Book Swap

Join us for a relaxed silent-reading session in a warm and welcoming café/bar. Bring your current read (or grab a new one!), settle in with a drink or snack, and enjoy an hour or two of calm, focused reading alongside fellow book lovers. 📖 No pressure, no agenda—just a peaceful moment to unwind, read, and maybe chat a little afterward. 😊 This group/event is an english-speaking one ( although the books don't have to be). We'll try to find a cozy and comfortable nook to settle into but we can't guarantee total silence. So if you are easily distracted by ambient noise, we recommend you bring a pair of noise canceling headphones 🎧😌 PS: The current café that hosts us every Saturday afternoon, requires a 5€ drink minimum

🌼 Somewhere in a park in Paris, we’ll sit down together and spend a bit of time with the first three chapters of ***Mastery* by Robert Greene**, a book about how people find their direction, often slowly and imperfectly, and grow into it over time. Let's enjoy the rhythm of spring, and take some time to exchange perspectives in a relaxed, open-minded atmosphere. It’s as much about the conversation as it is about the book, getting to know how others think, what resonates with them, and where views differ. ***Mastery*** is known for its clear, engaging writing and its mix of philosophy, psychology, and real-life stories. Greene looks at how people find their path, often in uncertain or unexpected ways, and how they develop their craft over time. For this gathering, we’ll stay with the first three chapters (and leave the rest for a second round). * **Discover Your Calling** * **Submit to Reality** * **See People as They Are** Each of these opens up space for reflection, not just on the book, but on our own experiences. The conversation can move naturally between what Greene writes and what it brings up for each of us: moments we’ve gone through, things we’re questioning, or perspectives that don’t quite match. It’ll be relaxed. Sitting in the grass, or on a bench, maybe with a coffee or something to share. No rigid structure, no pressure to speak if you don’t feel like it. Just a group of people taking the time to think and talk, together. 🌼 Goodreads reference: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13589182-mastery

*The Leopard* (Italian: *Il Gattopardo*) is a novel by Italian writer Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, which chronicles the changes in Sicilian life and society during the Risorgimento. Published posthumously in 1958 by Feltrinelli, after two rejections by the leading Italian publishing houses Mondadori and Einaudi, it became the top-selling novel in Italian history and is considered one of the most important novels in modern Italian literature. In 1959, it won Italy's highest award for fiction, the Strega Prize. In 2012, The Guardian named it as one of "the 10 best historical novels". The novel was made into an award-winning 1963 film of the same name, directed by Luchino Visconti and starring Burt Lancaster, Claudia Cardinale and Alain Delon.

Marie-Paule Istria signera son livre Sur qui tombe la nuit, premier roman paru aux éditions Livres agités. La signature sera précédée d'une discussion avec l'autrice. Synopsis du livre : 1952, Mondovi, Algérie : Anna, âgée de dix mois, et sa sœur Line, à peine plus grande, sont recueillies par leurs grands-parents après la disparition inexpliquée de leur mère. Trente ans plus tard, elle réapparaît, comme un spectre, dans la vie d’Anna. 2020, Paris. Anna affronte un nouveau deuil : celui de Simon, son ex-mari. Autour d’elle, leurs enfants, Bastien, Laura et Manon, devenus adultes, tentent de surmonter leur chagrin, chacun à sa manière. C’est alors que le passé resurgit à nouveau. Entre les secrets d’une enfance algérienne déchirée par la guerre, et les non-dits d’une famille éclatée, Anna doit affronter une question qui la ronge : et si les morts étaient plus présents que les vivants ? Un roman poignant, entre quête d’identité et roman familial, où se mêlent la grande et la petite histoire, les rires et les larmes, les cris et les silences, la maladie. Une plongée dans les méandres de la mémoire, où chaque vérité révélée en cache une autre. L’amour, seul fil têtu entre les générations, résiste à tout, même à la vérité.

Bonjour à toutes et tous ! ✨ Je reviens vers vous concernant notre prochaine séance de lecture 📖 Pour notre rendez-vous du samedi 23 mai 2026 à 15h00, les membres ont choisi de découvrir *Le Mythe de Sisyphe* de Albert Camus. ⛰️ Cette fois-ci, nous nous éloignons un peu de la littérature pour explorer un texte philosophique majeur. Même si nous restons dans le thème de la mythologie à travers la figure de Sisyphe, Camus s’en sert surtout comme point de départ pour réfléchir à l’absurde, à la liberté et à la quête de sens. Une lecture exigeante, mais profondément humaine et toujours actuelle. ♾️✨ Comme toujours, nous nous retrouverons autour d’un café ou d’un thé ☕ pour échanger librement sur nos impressions, nos interrogations et nos réflexions, dans un esprit convivial et bienveillant. Au plaisir de vous retrouver pour cette nouvelle exploration philosophique ✨ À très bientôt, Jade

