Book Clubs Sydney

Books and Bevvies

Welcome to **Books & Bevvies** — a casual book swap and drinks social in the Sydney CBD. This is not a book club with homework. It’s a simple, low-key way to meet people, chat about what you’ve been reading, and walk out with something new. **HOW IT WORKS** Bring a book you’re happy to part with. Pop it on the swap table when you arrive. Mingle, chat, and swap recommendations. When the swap opens, take a book that catches your eye. Stay for a drink and a conversation after. **WHAT TO BRING** One book, any genre and any reading level. **GOOD TO KNOW** The venue relies on accurate numbers for staffing, so if you can’t make it, please change your RSVP to “not going”. Repeated no-shows may result in removal from the group. The venue is kindly not enforcing a minimum spend, but please support them by buying a drink, soft drink, or some lunch during the swap if you can. There is no mandatory entry fee, but voluntary contributions are **very much** appreciated. The group costs around **$65 a month to keep running**, so if you enjoy the swap and are in a position to chip in, even $5 or $10 makes a real difference. Please feel free to contribute with cash or via PayID at any stage through the swap. **WHERE WE’LL BE** We’ll be in the Market Street Garden Bar, with a table full of books and bevvies.

What Do Christmas Movies Tell Us About Ourselves and Society?

Is *Love Actually* a celebration of love, or a two-hour HR incident with tinsel? Is *Home Alone* a cosy Christmas classic, or a study in how cheerfully American culture celebrates a kid maiming grown men with paint cans and a blowtorch? And, of course, is *Die Hard* actually a Christmas movie? This December, the Big Ideas Book Club is trading a book for a lively exploration of Christmas movies, with familiar favourites such as *Love Actually*, *Home Alone*, *Elf*, *The Holiday*, *Die Hard*, *It's a Wonderful Life* and *National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation* giving just a taste of what we might discuss. This will be a casual and social event, so there's no need to brush up on your Derridean deconstruction, Foucauldian discourse analysis or Žižekian cultural theory. That said, while there's no book to read for this event, we've prepared an optional guide (link below) to spark ideas about themes commonly explored in Christmas movies. These include nostalgia and invented tradition; love and romance; loneliness and forced festive cheer; redemption and second chances; and consumer capitalism vs the Christmas spirit. And if the theme of Christmas as a social institution that forces a dysfunctional group of people to perform family harmony once a year sounds familiar, may I also suggest you watch the wonderful Australian series *A Moody Christmas*, currently available on Netflix and Prime Video (sometimes listed as *The Moodys* Season 1). **Optional pre-reading guide: *[What Do Christmas Movies Tell Us About Ourselves and Society?](https://1drv.ms/b/c/adb4f7488b2eef0a/IQB0wZ7v4uFTTrcC4WtEu1wrAaaZL7y9KiF8YlJ17RHGbkQ?e=mhWaqu)*** (32 pages) We'll inevitably spend a lot of time in the Anglo-American Christmas universe, but we'd also love to hear what Christmas, or its closest equivalent, looks like on screen (and around the dinner table) in other countries and cultures. So join us for a Christmas drink (and optional meal) at 6:30pm on Monday, 7th December, on the 2nd floor of the Keg & Brew Hotel in Surry Hills (i.e. up two flights of stairs). The venue is conveniently located near Central Station and the Light Rail. We’ll see you there — unless, of course, you’re unexpectedly trapped at an airport, you’ve bumped into your teenage crush while doing some Christmas shopping, or you’re defending your house from burglars. P.S. Please adjust your RSVP if you have indicated that you will come but are no longer able to do so. This is courteous to others if there is a waitlist. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- These are just some further optional links to consider to supplement the reading of the prepared document. Feel free to pass on other useful links in the discussion section. **Videos and Podcasts:** * Dr Lauren Rosewarne, an academic at Melbourne University, shares what she learned after watching (or enduring) 1000 Christmas movies as research for her book *Analysing Christmas in Film: Santa to the Supernatural* (2018): [What I Learned Watching 1000 Christmas Movies (13 mins)](https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/sydney-drive/siw-christmas-films/104685880) [The Best (and Worst) Christmas Movies – by someone who’s watched over 1000 (9 mins)](https://www.2ser.com/best-worst-christmas-movies-someone-whos-watched-1000) [75 Christmas Films Worth Watching ](https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/news/5143-75-christmas-films-worth-watching) * Six short podcast clips on various aspects of Christmas movies (hit the play button near the top): [A Film Lover's Guide to Christmas Movies ](https://harkaudio.com/film-lovers-guide-christmas-movies-66440) * *Love Actually* \- an attack\, a defence\, and a therapist’s ranking of each relationship: [Toxic Takeaways - How Not to Love, Actually](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9NcbH371ek) [Love Actually is Good, Actually - BFI video essay](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hMffxJim1M) [Relationship Therapist Ranks Love Actually Romances](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kR6H4eGHZJM) **Written:** * Optional pre-reading guide: ***[What Do Christmas Movies Tell Us About Ourselves and Society?](https://1drv.ms/b/c/adb4f7488b2eef0a/IQB0wZ7v4uFTTrcC4WtEu1wrAaaZL7y9KiF8YlJ17RHGbkQ?e=mhWaqu)*** (32 pages) * A short piece on the benefits of watching Christmas movies: [Why Christmas Movies Make Us Feel Good](https://www.fielding.edu/why-christmas-movies-make-us-feel-good/) * A data geek's analysis of whether *Die Hard* is a Christmas movie: [Using data to determine if Die Hard is a Christmas movie](https://stephenfollows.com/p/using-data-to-determine-if-die-hard-is-a-christmas-movie) * Article on the sociology of Christmas: [What Our Favourite Festive Films Reveal About Society](https://thesociologyguy.com/2025/11/29/the-sociology-of-christmas-what-our-favourite-festive-films-reveal-about-society/)

