Book Lovers

You do not need to have read the book to join! Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (Also a TV series)

Heyho and welcome to our cozy Science Fiction Circle which is part of the Social Book Club! We meet every month to discuss one book (or short story). This time we read the hard science fiction novel **"Echopraxia" (2014)** by the Canadian author **Peter Watts**, sequel of the book "Blindsight", which we already discussed in November. It's not necessary to have read the first part, but it helps to understand some concepts that are not explained in the second. Anyway please read at least "Echopraxia" before the book club, to follow the discussion. We meet at IKEA Westbahnhof at JOE&JOE'S in the 5th floor. Drinks and some food can be bought there.

Join us for some focused writing time. All writers and all experience levels are welcome and don’t worry, no one will see what you've written. This session is about getting your writing done and meeting other writers in your area. When you show up, say hello to everyone, grab a drink, and get your writing tools ready. Once you’re all settled, take some time to chat with your fellow writers. Once everyone’s arrived, I will lead quick introductions and then set the timer for our quiet and focused writing session. Afterward, we’ll have time to chat and get to know each other. We often talk about our successes and challenges as writers. If you don’t have time to stick around, no worries! Schedule (tentative): 9:00 - 9:15: Arrive, set up, order some coffee, short introductions. 9:15 - 10:15: Timer starts. Time to write. 10:15 - 10:30: End. Short exchange, settle your bill, takeoff. **A note about the format** We don’t host critiques or readings. These events are a safe space for writers of all skill levels and genres to work on their craft, so no one will read or critique your writing. For our full event schedule, visit [https://shutupwrite.com](https://www.shutupwrite.com). **Other Important Details:** WiFi: Available Travel / Parking: Hietzing station (U4, 10, 60, 51A, 56A, 56B, 58A and 58B). Very limited public parking (Kurzparkzone), Parkgarage Hietzing nearby.

**A Gentle Space for Inner Freedom (A special Meaningful Conversations event)** Viktor Frankl wrote that even in the most difficult circumstances, one inner freedom remains: the freedom to choose how to react to any given situation. This event begins in that space. Pain and challenging situations are part of being human. Life brings loss, sadness, the feeling of injustice, the sense of not being good enough, change, uncertainty, and limitation — often without explanation and without choice. This gathering is an invitation to pause, to step out of inner struggle for a moment, and to meet life as it is — with dignity and clarity. Through shared reflections and gentle guidance, the event opens a space where psychological clarity and spiritual depth can be practically experienced rather than just explained. A calm, respectful space to stop, listen, and reconnect with what remains steady and free, even when life is not. **This event is especially for you if you’re new to Dieter Langenecker’s work —** **Or if you’d like to reconnect with it.** It also offers a natural entry point into **the monthly Meaningful Conversations**, A gentle, ongoing space for staying connected to what truly matters And to live with greater depth and contentment. Tanja Odermatt & Dieter Langenecker PS: A contribution of € 15,- for room rent, coffee/tea, and cookies will be collected. **Watch this short video:** https://youtu.be/In8dqdxpCF4

Hi hi, We're returning to a very cool location we enjoyed a lot during our first meet-up there. We danced, we had fun and promised to return there 💃🏻 🕺🏻 🪩 ✨ *Here's is meet-up the announcement? 🥁🥁🥁 🌟 💃🏻 *You are invited!* 🕺 🌟 🗓️ : *07.03.26* 🕗: *20:00 o'clock* 🏠: *Mi Barrio* 📍 *Döblinger Gürtel 2, 1190 Wien* Later in the evening, we will go to some of the *bars under the U6 arcades.* Please *register* for the event if you're coming. And *deregister* if you can't join. Have a nice week and see you soon. 🤩 Cheers, 🌞 ✨ ✨ https://maps.app.goo.gl/AH1x6q3ivT3u6cfD9

Talk, socialise and meet new people in Pickwick's! What is featured: -Music that is not too loud -A cozy atmosphere -Main focus is socialising and talking -No entrance fee or membership fee (order at least 1 drink for common courtesy) -Food is also available to order -There is no agenda, just come and talk around. Wanna stay only for an hour? Wanna stay until closure at 2 a.m.? All up to you. You can find our whatsapp group via this link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/JnaWvfYv1czBMlzsVEmSDP How to find us? We will be downstairs to the right at Pickwick's! Spontaneous coming is always welcome, but if you are sure you are coming please RSVP together with your + people so we can give an approximate heads up to the owner regarding reservations. We are looking forward to meeting you all.

