Book Drives Melbourne

July Book Club

Welcome to our July gathering of Melbourne Women's Big Ideas Book Club! If you love discovering great books and discussing the ideas they spark, we'd love to have you join us. This is a relaxed monthly lunch where every member brings along a book they've recently enjoyed. There are no set reads and no genre restrictions—just thoughtful books and interesting women. Each member has the opportunity to share what they've been reading, what resonated, what challenged them, or what fell short. From there, the conversation naturally evolves as we explore new perspectives, exchange recommendations, and connect through a shared love of reading. Whether you're a regular attendee or joining us for the first time, you'll find a welcoming group of curious, intelligent women who enjoy meaningful conversation and genuine connection. I can't wait to hear what you've been reading this month.

Book swap brunch meet up

July Book of the month - Piranesi

Book Club: [Piranesi](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48496334-piranesi) by Susanna Clarke If you haven’t read **Piranesi** yet, you’re in for a trip. It’s basically about a guy living in an endless, massive house filled with thousands of statues and halls that literally flood with ocean tides. He’s super chill and loves the place, but as he starts digging into the mysteries of his home, he realizes his life isn’t exactly what he thought it was. It’s a total mind-bender that’s equal parts beautiful, mysterious, and a little bit unsettling. Points of Discussion Sanctuary or Cage? Piranesi loves the house, but we’d probably think it’s a prison. What’s your take? The Other What was your vibe on this guy? Did you trust him from the start? Perspective: Piranesi is so innocent and observant. Did that change how you saw the "normal" world? The Ending: Did it leave you feeling satisfied or did you have a "wait, what?" moment when you finished? I'm super keen to hear what everyone thought. When you first started reading, did you think the house was actually a good place to live, or did you get creeped out immediately?

📚 #InPursuit – A Book Club for Builders, Thinkers, and Doers

📚 #InPursuit is a book club for entrepreneurs, creatives, and curious minds who know personal growth fuels business growth. **See a lot of RSPVPs and wonder how it works? We'll break up into groups of 6-8 to share our insights, then swap groups after 30-45min so you can maximise learning from everybody!** *Note: this even is not organised by or affiliated with The State Library of Victoria* **That's what #InPursuit is all about** It’s not a traditional book club, it’s a space for people who are actively designing a better life through the pursuit of business, creativity, and personal growth. This event is for anyone #InPursuit of better business, life and relationships. Instead of reading the same book, we each come prepared to share one powerful insight from something we’ve read in the past 3-months. Anything non-fiction that’s moved us forward. Whether it’s a mindset shift, a productivity system, a new philosophy, or just a truth that punched us in the gut. This is a place to unpack it together and hear what others are learning too. We’re not just here to *read*. We’re here to *integrate*. Because when we grow, our business and our lives grow too. **🔍 Why Join? You'll leave with:** * 5–10 fresh insights from books you may never have picked up * Deeper awareness of how others think, lead, and evolve * New connections with people walking a similar path toward purpose, results, and impact This isn’t a lecture. It’s a room full of people building themselves while they build the thing. **📖 How It Works** First time? No pressure to share, just come curious. We'll break up into groups of 6-8 and share our insights, then swap groups so you can maximise the learning! Returning? Bring one idea you’ve read about in the last 3-months and be ready to speak on: 1. What did you learn? 2. How did it shift your perspective about the world or yourself? 3. How has it changed the way you show up or behave? We keep it structured, but flexible. After sharing, we open up to Q&A, personal stories, challenges, and deep dives. Some of the best insights come from the conversations *after* the share. **🧠 Who This Is For** * Entrepreneurs or side-hustlers finding their footing * Business owners, and doers building toward better * Curious minds who love ideas but care more about action * People tired of shallow conversations and hungry for growth If you’re working on something—or becoming someone—this space is for you. It’s a practice ground for people who want to grow forward. We’re all #InPursuit of mastery, momentum, and the kind of success that starts from within. **Map on how to get there** We're in the Create Quarter on the ground level (back right of the Quad as you enter from Swanson St). We'll likely be on a long table together. https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/SLV-EnglishMap_Jan25.pdf

