Book Drives Berlin

Let's talk about Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico

This time we will be talking about Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico. "Vincenzo Latronico’s Perfection is a taut, spare sociological novel about the emptiness of contemporary existence, scathing and brilliantly affecting" https://fitzcarraldoeditions.com/books/perfection/ In the meeting we will talk about the book in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere:) Looking forward to see you!

Berlin Book Swap in the Park - BYOB (book, blanket, beverage) weather depending!

The one nice new feature that lockdown gave us -- picnic swap! Bring books to swap, a blanket to sit on, and beverages of your choice! Let's enjoy the brief Berlin Summer at beautiful Monbijou park on the Spree. WEATHER DEPENDENT - if it rains we will reschedule so keep an eye out. **_And here's our usual description -_** The "classic" bookswap is simple - we meet in a café, you bring the book(s) you want to share, put them on the table, leaf through and discuss the books that others brought and, at the end of the evening, take a new-to-you-book home! Books/happiness shared are books/happiness multiplied! 

This is a great way to give books a new home and make room for new books: that book you feel guilty for not having read even though it's been sitting on your bedside table for the last 5 years, the book you liked but didn't love, the book you loved so much you want everyone to read it, the book you somehow own three copies of, that book you absolutely hated even though everyone else loves it, etc., etc., etc....
And chances are high you'll go home with an alluring stranger you never would have thought of reading before (OR that book you've been lusting after for years but never enough to actually buy!). 


**GROUP EXPECTATIONS for PLEASANT SWAPPING** 

• Please bring a book!
Some people bring more than one, and the organizers usually have a handful, but if everybody ends up not bringing a book, we have nothing to swap, except stories. But we won't chase you away if you're empty handed. 

• Books stay on the table, open for sharing, until you are ready to leave so everyone can have a fair look 

See a book you like? Please put your name down as a candidate to take it home (we provide sticky notes!), and wait to see if anybody else is interested before snapping it up, as in, please wait until you are leaving. One of the key aspects of the swap is getting exposed to books outside of our library bubble, so it's important to keep the books as open to sharing as possible.
If two or more people want the only copy of a book, talk it over. Maybe you can swap contact info to share the book one after the other. Or maybe it turns out one of you isn't that interested, or has found another book instead. Or one of you REALLY wants to read it. The best part: now you have found somebody whose taste you can really admire. 

We consider it poor form to walk away with a book with several names on it without letting the others know. 

Also, don't be shy! Don't shy away from a book because there's already a name on it, and feel free to put your name on as many books as you want. We're more generous than just bring-one-take-one. 

• Book Swap is 10 times better than a Book Club because you can talk about ALL the books instead of just one!
Half the fun of Book Swap is swapping recommendations for reads that aren't even on the table. The other half is meeting other great readers. Another half is taking home that new book! 

• NO POLITICS. (please.)
Unless you're talking about a book.
It's Friday night. Let's leave current events at the office for once, please.
Please respect this space as first and foremost a community for connecting readers over their love of books and reading, stories, and narratives of all sorts. Please be respectful of tastes and opinions.
If something is bothering you, please reach out to the organisers, and we'll do our best to solve it. 

• Don't expect your book back: if you love it, let it go
In spirit, this is an opportunity to share=lend books among peers. In practice, this is more of a book-giveaway. It is NEVER guaranteed you will get your book back, even with your name and email inside the book with a "Please Return." If you're really serious, it's best to get the borrower's contact info and prod them for it. Note: our staunch "Regulars" are significantly more likely to come back with the book if you ask them (and you have to come back too!). On the other hand, some books keep coming back like bad pennies.

• Major LANGUAGES (and genres) of this meetup
English, German, French, Spanish; Fiction, Non-Fiction, Serious Reading, Light Fun, Everything! 

On average I think it's 60% English, 40% German, and 10% French/Spanish; usually 80% fiction, but the mix is different every time. One of the best compliments the group has received is the consistently high quality of reading material on the table. We have "classics," we have celebrity book club books, Krimis, Booker winners, and everything in between. You never know who can read what languages, and there's no accounting for taste. 

We are a delightful and international group of readers.
We look forward to swapping with you!

Book swap

Have books that you’d like to give away and exchange for others? Join us in participating in a book swap! Here’s roughly what to expect: \- Bring 1\-3 books that you are willing to exchange \- please be aware that you may or may not see these books again\. \- At the beginning\, we’ll start off with a round of everyone introducing the books they’ve brought\. \- Through a lottery draw\, we’ll determine the order of who goes first in picking the book that they would like to take home\. \- Afterwards\, any books that haven’t been taken will either be returned back to their owner or donated to the nearest Bücherschränke\! There will be some time to socialize, get food and beverages before and after the event. Only RSVP if you really intend to come and are sure that you can make it. Please don’t waste our hosts‘s time and energy by reserving a spot and then dropping out at short notice.

Book Club/Reading Together @Tales Untold in Friedrichshain

Hi all, Let's meet again on another Sunday morning. Agenda: 10:30-11:00 Arrival, ordering drinks, getting to know each other 11:00-12:00 Reading together 12:00-13:00 Share reading experience There is no books assigned. Just bring whatever you are reading for now. Please sign up only when you can join the event. Have fun!

