English Books & Literature

Purchase your ticket via this [link](https://www.billetweb.fr/gong-bath-from-earth-to-water-en-fr) \- achetez vos billets[ ici](https://www.billetweb.fr/gong-bath-from-earth-to-water-en-fr) FR plus bas **Gong Bath – From Earth to Water** Friday, 16 January 2026 · 19h30 – 21h00 Yoga Studio Brussels A sound journey supporting the transition from the grounding energy of Capricorn to the fluid, visionary flow of Aquarius — aligned with the New Moon on January 18. You’ll be immersed in the therapeutic vibrations of six gongs (Earth, Sedna, Neptune, and others), supporting deep relaxation, release, and openness to intuitive flow. No experience needed. All materials provided. Comfortable clothing recommended. Price: • 35 € (individual) • 32 € per person (if booking for 2 or more) Bookings & info: [bookings@nirmalkaram.com](mailto:bookings@nirmalkaram.com) Limited places — advance booking recommended. *** **Bain de Gong – De la Terre à l’Eau** Vendredi 16 janvier 2026 · 19h30 – 21h00 Yoga Studio Brussels Un voyage sonore qui accompagne la transition de l’énergie d’ancrage du Capricorne vers la fluidité intuitive du Verseau — en résonance avec la Nouvelle Lune du 18 janvier. Vous serez enveloppé·e par les vibrations thérapeutiques de six gongs (Terre, Sedna, Neptune...) pour une détente profonde, une libération intérieure et une ouverture à l’intuition. Aucune expérience requise. Tout le matériel est fourni. Tenue confortable recommandée. Tarif : • 35 € (une personne) • 32 € par personne à partir de deux Réservations & infos : [bookings@nirmalkaram.com](mailto:bookings@nirmalkaram.com) Places limitées — réservation conseillée.

**What to expect** An evening for neurodiverse adults (18+) to come together, share experiences, and make new friends. The evening will be semi-structured, running from 7pm to 9pm. Once everyone has arrived we will do a quick icebreaker activity to get to know each other. Next, participants will be split up into small discussion groups of 4 or 5 people spread out around the space. Everyone will get a conversation card with a thought-provoking question related to their neurodivergent experience. For example, “What is one example of some life advice that has really helped you?” , “In what contexts do you feel like you can be your neurodivergent self fully without having to mask?” and “what similarities and differences do you see between yourself and other neurodivergent people?”These questions are meant to start a conversation, but you are free to let the discussion evolve naturally in any direction! After 15-20 minutes you’ll be allocated to a different discussion group with entirely new people and new conversation starters. The remaining portion of the evening will allow you to mill around the room to talk to anyone you wish about anything you wish to talk about. You can also play a board game if you like. We have the space until 21:30. **For Who?** Neurodiverse adults (18+) A formal diagnosis is not necessary. This event is open to anyone who can relate to the difficulties and experiences of being neurodivergent or is trying to figure things out. Neurodivergence includes but is not limited to autism, ADHD, HS , OCD, BPD etc **When** First and third Fridays of the month, with the exception of school and normal holidays. See Meetup for the exact dates and any updates/changes to each event. There will be free water, tea and coffee at the International House, as well as soft drinks at the honesty bar where everything is 2€ (Exact change or card)

Making new friends in a new city doesn’t need to be a struggle at all.

**🗨️ Let’s talk English together!** We are meeting up for an informal chat to practice. Native speakers are appreciated! No preparation needed, come and go as you like! ❗**Rules and practical info -------------------------------------** \- Make sure you respond to the event\, it is very helpful for the organizer\. Don’t forget to remove it if you cannot make it\! \- A minimum level of A2\-B1 is recommended\. **\- Please purchase at least one thing to support the location\.** Do not consume external food or drinks there. *Visit the website [languagebuddies.be](http://languagebuddies.be/) for the event calendar, other social links, information on how to organize something yourself, and more!*

