Women's Book Club

Let's get back into the swing of things after a couple of months of no events- This will be a casual Thai Dinner at Ruam, trendy and charming casual Thai with pretty good food. We will get a bunch of dishes to share and split the bill. Only drinks can be individually ordered. Much easier folks! Notes- A small deposit is needed, as my credit card will be deducted for no shows. Please send me $100 upon my contact, which I'll give back on the night \* I'm gonna apply 48 hours notice rule to get back your deposit. Upon your rsvp, I'll message u re sending the deposit, so pls have your settings on and pls don't rsvp if you are not ready to send a deposit. The event will be reconfirmed by my contact to you individually via the app or WhatsApp approx 6 / 7 days before. Table cannot be booked until I get deposits, so pls rsvp asap. If I get fewer that 5 px, event may be cancelled.

Get a great workout with a sweat-dripping dance cardio class combined with high-intensity interval training HIIT! Feel your heart rate pumping, while you jam to the beats and see yourself groove to fitness! Leave the class feeling super energised, challenged yet relaxed from a liberating dance fitness experience! WhatsApp 63344266 to book Prepayment required to secure booking www.deedreamlife.com/pricing-packages for fee info Download Dee Dream Life App for more info

\*\*\* Please bear in mind tonight's event will be moving to a new venue, just a few blocks away from our usual venue Meeple Tree. Hi, we will have a board game gathering for expats gamers / English-speaking gamers in Hong Kong! It will be hosted by our lovely and friendly Meetup hosts Karen and Winnie! Strategy games, party games, hidden identity games, anything, your call! A free style event you are welcome to bring along your own games to break it to the gang! Sign up, and we will see you soon! Venue Fees: $100 / Ladies $80 (a complimentary drink is included) No show: No show will definitely be removed from the group. (Altogether 98 members have been removed from our groups so far due to no show.)

🧨 想一齊慶祝白色情人節！唔使一個人過，唔使捱貴酒水，我哋包房同你狂歡！ 📍 地點：銅鑼灣 Sugar K（新開張！） ✨【獨家賣點・機會難得】✨ 🍾 歡迎自攜酒水及食物（千載難逢！） 🎤 上個月實地考察，都好多新歌及舊歌 😍獨立洗手間・私隱度爆燈 🆕 新裝修・新設備・新體驗 👥 4人即成團，上限10人 💰抵到爛收費模式： ・房費報名夾錢： $133/位（可唱足7小時） ・食物及酒水我哋會預先在超級市場購買（到時一齊夾返） 為確保每位報名的朋友都是認真參與，本次活動杜絕放飛機🚫✈🚫，需要入WhatsApp群才算confirm出席. 時間及地點將會在group 內發佈.

[Google signup form](https://forms.gle/bP4kxTspTqKrqSY76)

[https://forms.gle/bP4kxTspTqKrqSY76](https://forms.gle/bP4kxTspTqKrqSY76) RSVP: Whatsapp 5271-2143

*\*This is a paid event\** Join our WhatsApp group for more information: https://chat.whatsapp.com/GOKTL0NdhFvAQdAded0RT4?mode=gi_t Want to immerse yourself in books, but can't find the time? You've come to the right place! **The What:** We will start small, take baby steps (quite literally!) and read picture books. **The How:** Structure: \- No pre\-reading required and you don't need to buy any books\. \- We go through 2 or 3 picture books in one sitting\. \- We follow this up with a discussion on the content\, theme\, and illustrations in the book\. This is a free\-flowing conversation and we ensure equal air\-time for all participants\. \- Since these are picture books\, you don't need proficiency in English to enjoy them\. We'll go through these in our upcoming circle: (i) I Talk Like a River (ii) The Day of Ahmed's Secret **The Why:** Still on the fence about the event? Here's an article that gives you 10 reasons why you should join. [https://nutspace.in/10-reasons-picture-books-good-adults-kids/](https://nutspace.in/10-reasons-picture-books-good-adults-kids/) **The Where:** Movement Pilates Studio, Sai Ying Pun **💲198 HKD per person** **How to reserve your seat** 1️⃣ RSVP on Meetup 2️⃣ Send payment via FPS to 97006429 3️⃣ Receive spot confirmation ✅

