Reading

RSVP on Luma: [https://luma.com/oz1a88ms](https://luma.com/oz1a88ms) Silent Reading / Creating Club is a gathering for people who enjoy focusing together in public. Bring a book, a notebook, a sketchpad, knitting needles, whatever you’d like to spend a quiet hour doing. All projects and all participants are welcome. We’re building a community of readers and creators who value depth, presence, and shared silence. The reading and creating isn't the real highlight, though, it’s in the people who return and make it feel like a familiar room. (Please RSVP “yes” only if you can make it, so we can save a seat for you and others on the waitlist.) Our Meeting Point is the **W66 Café**. There’s no entrance fee, but please order at least one item from the café and don’t bring outside food or drinks 🙂 No assignments, expectations, or pressure. Just a shared hour of intentional silence, followed by the opportunity for good conversation. 🕰 Our Agenda **10:30 – 11:00** Arrivals, ordering drinks/food, light social time **11:00 – 12:00** The Great Quiet Hour (Read. Write. Sketch. Code. Think. Sit.) **12:00 – 12:30** Optional socializing: share what you were reading or creating, or simply continue in quiet focus. ## 🏡 House Guidelines To keep this space calm and welcoming for everyone: • Silence during the focus hour (no calls or conversations) • Put cellphones on silent mode • If using technology, please avoid meetings or audio (headphones please!) • Arrive before 11:00 if possible to minimize disruptions

**Вопрос (про)чтения** — это берлинский дискуссионный клуб для тех, кто интересуется наукой, философией и научпоп-литературой. Мы встречаемся примерно раз в месяц, каждый раз — с новой темой. Тема заранее объявляется в Telegram-канале: [https://t.me/+1RVY0Ld5ny8zYmZi](https://t.me/+1RVY0Ld5ny8zYmZi) К каждой встрече мы собираем подборку материалов (книги, статьи, лекции), чтобы можно было посмотреть на тему с разных сторон. Можно выбрать один материал из списка или принести свой — и обсудить его вместе с другими участниками. Формат встречи — живая дискуссия: участники делятся идеями, задают вопросы и вместе разбираются в теме. *** 📚 **Вопрос (про)чтения #12. Теории эволюции: от эволюции человека до эволюции культуры** Большинство из нас знакомы с эволюцией по школьному курсу биологии: Дарвин, естественный отбор и происхождение видов. Но за полтора века после публикации «Происхождения видов» представления об эволюции заметно расширились. Сегодня исследователи спорят не только о механизмах биологической эволюции, но и о роли генов, культуры, обучения и среды в развитии человека. ​На этой встрече мы хотим посмотреть на эволюцию как на большую научную идею и проследить, как она развивалась от Дарвина до современных концепций. Нас будет интересовать не только происхождение видов, но и вопросы происхождения разума, человеческого поведения и культуры. ​Почему одни идеи оказываются настолько влиятельными? Можно ли говорить об эволюции культуры так же, как об эволюции живых организмов? Что современная наука знает о происхождении человека и какие дискуссии вокруг эволюционной теории продолжаются до сих пор? ​Предлагаем посмотреть, как разные авторы отвечают на эти вопросы и насколько далеко сегодня распространяется эволюционный подход. *** **Материалы и направления подготовки** [Подборка материалов](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tzMEh0cX4eePp18S4nb6CUlHI_1Adlg61CUHVuDlt6c/edit?usp=sharing) построена так, чтобы можно было посмотреть на эволюцию с разных сторон — от классической теории Дарвина до современных взглядов на культуру и человека. **Можно выбрать один материал — читать всё не нужно.** **Чарльз Дарвин «Происхождение видов».** Главная книга в истории эволюционной теории. Дарвин впервые подробно объясняет механизм естественного отбора и показывает, как из простых изменений могут возникать новые виды. **Николай Кукушкин «Хлопок одной ладонью».** Лауреат премии «Просветитель» и одна из самых известных современных книг об эволюции на русском языке. Кукушкин прослеживает путь от возникновения жизни и первых клеток до появления нервной системы, мозга и человеческого сознания. **Ричард Докинз «Эгоистичный ген».** Одна из самых влиятельных книг современной биологии. Докинз предлагает смотреть на эволюцию с точки зрения генов и объясняет через этот подход конкуренцию, кооперацию и даже альтруизм. **Джаред Даймонд «Ружья, микробы и сталь».** Попытка объяснить, почему разные общества развивались по-разному. Даймонд связывает историю цивилизаций с географией, ресурсами и окружающей средой. **Александр Марков «Как культура сделала нас людьми».** Небольшой цикл лекций о культурной эволюции. Марков показывает, как обучение, передача знаний и социальные практики стали важной частью человеческого развития. В подборке также есть современные научные статьи о происхождении человека, роли культуры в эволюции и критике отдельных аспектов современного дарвинизма. **Ссылка на материалы:** [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tzMEh0cX4eePp18S4nb6CUlHI_1Adlg61CUHVuDlt6c/edit?usp=sharing](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tzMEh0cX4eePp18S4nb6CUlHI_1Adlg61CUHVuDlt6c/edit?usp=sharing) *** # ​**Формат встречи** ​Встреча предполагает предварительную подготовку. Пожалуйста, учитывайте это при регистрации. Каждому участнику будет отведено около 5 минут, чтобы рассказать: * ​что именно вы выбрали для чтения или просмотра, * ​какие идеи показались важными или спорными, * ​с чем вам хочется разобраться в обсуждении. *** # ​**Важно** * ​Мероприятие 16+ * ​Вход только по предварительной регистрации. * ​Встреча предполагает уважительное и внимательное общение: мы обсуждаем идеи, а не личности, даём друг другу договорить и сохраняем безопасную атмосферу для обмена мнениями.