_IMPORTANT: To RSVP you will also need to register as a member [here.](https://forms.gle/PsmYJ3vQKocXQCAY6)_ **🏮 Please bring a red-light headlamp or torch (Decathlon has them).** Red mode is required to minimize light pollution, respect wildlife, and keep the peaceful night-walk atmosphere. As winter approaches and daylight fades earlier, we’ll take advantage of the calm, blue-hour mood for a gentle **late-afternoon walk through Parc de Woluwe** - one of Brussels’ most elegant urban parks. We’ll follow an easy loop along the lakes and the Woluwe River, enjoying that unique winter serenity: silhouettes of trees against the sky, reflections on the water, and the quiet shift from day to night. After the walk, we’ll warm up together with a drink at **Brasserie des Étangs Mellaerts**, our meeting and parking point. ### **🕯️ A bit of history, softly told at dusk** Created during the **Belle Époque** (1896–1898) as part of King Leopold II’s urban vision, the park was designed as a landscaped corridor linking Brussels to Tervuren. The gentle river, the chain of lakes, and the elegant avenues still echo that era’s idea of blending beauty, nature, and modern city life. ### **🕓 Plan** * Meet at **Brasserie des Étangs Mellaerts**, Bd du Souverain 275, 1150 Woluwe-Saint-Pierre * **Parking** available on site * Easy access via **Tram 39/44** from Montgomery or **Tram 8** from Roodebeek - get off at *Musée du Tram* * We start and end the walk at the ClubHouse, followed by warm drinks together ☕ ### **🌿 Expect** 🍁 Winter foliage, calm lakes, and soft evening light 🦆 Ducks, herons, maybe even a fox if we’re lucky ✨ A cozy, slightly scout-like night walk with red headlamps 🐕 Gentle pace - dogs welcome ### **💶 Symbolic Contribution** This recurring walk is **free**. If you’d like to support the Sunday Vacations community, you may make an optional **€5 symbolic contribution** to our non-profit ASBL. **UJAMAA ASBL** **IBAN:** BE35 7380 4663 9137 **Reference:** Woluwe By joining this event, you agree to the Sunday Vacations [Terms & Conditions](https://www.sundayvacations.com/terms), [Privacy Policy](https://www.sundayvacations.com/privacy) & [Code of Conduct](https://www.sundayvacations.com/code)

**Cinematek : Negociador** 16/01 @ 19h Borja Cobeaga combined his work as a television director (first season of Vaya Semanita in 2003 on ETB) with directing and writing short films such as La primera vez (2001) and …ramos pocos (2005), winners of more than 100 international awards plus a Goya and an Academy Award nomination respectively. Prior to Negociador, he directed the feature films Pagafantas (2009) and No controles (2010), in addition to the short films Limoncello (2007), Un novio de mierda (2010) and Democracia (2013). He also co-wrote the films Amigos (2011) and 8 apellidos vascos (Spanish Affair, 2014). [Cinematek](https://cinematek.be/2026-01-16-19-00/negociador) [Basque Educational Organisation](https://www.basqueeducational.org/movies-in-our-collection/negociador/) **For Dreamers, Coffee shots, Orezza, eau de Saint-Georges !**

Dear friends, Welcome to the first gathering of **Reflections on a Mirror: Philosophy, Poetry, Music & Spirit**. This circle was born from a simple wish: to create a space where we can pause, reflect, and listen — to ourselves, to one another and to the deeper questions that move through our lives. The mirror in our name is not something external; it is an inner gesture. It reminds us that every thought we encounter, every poem we hear, every piece of music we listen to, and every question we ask becomes a way of seeing ourselves and the world more clearly. In this space we are not here to prove, convince, or perform. We are here to explore. To sit with ideas, to let words and sounds resonate, to share what moves us, and to listen without hurry. Philosophy, poetry, music and spirituality are not separate paths — they are different languages through which the human spirit speaks. There is no requirement to know, only to be open. No need to agree, only to be present. Each of us arrives with a unique story, a unique perspective and a unique way of listening — and all of that belongs here. May this circle be a place of thoughtful dialogue, quiet depth, gentle curiosity and human warmth. May it be a space where insight grows naturally, where silence is as welcome as speech, and where we leave a little more connected than when we arrived. There is a free event, but please make sure that you place an order at the cafe so as we will be hosted well. Thank you for being here and for helping to bring this circle into being. Warmly, Apostolos

Hello, readers ! In January we are reading The Vulnerables by Sigrid Nunez. ***Please note our new venue - Maison de Quartier Malibran, Rue de la Digue 10, 1050 Ixelles - and our new start time of 11am.*** More details on this change of venue will be sent soon in a separate message. **Please keep your RSVP up to date** and happy reading!

We'll be discussing the book “Roadside Picnic” by Arkady Strugatsky and choosing the next book.