## *ella: The Young Men Who Shocked Victorian England* by Neil McKenna In March, our Queer Book Club turns to history and gender nonconformity with *Fanny & Stella* by Neil McKenna — a gripping true story that challenges the idea that non-binary and gender-expansive lives are a modern phenomenon. We’ll gather at Villa Vida Café to discuss the book together in a relaxed, welcoming setting. **Date:** Sunday, March 8th, 2026 **Time:** 2:00 PM **Location:** Villa Vida Café, Vienna **In collaboration with:** [o*books](o-books.at) & [hint.wien](hint.wien) *** ## About the Book *Fanny & Stella: The Young Men Who Shocked Victorian England* is a meticulously researched historical account of Ernest Boulton and Frederick Park, two Victorian-era performers and friends who lived publicly in feminine clothing and personas known as “Fanny” and “Stella.” In 1870, they were arrested at a London theatre while dressed in women’s clothing and charged with “conspiracy to commit sodomy,” sparking a sensational public trial in 1871. Their case became one of the most talked-about scandals of the time, exposing hidden queer social networks and anxieties around gender, sexuality, and identity in Victorian Britain. Neil McKenna draws from court transcripts, letters, and contemporary reporting to reconstruct their lives, revealing a complex world of performance, friendship, desire, and survival. Rather than framing them as curiosities, the book presents Fanny and Stella as real people navigating rigid social norms while expressing gender in ways that still resonate today. The story offers a powerful reminder that gender diversity has always existed, even when it had no accepted language or safety.

Donation-based event. Please register through the link: https://villavida.at/event/drag-storytime-fur-kinder/ Die Drag Kings Freddie Venus und Topster laden zu einer humorvollen und magischen Vorlesestunde für Kinder ein. Mit viel Wärme, Lachen und Fantasie erzählen sie Geschichten über Freundschaft, Mut und winterliche Wunder. In einer gemütlichen Atmosphäre erleben Kinder und ihre Begleitpersonen eine liebevolle Drag Storytime, die Kreativität stärkt und Vielfalt feiert. Ein freudvolles Erlebnis für die ganze Familie. Sprache: Deutsch

Come write with us at Cafe Pierre every Sunday at 18:00-20:00! A message from Shut Up & Write: "Shut Up & Write hosts free, in-person and online writing events for writers all over the world. Our goal is to ensure that every writer—regardless of genre or skill level—has access to the resources, community, and accountability that they need to be successful in their personal writing goals." And what this looks like at our event: We chat and give short introductions to what we are working on at 18:00, then start writing at 18:15. Though we try to start on dot, being late isn't a problem—just find a spot and get to work! We write until 20:00 and then discuss how our writing went. From fiction to non-fiction, academic papers to poetry, applications to work-related writing—anything goes! Nothing is needed except for you to bring whatever is need to get stuff done, i.e. laptop, headphones, pen and paper, and so on. Optional socialising may happen before 18:00 and after 20:00, or you may choose to use this time to get some more done! Please do order something from the café (drink, meal, dessert, etc.) so as to keep us in their good graces!

⭐️Would you like to meet new friends?✨Welcome to Speed Friending in Vienna! Age 20-29/30-39. Please read the description attentively: Our next event is coming soon! 💎Price 10€ and order a drink for boys It is for free for girls ✨if you’re not comfortable with the price, you are welcome to skip this event. 💡 How it works: • You’ll have a short conversations with different people. • After each round, you’ll switch to meet someone new. • You’ll note who you liked, and if there’s a match, we’ll connect you after the event. 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Age groups: The main groups are for ages 20-29 and 30-39 You are welcome)! Register today)✨ Join us on WhatsApp and Instagram and don’t miss new events https://www.instagram.com/makegoodfriends?igsh=YjA2czVxNjF0cGJi&utm_source=qr https://chat.whatsapp.com/ERvtYIUDqtHLtVwwytpKLZ

Como viene siendo habitual, nos reuniremos nuevamente en Freiraum. Hay una reserva para 20 personas, y muy previsiblemente nos sentaremos en las mesas altas en las que nos sentamos habitualmente. Como suele venir mucha gente, siempre es recomendable llegar puntual. Durante el horario de invierno empezaremos media hora más temprano (a las 18:30 h). Freiraum está en plena Mariahilferstraße (más concretamente en Mariahilferstraße 117, 1060 Wien), entre las estaciones de metro U3 Zieglergasse y U3/U6 Westbahnhof. El evento tiene la función de que nos juntemos para pasar un rato divertido. No olvides compartir el evento con otras personas interesadas. También tenemos un grupo de Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/groups/426629184137458/](https://www.facebook.com/groups/426629184137458/) No olvides seguirnos en Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/cafedelalengua/](https://www.instagram.com/cafedelalengua/)

