neglect or forget this lesson for which a price has been paid."*** \-\-\- *Zhongfa* No. 261, Letter from the CCP Centre to the Regional Bureaus and the Party Committees of the Provinces, Municipalities, and [Autonomous] Regions Concerning the Matter of Conscientiously Carrying out Investigations [23 March 1961] Hello all and welcome back to the China Study Group! Having finished our months-long deep dive into modern Chinese history with the multi-part *Sorghum and Steel* reading, we're now changing gears rapidly with a read-through of Mao Zedong's short, punchy but profoundly influential text *No Investigation, No Right to Speak*, also known as *Oppose Book Worship.* Find it here: https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-6/mswv6_11.htm Written in May 1930 from the liberated base area known as the Jiangxi Soviet Republic during the height of the first period of the Chinese Civil War, this text encapsulates Mao's contributions to communist political and military theory. If there's anything unique in Chinese Marxism, it's this insistence on detailed, region-by-region, city-by-city, street-by-street collection of what today might be called political "data". Even today, the CPC's major theoretical journal *Quishi* takes its name from the idiom first coined by Mao and later promoted by Deng Xiaoping - *[seek truth from facts.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seek_truth_from_facts)* The text quoted above comes from a document published by the CPC journal *Zhongfa* in the years just before the start of the Cultural Revolution (find the text [here](https://emaoism.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/mao-zedong-on-investigation-and-research.pdf) if you're curious). It speaks to the immense emphasis which was at that time starting to be laid once again on the carrying-out of "investigation and research work" after years of neglect. It may seem elementary, but spend a decade on the British left with the Trotskyists and other groups that draw on the Soviet experience as their primary source of inspiration, and you'll see how common it remains today, as in Mao's time, for communist know-it-alls to take what they think they know about the working and other classes for granted. All too often, we assume that workers, students, intellectuals, the so-called middle classes and other groups are monolithic, with uniform interests and universal experiences. Meanwhile, things on the ground are never simple. What it's like to be a worker not only varies from job to job, industry to industry but even house-to-house among workers who on paper have the same background. Social investigation as a key communist practice wasn't unprecedented when Mao was writing, of course. Marx introduced the idea of ["worker's inquiry"](https://viewpointmag.com/2013/09/27/workers-inquiry-a-genealogy/) to the labour movement, a thread which was later picked up by the Italian Autonomists of the mid-century and carried on today by groups like Notes From Below and the Angry Workers Collective, whose work we've previously studied at LMRG. This kind of attention to detail in political, trade-union and community organising has paid dividends for many, so let's investigate it! Join us for a discussion of the social investigations of the Chinese Civil War, their connections to other forms of Marxist theory-of-practice like workers' inquiry, the prospects for and use-values of social investigations in Britain today, and more. Happy reading and see you there! \-\-\-\- About the China Study Group: What can we learn from the Chinese Revolution? That's the question we'll seek to answer as LMRG brings the heat to you once again, now on Tuesday nights, with our all-new China Study Group. In this long-form reading series, we'll meet monthly for in-depth discussion of a series of texts on China, its revolution, the socialist market economy, and more. As the [New Cold War](https://thetricontinental.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/20221107_MR-NCW_EN_Web.pdf) heats up, it's never been more important to learn what we can about the country which the US, UK and EU have all described - following the [American phrasebook](https://www.gmfus.org/news/china-systemic-rival-systemic-threat) \- as a "systemic rival"\.