Unlike the usual BYOB format of this group, this is an **assigned reading format.** **You are expected to have read some of the book** to join the discussion :) I am excited to finally read this book, its an award-winning, one of the most highly rated non fiction books across Goodreads/Amazon and for good reason! About the book: # A grand, devastating portrait of three generations of the Sackler family, famed for their philanthropy, whose fortune was built by Valium and whose reputation was destroyed by OxyContin. From the prize-winning and bestselling author of Say Nothing. *"A real-life version of the HBO series Succession with a lethal sting in its tail…a masterful work of narrative reportage.*” – Laura Miller, Slate “*The opioid epidemic has killed nearly half a million Americans over the past two decades. Many of their loved ones, along with public health advocates and experts, believe that one very rich, very famous family has never fully faced the consequences for its role in those deaths. EMPIRE OF PAIN, the explosive new book by journalist Patrick Radden Keefe, is an attempt to change that — to hold the family accountable in a way that nobody has quite done before...*” —Jonathan Cohn, The Washington Post Note: * **location subject to change** but we'll keep it around Wan Chai District. * You **must** buy something at the venue. * **First timer attendees** are requested to contribute 20HKD to fund the Meetup Group Subscription. * No-Shows make the host sad (please update your attendance)

Reading is important because it develops your mind and gives you excessive knowledge and lessons of life. 開卷有益！大家最近有冇讀到一啲好書呢？不如出黎分享下讀書心得呀？參加呢個讀書活動，分享好書，分享喜悅。😊 有興趣參加可以WhatsApp我：95182994

(Partner's Event) English Corner Time: Every Wed, Fri & Sun 19:00 - 23:00 Location: The Crazy Coconut Bar, ShenZhen Longhua Baishilong, 3rd floor, 3N100, Above Metro Exit B2 (BaiShiLong Metro Station) 瘋狂酒吧， 深圳龍華白石龍地鐵站B2上方，3樓 Refer to the picture for details on the BBQ Sat event. Wechat ID: Pandoraparties

因為在其他平臺也有發布，所以實際人數可能會比報名人數多 不進行簡單的閒聊，而是專注於深度對話，旨在提供能夠獲得知識並對您有所幫助的交流。 這裡可能有AI實踐者、心理學專家、哲學家、說故事的高手，或只是想聽故事的人。 我們將圍繞一個或多個主題進行辯論與學習，互相成長，共同進步，讓每一次交流都能助您提升與成長。 週日的深度討論，不管你想聊聊ai還是敘事學心理學還是哲學，不管你是否是這方面的新手還是老手，哪怕只是來聽聽，甚至想談談其他也可以 本聚會嚴格上不是專業討論，更像是深度聊天 時間：週日（3月15號）14：00 地點：（報名後會告知具體地點） 注意： 此活動有人數限制，活動過程中請保持友善，務必遵守相關法規，本活動及主辦單位不對參加會員安全負任何責任，請大家為自己安全負責。 活動中不討論政治，宗教等。 本活動安排可能會臨時發生變化，請大家留意 本活動不收取任何費用，活動過程中可以隨時離開 如不同意或違反以上內容，不可參加本次活動或可能會被要求離開活動 Due to the possibility of publishing on other platforms, the actual number of participants may exceed the registered number. do not engage in simple small talk; instead, we focus on deep conversations aimed at providing knowledge that can be helpful to you. Here, you may find AI practitioners, psychology experts, philosophers, storytelling masters, or simply those who wish to listen to stories. We will debate and learn around one or multiple themes, growing and progressing together, ensuring that each exchange contributes to your growth and improvement. On Sunday, we invite you to join a deep discussion. Whether you want to chat about AI, narrative studies, psychology, or philosophy, it doesn't matter if you're a beginner or an expert—feel free to come just to listen, or even to discuss other topics. This gathering is not a professional discussion, but rather a space for deep conversation. **Time:** Sunday (March 15th) at 14:00 **Location:** (Specific location will be provided after registration) **Note:** - This event has a participant limit. Please maintain friendliness during the event and adhere to relevant regulations. The event and the organizers are not responsible for the safety of participants; everyone is responsible for their own safety. - Political and religious discussions are not allowed during the event. - Arrangements for this event may change unexpectedly, so please stay tuned. - There is no fee for this event, and you can leave at any time during the process. - If you disagree with or violate any of the above content, you may not participate in this event or may be asked to leave. **The event content is subject to the Chinese version.**

**Our March pick is *God of the Woods* by Liz Moore.** **This month’s novel is an award-winning literary mystery that blends family drama with psychological suspense. It explores women’s voices and relationships while delivering an exciting, eerie, and deeply suspenseful story. The book is 576 pages in print or 14 hours and 35 minutes on audiobook.** Early morning, August 1975: a camp counselor discovers an empty bunk. Its occupant, Barbara Van Laar, has gone missing. Barbara isn’t just any thirteen-year-old: she’s the daughter of the family that owns the summer camp and employs most of the region’s residents. And this isn’t the first time a Van Laar child has disappeared. Barbara’s older brother similarly vanished fourteen years ago, never to be found. As a panicked search begins, a thrilling drama unfolds. Chasing down the layered secrets of the Van Laar family and the blue-collar community working in its shadow, Moore’s multi-threaded story invites readers into a rich and gripping dynasty of secrets and second chances. It is Liz Moore’s most ambitious and wide-reaching novel yet.

