Fiction

**\*\*\*Look for us in the ground floor, right from reception area; next to the screen showing fireplace! I have a sign (yellow)\*\*\*** Writing can feel like a solitary experience, but it doesn't have to be! Writing in the company of others can be surprisingly inspiring, productive, and comforting. Writers of all types and levels are welcome. Whether you're writing a novel, a memoir, poetry, journaling, working on your thesis, or even catching up on emails, all are welcome. We do things a little differently on Monday evenings. We start with an introduction round, then we will do 45 minutes of writing, break and share how it went, and then dive into the next 45-minute session. **For space reasons, we are limited to a certain number of attendees, so please update your RSVP if you can't come**. In between sessions, we have a Telegram chat: [https://t.me/joinchat/ERW3pxD5kfELGeWs9SUhjw](https://t.me/joinchat/ERW3pxD5kfELGeWs9SUhjw) For more information, visit [https://shutupwrite.com](https://shutupwrite.com/).

Come along, grab a coffee, shut up, and write! We will do at least two sessions of each 45 minutes of writing and two breaks. We will start the first writing session at 10:45. For space reasons we only allow a limited number of attendees, so please update your RSVP if you can't come. We'll probably be grouped around the large table in the back room's center. In the summer, also outside. Looking forward to seeing you there!

## Wo & Wann? **JEDEN MONTAG** findet die offene Lesebühne des Autorenforums Berlin statt (außer an Feiertagen) **BEGINN**: 20:00 Uhr **ANMELDUNG zum Lesen: ab 19:30 Uhr** beim Moderator des Abends – siehe [Termine](http://autorenforum-berlin.de/wordpress/termine/); Die Teilnahme an der Veranstaltung ist kostenlos. **SCHWARTZSCHE VILLA** **Großer Salon** Direkt am S/U Rathaus Steglitz Grunewaldstr. 55 Der offene Leseabend stellt das Herzstück des Autorenforums e.V. dar. Er steht nicht nur Mitgliedern, sondern grundsätzlich jedem Autor und jeder Autorin offen, der gerne einen unveröffentlichten Text vor Publikum präsentieren möchte. Auch Kritik kann jedermann üben. Wer lieber zuhören möchte, kann einfach am Montagabend um 20.00 in der Schwartzschen Villa erscheinen. Für Lesewillige gilt die unten stehende ausführliche Information (mündliche Anmeldung ab 19:30 Uhr). *Unfortunately at the moment, it's only possible to present German texts. Unpublished texts that are already translated into German are highly welcome!* ## Was erwartet Sie? Im Großen Salon der Schwartzsche Villa treffen Sie auf einen Kreis von Literaturbegeisterten, die Ihrem Text eine ernsthafte und fundierte Kritik spenden. Das Publikum wechselt. Es ist gemischt, geeint durch das Interesse an Texten. Die Autorinnen und Autoren des Abends lesen aus ihren bislang unveröffentlichten Kurzgeschichten, lyrischen Texten, Erzählungen, Romanen, manchmal auch aus Theaterstücken. Die Autoren stellen nicht sich selbst, sondern ihre Texte der Kritik. Wir verstehen uns als Arbeitsbühne. Deshalb wird bei uns nach den Lesungen nicht geklatscht. Die Texte werden nach der Lesung des Autors auf handwerkliche Stärken und Schwächen „abgeklopft“. Es