\*\*\*\*\*\* ***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.*

**Please sign up only when you can join the event!!!** Hey all, Let's go to the Schlachteesee for our first excursion together! The weather should be great 🌞🌳🚣🏽‍♀️🦢 Meeting point&time: S-Brandenburger Tor at 10:30am, take the S1 at 10:47am, arrive at 11:20am in Schlachtensee. I will probably go by bike and meet you at Schlachtensee at around 11:20am. Anyone who wants to cycle together, please contact me. You can also start from somewhere else and meet us at the lake. Agenda: 10:30-11:30am Get together in Berlin and train ride to the lake. 11:30-12:30pm Take a nice walk around the lake and find a spot to sit 12:30-1:30pm Reading together 1:30-3:30pm books talking, picnic We aim to take the S1 back to Berlin at around 4pm. Of course you can leave anytime before that. Hope we will all have fun!

Let's visit a local bookstore, and then head to a nearby cafe to do a little reading! Here's a rough outline of what to expect: 15:00-15:45 Arrival, intros, perusing the bookstore 15:45-16:00 Walk to a nearby cafe and settle in 16:00-16:30 Quiet reading time 16:30-17:00 Sharing thoughts and discussion This time, we're visiting Ivallan's! Afterward, we will likely go to She Said, which is another bookstore with a café. Info about the bookstore/s: Ivallan's is an independent bookstore and community space in Kreuzberg that sells second-hand and new English books. She Said is bookstore for female and queer authors and a specialty coffee shop in Neukölln. Both are within 5-minute walking distance from each other.