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Meeting at the usual place, upstairs at The Shakespeare Hotel, 200 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills, Sydney, Thursday 3 Dec, at 7.00pm, we will be discussing *A Christmas Carol*, by Charles Dickens. Published in 1843, it recounts the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly miser who is visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet-to-Come. In the process, Scrooge is transformed into a kinder, gentler man. It is high on the list of books that people think they have read, but haven't. This fun 150-page novel was written at a time when the English-speaking world was re-imagining the holiday season. At a time when Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, played a major role in popularising what now seem 'ancient' traditions, such as the Christmas Tree and the eating of gingerbread at that special time of year. For those wanting extra reading, there is also the non-fiction work *The man who invented Christmas : how Charles Dickens's A Christmas carol rescued his career and revived our holiday spirits* by Les Standiford. Available through the local library system. There is also a small industry of movies, animations and commentaries. For those wanting even more of a reading fix, there are multiple academic commentaries and re-tellings: feminist, gay, black, Jewish, science fiction, steampunk, horror-zombie, coming-of-age, literary, philosophical and Marxist. You can also check out the NSW Dickens' Society at https://dickenssydney.com.au Hard copies of the book are available from local libraries and from amazon, and soft copies from [https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/46](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/46) There will be about 30 of us in a semi-private room, upstairs, conducive to discussion. We will discuss the book as a 'big group' for about 40 mins, before breaking up into informal small groups to further discuss the book or anything else. We are a friendly lot and newcomers are welcome. Contact Dale on [dalemills@cantab.net](mailto:dalemills@cantab.net) for more info.

Stoics in Sydney Park

Unlike other philosophies, Stoicism was named after a place not a person, making it accessible to ALL people. In ancient greco-roman times people would meet at the Stoa, where they would discuss Stoic Philosophy. We can meet in the park just as the stoic sages 1000s of years ago. Join us to read through and discuss Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. Google books has a FREE PDF you can download. No need to do any homework, we will read together and discuss. Am looking forward to hearing your thoughts. Event fee (optional) is $2, this goes to admin costs of running the group, please consider I am from Wollongong and wanted to keep this group when original organiser stepped down. I have significant travel expenses and am generally organising creative events that take resources. A gratuity would be a wonderful way to make me feel appreciated. Pay on the day, payID 0416147804, PayPal: paypal.me/jonnikaren or private message for direct deposit details. In lieu of event fee, you can buy me a coffee :)

Books and Bevvies Christmas Day - The Rocks

🎄 BOOKS & BEVVIES CHRISTMAS DAY — THE ROCKS! 🍻📚 Christmas Day doesn't have to mean staying home! Whether you're spending Christmas in Sydney, away from family, or simply fancy doing something different, come and join your book swap family for a relaxed Christmas Day gathering at Munich Brauhaus in the historic Rocks. This is a fun Bavarian beer hall, where we can enjoy good conversation, a little Christmas cheer, and perhaps a German beer or two! Everyone is welcome, whether it's your first Books & Bevvies or you're one of our regulars! Come along on your own or with a friend. There's no need to know anyone beforehand. 🎄 THE DETAILS 📅 Friday, 25 December 2026 🕛 12:00pm–3:00pm — Christmas gathering at Munich Brauhaus 🍻 From 3:00pm — Optional pub crawl around The Rocks for anyone who'd like to continue the afternoon! 📍 Munich Brauhaus, corner of Playfair and Argyle Streets, The Rocks 📚 BRINGING A BOOK? You're very welcome to bring a book to swap, but I kindly ask that you bring no more than one book per person. Many of us will be heading out for drinks afterwards, and we'd rather not spend the afternoon carrying armfuls of books around The Rocks! And if you'd rather just come for the company, that's absolutely fine too. 🍽️ A FEW VERY IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW — PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU RSVP! • PLEASE BRING VALID PHYSICAL PHOTO ID. The venue requires identification for entry. Photos and screenshots of ID aren't accepted, so please bring your original physical ID to be safe. • EVERYONE PAYS FOR THEIR OWN FOOD AND DRINKS. There's no expensive Christmas banquet or prepaid package. The normal menu is available, with a 15% public holiday surcharge. • PLEASE SUPPORT OUR HOSTS. The venue is welcoming us on Christmas Day, with staff giving up part of their holiday to look after us. We therefore ask everyone attending to purchase something, even if it's just a snack or a non-alcoholic drink. It's a small gesture of appreciation that makes gatherings like this possible. • PLEASE RSVP THOUGHTFULLY. Places are limited, so if your plans change, kindly update your RSVP as soon as possible to give someone else the opportunity to attend. 🍻 AND AFTERWARDS? For anyone who fancies keeping the afternoon going, we'll have an optional pub crawl around The Rocks from approximately 3:00pm. Just a chance to explore a few of the historic pubs, enjoy a drink or two, and continue the conversation. All welcome, both regulars and first timers! Just books, bevvies, good conversation and a friendly table to join. Looking forward to sharing Christmas Day with you!