geht im Forum daher nicht um weltanschauliche Debatten. Im Idealfall hat der Autor/die Autorin nach einer Lesung und der Kritik verstanden, wo die Stärken und Schwächen seines Textes liegen, woran es seinem Text noch fehlt, was er ändern sollte und wo er bei seiner Überarbeitung ansetzen kann. Der Abend endet gegen 22.00. Im Anschluss können Sie mit den Autoren im Café der Schwartzschen Villa noch ins Gespräch kommen und manches aus dem Literaturbetrieb erfahren. Wir sind im Kontakt auch mit namhaften Vertretern desselben. Also – nicht gleich verschwinden! Dranbleiben. Reden Sie mit den Forumianern! ## Sie möchten selbst lesen? Wenn Sie selbst im Autorenforum lesen wollen, gibt es einige Dinge zu beachten. Wir bitten Sie sehr herzlich, sich mindestens einmal vor Ihrer ersten Lesung bei uns mit unseren Gegebenheiten vertraut zu machen. Ihren Lesewunsch können Sie dann ab 19.30 Uhr (Einlass) bei der Moderatorin oder dem Moderator eines Leseabends anmelden. **Wir weisen ausdrücklich daraufhin, dass über die Annahme und Reihenfolge der Lesungen die jeweiligen Moderatoren entscheiden und es NICHT zwingend nach der Reihenfolge der Anmeldungen geht!** In der Regel reicht die Zeit nur für drei Autoren je Abend und die Nachfrage ist oft recht hoch. Falls Sie einen lyrischen Text vortragen möchten, bringen Sie bitte mindestens 10 (zehn) Kopien mit, damit Ihr Publikum mitlesen kann. Die Kopien erhalten Sie selbstverständlich zurück. # Wie üben wir Textkritik? Nach der Idee von Maik Turni ## **Anschleichen** **Wie wirkt der Text auf mich?** (Keine Angst vor Adjektiven! ) **Was habe ich gehört?** (Zusammenfassung (Nacherzählung)) **Was blieb unverstanden** (akustisch oder logisch) ## **Unter der Lupe** **Was ist das für ein Text?** (Prosa: Genre? Lyrik: Welche Art lyrischer Text?) **Thema** (Welches Thema berührt der Text? Hat der Autor sein Thema im Griff? Ist es überzeugend/plausibel/gut recherchiert, vielleicht sogar zu faktenreich?) **Figuren** (Wie wirken die Figuren? Wer ist die Hauptfigur? Welches Problem hat die Hauptfigur?) **Perspektive** (Wie verhält sich die Erzählperspektive zum Thema / zu den Figuren?) **Sprache** (Welche Bilder sind stimmig / welche nicht? Was lässt sich zum Rhythmus sagen? Sind die Sätze syntaktisch und grammatikalisch korrekt?) **Dramaturgie** (Schafft der Text es, Spannung zu erzeugen? In welcher Reihenfolge werden die Dinge erzählt?) **Bedeutung** (Gelingt es dem Autor, die Bedeutung, die er seinem Text geben will, auch im Leser entstehen zu lassen?) ## **Klarspüler** Fragen werden an den Text gestellt, nicht an den Autor! Daher sollte der Text antworten. ## **Weichspüler** Wird bei uns nicht verwendet. Aber es gilt: Nicht der Autor wird kritisiert, sondern der Text! Hart zum Text, sanft zum Autor!

Life is short, so let's Make new FRIENDS & Enjoy the Life. the event is dedicated to everybody living or visiting berlin, with a special focus on people with an International attitude. We have the aim of connecting people with similar interest here in Berlin! Everybody, who likes to meet new poeple on monday afternoon is welcome to join! #The bar only accepts cash or debit cards. No credit cards.