The one nice new feature that lockdown gave us -- picnic swap! Bring books to swap, a blanket to sit on, and beverages of your choice! Let's enjoy the brief Berlin Summer at beautiful Monbijou park on the Spree. WEATHER DEPENDENT - if it rains we will reschedule so keep an eye out. **_And here's our usual description -_** The "classic" bookswap is simple - we meet in a café, you bring the book(s) you want to share, put them on the table, leaf through and discuss the books that others brought and, at the end of the evening, take a new-to-you-book home! Books/happiness shared are books/happiness multiplied! 
This is a great way to give books a new home and make room for new books: that book you feel guilty for not having read even though it's been sitting on your bedside table for the last 5 years, the book you liked but didn't love, the book you loved so much you want everyone to read it, the book you somehow own three copies of, that book you absolutely hated even though everyone else loves it, etc., etc., etc....
And chances are high you'll go home with an alluring stranger you never would have thought of reading before (OR that book you've been lusting after for years but never enough to actually buy!). 
**GROUP EXPECTATIONS for PLEASANT SWAPPING** 
• Please bring a book!
Some people bring more than one, and the organizers usually have a handful, but if everybody ends up not bringing a book, we have nothing to swap, except stories. But we won't chase you away if you're empty handed. 
• Books stay on the table, open for sharing, until you are ready to leave so everyone can have a fair look 
See a book you like? Please put your name down as a candidate to take it home (we provide sticky notes!), and wait to see if anybody else is interested before snapping it up, as in, please wait until you are leaving. One of the key aspects of the swap is getting exposed to books outside of our library bubble, so it's important to keep the books as open to sharing as possible.
If two or more people want the only copy of a book, talk it over. Maybe you can swap contact info to share the book one after the other. Or maybe it turns out one of you isn't that interested, or has found another book instead. Or one of you REALLY wants to read it. The best part: now you have found somebody whose taste you can really admire. 
We consider it poor form to walk away with a book with several names on it without letting the others know. 
Also, don't be shy! Don't shy away from a book because there's already a name on it, and feel free to put your name on as many books as you want. We're more generous than just bring-one-take-one. 
• Book Swap is 10 times better than a Book Club because you can talk about ALL the books instead of just one!
Half the fun of Book Swap is swapping recommendations for reads that aren't even on the table. The other half is meeting other great readers. Another half is taking home that new book! 
• NO POLITICS. (please.)
Unless you're talking about a book.
It's Friday night. Let's leave current events at the office for once, please.
Please respect this space as first and foremost a community for connecting readers over their love of books and reading, stories, and narratives of all sorts. Please be respectful of tastes and opinions.
If something is bothering you, please reach out to the organisers, and we'll do our best to solve it. 
• Don't expect your book back: if you love it, let it go
In spirit, this is an opportunity to share=lend books among peers. In practice, this is more of a book-giveaway. It is NEVER guaranteed you will get your book back, even with your name and email inside the book with a "Please Return." If you're really serious, it's best to get the borrower's contact info and prod them for it. Note: our staunch "Regulars" are significantly more likely to come back with the book if you ask them (and you have to come back too!). On the other hand, some books keep coming back like bad pennies.

• Major LANGUAGES (and genres) of this meetup
English, German, French, Spanish; Fiction, Non-Fiction, Serious Reading, Light Fun, Everything! 
On average I think it's 60% English, 40% German, and 10% French/Spanish; usually 80% fiction, but the mix is different every time. One of the best compliments the group has received is the consistently high quality of reading material on the table. We have "classics," we have celebrity book club books, Krimis, Booker winners, and everything in between. You never know who can read what languages, and there's no accounting for taste. 
We are a delightful and international group of readers.
We look forward to swapping with you!

**📚🌿 If the weather is on our side, we'll be reading together in the park! In case of rain or an unfavorable forecast, we'll meet at the café inside the Bode Museum instead.** **🔔 Be sure to check the event comments on the day of the event for any last-minute updates.** Silent Book Club is a group of book lovers who enjoy reading together in public. All books and all readers are welcome. (Kindly RSVP 'yes' only if you can make it, so we can save a seat for you and our fellow readers on the waitlist!) No quizzes, no pressure, no assigned books - just a group of book-loving souls basking in the beauty of silent reading. **Our thrilling agenda:** 10:30 am - 11:00 am - Arrivals, ordering drinks/food (social time) 11:00 am - 12:00 pm - The Great Quiet Reading Hour (where silence is the star) 12:00 pm - 12:30 pm - Optional socializing, share your reading adventures or just keep exploring the pages Stay for lunch, and who knows? You might just find your next favorite book over a pizza. NB: If you plan to go for lunch, please consider bringing cash, as some restaurants only accept card payments after a certain amount.

