Reading

Hay animales que aparecen en nuestra vida para recordarnos quiénes somos. En este taller vivirás una experiencia artística, creativa e introspectiva donde darás vida, con tus propias manos, a un animal que represente tu fuerza, intuición, protección o el momento que estás atravesando. No necesitas experiencia previa. Yo te acompañaré durante todo el proceso para que tu pieza sea única y refleje tu esencia. Trabajaremos con papel maché para modelar una pequeña marioneta-tótem completamente personalizada, inspirándonos en la imaginación, la naturaleza y el simbolismo de los animales. Más que un taller, será un espacio para desconectar del ruido cotidiano, conectar contigo y disfrutar del placer de crear con calma. ¿Qué incluye? • Dos encuentros de 2 horas cada uno. • Todos los materiales incluidos. • Grupo reducido (máximo 4 personas) para ofrecer un acompañamiento muy cercano. • Tu marioneta-tótem totalmente personalizada para llevar a casa. • Un ambiente acogedor, creativo y lleno de inspiración. Si sientes curiosidad por el arte, los animales simbólicos o simplemente deseas regalarte una experiencia diferente, este taller es para ti. Ven a crear un compañero que represente aquello que quieres cultivar y recordar cada día. 60€ 2 sesiones 📍 rambla volart 87 local C Reservas: +34 637543356 📅FLEXIBILIDAD DE FECHA Y horario , dime qué día te va bien y quedamos

Sunrise Lovers — Yoga by the Sea €10 per class To book, send me a message on WhatsApp after signing up: https://wa.me/34678974165 ⸻ Start your day by the sea. Move your body, breathe a little deeper, and wake up slowly with the sunrise. A perfect mix of Breathwork and flowing and relaxation And if you’re feeling brave… we can jump in the water after 🌊 ⸻ What to expect: • Simple breathing exercises • A short moment to arrive • Gentle warm-up • Vinyasa flow (open to all levels) • A few minutes to rest at the end ⸻ This class is for anyone — whether you’re new to yoga or already practicing. ⸻ Details: €10 per class Please book in advance (and show up if you do 🙏) Bring your mat ⸻ If you want to join or have questions, just message me. Instagram: @under_the_elements_yoga See you at sunrise, Paula