\*This is a free event, but please [donate through Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.de/e/read-editing-monthly-writers-meetup-tickets-1981513291596?aff=oddtdtcreator) to support our collective if you are able! Please join us on the 2nd Monday of every month for this event, built for all of your “in between works“ by the [Read Wedding](https://www.instagram.com/readwedding/) collective. Most events for writers are focused around ***creation or performance***. Much comes between this, yet we do not always hold each other through that phase. It is perhaps expected that all of those self-questioning, unsure, multi-path moments between lightbulb idea and snap-inducing performances are to be personal and private--but they do not always have to be. We therefore offer you a space for everything unfinished. Needing bouncing around. Ready for a test run. We will meet in the back room of Cafe Cralle, ***which is a cash only***, collective-run staple of the Berlin writing and queer scene, for a more traditional meetup format than our open mic. The evening will be without any set structure of facilitation, but rather an approach determined based on who's arrived and what their goals are. You may expect some combination of solitary writing time, sharing and feedback, and guided exercises. We'd love for you to show up however you are, and with some writing materials (including your phone, if you prefer). However you arrive, so long as you are feeling curious and open, we will have something for you and your work. See you there! Brooks, Bubamarrë, Maggie & Johanna Re(a)d VVedding Kollektiv \-\-\- **NOTE: Excluding select, small workshops, Read Wedding has hosted entirely free events since we started. If you have the means and would like to support us, it goes a long way. Please consider [donating through Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.de/e/read-editing-monthly-writers-meetup-tickets-1981513291596?aff=oddtdtcreator).**

### Open Platform for Writers to connect, share & grow. Together. ‍ We create a safe space to be creative, connect through writing and give and receive feedback from each other. Get ready for bringing in different writing styles and helping each other improve our own writing skills and get to know some new friends. ...for more info check out www.dna-artclub.com / follow us on IG: @nightart.club See You soon :) Love. DNA. ______ \*Members of Dair Night Art e.V. and Subscribers of DNA. Art GbR. \*\*By entering the DNA. ART HOUSE, You agree to comply with the Hausordnung of Dair Night Art e.V. and Geschäftsordnung of Dair Night Art e.V. Please ensure You review these documents thoroughly in advance.

Join us for a relaxed Monday evening full of new faces, unexpected conversations and the kind of atmosphere that makes the week feel a little more alive. Whether you’re new in Berlin or simply looking to meet open-minded people, this is a space to connect, share stories and start the week with a little more curiosity. Orga The location accepts only card payments. We will be sitting in the first room. Questions? Check our Meetup-FAQs: [https://socialbutterfly.berlin/meetup-faq/](https://socialbutterfly.berlin/meetup-faq/) Meet your host I’m Julia — a Berlin local who loves bringing people together. My path went from growing up in a dance school to studying philosophy to working in IT support, and somehow all of that led me here: hosting meetups and creating spaces where people can show up, relax, and connect. Insta [https://www.instagram.com/juwaberlin/](https://www.instagram.com/juwaberlin/) LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-waehnert/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-waehnert/) About The Social Butterfly Club 🦋 is a Berlin-based community that has been bringing people together for over three years. Each gathering is part of a larger framework designed to help friendships grow through shared experiences in the city — with a long-term vision of turning Berlin itself into a shared, playful experience. Love the vibe? There’s a whole community waiting for you. 🦋 Join the Social Butterfly Club and experience Berlin together [https://socialbutterflyradar.substack.com/](https://socialbutterflyradar.substack.com/)

Who is in the mood for some quiet togetherness while catching up on their reading? Let’s enjoy literature or non-fiction together and come to our Reading in Companionable Silence meeting. Miro will welcome members and there is time to socialize and to order some food or a beverage - ca. 30 min. Then we read for an hour in silence. After that - time to exchange impressions, suggestions, ask questions and generally have a good time. There might be a break in the middle in order to allow for more drinks, a bathroom break etc. Only RSVP if you really intend to come and are sure that you can make it. Please don’t waste our hosts‘s time and energy by reserving a spot and then dropping out at short notice.

This time we will be discussing **Yazmin Zaher: The Coin.** We look forward to seeing you! If you have book suggestions, would like to vote on our next reads, or join us for additional activities, please ask someone at the meeting to add you to our WhatsApp group. Just a heads up: **The cafe only accepts card payments for amounts over €10**, so you may want to bring some cash for smaller orders. Please remember to cancel your participation in good time if you are not coming. This will give someone else enough time to read the book and come to the meeting.