Silent Reading / Creating Club at W66 (Saturday) [Luma to RSVP]

RSVP on Luma: https://luma.com/s6kz85ox Silent Reading / Creating Club is a gathering for people who enjoy focusing together in public. Bring a book, a notebook, a sketchpad, knitting needles, whatever you’d like to spend a quiet hour doing. All projects and all participants are welcome. We’re building a community of readers and creators who value depth, presence, and shared silence. The reading and creating isn't the real highlight, though, it’s in the people who return and make it feel like a familiar room. (Please RSVP “yes” only if you can make it, so we can save a seat for you and others on the waitlist.) Our Meeting Point is the **W66 Café**. There’s no entrance fee, but please order at least one item from the café and don’t bring outside food or drinks 🙂 No assignments, expectations, or pressure. Just a shared hour of intentional silence, followed by the opportunity for good conversation. 🕰 Our Agenda **10:30 – 11:00** Arrivals, ordering drinks/food, light social time **11:00 – 12:00** The Great Quiet Hour (Read. Write. Sketch. Code. Think. Sit.) **12:00 – 12:30** Optional socializing: share what you were reading or creating, or simply continue in quiet focus. ## 🏡 House Guidelines To keep this space calm and welcoming for everyone: • Silence during the focus hour (no calls or conversations) • Put cellphones on silent mode • If using technology, please avoid meetings or audio (headphones please!) • Arrive before 11:00 if possible to minimize disruptions

„Ein Mädchen mit Prokura“ von Christa Anita Brück (1932)

Hi, dieses Mal besprechen wir „Ein Mädchen mit Prokura“ von Christa Anita Brück (1932). Hier der Link zum Inhalt und Buch : https://www.rowohlt.de/buch/christa-anita-brueck-ein-maedchen-mit-prokura-9783499012969?srsltid=AfmBOoqLgdD__AC4of2qPv7hsYmz_q3pc2mIeCF_ovCe0qVT-NmIFGvO Wir treffen uns diesmal im Café Chagall nahe U-Bahnhof Senefelder Platz. :)

July Sci-Fi #1.2: "The Stepford Wives" by Ira Levin (139pp)

Reading Party ☕️📚

\*\*\*\*\*\* ***For address and more details see the website www.pausify.org*** \*\*\*\*\*\* **Event Info:** Pausify is the **biggest community and most active** of book lovers and creatives in Berlin. Impressions: Instagram: **[@Pausify (Co-Reading Space)](https://www.instagram.com/pausify_org/)** Events happen every Sat and Sun at 11 AM. Bring along your **current book to read** (or something **creative** to work on) and join us for this mix of a shared focus time + discussion. \- 11:00\-11:30 \- Meet & greet \- 11:30\-12:30 \- Silent focus time \- 12:30 \- Discussion of books/ projects over coffee Afterwards, join for lunch if you'd like (optional). **Drinks & snacks are included** ☕️ * **To reserve your place, a ticket (€9,90/event) or a community pass (only €17,90/MONTH) [from the website](https://pausify.org/) *www.pausify.org* is required** * **Attendance here doesn’t show all sign-ups from other platforms. We usually have about 50 to 100 people at each event.** ***FAQ: Why does it cost money if I bring my own project?*** Because we rent a beautiful, central space for every event. Ever thought your monthly apartment rent was too high? Well, multiply that – that’s what commercial spaces in big cities like Berlin cost *per hour*. Of course, if all you want is just some quiet time, your home or a library is perfect. But if you’d like to focus & connect with others in an inspiring space – with drinks, snacks included – that’s what your ticket helps to cover. See pics from our events below - and on our Instagram: **[@Pausify (Co-Reading Space)](https://www.instagram.com/pausify_org/) ☕️** **[Pausify Co-Reading Space Website](https://pausify.org/) www.pausify.org** For questions, please contact us over [Website ](https://pausify.org/) www.pausify.org as this platform can have issues. Thank you! *Please note that photos and videos may be taken during the event and used for promotional purposes to highlight and share the experiences at our events. If you have concerns, don't hesitate to approach the event organizers before the event.*

Reading Party, Park Edition

\*\*\*\*\* \*\*\***To participate in the event, you need to register on the platform: [https://meet.pausify.org/](https://meet.pausify.org/). It's free and takes about 3 min.** \*\*\*\*\* Pausify is the **biggest community and most active** of book lovers and creatives in Berlin. Bring along your **current book to read** (or something **creative** to work on), blanket, water, and join us for this mix of a shared focus time + discussion 😎 \- 18:00\-18:30 \- Meet & greet \- 18:30\-19:30 \- Silent focus time \- 19:30 \- Discussion of books/ projects Afterwards, join for drinks or dinner if you'd like

Women’s Book Club: The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende

This week we are discussing **Isabel Allende:** The House of Spirits. We look forward to seeing you! If you have book suggestions, would like to vote on our next reads, or join us for additional activities, please ask someone at the meeting to add you to our WhatsApp group. Just a heads up: **The cafe only accepts card payments for amounts over €10**, so you may want to bring some cash for smaller orders. **Also, if you're unable to attend, please update your RSVP so that someone from the waiting list can take your spot.**

Sunday Silent Reading @ Bode Museum

Silent Reading Club is a group of book lovers who enjoy reading together in public. All books and all readers are welcome. (Kindly RSVP 'yes' only if you can make it, so we can save a seat for you and our fellow readers on the waitlist!) This page-turning party will unfold in the Café (1st floor) at the Bode Museum. There's no entrance fee, but please order at least one item from the cafe and don't bring any outside drinks :) No quizzes, no pressure, no assigned books - just a group of book-loving souls basking in the beauty of silent reading. We'll be spread across a few tables - feel free to join whichever one you like and say hi to your fellow readers! **Our thrilling agenda:** 10:30 am - 11:00 am - Arrivals, ordering drinks/food (social time) 11:00 am - 12:00 pm - The Great Quiet Reading Hour 12:00 pm - 12:30 pm - Optional socializing, share your reading adventures or just keep exploring the pages Stay for lunch, and who knows? You might just find your next favorite book over a pizza.

July Sci-Fi #2.1: "The Last Man" by Mary Shelley (380pp)