Reading

The first rule of WRITE CLUB is that you do not talk ***during*** WRITE CLUB. This very simple meetup is based on the premise that public and peer accountability enables more productive writing than sitting at home and getting distracted by the fridge. We will write/read for an hour in silence. (I will be writing thought experiments for my other meetup group: [THOUGHT EXPERIMENTS IN PUBS](https://www.meetup.com/thought-experiments-in-pubs)) If you'd like to hang out afterwards, or if you prefer just to hang out, I have another event immediately afterwards in the same place :-) You can find that here: [HANGING OUT AT THE SOUTHBANK](https://www.meetup.com/experimentsin/events/313686740) And if you'd like to finish the evening with a dance, there is a free social salsa meetup just outside The Southbank Centre just afterwards. More info [here](https://www.instagram.com/salserosfriends/). **This event will take place in the foyer of The Southbank Centre.** You can find us by looking out for: * A tote bag with WRITE CLUB sewn onto it * My T-Shirt, which will have HANGING OUT embroidered on the back of it * A big red flag with THE SUNRISE CLUB emblazoned on it (though this clearly isn't THE SUNRISE CLUB! If you want to find out about that, you can do so [here](https://www.meetup.com/the-sunrise-club/).) * Other writers - who may be spread out across the centre. They will have white pieces of paper with the WRITE CLUB stamp at the top of the page. There are plenty of places to buy refreshments, but you can also bring your own if you prefer. [WHATSAPP GROUP](https://chat.whatsapp.com/BpMwnRev0H237KMx4uPnek) [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/experimentsingroupwisdom) [SUBSTACK](https://experimentsingroupwisdom.substack.com/) Looking forward to meeting and writing with you :-) Bonny

Join us for a night of fun at Dark Arts Night A night of dark art, live experimental music, tarot, workshops, DJs, food, and chaotic creative energy. Featuring Das Fluff, Zero Sun: Kurātaka, corpse-paint life drawing, and immersive gothic-inspired spaces. Free entry. Come relax, meet interesting people, and discover hidden sides of your personality under purple lights and synth music. Basically self-development, but more fun and slightly haunted. RSVP if interested.

Online Personal Tarot Readings to be booked via my website: www.mapitarot.com. Please check for any other available dates and times if this event doesn't suit you.

On our visit, we will explore the history of the Bank of England and what it does today. We will learn about why people started using paper money, and discover the secrets of why banknotes are so difficult to copy. We can test our strength by picking up a gold bar, and discover why the building is on top of one the world's largest stores of gold! As well as learning what the Bank of England does and how this affects us we can visit the Stock Office where we can see what the inside of the Bank of England would have looked like 200 hundred years ago. In their Modern Economy room, we can find out why there are 400,000 gold bars in the Bank of England’s underground vaults and travel through 300 years of history in our Early Years and Rotunda rooms. Travel details nearer the time

Speakers of English and Korean unite! Language exchange focused meetup at a pub venue in a very central London location. For a map of the location, see the website of the bar linked in the venue details given here. People at any level of Korean (and English) are welcome at this Meetup. Complete beginners wanting to explore learning Korean also welcome. Participants come from the UK, Korea and many other countries. This will be an opportunity to informally study and practice Korean and/or English, and help others with their Korean and/or English in return. It is also a good chance to chat to others with interests in and links to Korea. We'd also be very grateful if attendees could buy at least one drink (soft/alcoholic) at the bar to ensure that we continue to be welcomed at this venue. We look forward to seeing you all there, **To avoid disappointment, please book your place before you come.** About this Meetup Group (http://korean.meetup.com/142/about/)

Inspired by Sheila Liming's 2023 book, Hanging Out, this event is about "daring to do nothing much, and even more than that, about daring to do it in the company of others." If you're curious, you can read more about my rationale for the event [here](https://experimentsingroupwisdom.substack.com/p/hanging-out), and how our pilot event went [here](https://experimentsingroupwisdom.substack.com/p/it-worked). **This event will take place in the foyer of The Southbank Centre.** You can find us by looking out for: * Me - I will be wearing a black T-shirt with HANGING OUT written on the back * Our table - which will have a red flag draped over it with THE SUNRISE CLUB emblazoned on it (though this clearly isn't THE SUNRISE CLUB! If you want to find out about that, you can do so [here](https://www.meetup.com/the-sunrise-club/).) There are plenty of places to buy refreshments, but you can also bring your own if you prefer. If you feel like using this event as a carrot for some creative work, please join us an hour earlier for [WRITE CLUB](https://www.meetup.com/experimentsin/events/314202823) \- an hour of silent writing/reading in the same location\. And if you'd like to finish the evening with a dance, there is a free social salsa meetup just outside The Southbank Centre just afterwards. More info [here](https://www.instagram.com/salserosfriends/). [WHATSAPP GROUP](https://chat.whatsapp.com/FgGCrGc8TNzF8q7lvwozbR) [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/experimentsingroupwisdom) [SUBSTACK](https://experimentsingroupwisdom.substack.com/) Looking forward to meeting and hanging out with you :-) Bonny

