Novel Reading
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Check out novel reading events happening today here. These are in-person gatherings where you can meet fellow enthusiasts and participate in activities right now.
Discover all the novel reading events taking place this week here. Plan ahead and join exciting meetups throughout the week.
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Novel Reading Events Today
Join in-person Novel Reading events happening right now
Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
***Venue Notes:***
*The venue will be updated by EOD May 20 when we can get a better sense of the weather. We will either be at the Garden in Del Ray (100% outdoor venue) or La Madeleine in Kingstowne.*
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43890641-hamnet
Drawing on Maggie O'Farrell's long-term fascination with the little-known story behind Shakespeare's most enigmatic play, *Hamnet* is a luminous portrait of a marriage, at its heart the loss of a beloved child.
Warwickshire in the 1580s. Agnes is a woman as feared as she is sought after for her unusual gifts. She settles with her husband in Henley street, Stratford, and has three children: a daughter, Susanna, and then twins, Hamnet and Judith. The boy, Hamnet, dies in 1596, aged eleven. Four years or so later, the husband writes a play called Hamlet.
Award-winning author Maggie O'Farrell's new novel breathes full-blooded life into the story of a loss usually consigned to literary footnotes, and provides an unforgettable vindication of Agnes, a woman intriguingly absent from history.
A *New York Times* Notable Book (2020), Best Book of 2020: *Guardian*, *Financial Times*, *Literary Hub*, and *NPR*.
Read & Reflect: A Social Reading Circle.
Shared Pages, Shared Insights.
đ Do you love reading, but wish you had a structure and a community to share your insights with?
Join our small circle of curious minds (just 4 members per gathering) as we come together for an hour of focused readingâin the calm setting of a library or the cozy atmosphere of a cafĂ©.
Hereâs how it works:
First part: Quiet reading on your ownâbring a book youâre exploring, whether itâs philosophy, history, psychology, literature, or anything meaningful to you.
Second part: We regroup and each person shares key takeaways, insights, or questions sparked by their reading. This sparks a structured yet free-flowing conversation around ideas, perspectives, and personal reflections.
Why join?
Add structure to your reading habit.
Discover new books, authors, and ideas through othersâ choices.
Build real connections by sharing and listening deeply.
Socialize around something meaningful instead of small talk.
Flesh by David Szalay
We'll be discussing Flesh by David Szalay. We meet in person at a member's home -- the address will be sent to those attending a week before the event.
Find the book on [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/p/books/flesh-a-novel-david-szalay/a217af5986592e58?ean=9781982122799&next=t), [Montgomery County Libraries](https://mcpl.aspendiscovery.org/Search/Results?lookfor=%22Szalay%2C+David%22+flesh&searchIndex=Keyword&sort=relevance&view=list&searchSource=local&disallowReplacements&replacedIndex=Author), and [PG County Libraries](https://libbyapp.com/search/pgcmls/search/query-Flesh%20by%20David%20Szalay/page-1).
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-
WINNER OF THE 2025 BOOKER PRIZE AND A NATIONAL BESTSELLER
Finalist for the Kirkus Prize \| Longlisted for the Carnegie Medal for Excellence
From âthe shrewdest writer on contemporary masculinity we haveâ (Esquire), a âcaptivating...hypnotic...virtuosicâ (The Baffler) novel about a man whose life veers off course due to a series of unforeseen circumstances.
Teenaged IstvĂĄn lives with his mother in a quiet apartment complex in Hungary. Shy and new in town, he is a stranger to the social rituals practiced by his classmates and is soon isolated, drawn instead into a series of events that leave him forever a stranger to peers, his mother, and himself. In the years that follow, IstvĂĄn is born along by the goodwill, or self-interest, of strangers, charting a rocky yet upward trajectory that lands him further from his childhood, and the defining events that abruptly ended it, than he could possibly have imagined.
A collection of intimate moments over the course of decades, Flesh chronicles a man at odds with himselfâestranged from and by the circumstances and demands of a life not entirely under his control and the roles that he is asked to play. Shadowed by the specter of past tragedy and the apathy of modernity, the tension between IstvĂĄn and all that alienates him hurtles forward until sudden tragedy again throws life as he knows it in jeopardy.
âSpare and detached on the page, lush in resonance beyond itâ (NPR), Flesh traces the imperceptible but indelible contours of unresolved trauma and its aftermath amid the precarity and violence of an ever-globalizing Europe with incisive insight, unyielding pathos, and startling humanity.
