Fiction

For our April gathering, let us delve into Rushdie’s “largest aesthetic achievement,” according to Harold Bloom and what scholars describe as fundamentally a study of alienation and hybrid identity: The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie. **About the Book** *The Satanic Verses* is a complex, magical-realist novel that intertwines multiple storylines involving two Indian expatriates — **Gibreel Farishta**, a famous Bollywood actor, and **Saladin Chamcha**, an immigrant voice actor in Britain — who survive the mid-air bombing of a hijacked plane and fall into a surreal fantasy world. Their experiences blur dream and reality, exploring altered identities, spiritual visions, and personal transformations. One of the key narratives involves a mythical city and a prophet figure named **Mahound**, whose revealed “verses” and tribal conflicts echo and reimagine early Islamic history in dream sequences that question faith, revelation, and authority. **About the Author** Salman Rushdie is a British-Indian novelist and essayist, born in 1947 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. He was educated in England and he rose to international prominence with *Midnight’s Children* (1981), a landmark novel combining history and magical realism to depict India’s post-independence experience; it won the Booker Prize and is considered one of the most influential novels of the 20th century. Rushdie is known for his imaginative prose, layered narratives, and exploration of themes such as identity, migration, cultural hybridity, and freedom of expression. His 1988 novel *The Satanic Verses* brought worldwide attention and controversy, significantly affecting his life and career. Despite these challenges, he has continued to produce acclaimed fiction and nonfiction, including *The Moor’s Last Sigh*, *Shalimar the Clown*, and the memoir *Knife* (2023), and is widely regarded as a major figure in contemporary world literature. **About the Meeting** We will approach the text thoughtfully and without preconceived agendas, experiencing it as a work of literature first and foremost—one that invites reflection, careful interpretation, and respect for diverse perspectives, without seeking to provoke controversy or advance any political or polemical stance. **About the location** It will be announced at least 2 days before the event takes place with all the details. **Event contribution alert** The event might require a small participation fee (3-5 euros) or the purchase of something to eat or drink in case we are hosted by a coffee shop. I will make sure to communicate that in advance.

Let's read together on another Sunday morning. Agenda: 10:30-11:00 Arrival, ordering drinks, getting to know each other 11:00-12:00 Reading together 12:00-13:00 Share reading experience There is no books assigned. Just bring whatever you are reading for now. Please sign up only when you can join the event. Hope you will enjoy it there!

-FLINTA\* Jam Session in the park -take your music instrument with you and improvise in a relaxed atmosphere -for beginners and experienced musicians -space to meet people and opportunity to learn new music skills or to try out another instrument -only takes place without rain -1€ for my meetup payment as an organizer -you can take a blanket for sitting with you -I will post the exact location when I arrive (close to Gustav-Meyer-Denkmal) I had a hard time finding an open jam session for beginners in Berlin. So I decided to create this group! I would like to have the space of exploring music together with other people in a relaxed atmosphere. You really don´t need to be a good musician. The only important thing is to really like music. I am not a professional musician. „Weird“ sounds are welcome. Please write in the chat in case you have troubles finding the group.