If you are you interested on creating your own comic, but need help to put your vision together or do not know were to start then we may have the solution for you. Come talk shop with fellow creators, share experiences, ideas, techniques and tips to help each other grow and have a chance in the industry.

We love a good chat. Come and join us at Table 45

May's Book; Alan Hollinghurst - Our Evenings A fresh, intentional space for readers in East London who take their fiction seriously. We aren't a social mixer that happens to have a book in the background; we are a dedicated circle of six readers who meet once a month to dissect, debate, and celebrate high-quality literature. Why Only Six? We believe the best literary analysis happens when everyone has a seat at the head of the table. By strictly limiting our meetups to 6 people, we ensure: No one is talked over. The conversation stays focused and nuanced. An intimate environment where we can truly get to the heart of the text. The Reading List Our focus is strictly fiction only. We explore the boundaries of the craft, focusing on: Contemporary Literary Fiction (The Booker, International Booker, and beyond). Modern Classics that deserve a second look. Translated Works that offer a different lens on the world. How We Work When: Once a month on a Sunday Where: Carefully selected, quiet spots across East London—from Hackney to Bow—where the atmosphere suits a serious conversation. The Commitment: Because spaces are so limited, we ask that you only RSVP if you are certain you can attend and have finished the book. We dive straight into spoilers and structural analysis from minute one. If you cannot attend, pleaae cancel 24 hours before hand to allow someone else to attend

Arabic Through Literature and Current Affairs One Thousand and One Nights & Contemporary Arabic Discussion Lesson Duration 2 hours per session • Hour 1: Literary Arabic (Reading & Translation) • Hour 2: Modern Arabic (Conversation & Debate on Current Affairs) ⸻ HOUR 1 — Arabic Literature (60 minutes) Objectives • Develop reading fluency in classical/standard Arabic • Understand literary structures and stylistic devices • Produce accurate and elegant translations Structure 1️⃣ Context & Vocabulary (10 min) • Brief cultural or historical background • Key vocabulary (classical, rare, idiomatic) 2️⃣ Guided Reading (20 min) • Reading aloud by teacher and students • Grammatical and stylistic explanations • Focus on: • Verb patterns • Sentence rhythm • Narrative connectors 3️⃣ Analysis (15 min) • Themes and moral lessons • Character roles • Narrative techniques • Links to broader Arabic literary traditions 4️⃣ Translation Workshop (15 min) • Collective translation • Discuss: • Literal vs literary translation • Register and tone • Alternative renderings HOUR 2 — Current Affairs Conversation (60 minutes) Objectives • Build spoken fluency in Modern Standard Arabic • Learn contemporary political, social, and media vocabulary • Express opinions clearly and confidently Structure 1️⃣ Warm-up & Vocabulary (10 min) • Key terms from: • News headlines • Social media discourse • Political or cultural debates 2️⃣ Listening / Reading Input (10 min) • Short news clip or article (Al Jazeera, BBC Arabic, etc.) • Identify main ideas and key arguments 3️⃣ Guided Discussion (30 min) Possible formats: • Open discussion • Structured debate • Role-play (journalist / analyst / public opinion) • Comparison with students’ countries Discussion skills: • Expressing agreement/disagreement • Clarifying opinions • Polite debate language 4️⃣ Reflection & Correction (10 min) • Correct common mistakes • Reformulate students’ answers in refined Arabic • Highlight strong expressions Homework (Light & Effective) Meeting at Pret A Manger 252 Tottenham Ct Rd, London W1T 7RB

If you know the meaning of the 78 Tarot Cards but you find difficult to read card combinations fluidly or make card connections in spreads and then make sense of them to create a coherent story, then you could be interested in this course. Please email me for further info about T&Cs and fee at trtcoursemapi@outlook.com