An afternoon bookclub, organized by our member Patrick Rutledge. We will meet either in the café or the beer garden of this cultural center and talk about what we are currently reading :) and, if we've time, chat in general about books. Please also feel free to read a sample from you book if you wish. Usually we read both fiction and non-fiction (history, philosophy, sociology, and other topics). Bring your Kindle, your tablet, or your paper books. The discussion will be in English, but of course feel free to bring books in any language.

Hi all, Let's meet again 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. Have fun!

📚 **What’s the event?** A peaceful hour of silent reading in a beautiful library space, surrounded by fellow book lovers. 🧘‍♀️ **Perfect for you if you:** * Need an hour of focused, quiet reading * Are studying and want calm company * Want to meet new people without small talk pressure * Just love the vibe of libraries and stories *** ### **Reading Hour at Heinrich-Schulz-Bibliothek** **Need an hour of quiet, focused reading in a beautiful setting?** Studying for an exam and looking for some calm company? Want to meet new people while still getting your reading done on a weekend morning? If you answered yes to any of those questions, come join us at the beautiful Heinrich-Schulz-Bibliothek for a low-key, silent reading hour with fellow book lovers. Just bring your current read and enjoy the shared calm of collective reading. **Agenda:** * **10:00–10:30** – Arrivals & light socializing * **10:30–11:30** – The Venerable Silent Reading Hour (just you, your book, and the soft rustle of pages) * **11:30–12:00** – Optional social time: chat about your book, meet others, or just keep reading *** ### 📦 **What to Bring:** * **The book you're currently reading** (or studying) * **Yourself — just as you are** Come comfy, come curious — no sign-ups, no pressure, just a shared hour of peace. 🍽️ Afterward, we’ll head out for lunch nearby—come for the reading, stay for the company! **PS:** **Hi everyone!** Just a quick note ahead of our event at the **Heinrich-Schulz Library**: 🚪 Since we’re meeting **before the library officially opens**, the main doors might be locked. To avoid anyone being locked out, 📌 **Please arrive on time** — we’ll start settling in at **10:00 AM**. 📱 If you arrive and can’t get in, either knock on a window where the lights are on or push the button sitting on top of the metal pole where the door opener is. I'll come out and let you in. Looking forward to a calm, cozy morning of books and good company. See you soon! — Aneel

\*\*\*\*\*\* ***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.*

📚 **Short Story Sunday** 📍 **Location:** Iska Café 📅 **Timing:** Every second Sunday 🕰 **Time:** 11:00 – 13:00 **Selected story: The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (\~15 pages)** 1st Link: https://americanliterature.com/author/charlotte-perkins-gilman/short-story/the-yellow-wallpaper 2nd Link (PDF backup): https://www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/theliteratureofprescription/exhibitionAssets/digitalDocs/The-Yellow-Wall-Paper.pdf 3rd Link (PDF backup): https://archive.org/details/yellowwallpaper1901gilm/page/n11/mode/2up **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**

📚 **Berlin Arabic Book Club – Weekly Meetup** Join us for our weekly book discussion. Whether you're reading a novel in Arabic, a memoir in English, or a philosophical essay in German, you're welcome to bring it and share a few thoughts. Each session is relaxed, with no required reading — just bring a book you’re currently into or one you’ve read and want to talk about. ### 🔸 What to Expect: * We gather, grab coffee or tea ☕, and introduce ourselves. * Each member briefly talks about their book (any language is fine: Arabic, English, or German). * We open the floor for conversation, questions, or thoughts sparked by the books. * Cultural exchange is encouraged! ### 🔸 What to Bring: * A book you're reading or one you'd love to talk about. * An open mind and curiosity. **اللقاء الأسبوعي لنادي الكتاب العربي في برلين** انضموا إلينا في لقاءنا الأسبوعي في مقهى **دندنة** الدافئ! سواء كنت تقرأ رواية بالعربية، أو مذكرات بالإنجليزية، أو مقالة فلسفية بالألمانية — فأنت مرحب بك لتشارك ببعض الأفكار عنها. اللقاء غير رسمي، ولا توجد قراءة إلزامية — فقط احضر كتابًا تقرأه حاليًا أو كتابًا أحببته وتود الحديث عنه. ### 🔸 ماذا تتوقّع؟ * نبدأ بالتعارف وطلب القهوة أو الشاي ☕. * يشارك كل عضو نبذة عن كتابه (أي لغة مرحّب بها: العربية، الإنجليزية، أو الألمانية). * نفتح المجال للنقاش والأسئلة وتبادل الأفكار المستوحاة من الكتب.