## Details Hello writers, we are happy to meet you in our new permanent home: Bohème Coworking, located at 21 rue Sedaine in the 11th arrondissement. When you arrive, just tell the friendly folks at La Boheme reception that you are with the writing group. They will give you a little wooden knick-knack with the wifi codes and a number that they use to determine the cost based on time spent (it's 3,80 € per hour, paid at the end). ***Now, about Ready-Set-Write! ..*.** Ready Set Write! is a regular meeting of motivated writers who grab a beverage, then shut up and write. ***What it is:*** An opportunity for writers to get together and do short, intense bursts of writing. We write for 45-ish minutes, take a 15 minute break, rinse & repeat. ***What it is NOT:*** neither a forum for critiquing each other's work, nor shameless self-promoting your projects or groups. You pay for the time you spend, and have access to coffee, tea, and wifi. **AND FINALLY ...** * Register in advance, and only if you will join us in-person. * Update your RSVP if you cannot make it. * Please be respectful and considerate with our writing colleagues. ***Stay tuned for location updates!***

Let's get together with a drink and discuss this book. Location to be confirmed soon :) Exploring the psychological dynamics of the relationship between a precocious yet naïve teenage girl and her magnetic and manipulative teacher, a brilliant, all-consuming read that marks the explosive debut of an extraordinary new writer. 2000\. Bright\, ambitious\, and yearning for adulthood\, fifteen\-year\-old Vanessa Wye becomes entangled in an affair with Jacob Strane\, her magnetic and guileful forty\-two\-year\-old English teacher\. 2017\. Amid the rising wave of allegations against powerful men\, a reckoning is coming due\. Strane has been accused of sexual abuse by a former student\, who reaches out to Vanessa\, and now Vanessa suddenly finds herself facing an impossible choice: remain silent\, firm in the belief that her teenage self willingly engaged in this relationship\, or redefine herself and the events of her past\. But how can Vanessa reject her first love\, the man who fundamentally transformed her and has been a persistent presence in her life? Is it possible that the man she loved as a teenager—and who professed to worship only her—may be far different from what she has always believed? Alternating between Vanessa’s present and her past, *My Dark Vanessa* juxtaposes memory and trauma with the breathless excitement of a teenage girl discovering the power her own body can wield. Thought-provoking and impossible to put down, this is a masterful portrayal of troubled adolescence and its repercussions that raises vital questions about agency, consent, complicity, and victimhood. Written with the haunting intimacy of *The Girls* and the creeping intensity of *Room*, *My Dark Vanessa* is an era-defining novel that brilliantly captures and reflects the shifting cultural mores transforming our relationships and society itself. [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44890081-my-dark-vanessa?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=zhULtTnx80&rank=1](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44890081-my-dark-vanessa?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=zhULtTnx80&rank=1)(round 2)

Let's dive into the literature of Eastern Europe! One that carries some of the most powerful, witty, melancholic, and resilient stories ever written. This theme encompasses many of the works of Eastern European authors, some known and most unknown, from post-communist memoirs and political satire to novels, family histories, and modern fiction. The theme is to invite us to explore the voices, histories, and cultures of Eastern Europe through recommendation of the others and to talk about our most loved books within the theme. Bring along a favorite read, a recent discovery, or a longtime classic you’d love to share and discuss with the group. (Physical copies are always welcome for our little group photo tradition! 📚✨) (This is a themed book club, so there’s no required reading. Just come ready to talk, recommend, reflect, and discover new perspectives together. Discussions are in English.) P.S. I’ll reach out before the event to confirm attendance. Please cancel in advance if plans change so I can adjust the reservation accordingly. Merci\~ 🌹

Venez discuter du livre "Sa majesté des mouches" de Willam Golding devant un repas a la French Guinguette 58 Rue Rambuteau Bonne lecture