📚 **Short Story Sunday** 📍 **Location:** Iska Café 📅 **Timing:** Every second Sunday 🕰 **Time:** 11:00 – 13:00 **Selected story: The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe (\~12 pages)** 1st Link: https://americanliterature.com/author/edgar-allan-poe/short-story/the-cask-of-amontillado 2nd Link (backup): [https://poemuseum.org/the-cask-of-amontillado/](https://poemuseum.org/the-cask-of-amontillado/) 3rd Link (backup PDF): https://americanenglish.state.gov/files/ae/resource_files/the_cask_of_amontillado.pdf **A Slow Sunday Morning with Stories** The **Sunday 15 Pages Short Story Book Club** is a gentle way to begin the day — a cozy literary gathering for people who enjoy slowing down, listening to stories, and sharing thoughtful conversation. Instead of reading alone at home, we experience literature together. Each meeting invites us to step out of the Berlin’s rush into a calm space of imagination, reflection, and human connection through short fiction. **How the Morning Flows (Approx. 2 Hours)** **11:00 – 11:30 \| Arrival & Settling In** Gather at the café, order something you enjoy, and ease into the morning. **11:30 – 12:15 \| Collective Reading** We read a carefully selected short story together. **12:15 – 13:00 \| Discussion & Reflection** An open and informal conversation about impressions, emotions, interpretations, and ideas ✨Feel free to join only for the discussion part if you feel like reading on your own ✨ **What to Expect** Short stories are selected by the hosts and announced online before each meeting. No preparation is required — simply arrive and immerse yourself in literature and conversation. **What to Bring With You** • Your own copy of a story • Curiosity and openness • A willingness to listen and share perspectives • Optional: a notebook if you enjoy jotting down thoughts • Your appetite for coffee, cake, and good stories **📍Location:** * We meet at the Iska Cafe at Kalckreuthstraße 7, 10777 Berlin. There is no pin at the google maps yet, so please just come directly to the location and find us at the right door at Erdgeschoss. * 🚇 **U1\, U2 Wittenbergplatz \|\| U1\, U2\, U3\, U4 Nollendorfplatz** * 🚌 **106\, 187\, M19\, M29 An Der Urania \|\| M46 Motzstraße**

Let's meet for the [ACX Spring Meetups Everywhere 2026](https://www.astralcodexten.com/p/meetups-everywhere-spring-2026-times) in the Humboldthain! This will likely be a big meetup, as it was announced by Scott on ACX. From experience, I expect 25–50 attendees. Humboldthain is good to reach by public transport; the next train stops are S+U Gesundbrunnen and S Humboldthain. If you’re reading this, you’re invited. Please don’t feel like you "won't be welcome" just because you’re new to the blog, demographically different from the average reader, or hate ACX and everything it stands for. You'll be fine! I'll buy some snacks; feel free to bring something to share as well. There are also many restaurants around if you get hungry. Location: Big lawn at the center of Humboldthain — [https://plus.codes/9F4MG9WP+36](https://plus.codes/9F4MG9WP+36) Contact: Reply to this event, message me here on Meetup, or join the Telegram group below. Next public toilet: [https://g.co/kgs/bp9nGd](https://g.co/kgs/bp9nGd) Group Link: [https://t.me/+tVWSc66-0UM5MzA6](https://t.me/+tVWSc66-0UM5MzA6)

Hi, ausgehend von unserem Interesse an literarischen Bezügen sprechen wir über *Die Holländerinnen* von Dorothee Elmiger (2025) und *Herz der Finsternis* von Joseph Conrad (1899). Wir widmen uns beiden schmalen Büchern jeweils einzeln und betrachten darüber hinaus ihre Verbindungen und Resonanzen. Die Teilnahme ist auch dann sinnvoll, wenn nur eines der beiden Bücher gelesen wurde. Hier die Links zum Inhalt und Bücher : https://www.hanser-literaturverlage.de/buch/dorothee-elmiger-die-hollaenderinnen-9783446282988-t-5683 https://www.reclam.de/produktdetail/herz-der-finsternis-9783150206539 Wir treffen uns diesmal im Kowski nahe der U-Bahnstation Turmstraße . :)

We meet and sketch each other in Berlin. This is just an art gym that we also exercise our social skills. Afterwards usually we go for lunch as a group. **How Does It Work?** This event is simple, we meet and sketch each other doing portraits. Most of the participants use pencils or watercolors. Main aim is to socialize while we draw. There will be plenty of time to talk and get to know each other. We have to mention that this event is suitable for all levels. Many have started to draw in our event actually. **Structure** A. Warmup Phase: We pose to each other for 1 minute. B. Main Phase: We pose to each other for 10 minutes. C. Showcase Phase: We show some of the drawings we did to each other. **Who We Are** Creative Sessions is an art events group located in Berlin. **Is it Free?** The event is free of charge. It is advisable to get a drink though. This is a cafe, we need to have at least half of the people on each table with a drink. They accept only cash and most hot drinks cost from 2.50 to 3.50. **How to help or donate?** The event is provided for free but many people help this be a regular thing. We also need people to volunteer and help for minor tasks like the serving of the drinks or cleaning up. Just send us a message. If you want to donate and keep this event from happening, via Paypal to the host (Miltos) : https://ko-fi.com/miltosthings/ **Art Materials?** Bring your own art materials. **Our Instagram Profile** Follow us on instagram @icreativesessions Use the hashtag #icreativesessions on your post description there to find out drawings from the event!