Welcome, readers! Our March read is **_The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver._** The story follows Taylor Greer, a young woman from rural Kentucky who leaves home for the West, only to find herself unexpectedly becoming the guardian of an abused Native American toddler named Turtle. In Tucson, Arizona, they form a makeshift family with a diverse group of people, including Guatemalan refugees and a single mother, exploring themes of motherhood, community, belonging, and finding hope in hardship. The story blends humor with serious issues, creating a story about finding family in unexpected places. 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! 📖

**Our April novel is: *The Hong Kong Widow* by Kristen Loesch** **This month’s novel blends gothic atmosphere with historical fiction and chilling horror, set against the haunting backdrop of China. The book is 368 pages in print and 10 hours and 42 minutes on audiobook.** In 1950s Hong Kong, Mei is a young refugee of the Chinese Communist revolution struggling to put her past in Shanghai behind her. When she receives a shocking invitation—to take part in a competition in one of the city's most notorious haunted houses, pitting six spirit mediums against one another in a series of six séances over six nights, until a single winner emerges—she has every reason to refuse. Except that the hostess, a former Shanghainese silent film star, is none other than the wife of the man who once destroyed Mei’s entire life. It is promised the winner will receive a fortune, but there is only one prize Mei wants: revenge. Decades later, the final night of that competition has become an infamous urban legend: The police were called to the scene of a brutal massacre but found no evidence, dismissing it as a collective hallucination. Mei knows what she saw, but now someone else is convinced they know what she did. She must uncover the truth about the last night she ever spent in that house—even if the ghosts of her past are waiting for her there. . . .

Welcome, readers! Our April read is **_Martyr!_ by Kaveh Akbar.** The story follows a young Iranian American poet grappling with grief, addiction, and the aching question of what makes a life meaningful. Drawn into an unexpected friendship with a terminally ill artist, he begins to confront faith, love, and the seduction of self-destruction. Lyrical, darkly funny, and emotionally piercing, the novel wrestles with beauty and despair in equal measure. It’s a story about longing—to be seen, to be forgiven, and to matter. 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! 📖

This will be the first ever Book Club Meet up for this group! * We will be discussing Dating After the End of the World by Jeneva Rose (if you would like a free EPUB copy of this book to read on kindle, message me & I can send you the ebook) * ***Changed the book from Daggermouth due to it being independently published and hard to find in print**** * Feel free to attend even if you haven't started or finished the book ◡̈ ! * Small snacks will be provided. You’re welcome to bring your own snacks & drinks too! * Even if the meetup event shows full, you are welcome to come. If you can no longer attend the event, no worries, just please try to update your status on meetup for it.

Semi in honor of March being International Women's Month Columbus libraries: [https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C3454709](https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C3454709) Location: SOW Plated Menu: [https://www.sowplated.com/menu-brunch/](https://www.sowplated.com/menu-brunch/) Book summary: In 2006 Julia Lerner is living in Moscow, a recent university graduate in computer science, when she's recruited by Russia's largest intelligence agency. By 2018 she's in Silicon Valley as COO of Tangerine, one of America's most famous technology companies. In between her executive management (make offers to promising startups, crush them and copy their features if they refuse); self promotion (check out her latest op-ed in the WSJ, on Work/Life Balance 2.0); and work in gender equality (transfer the most annoying females from her team), she funnels intelligence back to the motherland. But now Russia's asking for more, and Julia's getting nervous. Alice Lu is a first generation Chinese American whose parents are delighted she's working at Tangerine (such a successful company!). Too bad she's slogging away in the lower echelons, recently dumped, and now sharing her expensive two-bedroom apartment with her cousin Cheri, a perennial "founder's girlfriend". One afternoon, while performing a server check, Alice discovers some unusual activity, and now she's burdened with two powerful but distressing suspicions: Tangerine's privacy settings aren't as rigorous as the company claims they are, and the person abusing this loophole might be Julia Lerner herself. The closer Alice gets to Julia, the more Julia questions her own loyalties. Russia may have placed her in the Valley, but she's the one who built her career; isn't she entitled to protect the lifestyle she's earned?