**⬇️ ENGLISH BELOW + CATALÀ A CONTINUACIÓ!** ¿Te gustan los juegos de mesa y no tienes con quién jugar? ¿No se te ocurre qué hacer con tus compañeros de trabajo después de tu jornada de trabajo o quieres reunirte con tus amistades para pasarlo bien? ¡Únete al evento de juegos de mesa más grande de Barcelona y de Europa cada semana! ¡ Descubre nuestra comunidad en [este vídeo](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFKcJlpshY7/)! **Información de las noches de juegos semanales:** **Fecha**: Cada semana, principalmente los miércoles las 19h. Algunas semanas el evento se traslada a martes o jueves (revisar calendario de este evento). **Ubicación**: [L' Estació Espai Gastronòmic](https://g.co/kgs/Kjtf7jP) ️ **Idiomas**: Castellano, Inglés, Catalán ¡y cualquier otro que los participantes hablen! **¿Por qué unirse a las noches de juegos de KLEFF?** Disfrutar de la enorme variedad de juegos de mesa (¡explicamos cómo jugar a todos los juegos! Conocer a gente nueva y hacer amigos Degustar deliciosas tapas y bebidas ️ Practicar idiomas mientras te diviertes **Algunos de nuestros juegos (+500)** * 7 Wonders * Azul * Camel Up * Código Secreto * Catan * Carcassone * Dixit * Darwin's Journey * Lost Ruins of Arnak * Red Cathedral * Sagrada * Secret Hitler * Splendor * Terraforming Mars * Ticket To Ride * Unmatched * White Castle * ¡Y muchos más! Si tienes otro juego que creas que puede ser divertido jugarlo, ¡no dudes en traerlo! ️ Nos podréis encontrar en la **sala principal del Restaurante**, preguntad por **Pau** o a las personas con las camisetas rojas La utilización de la ludoteca es **GRATIS** , pero al encontrarnos en un bar es obligatorio adquirir consumición mínima (4€) canjeable por bebida. Si lo pasáis bien podéis hacer donaciones para la compra de más juegos y para organizar nuevos eventos ⚠️ **No olvidéis reservar vuestra plaza en Meetup**. Si finalmente no puedes venir, por favor, cancela tu asistencia para que otra persona pueda ocupar tu lugar. Durante el transcurso del evento se realizarán fotografías y vídeos que podrían ser publicadas en las redes sociales y los sitios web de [KLEFF](https://kleff.es/). Si no deseas salir, rogamos nos lo confirmes para no tomar imágenes de tu persona. \*\* ¡Únete a nuestra comunidad!\*\* [WhatsApp](https://chat.whatsapp.com/DgrLMW8MP8nGVDYuArohm0?mode=gi_t) [Telegram Group](https://t.me/kleffbcn) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/kleff.bcn/) \*\*\*\* Do you like board games but don't have anyone to play with? Can't think of what to do with your coworkers after work or want to gather with friends to have a good time? Join the biggest board game event in Barcelona and Europe every week! Discover our community in [this vídeo](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFKcJlpshY7/)! **Game Night information**: **Date**: Every week, mostly Wednesdays at 7pm. Some weeks the event is moved to Tuesdays or Thursdays (check calendar for this event). **Location**: [L' Estació Espai Gastronòmic](https://g.co/kgs/Kjtf7jP) ️ **Languages**: Spanish, English, Catalan and any other languages spoken by participants! **Why join KLEFF game nights?** Enjoy a huge variety of board games (we explain how to play all games!) Meet new people and make friends Taste delicious tapas and drinks ️ Practice languages while having fun **Some of our games (+500)** * 7 Wonders * Azul * Camel Up * Codenames * Catan * Carcassonne * Dixit * Lost Ruins of Arnak * Red Cathedral * Sagrada * Secret Hitler * Splendor * Terraforming Mars * Ticket To Ride * White Castle * And many more! If you have another game that you think would be fun to play, feel free to bring it! ️ You can find us on the main floor of the restaurant, ask for **Pau** or the ones with the red t-shirt The use of the board games collection is **FREE** , but as we are in a bar, it is mandatory to purchase a minimum consumption (4€) which can be exchanged for a drink. If you have a good time, you can make donations for purchasing more games and organizing new events. **⚠️ Don't forget to reserve your spot on Meetup**. If you can't make it in the end, please cancel your attendance so someone else can take your spot. During the event, photos and videos will be taken that may be published on [KLEFF](http://www.kleff.es/)'s social media and websites. If you don't wish to appear, please let us know so we won't take pictures of you \*\* Join our community!\*\* [WhatsApp](https://chat.whatsapp.com/DgrLMW8MP8nGVDYuArohm0?mode=gi_t) [Telegram Group](https://t.me/kleffbcn) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/kleff.bcn/) \*\*\* T'agraden els jocs de taula i no tens amb qui jugar? No se t'ocorre què fer amb els teus companys de treball després de la teva jornada de treball o vols reunir-te amb les teves amistats per a passar-ho bé? Uneix-te a l'esdeveniment de jocs de taula més gran de Barcelona i d'Europa cada setmana! Descobreix la nostra comunitat en [aquest vídeo](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFKcJlpshY7/)! **Informació de les nits de jocs setmanals:** **Data**: Cada setmana, principalment els dimecres les 19h. Algunes setmanes l'esdeveniment es trasllada a dimarts o dijous (revisar calendari d'aquest esdeveniment). **Ubicació**: [L' Estació Espai Gastronòmic](https://g.co/kgs/LDs2fbs) ️ **Llengües**: Castellà, anglès, Ccatalà i qualsevol altre que els participants parlin! **Per què unir-se a les nits de jocs de KLEFF?** Gaudir de l'enorme varietat de jocs de taula (expliquem com jugar a tots els jocs!) Conèixer a gent nova i fer amistats Degustar delicioses tapes i begudes ️ Practicar idiomes mentre et diverteixes **Alguns dels nostres jocs (+500)** * 7 Wonders * Azul * Camel Up * Codi Secret * Catan * Carcassone * Dixit * Lost Ruins of Arnak * Red Cathedral * Sagrada * Secret Hitler * Splendor * Terraforming Mars * Ticket To Ride * Unmatched * White Castle * I molts més! Si tens un altre joc que creguis que pot ser divertit jugar-ho, no dubtis a portar-ho! ️ Ens podreu trobar a la **sala principal del Restaurant,** pregunteu per **Pau** o a les persones amb les samarretes vermelles La utilització de la ludoteca és **GRATUÏTA**, però en trobar-nos en un bar és obligatori adquirir consumició mínima (4€) canviable per beguda. Si ho passeu bé podeu fer donacions per a la compra de més jocs i per a organitzar nous esdeveniments. ⚠️ **No oblidis reservar la teva plaça a Meetup**. Si finalment no pots venir, si us plau, cancel·la l'assistència per a què una altra persona pugui ocupar el teu lloc. Durant el transcurs de l'esdeveniment es realitzaran fotografies i vídeos que podrien ser publicades en les xarxes socials i els llocs web de [KLEFF](https://kleff.es/ca/elementor-2706/). Si no desitges sortir, preguem que ens ho confirmis per a no prendre imatges de la teva persona. \*\* Uneix-te a la nostra comunitat!\*\* [WhatsApp](https://chat.whatsapp.com/DgrLMW8MP8nGVDYuArohm0?mode=gi_t) [Telegram](https://t.me/kleffbcn) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/kleff.bcn/)