Come join us for a gentle yet powerful Seitai group practice — a space where silence, breath, and spontaneous movement meet. This is a donation-based event, so you’re free to contribute what feels right (from 0€ to (your choice)€). ✨ What is Seitai? Seitai (整体) is a Japanese practice that helps you reconnect with your body’s innate intelligence. Through subtle awareness and guided techniques, you’ll be invited to: Listen deeply to your body through Yuki (a meditative, hands-on practice of sensing and following the breath). Release hidden tension with Katsugen — allowing involuntary, spontaneous movements to arise naturally. Find balance in stillness and movement, letting your body recalibrate itself in surprising ways. Seitai is not about control or forcing; it’s about giving voice to the movements your body has been waiting to express. Sometimes this brings ease, clarity, and lightness. Sometimes it stirs up dizziness, discomfort, or emotions. Every experience is valid — and you are always free to pause or leave at any time. 🌌 Why join? Discover a practice that many find deeply transformative. Create space for release, renewal, and vitality. Explore in community, whether you’re a curious first-timer or already familiar with Seitai. 👕 Practical details Wear comfortable clothes and bring a towel and water to stay hydrated. Bring openness and curiosity. Watchers are welcome — you can simply observe, or dive into active practice. The session is guided, but the real teacher is your own body. ✨ Learn more: 🎥 Watch a short video: https://youtu.be/KF7agFE1zss?si=6UhmjwaIAfBo-_Op 📖 Read more about Seitai: https://seitaibarcelona.com/what-is-seitai/ Everyone is welcome, whether you are completely new or already familiar with Seitai. Bring comfortable clothes and an open mind. 💰 This event is donation-based, supporting the space and allowing us to keep offering it. Private one-to-one sessions are also available at an affordable price. 🌿 Step into silence, breath, and spontaneous movement — your body knows the way. PangeaHaus, Trautenaustraße 5, 10717 Berlin, Berlin, 2nd Floor, first room. https://maps.app.goo.gl/DUA4DqR7DEP5XhEy7 https://www.eventbrite.de/e/seitai-free-group-session-tickets-1982614595626? Pangea Haus e.V. 2nd floor Trautenaustraße 5, 10717 Berlin Concept and rules: https://www.systemik-im-dialog.de/ Deutsch Komm zu unserer sanften und doch kraftvollen Seitai-Gruppenpraxis – ein Raum, in dem Stille, Atem und spontane Bewegung aufeinandertreffen. Dies ist eine Veranstaltung auf Spendenbasis, du kannst also frei beisteuern, was sich für dich richtig anfühlt (von 0€ bis (deine Wahl)€). ✨ Was ist Seitai? Seitai (整体) ist eine japanische Praxis, die dir hilft, dich wieder mit der angeborenen Intelligenz deines Körpers zu verbinden. Durch subtile Achtsamkeit und angeleitete Techniken bist du eingeladen: \*Tief auf deinen Körper zu hören durch Yuki (eine meditative, praktische Übung des Erspürens und Folgens des Atems). * Verborgene Spannungen mit Katsugen zu lösen – indem du unwillkürlichen, spontanen Bewegungen erlaubst, ganz natürlich zu entstehen. \*Balance in Stille und Bewegung zu finden, während sich dein Körper auf überraschende Weise selbst neu ausrichtet. Bei Seitai geht es nicht um Kontrolle oder Zwang; es geht darum, den Bewegungen eine Stimme zu geben, auf deren Ausdruck dein Körper gewartet hat. Manchmal bringt dies Leichtigkeit, Klarheit und Entspannung. Manchmal wirbelt es Schwindel, Unbehagen oder Emotionen auf. Jede Erfahrung ist gültig – und es steht dir jederzeit frei, eine Pause zu machen oder zu gehen. 🌌 Warum teilnehmen? * Entdecke eine Praxis, die viele als tief transformierend empfinden. \*Schaffe Raum für Loslassen, Erneuerung und Vitalität. * Erkunde die Praxis in der Gemeinschaft, egal ob du neugieriger Anfänger bist oder bereits Erfahrung mit Seitai hast. 👕 Praktische Details \*Trage bequeme Kleidung und bringe ein Handtuch sowie Wasser mit, um hydriert zu bleiben. * Bringe Offenheit und Neugier mit. \*Zuschauer sind willkommen – du kannst einfach nur beobachten oder direkt in die aktive Praxis eintauchen. * Die Sitzung wird angeleitet, aber der wahre Lehrer ist dein eigener Körper. ✨ Mehr erfahren: 🎥 Schau dir ein kurzes Video an: https://youtu.be/KF7agFE1zss?si=6UhmjwaIAfBo-_Op In diesem Video [00:16] wird Seitai als eine japanische Kulturform beschrieben, die den Organismus wieder in Ordnung bringt („Seitai“ bedeutet „Körper in Ordnung“). Es basiert auf der Beobachtung der natürlichen Lebensenergie und nutzt Bewegungen wie Katsugen Undo [00:32], um die Vitalität zu fördern. 📖 Lies mehr über Seitai: https://seitaibarcelona.com/what-is-seitai/ Jeder ist willkommen, egal ob du völlig neu bist oder Seitai bereits kennst. Bringe bequeme Kleidung und einen offenen Geist mit. 💰 Diese Veranstaltung basiert auf Spenden, um den Raum zu unterstützen und es uns zu ermöglichen, dieses Angebot weiterhin aufrechtzuerhalten. Private Einzelsitzungen sind ebenfalls zu einem erschwinglichen Preis verfügbar. 🌿 Tritt ein in die Stille, den Atem und die spontane Bewegung – dein Körper kennt den Weg. PangeaHaus, Trautenaustraße 5, 10717 Berlin, 2. Etage, erster Raum. Anfahrt via Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/DUA4DqR7DEP5XhEy7 https://www.eventbrite.de/e/seitai-free-group-session-tickets-1982614595626? Pangea Haus e.V. Zweite Etage Trautenaustraße 5, 10717 Berlin Konzept und Regelungen: https://www.systemik-im-dialog.de/