Medium Level (B Group): Thirsty Thursday - Garmin/RidewithGPS
**NoVA CBG has a turn by turn RideWithGPS club account that's free. [https://www.meetup.com/novacbg/events/271742916/](https://www.meetup.com/novacbg/events/271742916/)**
**+++++++++++++++++++++**
**The Ride: Summary**
**(Must Read)**
**+++++++++++++++++++++**
* RIDE NAME: Thirsty Thursday ("B" group)
* START LOC: Jones Point Park (under the bridge)
* START GPS: [https://goo.gl/maps/kZ3zjBHHcQF2](https://goo.gl/maps/kZ3zjBHHcQF2)
* START PARKING: Parking lot, if full park in the cul-de-sac
* ARRIVAL: 6:30pm
* SPEECH: 6:35pm
* ROLLING: 6:45pm
* LEVEL: Medium ("B" group)
* PACE: NMT 16mph
* DISTANCE: 14.5 miles
* TERRAIN: Trail / Street
* RIDEWITHGPS ROUTE:
CBG_THIRSTY_THURSDAY_2026
[https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40081486](https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40081486)
**NOTES:**
* Try out a Medium Level ("B" group) ride in an encouraging, structured environment (No Drop).
* **Bike navigation computer (Garmin, Wahoo, Etc...) or RidewithGPS app on your phone will be required as the season progresses.**
* All road riding safety rules, and CBG Good Guy rules WILL BE followed
* Heading to Southside 815 afterwards for the "Thirsty" part of the ride (cold beverages and hot food).
**+++++++++++++++++++++**
**The Ride : Detail**
**+++++++++++++++++++++**
For your riding pleasure NoVA CBG presents Thirsty Thursday.
Thirsty Thursday is about trying a solid Medium Level ("B" group) ride in an encouraging, structured environment. We welcome strong Beginner Level riders that are willing to push themselves to become better cyclists.
This is a NO DROP ride so you will not be left behind but you are expected to really try to keep pace. The lead will go no more than 16mph and other organizers/helpers will attempt to "fill the gaps" as we ride.
This is a mostly flat ride from Jones Point to Fort Hunt. Of course the "price of admission" for this ride is a hill that presents itself as soon as we enter the neighborhood across the GW Parkway... we have named it "The PUNISHER". If you successfully climb that hill, you are officially a CBG "B" group rider.
Once we get to Fort Hunt we will do laps (or you can rest) for a bit before heading back the way we came.
If you normally ride faster than 15mph you are welcome to practice your "keeping pace" skills. If you've done this ride at least once before and have the route loaded on a Bike navigation computer (Garmin, Wahoo, Etc...) or the RidewithGPS app there is also an "A" group version that you can sign up for (aka Very Thirsty Thursday) that rides independently and faster.
**+++++++++++++++++++++**
**The Meeting Spot:**
**+++++++++++++++++++++**
Jones Point Park
Jones Point Dr.
Alexandria , VA 22314
GPS: [https://goo.gl/maps/kZ3zjBHHcQF2](https://goo.gl/maps/kZ3zjBHHcQF2)
Gather under the bridge by the restrooms.
**+++++++++++++++++++++**
**The Ride After The Ride:**
***(This is the "Thirsty" part of the ride)***
**+++++++++++++++++++++**
Southside 815
815 South Washington St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.836.6222
[http://www.southside815.com/](http://www.southside815.com/)
**+++++++++++++++++++++**
**Ride Level Chart**
**+++++++++++++++++++++**
NoVA CBG tries to accommodate all levels of cyclists by offering different types/levels of rides. We just ask that you come to the ride that suits your current riding ability the best.
* Introductory Level: If you haven't ridden a bike in a number of years (or are uncertain of your abilities on a bicycle).
* Beginner Level: You can ride for 10+ miles at a pace of 10+ to 12+ mph with potentially minor hills involved.
* Medium Level: You can ride for 20+ miles at a pace of 13+ to 15+ mph with potentially moderate hills involved.
* Advanced Level: You can ride for 20++ miles at a pace of 15+ mph with potentially major hills involved.
Both Medium and Advanced Levels might require handling various challenges such as reading cue sheets, using a Garmin or navigation app, night riding, out of town travel, or any other odd cycling situations.