🎨 Descubre la magia de la acuarela ¿Hace tiempo quieres pintar pero no sabes por dónde empezar? ¿Buscas un momento para desconectar del estrés y conectar con tu lado creativo? Esta clase de acuarela está diseñada para todos, tanto si nunca has sostenido un pincel como si ya tienes experiencia y quieres seguir explorando esta hermosa técnica. En un ambiente relajado y sin presiones, aprenderás paso a paso a crear ilustraciones llenas de color, luz y personalidad. No se trata de hacerlo “perfecto”, sino de disfrutar del proceso, experimentar y dejar que tu creatividad fluya. Durante la sesión aprenderás: 🎨 Técnicas básicas y avanzadas de acuarela. 🌿 Mezcla de colores y creación de armonías. 💧 Control del agua y diferentes efectos. 🖌️ Composición e ilustración creativa. ✨ Trucos para ganar confianza y desarrollar tu propio estilo. Ven a regalarte un espacio para respirar, crear y compartir con otras personas que disfrutan del arte. No necesitas experiencia previa, solo ganas de aprender y disfrutar. ¡Te espero para pintar juntos y descubrir todo lo que puedes crear con un poco de agua, color e imaginación! 🌸🖌️

come hang for a cozy beach read 🌊📚 bring whatever you need for a chill beach day; book, snacks, towel, sunnies 🧃🥪 🕶️ we’ll be reading together (but our own books), soaking up the sun now that summer’s here and sharing recs after ✨ ⭐ **if you’d like to support the meetup,** donations are always welcome and help us keep organizing these lovely gatherings 🫶✨ you can donate via bizum 605 23 31 98 or in cash at the meetup ven a pasar el rato en una lectura tranquila en la playa 🌊📚 trae lo que necesites para un día chill de playa; libro, snacks, toalla, gafas de sol 🧃🥪 🕶️ estaremos leyendo juntos (pero cada une su libro), disfrutando del sol ahora que ya es verano y compartiendo recomendaciones después ✨ ⭐ **si os apetece apoyar el meetup**, las donaciones son siempre bienvenidas y nos ayudan a seguir organizando estos encuentros 🫶✨ podéis donar por bizum 605 23 31 98 o en efectivo durante el meetup