Common Ground Book Club
An in-person reading group exploring critical theory, from the Frankfurt School to contemporary thinkers. We’ll read books and essays, and our discussions will focus on society, power, and modern phenomena: from politics to media and social trends. 
Fourth Meeting
We will discuss the first part of Marcuse’s “One-Dimensional Man”, Introduction and Chapters 1-4 (till p. 123): https://files.libcom.org/files/Marcuse,%20H%20-%20One-Dimensional%20Man,%202nd%20edn.%20(Routledge,%202002).pdf The next meeting(s) will be devoted to Parts II and III :) 
Who is it for?
No prior philosophy or theory background is required, just curiosity and a willingness to engage. I (the organiser) am not an expert; I just seek other kind souls who want to exchange thoughts ✨ 
Format
• Readings may be short essays, selected chapters, or full books.
• Each meeting begins with a short recap/introduction of the text.
• Open, informal discussion.
• Everyone is encouraged to bring a passage or question they found interesting, confusing, or provocative.
• Language of discussion: English.
If you have any questions or suggestions, please reach out on Meet-up or Instagram: @commongroundbe

Spend time in the company of other writers putting pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard. Work on your current project or start something new. If you are fresh out of inspiration a member of the Wordcraft Collective will be ready with a prompt to get you going. You can use that to unlock your creative brain before moving back to your own project or run with it. Who knows where the story will take you? Arrive when you like, leave when you like, or join us for a drink in the bar downstairs afterwards. Location: Pianofabriek, Rue du Fort 35, 1060 Saint-Gilles.

**PLEASE READ THE ATTENDANCE POLICY (below) IF IT'S YOUR FIRST TIME** **SUNDAY COFFEE & JAPANESE CONVERSATION** 日曜日のコーヒー＆日本語会話 Our "Japanese/English Conversation Exchange" offers you a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of Japanese culture and language, all while helping native Japanese members to learn English, French, or Dutch. 私たちの「日本語/英語会話交流」は、日本の文化と言語の世界に没頭しながら、ネイティブの日本人メンバーが英語、フランス語、またはオランダ語を学ぶのを手助けするユニークな機会を提供します。 **Date: /** 日付：**(almost) every Sunday** **Time: /** 時間：**from 4.00 pm to 6.00 pm** **Location: /** 場所：**Cafe Caberdouche - Place de la Liberté 8, 1000 Bruxelles** **Venue Note: /** 会場の注意：**The manager of the cafe kindly accepted us to book a table on a regular basis. To thank him for his kindness, please order AT LEAST ONE DRINK**. カフェのマネージャーが親切にも私たちに定期的にテーブルを予約することを承諾してくださいました。その親切に感謝の意を示すために、少なくとも1杯のドリンクを注文してください。 **Location Assistance: /** 場所の案内：**If you can't find us, ask one of the waiters. They know where we are :) You can also send us a message.** 私たちを見つけられない場合は、ウェイターの一人に尋ねてください。彼らは私たちがどこにいるか知っています :) メッセージも送っていただけます。 **Event Agenda: /** イベントのアジェンダ： * **4:00 PM - 4:30 PM: JAPANESE CONVERSATION** \- Join us for the first 30 minutes dedicated to Japanese conversation and cultural exploration\. Beginners are welcome to listen or join after the initial half\-hour\. / 日本語会話 \- 最初の30分は日本語の会話と文化探求に充てられています。初心者も聞くだけでも歓迎です。30分後に参加しても構いません。 * **4:30 PM - 6:00 PM: MULTI-LINGUAL EXCHANGE** \- Experience Belgium's diversity by sharing your language and culture with native Japanese members eager to learn English\, French\, or Dutch\. Engage in cross\-cultural conversations in various languages\. Introduce our Japanese friends to Belgian culture\, traditions\, and life\. 多言語交換 \- ベルギーの多様性を体験し、ネイティブの日本人メンバーが英語、フランス語、またはオランダ語を学びたいと熱心に待っています。さまざまな言語で異文化交流の会話に参加しましょう。私たちの日本の友人にベルギーの文化、伝統、生活を紹介しましょう。 * **6:00 PM: EVENT CONCLUSION** \- Please respect the event's start and end times to maximize your language exchange opportunities\. Your participation and enthusiasm are appreciated\! イベントの終了 \- イベントの開始時間と終了時間を尊重して、言語交換の機会を最大限に活用してください。参加と熱意に感謝します！ **Attendance Policy: --->** 以下の日本語 * We're excited to have you join our events and appreciate your commitment to learning and growing together. To ensure a productive and enjoyable experience for all participants, please take note of our attendance policy: 1. **Punctuality:** Please arrive on time for scheduled events. Late arrivals can disrupt the flow of the event and may miss important information. 4.00 pm for JAPANESE ONLY SESSION & 4.30 PM for ALL LANGUAGES SESSION 2. **Language Commitment:** If you sign up for language-specific sessions, such as Japanese conversation or language exchange, we kindly request your commitment to actively participate in that language for the designated duration. 3. **Respect:** Treat fellow participants, organizers, and cafe staff with respect and courtesy. Harassment or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. 4. **Removal Policy:** A participant who is not respectful towards other members will be removed from the group and blocked, with no warning. This point is not negotiable. 5. **Cancellation:** If you are unable to attend an event you've registered for, please let us know as soon as possible. This helps us plan accordingly and allows others to take your place if there's a waitlist. 6. **No-Show Policy:** Three no-shows (failing to attend without prior notice) may result in restrictions on event registration to ensure fairness to other participants. By attending our events, you agree to adhere to these guidelines. We aim to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone can learn and connect. Thank you for being part of our community! **出席ポリシー：** 私たちは、イベントに参加していただけることを楽しみにしており、皆さんが一緒に学び成長することに取り組んでいただけることを感謝しています。すべての参加者が生産的で楽しい経験をするために、出席ポリシーにご留意ください： 1. 時間厳守：予定されたイベントには時間通りにお越しください。遅刻はイベントの流れを乱し、重要な情報を見逃す可能性があります。日本語のみのセッションは午後4時、全言語のセッションは午後4時30分開始です。 2. 言語へのコミットメント：日本語会話や言語交換など、特定の言語のセッションに登録された場合は、その言語での積極的な参加をお願いします。 3. 尊重：他の参加者、主催者、カフェのスタッフには敬意と礼儀をもって接してください。嫌がらせや迷惑行為は許容されません。 4. 退場ポリシー：他のメンバーに対して敬意を持たない参加者は、警告なしにグループから削除され、ブロックされます。このポイントは交渉の余地がありません。 5. キャンセル：登録したイベントに参加できない場合は、できるだけ早くお知らせください。これにより、他の人があなたの代わりを取ることができます。 6. ノーショーポリシー：事前の通知なしに3回のノーショー（欠席）がある場合は、他の参加者に公平になるようイベントの登録に制限がかかる場合があります。 私たちのイベントに参加することで、これらのガイドラインに従うことに同意するものとします。私たちはみなさんが学び、つながることができるように歓迎される包括的な環境を作り出すことを目指しています。コミュニティの一部としてご参加いただき、ありがとうございます！ **Note: Please stay tuned to our event page for updates and schedule changes. We can't wait to see you there and exchange languages, cultures, and stories!** 備考：更新やスケジュールの変更については、イベントページをご覧ください。そこで皆さんにお会いして、言語や文化、物語を交換できるのを楽しみにしています！