\*\*\*\*\*\* ***For address and more details see the website www.pausify.org*** \*\*\*\*\*\* **Event Info:** Pausify is the **biggest community and most active** of book lovers and creatives in Berlin. Impressions: Instagram: **[@Pausify (Co-Reading Space)](https://www.instagram.com/pausify_org/)** Events happen every Sat and Sun at 11 AM. Bring along your **current book to read** (or something **creative** to work on) and join us for this mix of a shared focus time + discussion. \- 11:00\-11:30 \- Meet & greet \- 11:30\-12:30 \- Silent focus time \- 12:30 \- Discussion of books/ projects over coffee Afterwards, join for lunch if you'd like (optional). **Drinks & snacks are included** ☕️ * **To reserve your place, a ticket (€9,90/event) or a community pass (only €17,90/MONTH) [from the website ](https://pausify.org/)*www.pausify.org* is required** * **Attendance here doesn’t show all sign-ups from other platforms. We usually have about 50 to 100 people at each event.** ***FAQ: Why does it cost money if I bring my own project?*** Because we rent a beautiful, central space for every event. Ever thought your monthly apartment rent was too high? Well, multiply that – that’s what commercial spaces in big cities like Berlin cost *per hour*. Of course, if all you want is just some quiet time, your home or a library is perfect. But if you’d like to focus & connect with others in an inspiring space – with drinks, snacks included – that’s what your ticket helps to cover. See pics from our events below - and on our Instagram: **[@Pausify (Co-Reading Space)](https://www.instagram.com/pausify_org/) ☕️** **[Pausify Co-Reading Space Website](https://pausify.org/) www.pausify.org** For questions, please contact us over [Website ](https://pausify.org/) www.pausify.org as this platform can have issues. Thank you! *Please note that photos and videos may be taken during the event and used for promotional purposes to highlight and share the experiences at our events. If you have concerns, don't hesitate to approach the event organizers before the event.*

Dear Book Enthusiasts, For our May gathering, we’ll be reading ***Broken April*** by the Albanian writer **Ismail Kadare**. First published in 1978, this powerful novel is set in the remote highlands of northern Albania, where life is governed by the ancient Kanun — a strict code of customary law that regulates honor, hospitality, and blood feuds. The story follows a young man who has just committed a killing required by the code and now lives through the brief, suspended days before vengeance inevitably returns. Through this stark and poetic narrative, Kadare explores fate, tradition, violence, and the quiet tragedy of lives bound by inherited laws. 📅 Date & Time: 10.05.2026 at 15:00 📍 Location: Audrey coffee, Holzendorffstraße 18, 14057 Berlin 💬 Fee: As always, a 3 € contribution after the meeting helps cover organization costs I’m very much looking forward to discussing this haunting and thought-provoking novel with you — and to sharing another thoughtful afternoon together. Warmly, Sofya

Hello fellow writers, This is our Sunday meet-up at café Peppe. Come along, grab a coffee, shut up, and write! There will be two sessions of writing, each lasting 45 minutes, and two breaks. \- The first writing session will start at 10:45 am\. \- Second session will start at 11:45 am\. PS: We have limited space of 18 peoples. Please sign up accordingly. See you all on Sunday.

This year we have our very own big covered tent on the silent green lawn from 13–15h on Sunday May 10. To gather, chat with each other and have a nice day together! It’s public open day, completely free APART FROM THE SCREENINGS, WHICH COST 6€/hourlong screening (not related to our group of course) There’s a character art market, an art exhibition, collage workshop, picture book readings, and 6 screenings plus a Kids Kino.