A casual (but coordinated) coffee break to meet new friends, take a Zoom break, and get your AM caffeine fix. Stop by for a few minutes or stay the whole time. Bring a friend or wander in solo. Come for the coffee and company, or just bring a book to read while surrounded by other in-real-life, community-seeking humans. Come by every Friday, or just when you happen to be in town. Make it whatever you need it to be that week. It's not an \*event\* per se, but we hope these Friday meet-ups can become a fixture of the bookshop! Gathering spot will be in the downstairs area of the bookshop (near the Community Library). Coffee and tea are 1.50€ and can be purchased at the cash register upstairs. Find more info on our Instagram (@backstorybookshop) or website (www.backstorybookshop.com).

**Scientific Paper Reading Club: Beyond Transformers & Multimodal Frontiers** This is part of the scientific paper reading club. This Saturday, we are expanding our horizons beyond standard LLMs! Following our recent discussions, we will be diving into points 3 and 5 from our reading list presentation: **Alternative architectures (SSM/RNN)** and **Multimodal foundation models**. To make it even more exciting, we will be connecting these topics to some of the freshest breakthroughs presented at the recent ICLR conference ([https://iclr.cc/](https://www.google.com/url?sa=E&q=https%3A%2F%2Ficlr.cc%2F)). **What to expect:** Our presenter, Maxim Musin, will guide us through these two major frontiers in modern AI: 1. **Alternative Architectures (SSM/RNN):** Transformers are incredibly powerful, but their computational costs remain a massive bottleneck for long contexts. We will discuss why State Space Models (SSMs) like Mamba are emerging as the next big leap. We will look at fresh ICLR[[1](https://www.google.com/url?sa=E&q=https%3A%2F%2Fvertexaisearch.cloud.google.com%2Fgrounding-api-redirect%2FAUZIYQGC4niR9aCGjHBT9LMF4wz46OkiGKU9B7nghuo3OzbRQCWNy4fGizlUydBsvuhZgYay8Y31rCTrfquWnuEHjAibPui0IrBi71JMXQG59U0rk5DKa-hzJg%3D%3D)] insights, such as "Mamba-3: Improved Sequence Modeling using State Space Principles" [https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.15569](https://www.google.com/url?sa=E&q=https%3A%2F%2Farxiv.org%2Fabs%2F2603.15569) and "MambaSL: Exploring Single-Layer Mamba for Time Series Classification" [https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.15174](https://www.google.com/url?sa=E&q=https%3A%2F%2Farxiv.org%2Fabs%2F2604.15174) 2. **Multimodal Foundation Models:** We will explore how AI is learning to "think" natively across different continuous spaces and complex interactions. We will touch on standout ICLR papers like "Massively Multimodal Foundation Models: A Framework for Capturing Interactions with Specialized Mixture-of-Experts" [https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.25678](https://www.google.com/url?sa=E&q=https%3A%2F%2Farxiv.org%2Fabs%2F2509.25678) and "Theory of Space: Can Foundation Models Construct Spatial Beliefs through Active Exploration?" [https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.07055](https://www.google.com/url?sa=E&q=https%3A%2F%2Farxiv.org%2Fabs%2F2602.07055) You don't need a heavy math background to join—Maxim will break down the intuition behind these complex architectures so that the core concepts are easy to follow for everyone. **Meeting Details:** 🗣 **Presenter:** Maxim Musin 💬 **Language of the meeting:** English 🎟 **Entrance donation:** 10 eur 📍 **Location:** Maui coworking (Note: For some reason, Meetup maps sometimes wrongly point to other addresses. Here is the exact address: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/fjx9t4zG8GnEmXLr9?g_st=ac](https://www.google.com/url?sa=E&q=https%3A%2F%2Fmaps.app.goo.gl%2Ffjx9t4zG8GnEmXLr9%3Fg_st%3Dac) ) Looking forward to a great discussion this Saturday! Aparently there is no way of fixing meetup's markdown mess, sorry for this guys, just use your abstract imagination and experience with latech to read anouncement, this markdown render problem seem so be some kind of bug, i cleaned it in the redactor but with no effect, probably copying and pasting it clean into editor will solve it, but generating clean landing page with similar capabilities in claude code would also solve it in a way, so i didn't bother, see you at saturday