**+++++++++++++++++++++**
**The Fine Print:**
**+++++++++++++++++++++**
An RSVP of 'YES' is your digital signature and means you have read and understood MEETUP.com's:
* "Terms of Service : Section 6. Release" found at https://www.meetup.com/terms/
* NOVA-CBG's "Assumption of Risk Agreement" found @ https://www.meetup.com/novacbg/pages/1942951/NOVA-CBG_Waiver/
* NoVA CBG's "COVID Policy" found @ http://bit.ly/2021_NoVACBG_COVID19_POLICY
Helmets are required to participate in all NOVA-CBG rides. All riders ride at their own risk and with the understanding that cycling is an inherently dangerous activity. When coming to the meetup you do so voluntarily and are ready and able to participate in the ride as described under the conditions of the day. Be on time for the "pre-ride" preparation. If you do not attend the pre-ride preparation you will not be allowed to participate on the ride. There are NO exceptions to the above.
LGBTQ+ Book Club @ Federico Ristorante Italiano
**Please note that Go Gay DC is listing this exciting event as a community service, but is not running the event. Just go and have a fun time!**
The monthly LGBTQ+ Book Club meets @ [Federico](https://www.federicoristoranteitaliano.com/) at 7:30 p.m. Simply ask the manager for the Book Club table. This event is also listed on **[Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lgbtq-book-club-federico-ristorante-italiano-tickets-1982164048026?aff=oddtdtcreator)**.
We will discuss [The Guncle](https://www.amazon.com/Guncle-Steven-Rowley/dp/0525542280) by Steven Rowley.
Everyone welcome. Please RSVP in advance by emailing lovellsjl@aol.com . If you wish to optionally dine (on separate checks of course), the menu is at [https://www.federicoristoranteitaliano.com/menu/dinner](https://www.federicoristoranteitaliano.com/menu/dinner)
The Book Club, hosted by EQUALITY NoVa, is yet another opportunity to engage in a fun and rewarding activity. We meet monthly, usually on the third Thursday of each month, at Federicoâs for a lively discussion of that monthâs selected book. We donât discriminate when it comes to genre, we read â from classic literature to best selling novels to biographies to histories to gay fiction!
EQUALITY NoVa serves Northern Virginia's LGBTQ+ and Allies and is a strong beacon for equality. It is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit open to all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning (LGBTQ) people and straight allies. It provides fun social activities, builds relationships with elected officials, and works with civic groups on community service. For more information, visit [https://www.equalitynova.org](https://www.equalitynova.org)
This event is being boosted by **[Go Gay DC](https://www.gogaydc.com/)**[,](https://www.gogaydc.com/) Metro Washington DC's inclusive LGBTQ+ community focused on friendship, leadership, and service. It reaches over 10K fabulous people and is growing fast. Visit [https://www.gogaydc.com](https://www.gogaydc.com/)
Casual attire is fine.
**Metro Directions:** Be eco-friendly. Crystal City Metro station on the Yellow/Blue lines is the closest Metro stop. When you arrive, go out the station, walk towards your left to 18th Street and then veer right and walk under the Route 1 overpass to Eads St. Turn left and walk to 23rd Street. Turn right. Federico is half a block up 23rd Street on your right.
Parking is usually available nearby on the residential side streets.
About 10 LGBTQ+ folk regularly attend.
There's no need to print out and show me your Eventbrite ticket.
Please be sure to tag any event photos on social with #gogaydc
This event is a safe, inclusive space for everyone under the rainbow. This event is for all ages. Remember to bring your ID, as everyone who wishes to drink alcohol is carded of course.
