English Books & Literature

Masnavi Book 1 Weekly reading and discussion group

The Gathering Hub at Eternal Wellness Yoga Studio is a welcoming community space offering coffee mornings, meetups, business gatherings, yoga sessions, healing sessions, and group activities. A place to connect, collaborate, relax, and grow in a positive and supportive environment.”**

Come and have tea, meet new friends and engage in an open conversation about life's purpose, our collective responsibility towards humanity, our existence on this planet, diverse religious perspectives, spiritual insights, the interconnectedness of all people, gender equality, the convergence of faiths, and current world issues. Location: Burj Crown Building - Lounge Room on the 7th floor. Above "Baba Roma" restaurant. Free parking is available in the Dubai Opera House parking. 15 Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Blvd - Downtown Dubai [https://maps.app.goo.gl/h5NH1VNXSHCJC7bq5](https://maps.app.goo.gl/h5NH1VNXSHCJC7bq5) Time: 19:30 for an 20:00 prompt start

Get fit and have fun with our mixed group volleyball sessions for beginners and intermediate players on weekday evenings at Kite Beach. Enjoy the sea breeze and outdoor environment, which is much more pleasant than being in the city during summer. Volleyball helps you burn calories, strengthen muscles, and boost your mood. Our sessions are led by an experienced coach, UAE Champion in indoor volleyball and winner of all three UAE Beach Tour events in the 2023-2024 season. **Details:** * **Location:** Kite Beach * **Time:** Weekday evenings * **Levels:** Beginners and Intermediate * **Info:** [wa.me/971504872545](https://wa.me/971504872545) Join us and improve your fitness while enjoying the beautiful beach atmosphere!

•Costs 45 AED per person + ☕ Today's WhatsApp group [https://chat.whatsapp.com/FhyQ4OIxKuAD27d0MRH7D3](https://chat.whatsapp.com/EQf0n5Gtg2XDotL7Hno8bF?mode=gi_t) Follow our Instagram page [https://instagram.com/winner_dinner0?utm_medium=copy_li](https://instagram.com/winner_dinner0?utm_medium=copy_link) Website [https://winner-dinner.co](https://winner-dinner.com) ADMIN: 055 577 8561 (NO CALLS WHATSAPP ON Kindly note: Showing up without informing the admin or joining the WhatsApp group is strictly not allowed and could lead to a ban from the group

📍 **Venue:** Sportsbay - Al Karama We play badminton here every Wednesday, 8-10 PM. [Al Karama Venue: Google Map](https://maps.app.goo.gl/RdqEivDhapk7wTL99) Join our [Join the Al Qouz/Jumeirah Whatsapp Group Here](https://chat.whatsapp.com/FUaEchwklSPFUyeJnSb52W?mode=ac_t) **👋 First time joining?** [Click here to WhatsApp Sarfaraz (+971551899547)](https://wa.me/971551899547?text=Hey%20Sarfaraz!%20This%20is%20my%20first%20time%20joining%20Badminton%20For%20All%2C%20Dubai.) and confirm your slot. **📝 Key Info** This is a group open for players of all levels, nationalities, genders and races. \*Cost per session: 40 AED *Duration: Each session lasts 2 hours* *Equipment: We use feather shuttlecocks; please bring your own racket* *Slots: Booked on a first-come, first-served basis* *Play: Players will be rotated around multiple courts and will get games similar to their level of play* **Late Backout & No-Show Policy** **We strictly enforce our late backout and no-show rules to ensure smooth operations.** Organising replacements on short notice is difficult and disruptive, especially as our organisers have day jobs. Please be mindful of our policy: * **RSVP Policy:** Please RSVP for sessions exclusively through the Meetup app. WhatsApp is mainly for regular updates on attendance, timings and last-minute changes. Any requests made via WhatsApp might not be considered for session sign-ups. * **Late Backouts:** Backing out within 9 hours of the session is considered a late backout. You will be required to pay the session fee in full, even if a replacement is found. * **No-Shows:** If you fail to show up without notice, you must still pay for the session. * **Respect for the Organisers:** Our organisers finalise the list the night before or early morning. Last-minute changes mean they need to leave their work to arrange replacements. This affects not just the organisers but the overall experience of the players. * **Waitlist Responsibility:** If you're on the waitlist and no longer wish to attend, it’s your responsibility to remove your name. We assume that anyone on the waitlist still wants to join the session if a spot opens up. * **First-Come, First-Serve Basis:** We ensure fairness by adhering to a first-come, first-serve system. Please do not ask for special treatment or last-minute slots outside of this. **Note: Players may cancel without penalty up to 9 hours before the session. After this time, the session fee applies regardless of waitlist status. Please book and cancel responsibly to avoid disruptions for everyone involved.**

Join us for our next Bookends Book Club gathering as we dive into a powerful and unforgettable story. This month, we’re reading Pachinko by Min Jin Lee, a sweeping, multi-generational novel that explores identity, resilience, family, and the immigrant experience across Korea and Japan. 📅 Date: Saturday, 9th May 🕚 Time: 11:00 AM 📍 Location: Bookends Whether you’ve finished the book or are still making your way through it, you’re welcome to join. Expect a thoughtful, engaging discussion and a warm, open space to share perspectives.

Hi all! My name is Lance, I am a fully qualified English teacher from the UK and have moved to Dubai. I run a speaking club in Camelot English School every other Saturday for free in JVC. It is a great chance to improve your English and meet some new friends in a fantastic location. Hope to see you all there!