A **smaller, quieter, and less rushed** edition of THOUGHT EXPERIMENTS IN PUBS. At TEiP DEEP, we have the chance to spend a whole hour and a half on **one thought experiment**, exploring different perspectives, coming up with new questions, listening and learning from one another. **How it works:** \- We split into small groups for each chapter of the thought experiment \(3\-4\)\. \- We shuffle every 25 mins to meet new people and change things up\. \- And at the end we'll have a brief group reflection\, sharing ideas and insights \- this will be lightly facilitated to ensure that everyone has a chance to speak if they want to \(no pressure\)\. Some simple ground rules to keep our conversation the best it can be: * respect for one another’s perspectives, beliefs, time (etc.) * confidentiality of personal stories * own your perspective * you don’t have to talk if you don’t want to. Our aim is the same as our bigger Thought Experiments in Pubs meetups: **a chance to meet and talk at about meaningful, thought provoking things**. Although we’ll be going a bit ‘deeper’, we’ll keep the intention to have an enjoyable evening, with good humour and fun. Places are limited to 15-20 people and tickets are £5. Please update your RSVP if you can no longer attend so that someone else can have your place. **Who should come:** Everyone! We believe that the more perspectives, the richer the conversation. This group is not about being experts in Philosophy, it is about *doing* philosophy. That is, bringing our various life experiences and lenses on the world to group discussions about the human experience, the nature of reality... etc. etc.... **Where we'll meet:** The Fitzroy Tavern in Fitzrovia. The nearest Tube stations are Goodge Street and Tottenham Court Road. Looking forward to meeting & talking with you :-) If you would like to further support me & these meetups, please [subscribe to the newsletter](https://experimentsingroupwisdom.substack.com/), [follow the instagram](https://www.instagram.com/thoughtexperimentsinpubs), and if you want to go above and beyond, you can [buy me a coffee](https://buymeacoffee.com/bonnyastor) ;-) Thank you! #inclusivity #openmindedness #deepdive #TEiPdeep #philosophy #greatconversations **[SUBSTACK](https://experimentsingroupwisdom.substack.com/)** \- reflections\, invitations and newsletter **[WHATSAPP GROUP](https://chat.whatsapp.com/D13LHw5BV3rEtUtO3ORklC)** \- stay in the loop **[INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/thoughtexperimentsinpubs/)** & **[FACEBOOK](www.facebook.com/thoughtexperimentsinpub)** \- see what we look like **[WEBSITE](www.alltogether.one)** \- everything else

The British Academy offer this panel discussion as part of their Age of Self season. It sounds very intriguing! "What do the characters on our screens and stages reveal about masculinity today? How do cultural narratives shape and challenge ideas of boyhood and manhood? And what stories should be told next? Join leading researchers and creatives for a richly illustrated discussion on the theme of masculinity in film, television and theatre. Drawing on vivid examples and clips, film historian Professor Stella Bruzzi FBA, award-winning playwright Inua Ellams, and British Academy-funded researcher Dr Rob Lawson will examine different portrayals of masculinity, how cultural representations have evolved over time and what stories we need to tell to help boys and men flourish in a changing world." Please note there is an **attendance contribution of £4** which goes towards the yearly Meetup platform fee, and our organisers voluntary time, both necessary to keep this club alive and running! This fee will be split 50/50 between the host, Giselle, and the group organiser Dul, thank you. \*\*🔷**Blue Diamond Membership:** If you like this event, we encourage you to join our 🔷*Blue Diamond Membership*, for a symbolic £10/year towards making the club sustainable in the long run. This will give you some extra benefits beyond helping to keep the Club running, **including but not limited to waiving all Meetup / organisational fees set up per single event** until next Meetup's Fee renewal (September 2026). You can send us your Blue Diamond Member contribution via Revolut: [revolut.me/dulom](http://revolut.me/dulom) Or bank transfer to: Dulcinea Ortiz. 04-00-75 acct 07592035 Please include your Meetup name as reference. \-\-\- ⚠️No Show Policy : London European Club is run by dedicated volunteers, whose time is important and whose efforts towards keeping the Club active must be respected. If you don't show up to three events that you have RSVPed to, you will be banned from the Club. Changing your RSVP in the last 24 hours prior to the event is strongly discouraged.

Thursdays at Earl’s Court Salsa & Bachata Club 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm Bachata classes: 7:45 pm – 8:30 pm Salsa classes: 8:35 pm – 9:20 pm Social Dancing from 9:20 pm till closing. Venue: St Philip’s Church, Upper Grand Hall, Earl’s Court Road, London W8 6QH No prior bookings are needed, just turn up and dance. Absolute beginners warmly welcomed You are welcome to bring your own alcohol / soft drinks. Water and basic snacks will be provided. Fun & friendly classes for dancers of all levels. Plenty of high-quality social dancing to the best and latest Salsa, Bachata, Cha Cha, and Latin grooves. 3 min walk from Earl’s Court station. Limited parking on surrounding streets. Wear comfortable shoes and light clothes, to keep you dancing comfortably all night £16 for Both Classes + Club Entry £10 Club Only Entry Why not try our Class & Club Bundle deals below and save money? To buy any of our awarding-winning courses online for our other venues, simply click on the course of your choice. The course credits can be used at any of our venues at any time in a 12-month period: New Salsa & Bachata courses (includes free entry for social) for any level: 3 weeks SALSA BRONZE @ £45 6 weeks SALSA SILVER @ £84 9 weeks SALSA GOLD @ £117 Incognito Dance Company also teach regularly at Wimbledon Salsa & Bachata Club, Putney Salsa & Bachata Club, Hammersmith Salsa & Bachata Club, Earl’s Court Salsa & Bachata Club