Go Gay DC is on social media:
Join the Facebook Group
[https://www.facebook.com/groups/GoGayDC](https://www.facebook.com/groups/GoGayDC)
Like the Facebook Page
[https://www.facebook.com/GoGayDC](https://www.facebook.com/GoGayDC)
Follow on Instagram
[https://www.instagram.com/GoGayDC/](https://www.instagram.com/GoGayDC/)
Follow on Threads
[https://www.threads.com/@GoGayDC](https://www.threads.com/@gogaydc)
Follow on Bluesky
[https://gogaydc.bsky.social/](https://gogaydc.bsky.social/)
Follow on X
[https://www.x.com/GoGayDC](https://www.x.com/GoGayDC)
Watch on YouTube
[https://www.youtube.com/GoGayDC](https://www.youtube.com/GoGayDC)
LinkedIn
[https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/GoGayDC](https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/GoGayDC?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExZG1DTnM0VnJybG83U3FWcnNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR765Xxf5t8wFzbCac74QNX3p0Bs2oT0drXZoOmLV63J8cURMl3ta5b8iP3ztg_aem_nSdndpxd5-hXJ8myNF2_vQ)
Search keywords: LGBT LGBTQ LGBTQI LQBTQIA Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Intersex Straight Allies nonbinary non-binary
Advanced Level (A Group): Very Thirsty Thursday - Garmin/RidewithGPS
**NoVA CBG has a turn by turn RideWithGPS club account that's free. [https://www.meetup.com/novacbg/events/271742916/](https://www.meetup.com/novacbg/events/271742916/)**
**+++++++++++++++++++++**
**The Ride: Summary**
**(Must Read)**
**+++++++++++++++++++++**
* RIDE NAME: Very Thirsty Thursday ("A" group)
* START LOC: Jones Point Park (under the bridge)
* START GPS: [https://goo.gl/maps/kZ3zjBHHcQF2](https://goo.gl/maps/kZ3zjBHHcQF2)
* START PARKING: Parking lot, if full park in the cul-de-sac
* ARRIVAL: 6:30pm
* SPEECH: 6:35pm
* ROLLING: 6:45pm
* LEVEL: Advanced (A group)
* PACE: Above 16mph
* DISTANCE: 14.5 miles
* TERRAIN: Trail / Street
* RIDEWITHGPS ROUTE:
CBG_THIRSTY_THURSDAY_2026
[https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40081486](https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40081486)
**NOTES:**
* To do this "A" version participation in a PREVIOUS Medium Level Thirsty Thursday ride is required.
* Same RIDEWITHGPS ROUTE (the addition of the Evil Twin is Approved).
* **Knowing the route is on you as there is no leader so having the route loaded on your bike navigation computer (Garmin, Wahoo, Etc...) or RidewithGPS app on your phone will be required.**
* Only regroup is Fort Hunt (wait for Medium riders to fully arrive).
* Ultimately the Medium Sweeper will be along if there are any issues.
* All route, road riding safety rules, and CBG Good Guy rules WILL BE followed. **This is a ONE STRIKE statement.**
* Heading to Southside 815 afterwards for the "Thirsty" part of the ride (cold beverages and hot food).
**+++++++++++++++++++++**
**The Ride : Detail**
**+++++++++++++++++++++**
For your riding pleasure NoVA CBG presents Very Thirsty Thursday.
This is the Advanced Version ("A" group) of our traditional Thirsty Thursday ride. Same route, just faster, and without a lead or sweep. To qualify for this "A" group you must have participated in the Medium Level Thirsty Thursday.
"A" group riders are expected to do the same route as the "B" group riders. You are welcome to do the Evil Twin hill as an added bonus. The only "stop" you need to make is at Fort Hunt. When at Fort Hunt you will wait for the "B" group to fully arrive.
As part of the "A" group you will be expected to know the route or have it loaded on your bicycle navigation computer or RidewithGPS phone app. At some point, the "B" group riders will be coming up behind you so if there is a problem someone from CBG can/will assist.
Most importantly: All route details, road riding safety rules, as well as CBG Good Guy rules WILL BE followed. Any evidence to the contrary will have repercussions. **This is a ONE STRIKE statement.**
**+++++++++++++++++++++**
**The Meeting Spot:**
**+++++++++++++++++++++**
Jones Point Park
Jones Point Dr.
Alexandria , VA 22314
GPS: [https://goo.gl/maps/kZ3zjBHHcQF2](https://goo.gl/maps/kZ3zjBHHcQF2)
Gather under the bridge by the restrooms.
**+++++++++++++++++++++**
**The Ride After The Ride:**
***(This is the "Thirsty" part of the ride)***
**+++++++++++++++++++++**
Southside 815
815 South Washington St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.836.6222
[http://www.southside815.com/](http://www.southside815.com/)
**+++++++++++++++++++++**
**Ride Level Chart**
**+++++++++++++++++++++**
NoVA CBG tries to accommodate all levels of cyclists by offering different types/levels of rides. We just ask that you come to the ride that suits your current riding ability the best.
* Introductory Level: If you haven't ridden a bike in a number of years (or are uncertain of your abilities on a bicycle).
* Beginner Level: You can ride for 10+ miles at a pace of 10+ to 12+ mph with potentially minor hills involved.
* Medium Level: You can ride for 20+ miles at a pace of 13+ to 15+ mph with potentially moderate hills involved.