Für Mitglieder von Text Collective Berlin ist die Teilnahme an dieser Veranstaltung kostenlos. Nicht-Mitglieder werden um eine Spende von zehn Euro gebeten. [https://textcollective.de/ticket](https://textcollective.de/ticket) **Besonderheit für dieses Treffen am 13. Juni:** Direkt nebenan, auf dem Mierendorffplatz, steigt schon am Vortag das Mierendorff-Inselfest. Das Text Collective ist dort am **Freitag, 12. Juni, von 16 bis 22 Uhr** mit einem eigenen Stand vertreten. Unsere Mission an diesem Abend: Wir sammeln skurrile, gruselige, lustige und mysteriöse Fakten rund um die Mierendorff-Insel. Was die Insel an Geschichten, Gerüchten und Geheimnissen hergibt, wird tags darauf zum Briefing für die Schreibwerkstatt – aus den gesammelten Funden entstehen am 13. Juni eure Kurzgeschichten. Wer also am 13. Juni dabei sein möchte, kommt idealerweise schon am 12. Juni aufs Fest und schaut am Stand vom Text Collective vorbei. So bringst du deinen eigenen Stoff mit, und wir starten am Samstag mitten im Material. **Jeden zweiten Samstag des Monats von 14:30 Uhr bis 16:30 Uhr in Charlottenburg (Haus am Mierendorffplatz).** **Was dich erwartet:** In unseren Treffen arbeiten wir mit abwechslungsreichen Schreibimpulsen, die neue Perspektiven eröffnen und spielerisches Experimentieren ermöglichen. Du schreibst direkt vor Ort, teilst deine Texte mit der Gruppe (freiwillig!) und erhältst konstruktives Feedback. Die Atmosphäre ist offen und unterstützend. Hier darf ein Text noch unfertig sein, eine Idee noch roh, ein Gedanke noch unausgereift. In dieser Atmosphäre gegenseitiger Wertschätzung entsteht der Mut, sich auszuprobieren und die eigene Stimme zu entdecken. Wir lesen einander vor, geben Rückmeldung, ermutigen uns gegenseitig und praktizieren das Zuhören. **Über Text Collective Berlin:** Wir sind eine kreative Schreibcommunity, die regelmäßige Workshops und Lesungen organisiert. 2025 erschien unsere erste Anthologie "Begegnung zwischen Welten" mit Texten aus der Schreibwerkstatt.