The first rule of WRITE CLUB is that you do not talk ***during*** WRITE CLUB. This very simple meetup is based on the premise that public and peer accountability enables more productive writing than sitting at home and getting distracted by the fridge. We will write/read for an hour in silence. (I will be writing thought experiments for my other meetup group: [THOUGHT EXPERIMENTS IN PUBS](https://www.meetup.com/thought-experiments-in-pubs)) If you'd like to hang out afterwards, or if you prefer just to hang out, I have another event immediately afterwards in the same place :-) You can find that here: [HANGING OUT AT THE SOUTHBANK](https://www.meetup.com/experimentsin/events/313686740) And if you'd like to finish the evening with a dance, there is a free social salsa meetup just outside The Southbank Centre just afterwards. More info [here](https://www.instagram.com/salserosfriends/). **This event will take place in the foyer of The Southbank Centre.** You can find us by looking out for: * A tote bag with WRITE CLUB sewn onto it * My T-Shirt, which will have HANGING OUT embroidered on the back of it * A big red flag with THE SUNRISE CLUB emblazoned on it (though this clearly isn't THE SUNRISE CLUB! If you want to find out about that, you can do so [here](https://www.meetup.com/the-sunrise-club/).) * Other writers - who may be spread out across the centre. They will have white pieces of paper with the WRITE CLUB stamp at the top of the page. There are plenty of places to buy refreshments, but you can also bring your own if you prefer. [WHATSAPP GROUP](https://chat.whatsapp.com/BpMwnRev0H237KMx4uPnek) [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/experimentsingroupwisdom) [SUBSTACK](https://experimentsingroupwisdom.substack.com/) Looking forward to meeting and writing with you :-) Bonny

Do you have spare books lying around your home? Do you want to read new interesting books for free while socializing with interesting people? This is the event for you. We will enjoy nice drinks and snacks together at a beautiful lounge bar in London. You can bring your books and exchange them with whoever has the books you want to read. Since this is a Science and Philosophy book club, it would be great for you to bring non-fiction books that are insightful and thought-provoking. If you want to bring fiction books that are scientifically or philosophically insightful, feel free to bring those as well. Since it is a social event, I encourage everyone to make deep meaningful conversations and make new friends. You can come alone or bring your friends with you. If you come alone, there is no need to be shy or scared. I will welcome you and introduce you to cool interesting people to speak with. Also feel free to come even if you forget to bring any books.

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!

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

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.

**18-Apr @3pm @Red Lion 🍻 drinks, pub games & 📚 Ealing/ Richmond Photobook Chat (circa 25 spots)** 🍻 Join us for drinks and an easy afternoon of **conversation**, **photography** and **pub games**! A relaxed gathering centred on two new photobooks celebrating the **Borough of Ealing** and the **Richmond Upon Thames**. The event will feature a short presentation of the books, followed by an open Q&A on photography, visual storytelling, and the creative process behind the work. We’ll round off the afternoon with informal drinks and **pub games** 🍻🍻 **ADMISSION FREE; HOWEVER, CAPACITY IS LIMITED TO circa 25 PEOPLE. PLEASE SIGN-UP TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT!** Copies of both books will be available for purchase at a special event price: *Borough of Ealing — £15 (save £7 off retail) - Richmond Upon Thames — £25 (save £5 off retail) To help manage printing, please mention in the sign‑up comments if you’re interested in purchasing a copy. This ensures enough books are printed ahead of time. 📚 View the books: [Member Profile: Postcards Pictures | Blurb Books UK](https://www.blurb.co.uk/user/postcardspic) **About the Author** *Postcards Pictures *is a West London–based travel and fashion photographer whose work blends documentary clarity with a quiet, poetic sensibility. Favouring natural light, subtle colour, and unforced moments, Postcards Pictures captures the character of a place through its textures, atmospheres, and everyday details. The photobooks focus on the overlooked and the intimate — fragments of urban life, traces of human presence, and landscapes shaped by time — offering a calm, observational way of seeing the world. **Event Details 📚🍻🍻** 📍 Venue: The Red Lion Ealing — Beer Garden (covered area available in case of rain) 📫 Address: 13 St Mary’s Rd, London W5 5RA 🗺 Google Maps: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/9aQVWQJa7XbArwgS6](https://maps.app.goo.gl/9aQVWQJa7XbArwgS6) **How to get there:** *2 stops from Ealing Broadway Station on the 65 bus - 10‑minute walk from Ealing Broadway Station *5‑minute walk from Pitzhanger Manor House