**Cinematek : The Unbearable Lightness of Being** 18/01 @ 16h00 Verbeelden met taal is wezenlijk iets anders dan vertellen met beelden; een romanschrijver heeft daardoor misschien wel een grotere macht dan een filmmaker. Hij kan zijn karakters laten dansen op zijn commando en hun verhoudingen eindeloos veranderen, totdat hij alles zo belicht heeft dat de lezer het werk kan afmaken: de romanschrijver is een superieure poppenspeler. Milan Kundera beheerst dit werk in zijn roman ‘De Ondraaglijke Lichtheid van het Bestaan’ tot in de puntjes. Zijn exploratie van het menselijk handelen in de liefde (vrij of romantisch) en onder dictatuur (aanpassen of rug recht houden) deed hij door middel van vier karakters – twee mannen en twee vrouwen – die elk een pool van het morele spectrum vertegenwoordigen, maar nooit helemaal zuiver zijn. De vier hoofdpersonen verhouden zich in een symmetrische tweeslachtigheid. Tomas is overspelig maar ruïneert zijn carrière omdat hij niet wil zwichten voor de communisten; Tereza is moreel zuiver in de liefde maar is door haar gebondenheid daaraan niet vrij; Sabina is dat wel maar loopt weg voor de liefde; de westerse professor Franz (Derek de Lint) gelooft evenzeer in de ware liefde als in linkse idealen, maar bedriegt zijn vrouw met Sabina en is een salonsocialist. De geloofwaardigheid van de romanfiguren wordt geschraagd door het vertellen van hun levensgeschiedenis en filosofische bespiegelingen over het verschil tussen kunst en kitsch. Doe dat maar eens na in een film; dat heeft Philip Kaufman ook geprobeerd. De plot volgt het boek nauwkeurig en Kaufman wist dat 170 minuten echt niet te lang was. Dat is het ook niet maar de karakters zijn slechts schimmen van wat ze in het boek zijn. Ondanks een uitstekende cast, waardoor deze film zeker memorabel is, slagen de makers er niet in de ingewikkelde dualiteit van de hoofdpersonen tot een tragische te maken. De film is eerder een maximale verbeelding van het boek dan een superieur substituut; de karakters worden te zeer versimpeld. Het boek lijkt onverfilmbaar omdat de plot alleen niet genoeg is en het meenemen van alle essentiële details een te lange film zou vergen. Maar de acteurs doen hun uiterste best. Degenen die de film zien voor het lezen van het boek zullen al lezend nooit meer los komen van de gezichten van Day-Lewis, Binoche en Olin, die werkelijk perfect gecast zijn in de rijke vijver van de Europese film. Dit is, samen met de mooie plaatjes in Bergman-stijl, de bestaansgrond voor deze film, die een formidabele tagline heeft: ‘a lovers story’. Jan-Kees Verschuure [Cinematek](https://cinematek.be/2026-01-18-16-00/the-unbearable-lightness-of-being) [Cine Magazine](https://cinemagazine.nl/the-unbearable-lightness-of-being-1988-recensie/) **For Dreamers, Coffee shots, Orezza, eau de Saint-Georges !**

