What we’re about
A book club in SE London, everyone welcome. We aim to meet once a month on a Monday 7pm to discuss a book chosen by those who attended the previous one.
There isn't a particular theme to this book club but we'll read more or less equal numbers of books by female and male authors.
Upcoming events (3)
See all- Film discussion: Portrait of a Lady on Fire, currently streaming free on ITV.comThe Shirker's Rest, London
NB the evening does NOT include a screening of the 2hr film (in French with English subtitles) - it's rated 15 for "sexualised nudity" and has been streaming free-with-ads on ITV for a while so try to catch it soon:
https://www.itv.com/watch/portrait-of-a-lady-on-fire/10a5775a0001BWritten and directed by Celine Sciamma, part-inspired by works as varied as James Cameron's Titanic and Jane Campion's The Piano, Portrait of a Lady on Fire was Metacritic's 2nd-best-reviewed film of 2019 and Sight & Sound's 30th Greatest Film of All Time. "Set in coastal Brittany in the 18th century, the film tracks the slow-burning romance between an artist, Marianne, and the woman she has been commissioned to paint, Héloïse..."
Portrait of a Lady on Fire will be the main topic of discussion - Celine Sciamma's other films (Water Lilies, Tomboy, Girlhood, Petite Maman, My Life as a Courgette) don't seem to be as readily available in English, though you may enjoy other currently-streaming-for-free arthouse romances such as:
Your Sister's Sister (90min, directed by Lynn Shelton)
https://www.rakuten.tv/uk/player/movies/stream/your-sister-s-sister
The Piano (120min, directed by Jane Campion)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001pp13/the-piano
Upstream Color (96m, slightly harrowingly directed by Shane Carruth)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/detail/B0CWCSNCHL/
Blue is the Warmest Colour (172m, controversially directed by Abdellatif Kechiche)
https://www.itv.com/watch/blue-is-the-warmest-colour/10a4667/10a4667a0001General plan: by 7pm most of us should be in the upstairs room at the pub but we'll start by suggesting films to discuss in future in case anyone arrives late. Typically we'll discuss the selected title until 8ish, when there's a short break to go to the bar, then any further discussion till around 9, though of course you can leave at any point.
The Shirker's Rest takes cards, not cash, and serves a range of soft drinks, wine and spirits in addition to their beer and cider selection
https://theshirkersrest.co.uk/drinks/ - they don't have a kitchen but encourage you to order from https://yardsalepizza.com/menu/ or the Japanese takeaway next door...COVID-19 safety measures
This is indoors though we should be able to open at least one window. Please do not attend if you feel unwell, or have a positive Covid test/symptoms - you are encouraged to a) be as vaccinated as you can, b) wear a mask if you prefer, c) follow current Covid precautions, especially if you're at risk of passing on or catching the virus. - Award-winning fiction: Our Wives Under the Sea (2022) by Julia ArmfieldThe Shirker's Rest, London
"After a deep-sea voyage, a woman returns to her wife transformed" - in a debut novel which blends "the suspense of a psychological thriller, the eeriness of cosmic horror, and the emotional depth of a love story, to produce something both deeply unsettling and moving".
The book contains descriptions of mild body horror, death, grief, chronic illness, psychosis and disordered eating. Winner of the 2023 Polari Book Prize, it is moderately challenging rather than a plot-driven page-turner - don't forget you can read this free online preview before deciding to attend:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Our-Wives-Under-Julia-Armfield-ebook/dp/B097N4F7LS/?sr=8-1&asin=B097N4F7LS&revisionId=f7253eb4&format=3&depth=1If you've been before and would like to help pay for the Meetup group, you can contribute "£1-2" per meeting (now collected around Dec & Jun). This optional payment does not apply to your first meeting and no-one is turned away for lack of funds.
General plan: by 7pm some of us should be in the upstairs room at the pub but we usually start by discussing books to read in future in case anyone arrives late. Typically we'll talk about the book until after 8pm, when there's a short break to go to the bar, then any further discussion till after 9, though of course you can leave at any point.
The Shirker's Rest takes cards, not cash, and serves a range of soft drinks, wine and spirits in addition to their beer and cider selection https://theshirkersrest.co.uk/drinks/ - they don't have a kitchen but encourage you to order from https://yardsalepizza.com/menu/ ..!
COVID-19 safety measures
This is indoors though we should be able to open at least one window. Please do not attend if you feel unwell, or have a positive Covid test/symptoms - you are encouraged to a) be as vaccinated as you can, b) wear a mask if you prefer, c) follow current Covid precautions, especially if you're at risk of passing on or catching the virus. - Mon book choice - title TBCThe Shirker's Rest, London
Apologies that the "Newer book" events fill up so fast - see our Upcoming Events list for details of more meetings during the month:
https://www.meetup.com/new-cross-book-club/events/If you've been before and would like to help pay for the Meetup group, you can contribute "£1-2" per meeting (now collected around Dec & Jun). This optional payment does not apply to your first meeting and no-one is turned away for lack of funds.
General plan: by 7pm some of us should be in the upstairs room at the pub but we usually start by discussing books to read in future in case anyone arrives late. Typically we'll talk about the book until after 8pm, when there's a short break to go to the bar, then any further discussion till after 9, though of course you can leave at any point.
The Shirker's Rest takes cards, not cash, and serves a range of soft drinks, wine and spirits in addition to their beer and cider selection https://theshirkersrest.co.uk/drinks/ - they don't have a kitchen but encourage you to order from https://yardsalepizza.com/menu/ ..!
COVID-19 safety measures
This is indoors though we should be able to open at least one window. Please do not attend if you feel unwell, or have a positive Covid test/symptoms - you are encouraged to a) be as vaccinated as you can, b) wear a mask if you prefer, c) follow current Covid precautions, especially if you're at risk of passing on or catching the virus.