**🦋 Sutton Zoom Speed Dating – Personality & Age Matched** A hosted online speed dating experience for Sutton locals. We match you with compatible Sutton locals using a quick personality quiz. You'll chat one-on-one on Zoom in short timed rounds while a host guides the session. **Pick your age group and sign up:** - **Ages 18-32** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=422.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Sutton&groupurlname=spark-interest-at-gay-speed-dating&ar=18-32&face_v=15.0) - **Ages 30-46** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=422.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Sutton&groupurlname=spark-interest-at-gay-speed-dating&ar=30-46&face_v=15.0) - **Ages 40-58** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=422.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Sutton&groupurlname=spark-interest-at-gay-speed-dating&ar=40-58&face_v=15.0) - **Ages 55+** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=422.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Sutton&groupurlname=spark-interest-at-gay-speed-dating&ar=55+&face_v=15.0) **⚠️ Important: RSVP ≠ registration.** To join, pick your age group below, sign up, and finish the personality quiz. Spots are limited. --- 🎯 **Perfect for:** - People fed up with swiping who want actual conversation - People re-entering the dating scene after a break - Singles in Sutton who want to meet people from home - Introverts who shine in one-on-one conversations - Sutton locals after personality-matched dates **How It Works** 1. **Sign up** – Tap the link for your age range above. 2. **Take the personality quiz** – We use it to pair you with compatible Sutton singles. 3. **Join on Zoom** – Click the link, jump on, and the host handles the rest. 4. **Meet your matches** – Cycle through short chats with compatible Sutton singles. 5. **See your matches** – Discover who you clicked with after the event. **Event Details** - **Format:** Live on Zoom – guided rounds from your home - **Location:** Your space – couch, desk, wherever suits you - **Host:** Professional host keeping the evening smooth and relaxed - **Vibe:** Great energy, real people, authentic conversation - **Duration:** Around 1–1.5 hours - **Tech:** Zoom, webcam, and a stable connection **Frequently Asked Questions** **What's the personality quiz for?** It helps us match you with compatible people. **Do I need anything besides Zoom?** Just Zoom, a webcam, and Wi-Fi. That's it. **Is my info private?** Absolutely. Contact details are only exchanged on mutual match. **What if I'm shy?** The virtual setting and hosted rounds keep things comfortable for everyone. --- ✨ Real people, real conversations — all from your home. 💖 ✨

Welcome, readers! Our April read is **_Martyr!_ by Kaveh Akbar.** The story follows a young Iranian American poet grappling with grief, addiction, and the aching question of what makes a life meaningful. Drawn into an unexpected friendship with a terminally ill artist, he begins to confront faith, love, and the seduction of self-destruction. Lyrical, darkly funny, and emotionally piercing, the novel wrestles with beauty and despair in equal measure. It’s a story about longing—to be seen, to be forgiven, and to matter. 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! 📖

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! 📖

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.

Love getting lost in a good book? [The Book Loft](https://www.bookloft.com/) of German Village is an iconic independent bookstore packed with hard-to-find literary treasures! This isn’t your run-of-the-mill bookstore; it’s a 32-room literary wonderland that would make even the most seasoned bibliophile’s head spin (one of the largest in the country)! **MEET**: We'll gather outside the storefront and then start browsing... **DESSERT**: We'll grab some famous macaroons to start our foodie tour. [Pistacia Vera](https://www.pistaciavera.com/) is a delicious bakery and cafe in the German Village. This charming shop is especially known for its classic macarons. **HAPPY HOUR**: Italian drinks and bites at [Cento's happy hour](https://centogermanvillage.com/menus/). **PARKING**: Street parking all around here. Check the parking time limit. The bookstore and the foodie stops are all on 3rd Street within 4 blocks on the same side of the street.