Start your day in a slower, more intentional way. Every Thursday morning, we gather at the beach in Barcelona for a **guided breathwork and meditation experience** designed to help you reset your nervous system, reconnect with yourself, and begin the day feeling more open, present, and connected. Limited spots. Early booking recommended. **[👉 Alternative signup through Luma platform](https://luma.com/breaze) (Early Bird available)** ​This is a recurring event series, guided by certified Breathwork facilitators, each bringing their own unique approach. ✨ **What to expect** This is a 60-minute experience combining breathwork, meditation, and connection. 🧘 **Flow of the session:** * Arrival & landing (5–10 min) * 45-minute guided breathwork & meditation session * Short connection exercises with the group (5–10 min) * Optional ocean dip afterwards 🎧 **During the session, you will:** * Lie down on the beach * Wear wireless headphones with immersive music * Use a soft blindfold to go deeper into the experience You’ll be guided through different breathing techniques and meditation styles to help you: * Slow down * Release stress and emotional tension * Reconnect with your body * Feel more open, grounded, and emotionally connected Each session is slightly different depending on the facilitator. 🌊 **What makes it special** With headphones and blindfolds, you can fully disconnect from distractions and turn inward. A space to start your day feeling more alive, more connected, and in a positive, elevated state. Surrounded by like-minded people. 🤍 **This is for you if** * You want to start your day with intention * You feel stressed or mentally busy and need a reset * You’re curious about breathwork and meditation * You want to connect with yourself and others * **You’re looking for a conscious community in Barcelona** 🎒 **What to bring** * A towel or blanket to lie on * Comfortable clothes * Water * Optional: swimwear for after the session **☕️ Want to connect more after the session?** After each session, you can head up with us to the Cafe **[GAMAR](https://maps.app.goo.gl/6xxLniznL5dEd3Ns9)** to connect more with the community and enjoy your beverage of choice (not included in ticket price). 📍 **Important info** * Every Thursday, 07:00 – 08:00 * Beach in Barcelona * Limited spots This is a recurring event series guided by certified Breaze Breathwork facilitators. **About Breaze** Breaze is a breathwork school and creates immersive experiences through breathwork, meditation, and conscious practices that help you reconnect, regulate your nervous system, and move through life with more clarity and intention. More at @[breaze.school](https://breaze.school/?utm_source=luma) **About AURA** AURA is a Barcelona-based silent disco and immersive event company, providing wireless headphone experiences that transform sound into shared, deeply immersive moments. More at[ @aura_events_es](https://www.instagram.com/aura_events_es?igsh=Ynk1MGdrMnJsanIw&utm_source=luma)

🍄 En este encuentro vamos a activar el juego de cartas 'Seamos como los hongos', de Yasmine Ostendorf-Rodríguez. Cada carta está ilustrada con distintos hongos y contiene una enseñanza, una pregunta, un hecho fúngico o un ejercicio inspirados en el mundo Funga. Los grandes maestros que son los hongos serán nuestros guías para diseñar calendarios cíclicos, pensar en sistemas de intercambio no monetarios, hacer mapas especulativos y más. 🍄 Helen(a) Torres es socióloga, traductora y profesora. Su trabajo se centra en las articulaciones entre lenguaje, artes y políticas desde perspectivas feministas y anticoloniales. Facilita talleres de fabulación especulativa y seminarios centrados en el trabajo de Donna Haraway, de quien ha traducido la mayoría de sus obras y alrededor de cuyas propuestas desarrolla proyectos artísticos y de investigación. Actualmente es doctoranda en el Departamento de Historia del Arte de la Universidad de Barcelona con una tesis sobre bioarte. Info e inscripción: lamalinchelibreria@gmail.com 💌