* **read event description before signing up** * **register on Meetup to attend** * **update RSVP if plans change** * **arrive at 2.50pm** * **read the Book before session** * **review the Questions** [Book 4 - Part 2 - verses 25-51](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Thoughts_of_the_Emperor_Marcus_Aurelius_Antoninus/Book_IV) *Reading Time - 16 minutes* *Prior knowledge is not required* [Gregory Hays translation used in session](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meditations-Translation-Modern-Library-Classics/dp/0812968255/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1DYZJGWO42PUG&keywords=meditations+gregory+hays&qid=1656706450&s=books&sprefix=Meditations+Gregory%2Cstripbooks%2C91&sr=1-1) Meditations is one of the greatest works of spiritual and ethical reflection ever written. With a profound understanding of human behaviour, Marcus provides insights, wisdom, and practical guidance on everything from living in the world to coping with adversity to interacting with others. Explore this timeless collection that has been consulted and admired by leaders, readers and thinkers throughout the centuries. **Questions we'll explore** 1\. A philosopher without clothes and one without books\. “I have nothing to eat,” says he, as he stands there half-naked, “but I subsist on the logos.” And with nothing to read, I subsist on it too. (30) *What do you make of this?* 2\. Then what should we work for? Only this: proper understanding; unselfish action; truthful speech. A resolve to accept whatever happens as necessary and familiar, flowing like water from that same source and spring. (33) *What are the implications?* 3\. To pass through this brief life as nature demands\. To give it up without complaint. Like an olive that ripens and falls. Praising its mother, thanking the tree it grew on. (48) *How do you feel about this?* 4\. So remember this principle when something threatens to cause you pain: the thing itself was no misfortune at all; to endure it and prevail is great good fortune. (49a) *Do you agree or disagree?* 5\. Take the shortest route\, the one that nature planned—to speak and act in the healthiest way\. Do that, and be free of pain and stress, free of all calculation and pretension. (51) *How would you go about this?* **To fund the costs of** [room hire](https://bunhillquakers.org.uk/files/2025_bunhill_booking_info_trifold.pdf) **and** [Meetup subscription](https://www.meetup.com/blog/new-organizer-pricing-key-improvements/) **£15 is payable** To minimise admin there are no refunds/credits unless the meeting is cancelled. Refunds exclude Meetup/PayPal fees. **If you sign up and can no longer attend, please Edit RSVP asap to "Not going" so someone else can take your spot.** There is no waiting list if the event is full. Please check this Meetup page on the day of the event, as a spot may become available if there is a late cancellation. **If you sign up, and do not Edit RSVP to "Not going", and are a no show, you will be removed from the Group and can rejoin after 3 months.**

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 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 slaveholder’s 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! 📖

[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.

Join us for lunch/tea at Asterisk Supper Club to discuss our May book "Under the Oak Tree" by Suji Kim Lady Maximilian is the daughter of the powerful Duke Croyso, but she is rarely allowed outside her family’s sprawling castle for fear that her stutter will tarnish their noble name. When she is forced to marry Sir Riftan, a lowborn knight caught in one of her father’s schemes, Maxi doesn’t dare hope for happiness, let alone love. Her stumbling communication and his gruff manner sour their relationship before it can begin, and Riftan leaves without a word the morning after their vows are exchanged. Now, three years after their disastrous wedding night, Riftan has returned as a war hero. To Maxi’s surprise, despite rumors that he was offered marriage to Princess Agnes, a beautiful and renowned sorceress, Riftan still wants Maxi for his wife. And when he comes to claim her, his longing becomes a desire that bewilders Maxi, even as she is overcome by the scorching heat that Riftan’s presence ignites within her. As she learns to navigate the intricacies of her new life, Maxi will find herself and her courage, and discover that she is anything but powerless.

Join us as we discuss our June pick: Metal Slinger by Rachel Schneider! Book description: Even though she's not one of them, Brynn has spent her life among the Alaha, training to be a guard and waiting for the chance to attend the annual market hosted by the Kenta–the very same people who exiled her adopted community to a life at sea. Going to the market is a rite of passage eagerly anticipated by all young guards, but Brynn does not anticipate breaking a century-long peace treaty while there. Nor does she plan for the intense encounter with an enemy soldier that now threatens to unwind the fragile coexistence between their people–and everything Brynn once believed about herself to be true. Brynn's loyalty to the Alaha is tested when the truth of her identity is brought to light by this soldier who's taken an oath to bring her back to where she belongs. Narrowly escaping death on the violent high seas, Brynn's connection to the Alaha is further tested when she learns about the world of magic she's been denied. She was once certain of her fate and where she belonged, but the dark, knowing eyes of this stranger have her questioning everything, including her heart. Packed with knife fights and seafaring adventure, METAL SLINGER is the smash-hit start to the romantic fantasy duology, the Fire & Metal series

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!