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! 📖

Welcome, readers! Our July read is ***A Short Walk Through a Wide World*** *by Douglas Westerbeke*. We'll follow a young woman bound by a mysterious condition that forces her to keep moving across the globe. As she journeys through vibrant cities, quiet landscapes, and centuries of time, each stop reveals new connections, fleeting relationships, and deeper questions about belonging. The novel blends adventure with introspection, exploring what it means to search for home when you can never stay in one place. It’s both a love letter to the vastness of the world and a poignant meditation on identity, memory, and human connection. 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!

You might check out the [Columbus Book Festival](https://www.columbusbookfestival.org/) the weekend prior! Celebrating Pride Month and Juneteenth [Columbus library link to book](https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C3366564) We're going some place new! (to us) Location: [Tupelo Honey](https://tupelohoneycafe.com/) 1678 W. Lane Ave., · Columbus, US [Menu](https://tupelohoneycafe.com/columbus/menu/) Book summary: A singular and stunning debut novel about the forbidden union between two enslaved young men on a Deep South plantation, the refuge they find in each other, and a betrayal that threatens their existence

Come join us to discuss our July pick "Tusk Love" by Thea Guanzon! Book description: A merchant’s 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. “A true delight of a book! Spicy and heartfelt—this one is a winner all around.”—Katee Robert, author of Neon Gods As the daughter of an ambitious merchant, Guinevere’s path has been predetermined: marry into a noble house of the Dwendalian Empire, raise her family’s station, and live quietly as a lordling’s 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, Oskar’s path is not so set in stone. With his mother dead and his apprenticeship abandoned, all that’s left is a long, lonely walk to a land he’s never seen to find family he’s never met. The last thing he needs is a spoiled waif like Guinevere slowing him down—even 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 they’ll 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 Role’s Jester Lavorre, Tusk Love brings the most romantic story on Exandrian bookshelves to life.

Join us to discuss our August read, Dire Bound, as we paint small canvases! Book description: Fourth Wing meets The Hunger Games in this spicy, page-turning romantasy where humans and direwolves forge unbreakable bonds and fight for survival at all costs. Only the worthy survive the Bonding Trials. She’ll risk her life—and her heart—to be one of them. Meryn Cooper has always hated the Bonded, elite warriors who form mental links with the massive, vicious direwolves they ride. While they live in luxury, Meryn struggles to keep her family out of poverty. When her little sister, Saela, is kidnapped—stolen across the border by the immortal monsters her country has spent centuries fighting—Meryn’s world falls apart. Desperate to cross the front and save her sister, Meryn enlists in the army and is thrown into the deadly Bonding Trials, where any mistake will cost her life. Now Meryn must survive four months of training at the castle. She is bound to a feral direwolf who refuses to communicate. The other trainees would love to spill her common blood. And her cold and beautiful instructor, Stark Therion, is eager to punish any weakness. Everything is a competition, and everyone is out to get her—everyone except the dangerously handsome crown prince, whose attention adds another target to her back. In the castle, every smile hides a knife…and the halls hide dark secrets. It’s bond or bleed. Duel or die. Failure is ruin.

This month we’ll be reading Goddess of the River by Vaishnavi Patel. Feel free to come even if you don’t finish the book!