**Book Club** With ***Marco Astolfi*** For **LGBTQIA+** **[Free with registration](https://wearevillage.org/en/shop/book-club/w23-2026)** **“The Loves of My Life” by Edmund White (2025)** In this late-life memoir, Edmund White looks back on decades of desire, intimacy and queer experience. Moving from the closeted 1950s to the age of apps, he recounts encounters, relationships and fleeting connections that shaped both his life and his writing. The result is a candid, witty and deeply personal portrait of love in its many forms. This final memoir by Edmund White, one of the most influential voices in queer literature, traces more than sixty years of gay life through the lens of desire. From furtive encounters in mid-century America to the sexual liberation of the post-Stonewall years and the shadow of the AIDS crisis, White’s recollections map an entire cultural history alongside his own biography. Structured less as a linear narrative than as a constellation of lovers, episodes and reflections, the book blends erotic confession with literary meditation. White writes about transactional sex, longings, power dynamics and emotional attachments with his signature mix of irony, tenderness and intellectual curiosity. What emerges is not only a chronicle of excess and experimentation, but also a sustained inquiry into the meaning of love—whether fleeting, one-sided or transformative. At once provocative and reflective, “The Loves of My Life” becomes a celebration of queer existence across generations, shaped by memory, loss, humour and an enduring devotion to beauty and language. **Book Club** Fur **LGTBQIA+** Mit ***Marco Astolfi*** **[Kostenlos mit Anmeldung](https://wearevillage.org/shop/book-club/w23-2026/)** #### Village Book Club in English: "The Loves of My Life" von Edmund White (2025) In diesem späten Memoir blickt Edmund White auf Jahrzehnte von Begehren, Intimität und queerer Erfahrung zurück. Von den repressiven 1950er-Jahren bis ins digitale Zeitalter erzählt er von Begegnungen, Beziehungen und flüchtigen Verbindungen, die sein Leben und Schreiben geprägt haben. Das Ergebnis ist ein offenes, witziges und sehr persönliches Porträt von Liebe in all ihren Formen. Dieses letzte Memoir des bedeutenden Autors der queeren Literatur zeichnet über sechs Jahrzehnte schwulen Lebens anhand von Begehren und Beziehungen nach. Von heimlichen Begegnungen im Amerika der 1950er Jahre über die sexuelle Befreiung nach Stonewall bis hin zur AIDS-Krise entfaltet White zugleich seine eigene Biografie und eine kollektive Kulturgeschichte. Statt einer linearen Erzählung entsteht ein Mosaik aus Liebhabern, Episoden und Reflexionen. White verbindet explizite Erinnerungen mit literarischen Überlegungen und schreibt über käuflichen Sex, Sehnsucht, Machtverhältnisse und emotionale Bindungen mit Ironie, Zärtlichkeit und analytischem Blick. Dabei geht es weniger um Provokation als um die Frage, was Liebe bedeuten kann – als flüchtiger Moment, als unerfüllte Projektion oder als prägende Erfahrung. „The Loves of My Life“ wird so zu einer vielstimmigen Feier queerer Existenz, getragen von Erinnerung, Verlust, Humor und einer lebenslangen Hingabe an Sprache und Schönheit.