* Advanced Level: You can ride for 20++ miles at a pace of 15+ mph with potentially major hills involved.
Both Medium and Advanced Levels might require handling various challenges such as reading cue sheets, using a Garmin or navigation app, night riding, out of town travel, or any other odd cycling situations.
**+++++++++++++++++++++**
**The Fine Print:**
**+++++++++++++++++++++**
An RSVP of 'YES' is your digital signature and means you have read and understood MEETUP.com's:
* "Terms of Service : Section 6. Release" found at https://www.meetup.com/terms/
* NOVA-CBG's "Assumption of Risk Agreement" found @ https://www.meetup.com/novacbg/pages/1942951/NOVA-CBG_Waiver/
* NoVA CBG's "COVID Policy" found @ http://bit.ly/2021_NoVACBG_COVID19_POLICY
Helmets are required to participate in all NOVA-CBG rides. All riders ride at their own risk and with the understanding that cycling is an inherently dangerous activity. When coming to the meetup you do so voluntarily and are ready and able to participate in the ride as described under the conditions of the day. Be on time for the "pre-ride" preparation. If you do not attend the pre-ride preparation you will not be allowed to participate on the ride. There are NO exceptions to the above.
Weekly Run 'n' Quaff
Please join members of the the Shirlington Running Group each Thursday night at 6:30 PM for our weekly Run 'n' Quaff at Astro Beer Hall located at 4001 Campbell Avenue, Arlington Virginia 22206 in the Shirlington neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia.
We are a laid back group of runners that enjoys running a 5-K (3.1 mile) course each week followed the quaffing of cold refreshing adult beverages.
We have runners of all abilities from the beginning runner / walker up through marathoners and ultra runners.
Our age group spans from early twenties through late seventies and all ages in between. There is someone your age range / someone your skill level at our weekly meetups.
No check-ins, waiver forms, or administrivia.
No rules, just right.
Please join us each and every Thursday night, rain or shine, for the Shirlington Running Group!
Novel Reading Events This Week
Discover what is happening in the next few days
The Left Hand of Darkness Book Club
This meeting will be dedicated to talking about the entirety of "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin
Due to recent high popularity of our meetings, we will be having a temporary moratorium new members until a level of member cultivation has occurred. We estimate this will be around July 1st.
We will be meeting in the National Portrait Gallery Atrium.
To stay up to date with events and discuss meetings or books, you can join our Discord group. Please message me to get added.
May Meetup: Kin by Tayari Jones
Join us for our May Meetup @ Solid State Books! We'll be reading Kin by Tayari Jones.
Two motherless girls grow up as best friends and neighbors, but go on to live radically different lives. We'll discuss the themes of family, womanhood and friendship in this compelling novel.
Time to Read-In Person
We will meet outside as long as the weather is nice. If not, we will move inside. Look out for a comment the morning of each meeting with our exact location.
As we are meeting in person, please remember to bring something to read as we usually spend some time sharing our current reads and/or reading when meeting in person. As a reminder, there is no assigned reading; please bring whatever you are currently working on. This group is super casual, sometimes we read and sometimes we talk the whole time.
**** NO SHOW POLICY: Due to the high number of members on the waitlist recently we are having to reinstate our no-show policy. If you sign up and no-show to 2 events you will be removed from the group. Reminders are provided weekly to change your RSVP to allow those on the waitlist a chance to come to the meet-up, no 3rd chances with be given. Please be considerate to your fellow members. Thank you!
I look forward to reading you!
NEW LOCATION: Reading Time (In-Person) {Near Clarendon Metro}
* We meet inside Zazzy
* Bring something to read, as we often take some time at the beginning telling each other about what we're currently reading.
* I have a favor to ask of you. To offset the cost of Meetup fees (\~$200 a year), I kindly request that you consider a small donation to my my [Pledge account](https://www.meetup.com/a-different-type-of-book-club-arlington/#pledge). đ
**NOTE: NO DISCUSSION OF POLITICS: 12/31/21 UPDATE**
For the sake of polite company, moving forward, we will avoid the discussion of politics at meetings of the book club. Please let me know if you have any questions.
**NON-ATTENDANCE / NO-SHOW POLICY**
If you have said that you will attend this event, but no longer are able to attend, please kindly update your status to "Not Attending" so that someone on the waitlist is able to RSVP. **Because this Meetup group is popular, and typically has a waitlist, effective immediately, I'm instituting a two-event no-show policy. If you RSVP as "Attending" but do not show at two events, you will be removed from this Meetup group.**
We look forward to seeing you!