***Los santos inocentes*, Miguel Delibes **📖 En la Extremadura profunda de los años sesenta, una familia de campesinos sobrevive al servicio de los señores del cortijo bajo un régimen de explotación casi feudal. *Los santos inocentes* es una obra maestra de la literatura española: una denuncia feroz de la injusticia social 🏚️, narrada con una voz única que mezcla oralidad y poesía, y protagonizada por personajes que te romperán el corazón por su dignidad y su inocencia 💔. ✨ Delibes es de los grandes. Premio Cervantes incluido. Y este libro lo demuestra todo. 🎬** ¿Sabías que tiene película? **La adaptación de 1984 dirigida por Mario Camus es igualmente legendaria. Os recomendamos verla después de leer el libro para llegar a la sesión con todo. 🍷 Nos reuniremos en** [book bar bcn](https://www.thebookbarbcn.es/inicio) **para discutir el libro con una copa de vino en mano. Sin presiones. Solo gente curiosa y conversaciones con alma. 📚** ¿Dónde conseguir el libro? **Lo puedes comprar en cualquier librería local, en Casa del Libro o en librerías de Re-Read. Y si prefieres no comprarlo, recuerda que puedes pedirlo prestado gratuitamente en las bibliotecas públicas.💖 ***The Holy Innocents*, Miguel Delibes **📖 Set in rural Extremadura in the 1960s, this Spanish masterpiece follows a peasant family bound to a feudal estate, enduring daily humiliation with quiet dignity. Delibes writes with a raw, poetic voice unlike anything else in Spanish literature. A devastating critique of class and power 🏚️ that stays with you long after the last page 💔. ✨ A true landmark of 20th century literature and one of the most important novels ever written in Spanish. 🎬** It also has a film! **The acclaimed 1984 adaptation by Mario Camus is the perfect watch after finishing the book. Come to the session ready to talk about both! 🍷 Join us at** [book bar bcn](https://www.thebookbarbcn.es/inicio) **for an evening of books, ideas, and good wine. No pressure. Just curious people and real conversation. 📚** Where to get the book? **You can buy it at any local bookshop, at Casa del Libro or on Re-Read bookshops. Prefer to borrow it? The** Biblioteca de Barcelona **has you covered for free. 💖

Vídeo presentación: [https://youtu.be/alzG1rokS1o](https://youtu.be/alzG1rokS1o) ¡Atención! Enviad vuestros textos para la Revista: (artículos, reseñas, textos de ficción, etc.) **[https://letraheridos.es/colaboraciones/](https://letraheridos.es/colaboraciones/)** Empezaremos puntuales, así que no tardéis :) Encuentro para amantes de la literatura. Escritores, lectores o simplemente curiosos. Usuario en **Goodreads** con nuestras lecturas: [https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/108384464-letraheridos](https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/108384464-letraheridos) Pedimos a los participantes que traigan un libro de lectura reciente que les haya emocionado o impactado. En vez de un club de lectura donde todos leemos el mismo libro y lo comentamos, cada uno trae una propuesta para recomendar a los demás. Ocasionalmente compartimos escritos. http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/7/9/7/2/600_455971090.jpeg

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 Masters of Death by Olivie Blake. Feel free to attend even if you don’t finish the book!

Let’s meet and discuss John Updike's Rabbit, Run, the first in his series of four novels following the life, hopes, and disappointments of former local basketball star, Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom, as he fitfully confronts and evades adulthood.