July Book club - The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope

Book Review Group - July 2026

Hi all, Welcome to our July book club! We are a friendly group of avid readers that enjoy a variety of books and great conversation, over a meal. New members are welcome, but spaces are limited. The books for Thursday 16 July 2026 are: **Science Fiction** Go back and re-read the book that first got you hooked into Science Fiction books. Was it something by Isaac Asimov, Arthur C Clarke, Ray Bradbury or Frank Herbert? Or did you read something by Anne McCaffrey, Elizabeth Moon, Becky Chambers or Mike Shepherd. Re-read that book, and then tell us why you loved it, and what made you want to read more like it. Does this book stand up to the test of time on a re-read? **Fantasy** Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan **Urban Fantasy** Anno Dracula by Kim Newman You don't have to read all the books. However, the more you read, the more robust the conversation will be with multiple people discussing each book. Don't forget to bring along some Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Urban Fantasy suggestions for the following meet-up! If you would like to see all the books (excluding bonus books) that we have read before, click [here](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1K96OI_w3AIBzkDVWXenQNc6mYbZ2cMvfRnzVehkp9Bo/edit#gid=0) to have a look. Since there are so many authors out there, we try not to repeat authors, however, I am relaxing this slightly moving forward. If you are new(ish) to the group, check out the back catalogue for some inspiration if you are stuck for something to read. Numbers are limited. If you can’t make it, please change your RSVP to a NO as a courtesy to the organiser and to let any wait-listed people into the meet-up. If you have time, stay back for a social catch up with your fellow book club members. Of course, you can go as soon as the book club finishes, but if you have time, then this is a great opportunity to find out all the news and what books people have been reading over the last couple of months. Happy Reading!!! 🤓😊

Doing the work - winter book club event

Would you like to make a commitment to join a compassionate small book club to work through 'How to do the work' by Dr Nicole LePera this winter? Discussion will be facilitated by an academic as we have a friendly chat twice monthly, for 3 months, tea provided. First meeting = chapters 1 and 2. I have an extra copy of the book to lend to an individual able to attend most sessions who may be unable to purchase a copy for financial reasons.

July Book Club: Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

All the Birds, Singing, Evie Wyld (Miles Franklin, 2014)

All the Birds, Singing won the Miles Franklin over novels by Tim Winton and Alexis Wright and the Booker winner that year, The Narrow Road to the Deep North. Tough competition! A contemporary reviewer says the novel "should enhance her reputation as one of our most gifted novelists". Set on an unnamed English Island with flashbacks to a traumatic rural WA upbringing, reviewers praised the interlocking stories, one going forward and the other back into childhood. Full of foreboding and well-paced this book is a great story about a strong woman, well told. 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.

A House as a Protagonist: Visitation vs. North Woods

Soul Music Book Discussion

We are continuing our bimonthly book club, this time in person! *Soul Music* won the poll on Facebook. How does it work? Read the book, and we will get together for a casual chat about it. What do you get when an imp, dwarf, and troll start a band? A new addictive music craze (with rocks in it). It's got a beat you can dance to, but it's... alive... Meanwhile, Death has abandoned his post, as well as Death and his granddaughter Susan Sto-Helit. She is visited by the Death of rats and a crow. How will this all play out? When: 1:30–3:30pm Sunday the 26th of July Where: Meeting Room 1, City Library 253 Flinders Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000 (The meeting room is upstairs; there is a stair lift to the ground floor and an internal lift to level 1 if needed.) or you can join online via discord in the mended drum Bring: Optional— a copy of *Soul Music* and a quote you enjoyed.

Babel by R.F. Kuang - Thursday 16 July 2026 Meeting