Best,
Jay
Read & Reflect: A Social Reading Circle.
Shared Pages, Shared Insights.
đ Do you love reading, but wish you had a structure and a community to share your insights with?
Join our small circle of curious minds (just 4 members per gathering) as we come together for an hour of focused readingâin the calm setting of a library or the cozy atmosphere of a cafĂ©.
Hereâs how it works:
First part: Quiet reading on your ownâbring a book youâre exploring, whether itâs philosophy, history, psychology, literature, or anything meaningful to you.
Second part: We regroup and each person shares key takeaways, insights, or questions sparked by their reading. This sparks a structured yet free-flowing conversation around ideas, perspectives, and personal reflections.
Why join?
Add structure to your reading habit.
Discover new books, authors, and ideas through othersâ choices.
Build real connections by sharing and listening deeply.
Socialize around something meaningful instead of small talk.
Novel Reading Events Near You
Connect with your local Novel Reading community
"Tusk Love" by Thea Guanzon
Come join us to discuss our July pick "Tusk Love" by Thea Guanzon!
Book description:
A merchantâs daughter who yearns for adventure gets more than she bargained for when she falls for a broodingly handsome stranger in this saucy romantasy from the New York Times bestselling author of The Hurricane Wars.
âA true delight of a book! Spicy and heartfeltâthis one is a winner all around.ââKatee Robert, author of Neon Gods
As the daughter of an ambitious merchant, Guinevereâs path has been predetermined: marry into a noble house of the Dwendalian Empire, raise her familyâs station, and live quietly as a lordlingâs obedient wife. But Guinevere longs for a life unbounded by expectations, for freedom and passion and adventure.
Those distant dreams become a sudden reality when her caravan is beset by bandits, leaving her guards slain and Guinevere stranded alone on the dangerous Amber Road. Her only chance of survival is to travel alongside Oskar, the aloof half-orc who saved her during the attack.
Unlike Guinevere, Oskarâs path is not so set in stone. With his mother dead and his apprenticeship abandoned, all thatâs left is a long, lonely walk to a land heâs never seen to find family heâs never met. The last thing he needs is a spoiled waif like Guinevere slowing him downâeven if the spark between them sizzles with promise.
Despite his cold exterior, Oskar is brave and thoughtful and unlike anyone Guinevere has ever met. And while Guinevere may be sheltered, she brings out a softness in him that he has never dared to feel before. As the flames of their passion grow, they realize that soon theyâll need to choose between their expected destinations or their blossoming romance.
Written by New York Times bestselling author Thea Guanzon at the behest of Critical Roleâs Jester Lavorre, Tusk Love brings the most romantic story on Exandrian bookshelves to life.
May Book Club Meetup
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 slaveholderâs 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! đ
You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat
[Columbus library link to book](https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C3351321)
Location: The Goat River South
219 S High St, Columbus, OH 43215
Street parking is free on Sundays
[Menu](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/686d3ed16745133042482c5f/t/68ff654dbb03b96875430bde/1761568077220/all_brunch-20250311.pdf)
Book summary:
On a hot day in Bethlehem, a twelve-year-old Palestinian-American girl is yelled at by a group of men outside the Church of the Nativity. She has exposed her legs in a biblical city, an act they deem forbidden, and their judgement will echo on through her adolescence. When our narrator finally admits to her mother that she is queer, her mother's response only intensifies a sense of shame: 'You exist too much,' she tells her daughter. Told in vignettes that flash between the U.S. and the Middle East--from New York to Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine--Zaina Arafat's debut novel traces her protagonist's progress from blushing teen to sought-after DJ and aspiring writer.
Jules and Jim, the Book!
By popular demand, the group wanted to read and discuss the semi-autobiographical novel by Henri-Pierre Roche, that inspired the Truffaut movie we watched last year.
The book is available through the Columbus Library's interlibrary loan system. They reported there are twenty-eight copies available in the state of Ohio. If you have a library card, you can file an interlibrary loan request here: https://www.columbuslibrary.org/library-services/ . There are also used copies available on Amazon and eBay for under twenty dollars.
You may want to rewatch the movie after reading the book, so we can compare and contrast in our discussion. The Columbus Library has four copies on DVD, and it's streaming on HBOMax.
LGBT Reads: In-Person Book Discussion
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.



























