Book Clubs Melbourne

Melbourne For Professionals Gay Speed Dating

**🏳️‍🌈 Melbourne Gay Speed Dating – Personality Matched & Hosted on Zoom** **⚠️ Your RSVP doesn't confirm a place.** Click your age group link below, register, and take the personality quiz to secure your spot. Limited places. **Register for your age group:** - **Ages 18-32** → [REGISTER HERE](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=653.0&productType=onlineSpeedDatingGay&city=Melbourne&groupurlname=the-neighborhood-green-thumb-plant-collective&ar=18-32&face_v=1.0) - **Ages 30-46** → [REGISTER HERE](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=653.0&productType=onlineSpeedDatingGay&city=Melbourne&groupurlname=the-neighborhood-green-thumb-plant-collective&ar=30-46&face_v=1.0) - **Ages 40-58** → [REGISTER HERE](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=653.0&productType=onlineSpeedDatingGay&city=Melbourne&groupurlname=the-neighborhood-green-thumb-plant-collective&ar=40-58&face_v=1.0) - **Ages 55+** → [REGISTER HERE](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=653.0&productType=onlineSpeedDatingGay&city=Melbourne&groupurlname=the-neighborhood-green-thumb-plant-collective&ar=55+&face_v=1.0) --- Genuine conversations with real locals — all from your living room. It's simple: complete a short personality quiz, jump on Zoom, and meet Melbourne gay singles in guided one-on-one rounds. Matches shared afterwards. 🎯 **Perfect for:** - Melbourne gay locals after personality-matched dates - Anyone curious about gay speed dating in a relaxed setting - Busy professionals who don't want to waste evenings **Event Details** - **Format:** Zoom video event – short timed rounds - **Location:** Online from home – no going out required - **Host:** Professional host keeping things smooth and relaxed - **Vibe:** Great energy, real people, authentic conversation in a welcoming space - **Matching:** Based on personality quiz results - **Matches:** Mutual matches shared after the event **How It Works** 1. **Choose your age group** – Register through your link above. 2. **Take the personality quiz** – We use it to match you with compatible Melbourne singles. 3. **Join on Zoom** – Click the link, hop on, and the host takes it from there. 4. **Chat** – Short timed rounds with Melbourne singles matched to you. 5. **Results** – We'll share your mutual matches afterwards. 💡 **Tip:** Have a couple of questions ready — helps the conversation flow. --- ✨ One Zoom call, genuine conversations, real matches. See you there. 💞 ✨

SILENT BOOK CLUB @ FITZROY GARDENS

Welcome! Now that Spring has arrived, we're moving our book club back outdoors to enjoy the sunshine and the feel of grass under our feet. **HOW TO FIND US** We'll be on the lawn outside KereKere Green Cafe and the Visitor Information Centre with our picnic blankets. **ITINERARY** 11am: Say hi and find yourself a spot to read. No obligation to sit together - we're introverts! Order a drink or snack to support the cafe. (Their toasties are yummy.) 12.15pm: Let's gather to chat about what we read, what we loved, and why. 1pm: End of event. [OPTIONAL EXTRA] For those who are not too tired, we can go for lunch together after the event. **COST:** There is an organizer fee of $5 for this event. You can bring cash on the day or PayID me at 0403 413 056 (Serena Low). **GETTING THERE:** The closest train stations are Jolimont (4 min) and Parliament (10 min).