Liebe Bitcoinerinnen, wir laden euch herzlich zu unserem nächsten Les Femmes Orange Meetup ein — ein Raum von Frauen, für Frauen, die sich für Bitcoin begeistern oder einfach neugierig auf das Thema sind. Egal, ob du schon lange im Bitcoin Space bist oder gerade erst eintauchst – komm vorbei, tausche dich aus, vernetze dich mit anderen Frauen und lass dich inspirieren. Dieses Mal treffen wir uns im **Restaurant Huong Que**. Im schönen Bergmannkiez. Je nach Wetter sitzen wir draußen oder drinnen. Für Fragen, Feedback und Infos: Les Femmes Orange Berlin **Telegram-Gruppe** https://t.me/+ccJ7AYxrz4FjOTdi Wir freuen uns auf euch!

Chitta Walks is for people whose days move fast, while the mind never fully lands. Thoughts keep looping even when nothing is urgent. The body moves, but attention is elsewhere. Over time, this disconnect drains clarity and ease. This walk is a simple reset. We meet in Berlin’s Tiergarten and walk at a gentle pace. Parts of the walk are in silence, with light guidance and a few short prompts. The walk itself is the practice, bringing body and mind back into the same moment. No apps. No performance. Just a clear space to slow down and notice what is happening. If you want to slow down without withdrawing from life, join a Chitta Walk. ✨ **What to expect (approx. 90 minutes):** * A short arrival and orientation * A guided silent walk (phones off, no conversation) * One concise science-based impulse on attention or stress * Optional reflection in pairs or small groups * A simple takeaway or experiment for daily life 🚶**Who this is for:** * Professionals, creatives, and people in transition. * People who feel mentally busy and want more clarity and balance. * Those curious about mindfulness, but grounded and practical. * Anyone comfortable with silence and gentle self observation. 🔔 **Practical notes:** * Duration: 60-90 minutes * Wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing * No prior experience needed * Group size is limited to keep the space quiet and focused 🧭 **Facilitator:** My name is Partha Sarathi, you can call me PS. I have lived in Berlin for over 12 years. With a background in physics and materials science, my interest in mindfulness grew through personal experience with stress and health challenges. I facilitate the space and structure of the walk, inviting shared exploration rather than instruction. 🤔 **Why Chitta Walks?** Chitta is a Sanskrit word referring to the mind or field of awareness, used here in a practical, non-religious sense. Chitta Walks is about noticing how the mind works by slowing down and walking together. Mindful walking makes thought patterns visible in real time, while moving and sensing in the world. The name points to a simple capacity: noticing what is happening in the mind without immediately trying to fix, judge, or optimize it. 🌿 **Possible effects:** A calmer nervous system. Clearer attention. A felt sense of being more present in your body. Subtle insights into how your mind reacts under everyday conditions. A quieter, more grounded way of moving through the city. **Come as you are. Walk. Notice. Leave with a little more space inside.**

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

Attend a free seminar on how to have successful and lasting relationships. At this seminar you will learn: How to spot and handle negative and toxic relationships. How to get through the "rough patches" in a relationship. How to choose the right people to work with. The three things that make or break any relationship. How to make a good relationship great. All are welcome. Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there. Hosted by the Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.

Join us as we kick off Summer Movie Season with a Happy Hour & a movie event to see the sci-fi action-adventure, THE MANDOLARIAN AND GROGU! The sci-fi action-adventure follows a lone bounty hunter and his apprentice Grogu (Baby Yoda) embark on an exciting new Star Wars adventure. Here are details, a trailer and our plan for this event: DESCRIPTION: In the film, Djarin and his apprentice Grogu are enlisted by the New Republic during a period where remaining Imperial warlords threaten the galaxy. The film is written/directed by Jon Favreau (the mastermind behind the early MCU films) and stars Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver and Jeremy Allen White. TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwild1rw7Aw HAPPY HOUR PLAN: For Happy Hour food and drinks before the show we’ll meet in the bar area at nearby Bravo at 5:15pm! We’ll have a section reserved for the group, so keep an eye out for us and we’ll keep one out for you! CMG Pro Tip: If you can, bring cash as it helps make for a quicker exit from the restaurant. MOVIE PLAN: Please purchase your ticket for the 6:45pm showing and meet in the lobby area at 6:30pm! Tickets on sale now and advance purchase as soon as possible is advised! Once you have yours, please list you seat number in the Comments section of this event. Happy Summer and See You Soon, Dan