🇫🇷 Bonjour ! J’espère que tout le monde va bien ! 😁 Nous revoilà pour un événement d’échange de Langue Franco-Anglais et de la bonne humeur : * Dimanche à "Les Berthom" : 35 Boulevard Voltaire, 75011 Paris à 18H00, prix de la participation à 10€. Proche des stations République(Métro 3, 5, 8, 9, 11) et Oberkampf(Métro 5, 9). Une boisson vous sera offerte parmi la carte du bar ! 🍻 L’entrée au bar se fait à partir de 17H50. Le concept de l’événement est celui qui suit : * La durée totale de l’événement est de 2 heures, divisée en 3 sessions. À chaque session, des tables de 4 ou 5 personnes seront composées, avec au minimum 2 Français et 2 Étrangers par table. Et pendant cette session, il y aura 15 minutes de conversation en Français et 15 minutes de conversation en Anglais. À la fin de chaque session, les tables changent afin de vous faire rencontrer d’autres personnes ! Nos événements ont pour but de favoriser les échanges linguistiques, culturels et la création de liens sociaux amicaux et/ou professionnels ! Nos événements n’ont pas pour vocations d’être des speed-dating, nous trouvons cela important de le préciser et nous serons strict sur le respect de cette mention. ^^ En espérant vous voir très bientôt ! 🇬🇧 Hello ! We hope everyone’s doing good ! 😁 We're back for a French & English language exchange event : * Sunday at "Les Berthom" : 35 Boulevard Voltaire, 75011 Paris, starting at 6:00PM. For a 10€ fee. Close to the Metro station République (Métro 3, 5, 8, 9 & 11) and Oberkampf (Métro 5 & 9). A drink will be offered from the Bar's Menu !🍻 We’ll start the check-in at 5:50PM. The concept of the event is : * The whole event lasts 2 hours, subdivided in 4 sessions of 30 minutes. In each session, tables of 4 to 8 persons will be formed equally between foreigners and French (2/3 Foreigners and 2/3 French). In these sessions, there will be 15 minutes of French conversation followed by 15 minutes of English conversation. At the end of the 30 minutes, we’ll switch the tables and you’ll be placed on a new table with new persons (Hence, you’ll meet at least 9 to 12 different persons in an event) ! The purpose of the event is mainly focused on the language and cultural exchange, on top of creating friendly and professional links ! These events are not intended to be speed-datings, which is important to be precise and we plan to be strict about this point. ^^ We hope to see you soon !

* Between 20 and 30 international attendees \* We meet to promote cultural exchanges or practice a foreign language. The number of participants is limited to preserve user-friendliness. The address is therefore given only for participants who have taken a membership card valid for one year. The membership card offers a special feature: choose a sticker number and receive a free shot at the bar after chatting with other group members. **Card fee is 5€ and available here** : [https://bit.ly/apero-linguistique2025](https://bit.ly/apero-linguistique2025)

Enjoy Bollywood music 🎶🇮🇳 €10 entrance fee with 1 slide Pizza and 1 drink Subscribe here : https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1KQGwZL2rUR0loJQ1bJBM745pi3kG3cVhPAjPmGgFx3Y/edit?chromeless=1#responses community: [https://chat.whatsapp.com/JKoAeadYIj4KWrlXKWdDzN](https://chat.whatsapp.com/JKoAeadYIj4KWrlXKWdDzN) Location A l'intérieur/ Inside Café Foresta Paris ( Bar & Italian restaurant ) 126 Boulevard de Magenta 75010 Paris [https://g.co/kgs/xF3rnzX](https://g.co/kgs/xF3rnzX) [https://www.foresta-paris.fr/](https://www.foresta-paris.fr/) See you on Saturday! Your organizer Jean-Noël

\* FRANÇAIS \* (English version below) Bienvenue à toutes et à tous! Ce cours de français langue étrangère est proposé par \*Omar\* gratuitement et tous les samedis: \- 18h\-19h: niveau débutant \(A1\-A2\) \- 19h\-20h: niveau intermédiaire \(B1\-B2\) Omar vous fournira les documents nécessaires pour le cours. Apportez de quoi écrire, et si vous le souhaitez un dictionnaire ou tout autre support pédagogique. Ces cours seront suivis de 20h-minuit par une soirée d'échange de langues internationales pendant laquelle vous pourrez mettre en pratique les cours que vous avez suivis. \* ENGLISH \* All welcome! This course in French as a foreign language is proposed free of charge and every Saturday by \*Omar\*: \- 6\-7 PM: beginner's level \(A1\-A2\) \- 7\-8 PM: intermediate level \(B1\-B2\) Omar will provide all the necessary documents for each lesson. You should bring something to write, a dictionary and any other pedagogic material. These lessons will be followed from 8 PM till midnight by an international language exchange during which you will be able to practice your French.

Welcome, readers! Our May read is **_Kindred_ by Octavia E. Butler.** The story follows Dana, a Black woman living in 1976 California, who is suddenly pulled back to a Maryland plantation before the Civil War. She learns her survival is tied to a white slaveholder’s son. Forced to move between centuries, she must endure the brutal realities of slavery while fighting to hold on to her identity. Tense, intimate, and unforgettable, Kindred explores how the past refuses to stay buried. Looking forward to discussing with everyone! We will meet at Zaftig Brewing Co in their event room in the back. We are welcome to bring in our own food, but **drinks must be purchased at the bar.** Happy reading! 📖

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

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

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

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