North Melbourne For Singles Gay Speed Dating on Zoom

**💘 Virtual Gay Speed Dating – North Melbourne Singles, Curated by Personality** **⚠️ Important: RSVP ≠ registration.** To attend, pick your age group below, sign up, and finish the personality quiz. Places are limited. **Register for your age group:** - **Ages 18-32** → [REGISTER HERE](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=653.0&productType=onlineSpeedDatingGay&city=North%20Melbourne&groupurlname=the-neighborhood-green-thumb-plant-collective&ar=18-32&face_v=1.0) - **Ages 30-46** → [REGISTER HERE](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=653.0&productType=onlineSpeedDatingGay&city=North%20Melbourne&groupurlname=the-neighborhood-green-thumb-plant-collective&ar=30-46&face_v=1.0) - **Ages 40-58** → [REGISTER HERE](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=653.0&productType=onlineSpeedDatingGay&city=North%20Melbourne&groupurlname=the-neighborhood-green-thumb-plant-collective&ar=40-58&face_v=1.0) - **Ages 55+** → [REGISTER HERE](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=653.0&productType=onlineSpeedDatingGay&city=North%20Melbourne&groupurlname=the-neighborhood-green-thumb-plant-collective&ar=55+&face_v=1.0) --- Genuine conversations with real locals — all from your living room. Quick, hosted rounds on Zoom with North Melbourne gay singles paired to your age group and personality. No awkward pauses — just natural conversation. 🎯 **Perfect for:** - Gay singles in North Melbourne who want to meet people from home - People re-entering the dating scene after a break - Anyone who likes connecting online before meeting face-to-face - People fed up with swiping who want actual conversation ⭐ *"I was nervous but the host made it effortless. Met someone wonderful first try."* – North Melbourne single **How It Works** 1. **Register** – Pick your age group above and sign up. 2. **Do the matching quiz** – Helps us find your best matches for the night. 3. **Join on Zoom** – Click the link, hop on, and the host takes it from there. 4. **Speed date** – One-on-one rounds with personality-matched North Melbourne locals. 5. **Get matches** – Mutual matches revealed after the event. **Event Details** - **Format:** Zoom video event – short timed rounds - **Location:** Anywhere you're comfortable – no venue, no commute - **Host:** Friendly host who guides each round - **Vibe:** Casual, easy-going conversations with North Melbourne gay singles 💡 **Tip:** Just be yourself. That's what works best. --- ✨ One Zoom call, genuine conversations, real matches. See you there. 💗 ✨

Melbourne Horror Book Club

Come and join our friendly group of horror fans as we talk about horror books and movies. You don't need to read or watch everything to come and participate! I kindly ask that everyone purchases dinner and/or a drink to cover the room hire costs. If you're new, we meet in the function rooms on the left hand side of the dining area. The books and film for this meetup are: **Contemporary Book** Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito **Classic Book** Necroscope by Brian Lumley **Film** Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma

North Melbourne Gay Speed Dating for Real Connections

**UPDATE: This event has been rescheduled and is moving to 8:00 PM on Sun, Oct 4 (local time).** Virtual gay speed dating via Zoom tailored for men in North Melbourne. Experience efficient individual rounds with fellow local gay men, organized by age group, all from the comfort of your home. Enjoy an easygoing night for gay singles that focuses on authentic dialogue without the need for a bar environment. [Register here to join](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=653.0&productType=onlineSpeedDatingGay&city=North%20Melbourne&groupurlname=triathlon-training-circle-and-social-crew&face_v=7.0) Please note: simply clicking RSVP is not enough to guarantee your attendance. You must finalize your registration using the link provided above because capacity is restricted and the gathering might be called off if participation is insufficient.

Paranormal Romance Book Club and Culture

Hi all, Welcome to the October Paranormal Book Club!! If you love books that are lighter and fluffier to read, with supernatural elements (magic, vampires, werewolves, etc.) then you will enjoy this group. After book club we head off and become a tourist in our own city, by attending an exhibition or some other cultural activity. For October, we are going to meet at Market Lane Coffee at Queen Vic Market, where we will buy food/coffee and then go find somewhere to chat about books. After book club we will go for a walk around Queen Vic, find any second hand books we need, more food, and other interesting stalls to look at... or we might just stay seated and chat for a while! The books for Sunday 11 October 2026 are: Zucchini Cake & Zombies by RaShelle Workman [Zucchini Cake and Zombies (Broomstick Bay #1) by RaShelle Workman | Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61260200-zucchini-cake-and-zombies) The Wolf King by Lauren Palyphreyman [The Wolf King (The Wolf King, #1) by Lauren Palphreyman | Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/196920718-the-wolf-king) The Dark Lord's Guide to Dating (and Other War Crimes) by Tiffany Hunt [The Dark Lord's Guide to Dating (and Other War Crimes) by Tiffany Hunt | Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/236900512-the-dark-lord-s-guide-to-dating-and-other-war-crimes) If you would like to look at all the books that we have read so far, click [here](https://1drv.ms/x/s!Am2wjNpl1c1ijCNvt-hrWM8gPaem?e=riV48x). Finally, if you can't make it, please change your RSVP to a NO. Spaces are limited, so it will give other people a chance to attend. Happy reading until then!! 🤓

Dirt Music, Tim Winton (Miles Franklin, 2002)