This is a free, in-person meeting on the subject of betrayals, losses and how to get over them so you can build lasting relationships. Burdened by a stressful relationship? Unhealthy relationships can trigger feelings of anger, despair or self-doubt. They can create dwindling spirals of fights and seeking to make-up, or trying to “pin the blame” on someone or something. If you don’t find the RIGHT reasons, or select the correct sources of the problem, the problem can just get worse and worse. Whether in love or personal ties, with friends or at work, our life really IS affected by the quality of our relationships. Good ones can promote pleasure and survival while less optimum ones can lead to annoyance, anger, self-doubt, stress, or even affect our health and ability to survive well. Whether you are suffering from a divorce, or a painful break-up, don’t know who to trust (or who to CHOOSE) as a partner, friend, boss or employee - the anxiety of relationship troubles can really make a mess of things. Maybe you’ve suffered a betrayal, or are dealing with hostility or criticalness or invalidation. Dwindling relationships can involve destructive behavior, where we hurt those we love, or start succumbing to self-destructive thoughts, attitudes or behaviors that spiral out of control and affect much more than our immediate relationship. Past losses in love or life can affect how we act or react to new people and situations and hold us back from even starting to create new, possibly great relationships! How can one get back onto a saner course of action? Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life: human relationships! Break free from self imposed limitations Here we will discuss: • How to “erase” the trauma of past hurts and betrayals so that one isn’t always repeating past mistakes. • Why and how do the negative emotions of others affect you? • Why is my partner withdrawing and what can I do about it? • Why do we sometimes feel compelled to hurt the ones we love? • Fights & arguments - what's really behind them? • What underlies “corrosive criticism” or the need to invalidate self or others? • How one can stably change one’s outlook on life so they can affect positive change? • Where do compulsive destructive behaviors come from and what can be done about them? • How to form closer bonds & keep growing the relationships with the people you care about? • How to enhance one’s own ability to survive and create positive healthy relationships whether in love, family & friendships or in work, business or one’s career? Relationships can be hard and life itself IS challenging. Why not arm yourself with the knowledge and breakthroughs that have been made about the mind, mental reactions & interpersonal relationships, so that one has better awareness and control over themselves and life in general. Learn where painful experiences are “stored” and how they can unknowingly affect us. You will also find out how one can “erase” those past painful experiences so that one is free to move forward without being tripped up by the past. Learn too, about what can lead some people to become “toxic” personalities and how to identify those traits in others so you won’t be tripped up trusting the wrong person. Our free Meet-ups occur in a safe environment where one can learn, without fear of judgment or criticism, and without the recommendation of harmful mental techniques or therapies, just how YOU can get yourself onto a happier & more successful path: in love & in life. We look forward to having you join us! This class is sponsored by the Dianetics & Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.

Join us for TheMercy of Gods by James S. A. Corey. How humanity came to the planet called Anjiin is lost in the fog of history, but that history is about to end. The Carryx - part empire, part hive - have waged wars of conquest for centuries, destroying or enslaving species across the galaxy. Now, they are facing a great and deathless enemy. The key to their survival may rest with the humans of Anjiin. Caught up in academic intrigue and affairs of the heart, Dafyd Alkhor is pleased just to be an assistant to a brilliant scientist and his celebrated research team. Then the Carryx ships descend, decimating the human population and taking the best and brightest of Anjiin society away to serve on the Carryx homeworld, and Dafyd is swept along with them. They are dropped in the middle of a struggle they barely understand, set in a competition against the other captive species with extinction as the price of failure. Only Dafyd and a handful of his companions see past the Darwinian contest to the deeper game that they must play to learning to understand - and manipulate - the Carryx themselves. With a noble but suicidal human rebellion on one hand and strange and murderous enemies on the other, the team pays a terrible price to become the trusted servants of their new rulers. Dafyd Alkhor is a simple man swept up in events that are beyond his control and more vast than his imagination. He will become the champion of humanity and its betrayer, the most hated man in history and the guardian of his people. This is where his story begins.

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