Weekly screenings from a large archive of many of the most significant, yet seldom seen and rarely accessible cinematic masterpieces in the history of film - from its earliest beginnings to the present day. Screenings are in original language, if English, or original language with English subtitles. Films are selected democratically on the inspiration of a brief pre-screening discussion. The selected title is typically a "neglected gem" that most of us discover together for the first time. Individual taste is not a criterion and all participants are expected to put the interests of the group as a whole above personal preference or prejudice. In this sense, the emphasis is on openness, exploration, and surprise. Each screening is followed by an in-depth group discussion, led and moderated by the curator. WARNNG: FilmStory is not just about watching movies! Rather, it's a socially responsible, intellectual engagement, involving an organic approach to group study of film language, philosophy, art, history, politics, and technology. In this sense, the film is always merely the current highlight in an explorative, ongoing group discussion. **FilmStory** is a members-only series that involves a closely knit community of cinephiles. Events take place every Sunday in a comfortable, private setting with limited capacity. Participation is reserved primarily for regular members, but we're always ready to make new friends! Non-regular members may request to meet the community and, upon acceptance as a "new joiner," are welcome to participate in one event, according to space availability. New joiners are asked to make a €6 member dues contribution in advance of the requested date. New members receive a message of confirmation and the address of the Living Room in 1080 Vienna upon receipt of their dues contribution. **FilmStory** is presented and hosted by **[KulturSalon Wien](https://www.meetup.com/kultursalon-wien/)**.

**Our March pick is *God of the Woods* by Liz Moore.** **This month’s novel is an award-winning literary mystery that blends family drama with psychological suspense. It explores women’s voices and relationships while delivering an exciting, eerie, and deeply suspenseful story. The book is 576 pages in print or 14 hours and 35 minutes on audiobook.** Early morning, August 1975: a camp counselor discovers an empty bunk. Its occupant, Barbara Van Laar, has gone missing. Barbara isn’t just any thirteen-year-old: she’s the daughter of the family that owns the summer camp and employs most of the region’s residents. And this isn’t the first time a Van Laar child has disappeared. Barbara’s older brother similarly vanished fourteen years ago, never to be found. As a panicked search begins, a thrilling drama unfolds. Chasing down the layered secrets of the Van Laar family and the blue-collar community working in its shadow, Moore’s multi-threaded story invites readers into a rich and gripping dynasty of secrets and second chances. It is Liz Moore’s most ambitious and wide-reaching novel yet.

**Our April novel is: *The Hong Kong Widow* by Kristen Loesch** **This month’s novel blends gothic atmosphere with historical fiction and chilling horror, set against the haunting backdrop of China. The book is 368 pages in print and 10 hours and 42 minutes on audiobook.** In 1950s Hong Kong, Mei is a young refugee of the Chinese Communist revolution struggling to put her past in Shanghai behind her. When she receives a shocking invitation—to take part in a competition in one of the city's most notorious haunted houses, pitting six spirit mediums against one another in a series of six séances over six nights, until a single winner emerges—she has every reason to refuse. Except that the hostess, a former Shanghainese silent film star, is none other than the wife of the man who once destroyed Mei’s entire life. It is promised the winner will receive a fortune, but there is only one prize Mei wants: revenge. Decades later, the final night of that competition has become an infamous urban legend: The police were called to the scene of a brutal massacre but found no evidence, dismissing it as a collective hallucination. Mei knows what she saw, but now someone else is convinced they know what she did. She must uncover the truth about the last night she ever spent in that house—even if the ghosts of her past are waiting for her there. . . .

This Month's Book: The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen. Join us for discussion at the Granville Public Library from 6 to 7pm. Follow us on Instagram: @granvillepridebookclub

This will be the first ever Book Club Meet up for this group! * We will be discussing Dating After the End of the World by Jeneva Rose (if you would like a free EPUB copy of this book to read on kindle, message me & I can send you the ebook) * ***Changed the book from Daggermouth due to it being independently published and hard to find in print**** * Feel free to attend even if you haven't started or finished the book ◡̈ ! * Small snacks will be provided. You’re welcome to bring your own snacks & drinks too! * Even if the meetup event shows full, you are welcome to come. If you can no longer attend the event, no worries, just please try to update your status on meetup for it.

Join us for our March Book Club gathering where we will come together to discuss *The Manor of Dreams* by Christina Li in a safe and welcoming environment. Make new friends who share your passion for books and connect with fellow LGBTQ book enthusiasts.

Calling all founders, CEOs, lawyers, doctors, and entrepreneurs to join our special *Founder Edition* of Sip & Read meetup event. Let's sip on fine wine and discuss our first book **The 5AM Club- Own Your Morning Elevate Your Life, by Robin Sharma**. We will pair this book with our favorite wine at **Wine on High** and engage in thought-provoking discussions on startup businesses and entrepreneurship, and network with like-minded individuals in a cozy book club setting. Come prepared to discuss this month's book. At the end of each book club meeting, we will take next book and venue suggestions from the participants for the next meeting. Whether you are a book lover, women entrepreneur, or a content creator, this event is perfect for sharing ideas and insights with other funders and founders in the entrepreneurial world. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to connect, learn, and grow together. Sign up now to reserve your spot! *Fun fact! This meetup was established in 2015 and had over 1,000 members. I had to shut down operations while attending law school, but we're back!!*

This month we’ll be ready The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin. Feel free to come even if you don’t finish the bookk!