Shortlisted for the Booker and turned into a film (not great), Tim Winton's Dirt Music is his eighth novel and the second of his three Miles Franklin wins. The story centres on two broken characters living in a coastal town North of Perth. Some critics complain about cliched rough blokes and sheilas and a slowish plot. But others claim Winton is the "most important writer of his generation." I wouldn't go that far, but this is a beautifully written novel evoking cinematic landscapes. And I know a few members are looking forward to going back to Tim Winton again after Cloud Street. Since starting this book club a few years ago we have formed a nice core membership. If you haven't come yet, please look out for the books on the table, pull up a chair, order a wine and join us. We like to hear what everyone has to say and enjoy the conversation, we're not cliquey at all! Oh, and to defray the Meetup monthly bill I will accept gold coin contributions or wine if you want to pay for multiple in one hit. I hope to see everyone again at this one with some new faces.

Magda Szubanski: I Can't Tell You But I Will

The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow

October 2026 - Cat's Cradle

Hello book lovers, Our book for October 2026 is "Cat's Cradle" by Kurt Vonnegut A brilliant science-fiction satire from one of the best writers of the twentieth century Dr Felix Hoenikker - a father of the atomic bomb - has another creation. Far more dangerous than that which levelled Hiroshima is ice-nine, a chemical that could freeze the world’s oceans solid. The search for Hoenikker leads first to his three children, each in possession of the chemical, and then to the Republic of San Lorenzo, a mysterious island in thrall to a bizarre religion. First published a year after the Cuban Missile Crisis, Cat’s Cradle is shot through with a nauseous anxiety about the nuclear apocalypse. Yet Vonnegut’s darkly hilarious dissection of apathy and selfishness on the edge of the abyss speaks clearly to our own environmental angst and to the fragility of civilization. https://www.readings.com.au/product/9780241467985/cats-cradle--kurt-vonnegut--2020--9780241467985

September Book of the month - Lola in the Mirror

Book Club: [Lola in the Mirror](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/167582092) by Trent Dalton What if the person staring back at you in the mirror could reveal a life you never imagined? In Lola in the Mirror, Trent Dalton weaves a powerful and deeply Australian story about identity, family, friendship, grief, and the possibility of reinventing yourself. The novel follows a young woman and her mother, two fugitives constantly on the move, as they navigate life on the margins of Brisbane. Their unstable existence is shaped by poverty, crime, addiction, and the ever-present fear of being caught. Yet amid the chaos, they find moments of humour, love, loyalty, and hope. At the heart of the story is a mysterious girl who appears only in a mirror—a figure who seems to offer a glimpse into another possible life. As the protagonist becomes increasingly fascinated by this stranger, the boundaries between reality, memory, and possibility begin to blur. The mirror becomes more than a reflection; it becomes a symbol of the lives we might have lived and the choices that shape who we become. Dalton combines a gritty portrayal of life on the fringes of Australian society with moments of magical realism, creating a story that is both heartbreaking and hopeful. Lola in the Mirror explores how people survive difficult circumstances, how family can both hurt and sustain us, and whether it is ever possible to escape the story written for you by your past. Discussion Points: * How does Lola in the Mirror explore the idea of identity? How much of who we become is shaped by our circumstances, and how much is within our control? * What does the mysterious girl in the mirror represent? Is she a literal character, a symbol, or something more ambiguous? * How does the relationship between the protagonist and her mother evolve throughout the novel? What do they owe each other? * The novel explores poverty, homelessness, addiction, and crime without reducing its characters to stereotypes. How effectively does Dalton achieve this? * What role do friendship and found family play in helping the characters survive? * How does Brisbane function almost as a character in the story? What does the novel reveal about the city and the people who live on its margins? * The mirror is a recurring image throughout the novel. What does it suggest about alternate lives, regret, possibility, and self-discovery? * How does Dalton balance the novel’s darker themes with humour, tenderness, and hope? * Were there moments when you questioned what was real? How did the uncertainty affect your reading of the story? * Ultimately, is Lola in the Mirror more a story about escaping your past or learning to accept and reshape it? If your group enjoys discussing identity, family dynamics, social inequality, magical realism, and the idea of alternate lives, Lola in the Mirror offers plenty to unpack. It is also a great opportunity to explore how Australian fiction portrays people living outside the conventional boundaries of society—and what it means to find hope and connection in unexpected places.

The Sitter by Angela O’Keefe - Thursday 15 October 2026 meeting