Welcome to our weekly event in the upstairs room of The Sister Café, rue Chair et Pain 3, one block from the Grand Place. Please get there early enough to order your drink at the bar first. Thank you! After introductions we will collect questions from the group participants, choose one by voting then discuss it for an hour. Then most of us stay for drinks and bizarre conversations. Past questions have been wide and not confined to academic philosophy: What is a genuine friend? Is social media turning us into emotional zombies? Do we lose some of the experience of things by defining them? Are we driven by sex? Is loneliness a personal failure? Is morality relative? **Crucially, be kind and respectful and generous** in your disagreements; remember how much you personally enjoy someone else proving you wrong before celebrating your cutting counterexamples.

**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."

For January, we’re reading Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy. For fans of Flight Behavior and Station Eleven, a novel set on the brink of catastrophe, as a young woman chases the world's last birds--and her own final chance for redemption. Franny Stone has always been a wanderer. By following the ocean's tides and the birds that soar above, she can forget the losses that have haunted her life. But when the wild she loves begins to disappear, Franny can no longer wander without a destination. She arrives in remote Greenland with one purpose: to find the world's last flock of Arctic terns and track their final migration. She convinces Ennis Malone, captain of the Saghani, to take her onboard, winning over his eccentric crew with promises that the birds will lead them to fish. As the Saghani fights its way south, Franny's dark history begins to unspool. Battered by night terrors, accumulating a pile of unsent letters, and obsessed with pursuing the terns at any cost, Franny is full of secrets. When her quest threatens the safety of the entire crew, Franny must ask herself what she is really running toward--and running from. Propelled by a narrator as fierce and fragile as the terns she is following, Charlotte McConaghy's Migrations is both an ode to our threatened world and a breathtaking page-turner about the lengths we will go for the people we love.

Join us for Slow Horses and a Book Exchange! In addition to our usual chat about the book, we’ll be exchanging books. Bring two books you’re willing to part with and we’ll exhange books. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- Welcome to the thrilling and unnervingly prescient world of the slow horses. This team of MI5 agents is united by one common bond: They've screwed up royally and will do anything to redeem themselves. This special tenth-anniversary deluxe edition of a modern classic includes a foreword by the author, discussion questions for book clubs, and an exclusive short story featuring the slow horses. London, England: Slough House is where washed-up MI5 spies go to while away what's left of their failed careers. The "slow horses," as they're called, have all disgraced themselves in some way to get relegated there. Maybe they botched an Op so badly they can't be trusted anymore. Maybe they got in the way of an ambitious colleague and had the rug yanked out from under them. Maybe they just got too dependent on the bottle-not unusual in this line of work. One thing they have in common, though, is they want to be back in the action. And most of them would do anything to get there-even if it means having to collaborate with one another. When a young man is abducted and his kidnappers threaten to broadcast his beheading live on the Internet, the slow horses see an opportunity to redeem themselves. But is the victim really who he appears to be?

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. *The 5AM Club* by Robin Sharma explores how waking up early and following a structured morning routine can dramatically improve productivity, mindset, and overall life mastery. Through a blend of storytelling and practical frameworks, it teaches high performers how to build discipline, focus, and long-term success by owning the first hour of the day. 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 cutting edge rom-com translates the familiar "love triangle" to the 2025 luxury driven NYC culture. Can our successful matchmaker find true love herself? Watch it and cast your opinion at the group discussion,

This will be an open forum discussion of the book "Native American History."