Love stories, but never find the time to read? Always wanted to start reading but don’t know where to begin? **A Few Good Pages** is a weekly short story circle where we slow down, read together, and have thoughtful relaxed discussions. No pressure, No prep! We meet **every Saturday** to read and discuss **one or two short stories**—quick reads that stay with you. Whether you’re a **wannabe reader** looking to get started, a **busy book lover** who wants to rebuild reading habit, or someone who enjoys **sharing perspectives on a great story**, you’ll fit right in. You don't need to prepare anything in advance - Just show up. Over the past year, we've read and discussed over **200+ short stories,** building a warm, reflective community that values attention, curiosity and consistency. Join our WhatsApp Group for updates: https://chat.whatsapp.com/IpIMc6c87W49FJIg1cRDJk?mode=hqrt2 **Cost & Membership** * First session : **Free** * Drop in : AED 30 per session * Membership options available for those who want to build a consistent reading habit. **Location** Location : L'eto Cafe, 1st floor, Mall of Emirates (D7 is the closest parking Entrance) Please update the RSVP if there's any change in your plans :-) Come for the stories, stay for the discussions!

يدعوكم منتدى شرق وغرب الثقافي إلى أمسية أدبية نقترب فيها من لحظة إنسانية ، نلتقي مع رواية 📖 *الجنرال في متاهته** للكاتب *غابرييل غارسيا ماركيز* يرافقنا سيمون بوليفار في رحلته الأخيرة، ليس بوصفه بطلاً أسطورياً فحسب، بل إنسانًا يواجه ذاته، وذاكرته، وانكساراته. في هذه الجلسة، سنحاول أن نتأمل: • كيف تتحول السيرة إلى حكاية وجودية؟ • وما الذي يبقى من الحلم حين يبهت المجد؟ • وهل المتاهة مكان… أم حالة يعيشها الإنسان في لحظاته الأخيرة؟ 📍 المكان: مكتبةغاف في قاعة الأنشطة بمكتبة الصفا 📅 التاريخ: 10 / 5 / 2026 🕔 الوقت: الساعة السابعة مساءً ✉️ شاركونا قراءتكم، وتأملاتكم، وتساؤلاتكم، فنحن لا نقرأ لنصل إلى إجابة واحدة… بل لنفتح أبوابًا جديدة للفهم والدهشة. بانتظار حضوركم �

يسر "ملتقى الراويــــــــــات" ان يدعوكم الى حضور مناقشة رواية "الفقراؤ " للكاتب الروسي دوستويفسكي، يوم الخميس الموافق 7 مايو 2026 ، الساعة 11 صباحا ، بمكتبة الصفا للفنون والتصميم، شارع الوصل ،دبي. اللقاء ضمن البرنامج الصباحي للملتقى. تدير اللقاء الأستاذة ميسون الشريف. نتطلع الى حضوركم جميعا.

Creative Writing: Between Memory and Family A free interactive reading and writing session in Arabic arranged by Dubai Culture and Sahab Collective. Registration link: https://dubaiculture.gov.ae/en/e-services-forms/new-unified-form/SOL%20-%20May%202026%20-%20Generic?q=%7BF8BEE120-B3F5-4B8F-B6CE-4925C9E3FE19%7D

**Our May novel is: *The Quiet Librarian* by Allen Eskens** **This month’s book is set in the 20th century and mixes historical fiction with suspense and thriller elements. It also centers on women’s stories and relationships. The novel is 368 pages in print or 8 hours and 12 minutes on audiobook.** Hana Babic is a quiet, middle-aged librarian in Minnesota who wants nothing more than to be left alone. But when a detective arrives with the news that her best friend has been murdered, Hana knows that something evil has come for her, a dark remnant of the past she and her friend had shared. Thirty years before, Hana was someone else: Nura Divjak, a teenager growing up in the mountains of war-torn Bosnia—until Serbian soldiers arrived to slaughter her entire family before her eyes. The events of that day thrust Nura into the war, leading her to join a band of militia fighters, where she became not only a fierce warrior but a legend—the deadly Night Mora. But a shattering final act forced Nura to flee to the United States with a bounty on her head\*\*.\*\*

This month we’ll be ready Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett. Feel free to come and chat even if you don’t finish the book!

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.

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! 📖

Join us for our May Book Club gathering where we will come together to discuss *[Cantoras](https://caroderobertis.com/books/cantoras/)*[ ](https://caroderobertis.com/books/cantoras/)by [Caro de Robertis](https://caroderobertis.com/bio/) 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 lunch/tea at Asterisk Supper Club to discuss our May book "Under the Oak Tree" by Suji Kim Lady Maximilian is the daughter of the powerful Duke Croyso, but she is rarely allowed outside her family’s sprawling castle for fear that her stutter will tarnish their noble name. When she is forced to marry Sir Riftan, a lowborn knight caught in one of her father’s schemes, Maxi doesn’t dare hope for happiness, let alone love. Her stumbling communication and his gruff manner sour their relationship before it can begin, and Riftan leaves without a word the morning after their vows are exchanged. Now, three years after their disastrous wedding night, Riftan has returned as a war hero. To Maxi’s surprise, despite rumors that he was offered marriage to Princess Agnes, a beautiful and renowned sorceress, Riftan still wants Maxi for his wife. And when he comes to claim her, his longing becomes a desire that bewilders Maxi, even as she is overcome by the scorching heat that Riftan’s presence ignites within her. As she learns to navigate the intricacies of her new life, Maxi will find herself and her courage, and discover that she is anything but powerless.