Western Classics Book Club Christmas Social

A social for those who come along to the Western Classics Book Club. There is no set book to discuss. People are encouraged to bring their literary heads along for uplifting discussion and witty repartee. Given the time of year, a larger number than usual are expected, and so we will be meeting in the larger room on the top floor ('The Long Room' of the Shakespeare Hotel. 200 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills). Look for the sign! Contact [dalemills@cantab.net](mailto:dalemills@cantab.net) for more info.

The Counterweight Handbook by Helen Pluckrose

Meeting at the usual place, The Shakespeare Hotel (upstairs), 200 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills, Sydney, at 7.00pm, we will be discussing *The Counterweight Handbook* (2024) by Helen Pluckrose. Opponents of woke are often from the political right, but Helen Pluckrose calls herself a feminist (but later distanced herself from that word). Her academic focus was religious writing by women in the late medieval and early modern period. Distancing herself from the label 'right-wing,' she advocates anti-woke strategies in favour of a classical liberal alternative grounded in universalism, individual rights, open inquiry and the ability to disagree. Unlike some anti-woke writers, Pluckrose writes beautifully. The book is easily available from bookshops, local libraries and our friend Anna. Contact me for a free pdf on dalemills@cantab.net As a book group, people should really read the book beforehand. The format of the meeting is that we talk about the book in a fairly focused way for about 45 mins. The conversation will be guided, so that everyone gets a chance to contribute. The purpose of the discussion will be to critique and play with the author's ideas, rather than to cheer-lead existing viewpoints. If you leave the meeting being a little less sure of your fixed opinions, we will have hit our benchmark. We meet in a semi-private room on the top floor. Look for the sign or ask at the bar. There will be about 10 of us. Newcomers are very welcome.

Jane Austen Christmas Special

The City in Glass by Nghi Vo | Sat 5 Dec 2026

The Awakening by Kate Chopin

**Meeting at our usual place, The Shakespeare Hotel, Surry Hills, Sydney, on Thursday 7 January 2027, at 7.00m, we will be discussing** *The Awakening* **by Kate Chopin.** **Kate Chopin (no relation to the composer)** published the novel in **1899**, and the Penguin Classics edition is approximately **150 pages**. The novel follows a married woman in Louisiana who begins to question the conventional expectations of marriage, motherhood and respectable society. As she becomes increasingly conscious of her own desires and independence, her relationships with her husband, her children and two very different men force her to confront the limited choices available to women at the time. The novel reaches a tragic conclusion as she seeks an absolute freedom that the society around her cannot accommodate. Its frank treatment of female sexuality, marriage and motherhood was strikingly unconventional for 1899. It is part of genre sometimes described as feminist, modernist or naturalist. Think *The House of Mirth* **by Edith Wharton or Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf.** Those wanting to read a little more over the New Year's break can find both *The Awakening* and some more short stories by her on Guthenberg at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/160 Hard copies can be easily borrowed through local libraries. An audio version can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYLdXYYKfsA We meet in the Long Room (upstairs) which is a semi-private room, conducive to discussion. There are normally 20-30 people present. The format of the meeting is that we talk about the book as a 'big group' and then split up into smaller groups for further discussion. We are a friendly lot. New people are very welcome. Contact [dalemills@cantab.net](mailto:dalemills@cantab.net) for more info.

Romance Writers of Australia - Sydney Meetup

This is our monthly meet-up!! This is a social group for local romance writers to discuss all things craft, publishing, and overall a chance to connect with other writers and refill the creative well. This is a group designated for ROMANCE writers (romantasy, paranormal romance, historical romance, etc.). Please review the group's description for further information. We do not read sections/give feedback during these meetings unlike many other writing groups. Please save some trees and do not print/bring copies of your work during the meet-up. We meet in the NSW State Library Café. We have a general chat and catch-up from 10:00-1:00pm that's casual and friendly where we discuss all things writing (and some not-so-writing-related topics). From 1:00-3:00, there's a write-in in one of the library study rooms downstairs for anyone who wants to get some words down or pages edited.

Social and Book Swap: Gay Men of Letters Sydney

A book swap and social for the book group. Bring along your witty conversation and sparkling repartee and an optional book or two to swap.