Welcome to **I WRITE**, a gentle space for anyone who wants to write—quietly, freely, and without judgement. We are a Berlin community of writers who gather together weekly to write, talk and recharge after a long week. Some of us journal, some write novels, some do academic writing, many people come without a project in mind and see where the inspiration flow takes them. This is a space to simply show up and write, a safe place to be yourself and to release all your layers onto the paper. There’s no set topic, no feedback circle, and no pressure. Just warm people, a calm atmosphere, and time dedicated to yourself. 🗓️ **Agenda:** * 14:30 - 15:00 **→** 30 min arriving, optional socialising (arrive early, meet other writers) * 15:00 - 16:00 **→** 1 hour of silent writing (headphones welcome, focus encouraged) * 16:00–16:30 **→** 30 mins break + optional chat or solo time (stay and chat or go celebrate the rest of your Saturday) * 16:30–17:30 → 1 more hour of silent writing (for those staying) * 17:30–18:00 → 30 mins of chat, and leaving 🎒 **Bring:** * Something to write with (laptop, notebook, phone, typewriter… anything goes) * Something to drink (there is no cafeteria, unfortunately) * Your current project or a blank page * Yourself, exactly as you are **👉 Responsibility:** * Our location is limited; thus, I am kindly asking you to RSVP only if you are willing to attend. **📍Location:** * We meet at **Heinrich Schulz Library in Charlottenburg**. In the library, go look for the Gruppenraum; I will be waiting for you there. Any trouble finding the room, I will come to meet you outside. * 🚇 U7 **Richard-Wagner-Platz** * 🚌 M45 Bus **U Richard-Wagner-Platz** **About me:** Hi, my name is Anastasia. I started this writing club back in May 2025. Since then, it has been hosted weekly at the Heinrich Schulz Library (who is kind enough to allow us to use this room for free). Over this time, I’ve been privileged to meet some of the most creative and kind minds in Berlin. And I would be happy if you joined us. Whether you're an experienced writer or just at the beginning of your journey, you're welcome. If you know how to hold a pen or how to type, there will always be a space for you. Let's write together!

Welcome, readers! Our June read is ***Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible*** ***Voyage*** **by Alfred Lansing.** A work of nonfiction, and one of the most astonishing survival stories in history, we follow Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew after their ship is crushed by Antarctic ice. Stranded in one of the harshest environments on Earth, the men endure months of isolation, freezing temperatures, and near starvation—yet refuse to give up hope. Lansing brings their ordeal to life through vivid detail and firsthand accounts, capturing both the brutality of nature and the resilience of the human spirit. At its core, the story is a powerful testament to leadership, perseverance, and the unbreakable will to survive against impossible odds. 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 **all** **drinks must be purchased at the bar.** Happy reading! 📖

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.

**Our June novel is: *The Eights* by Joanna Miller** **This month’s novel is set during World War I. It’s a 20th-century historical fiction story about friendship and war, with coming-of-age elements and a slightly haunted tone. The book is 384 pages in print and 10 hours and 9 minutes on audiobook.** Oxford, 1920. For the first time in its one-thousand-year history, Oxford University officially admits female students. Burning with dreams of equality, four young women move into neighboring rooms in Corridor 8. Beatrice, Dora, Marianne, and Otto—collectively known as The Eights—come from all walks of life, each driven by their own motives, each holding tight to their secrets, and are thrown into an unlikely, unshakable friendship. Dora was never meant to go to university, but, after losing both her brother and her fiancé on the battlefield, has arrived in their place. Politically-minded Beatrice, daughter of a famous suffragette, sees Oxford as a chance to make her own way - and some friends her own age. Otto was a nurse during the war but is excited to return to her socialite lifestyle in Oxford where she hopes to find distraction from the memories that haunt her. And finally Marianne, the quiet, clever daughter of a village pastor, who has a shocking secret she must hide from everyone, even her new friends, if she is to succeed. Among the historic spires, and in the long shadow of the Great War, the four women must navigate and support one another in a turbulent world in which misogyny is rife, influenza is still a threat, and the ghosts of the Great War don’t always remain dead.

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.

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

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.