Book Drives Toronto

ABCD Reads "Educated" by Tara Westover

ABCD Reads "**[Educated](https://tpl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S234C3619554)**" by Tara Westover. ([RESULTS](https://opavote.com/results/5133360801513472) of the poll for this event.) **:: ABOUT THE BOOK ::** "Tara Westover’s new tale of escape, Educated, makes [J.D.] Vance’s seem tame by comparison ... The extremity of Westover’s upbringing emerges gradually through her telling, which only makes the telling more alluring and harrowing ... It is only when the final, wrenching break from most of her family arrives that one realizes just how courageous this testimonial really is. These disclosures will take a toll. But one is also left convinced that the costs are worth it. By the end, Westover has somehow managed not only to capture her unsurpassably exceptional upbringing, but to make her current situation seem not so exceptional at all, and resonant for many others." (from [BookMarks.reviews](https://bookmarks.reviews/reviews/educated/)) "Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, Tara Westover was seventeen the first time she set foot in a classroom. Her family was so isolated from mainstream society that there was no one to ensure the children received an education, and no one to intervene when one of Tara’s older brothers became violent. When another brother got himself into college, Tara decided to try a new kind of life. Her quest for knowledge transformed her, taking her over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to Cambridge University. Only then would she wonder if she’d traveled too far, if there was still a way home." (from [Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35133922-educated)) **:: ABOUT THE EVENT ::** You are welcome to arrive 30 minutes before the event and stay 30 minutes or longer afterward to connect with other attendees outside the book talk. Please ensure you have read the book before attending (though finishing any book is not a barrier to participating, as long as you don't mind spoilers). First-time attendees can join for free. If the event is full, we maintain an unofficial waitlist. Please send [Michael](https://www.meetup.com/members/55295192/) a direct message for more information, in either case. We request a $3 contribution from regular attendees to help cover our monthly meetup costs. **:: ABOUT OUR NEXT BOOK ::** At the end of each event, we will ask for nominees for our next book. If you have a good one in mind, please ensure it is between 200-400 pages long, available from the Toronto Public Library, and counts as contemporary literary fiction (though these are not hard and fast rules). When enough nominees are collected, Michael will send the members a direct message with a link where you can vote.

Silent Bookclub Meeting #75 (RSVP REQUIRED)

Note you will need to RSVP to attend our event this Saturday May 30 at Danu Social House. You can RSVP here: https://luma.com/56n7xscd

The Girls Book Club: Fantasy/Romance Book Club Meetup #5

Hi everyone!! 💖 This is now our FIFTH book club meetup! I can’t wait to get to know you all more, hang out and talk books. For this meeting we’ll be continuing The Book of Azrael by Amber Nicole!!! Please read the first 34 chapters before coming so we have lots to discuss!!! Don’t stress if you’re new or didn’t make it to the last meetup! This is a super chill group and we’re mostly here to chat, vibe, and obsess over books together. Can’t wait to see you all!! 📚✨

OSC #2 - Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Welcome to the second meetup of the Open Shelf Collective! Our first three books have been selected to set the tone, and following the end of each meetup we will begin with the nominations for the next meetups. The first thirty minutes of the event is open social time while we allow attendees to arrive. The book discussion will begin at 8:00 PM. At the end of the meetup, we will accept nominations for the next book and have our book swap. We encourage attendees to stay afterwards and chat if they would like to as well. If the event is full, please DM us and we can put you on a waitlist. "Before the Coffee Gets Cold" by Toshikazu Kawaguchi. "In a small back alley of Tokyo, there is a café that has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. Local legend says that this shop offers something else besides coffee—the chance to travel back in time. Over the course of one summer, four customers visit the café in the hopes of making that journey. But time travel isn’t so simple, and there are rules that must be followed. Most important, the trip can last only as long as it takes for the coffee to get cold. Prepare to meet four visitors, each of whom is hoping to make use of the cafe’s time-travelling offer in order to: confront the man who left them; receive a letter from their husband whose memory has been taken by Alzheimer's; see their sister one last time, and meet the daughter they never got the chance to know. Heartwarming, wistful, mysterious and delightfully quirky, Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s internationally bestselling novel explores the age-old question: What would you change if you could travel back in time?"

Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe

For May, we'll read Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe 313 pages First published in 1722 About the book: Born and abandoned in Newgate Prison, Moll Flanders is forced to make her own way in life. She duly embarks on a career that includes husband-hunting, incest, bigamy, prostitution and pick-pocketing, until her crimes eventually catch up with her. One of the earliest and most vivid female narrators in the history of the English novel, Moll recounts her adventures with irresistible wit and candour-and enough guile that the reader is left uncertain whether she is ultimately a redeemed sinner or a successful opportunist.

Bookish Bi Reading Club

Bookstore Tour & Picnic

Bromptons and books are a perfect bookend for the first weekend in June! Join us for a literary tour of three unique bookstores within Toronto. Meet at **[Pedaal](https://www.pedaal.com/)** for a coffee & pastry at 10am. Get yourself sorted for the ride, make a new friend, and please check your air, brakes, and chain. **10:30am** departure Bring an appetite for Canadian independent bookstores: * [Little Ghosts Books](https://www.littleghostsbooks.com/) * [Hopeless Romantic Bookshop](https://hopelessromanticbooks.ca/) * [Another Story Bookshop](https://anotherstory.ca/i/1157949/landing-page/index.html) While on Roncesvalles, you can pick up a pizza, sandwich, etc, *or bring your own*, for a picnic in High Park. View the route at this link: tk WEATHER: if a heat wave or thunderstorm this ride will be cancelled. Please register as an email will be sent the day before with cancellation notice. Ride level: Chill / Relaxed Distance: less than 10 km Everyone welcome. No one will be left behind. All riders who are comfortable with the pace and distance are welcome! Our Community Rules: 1. Be kind. Welcome and encourage other riders. Insults, shaming, and hate will be removed, and offenders will be banned. 2. Your safety is your responsibility. Helmets are required. Lights are required if riding in darkness. It is each rider’s responsibility to ensure their bike is clean, well-maintained, and fully functional. 3. All bikes are welcome. Occasional Brompton-only events will be clearly labeled. Contact your local Brompton dealer if you'd like to borrow a Brompton for an event (participation may vary). 4. If your plans change, please update your RSVP. BY ATTENDING this event you ACKNOWLEDGE and ACCEPT the following: 1. I ACKNOWLEDGE, agree, and represent that I understand the nature of bicycling activities and that I am qualified, in good health, and in proper physical condition to participate in such activity. I further acknowledge that the ride-out will be conducted over public pavements and facilities open to the public, and upon which the hazards of traveling are to be expected. I further agree and warrant that if, at any time, I believe conditions to be unsafe, I will immediately discontinue further participation. 2. I FULLY UNDERSTAND that (a) BICYCLING ACTIVITIES INVOLVE RISKS AND DANGERS OF SERIOUS BODILY INJURY, INCLUDING PERMANENT DISABILITY, PARALYSIS AND DEATH ("Risks"); (b) these Risks and dangers may be caused by my own actions or inactions, the actions or inactions of others participating in the ride-out, the conditions in which the ride-out takes place, or the negligence of others; (c) there may be OTHER RISKS AND SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC LOSSES either not known to me or not readily foreseeable at this time; and I FULLY ACCEPT AND ASSUME ALL SUCH RISKS AND ALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOSSES, COSTS, AND DAMAGES I may incur as a result of my participation; (d) I acknowledge that Brompton Bicycle, event organizers, ride leaders, and volunteers will not be liable for any accidents or damages through this ride-out. 3. PHOTO RELEASE: I CONSENT to my voice, name, and/or likeness being used, without compensation, in any and all media, whether now known or hereafter devised, for eternity, and release Brompton Bicycle, its successors, assigns and licensees from any liability whatsoever of any nature. DO NOT REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO BE SUBJECT TO THE FOREGOING.

Shut Up & Write — West Queen West

Come join us at the lovely, well-lit, and cozy Theatre Centre Cafe for an hour and a half of silent writing (on whatever writing projects you will)! After silent writing is done, feel free to stay and chat or go as you please. If you are late you are welcome to join us (quietly and not disruptively). Please note this is a casual event, and we will NOT be critiquing each other's work. Other Important Details: WiFi name/password: #TheTheatreCentre (no password, open access) Travel / Parking info: There is paid street parking as well as Green P underground parking located at 45 Abell St (2 mins walk from the venue) Venue Guidelines: Please thank our hosts by purchasing something.

Book talk

Let's get together at the St. Clair What a Bagel! and discuss books that interest us! Books we're reading, books we've read or books we'd like to read. Fiction, non-fiction, short stories, poetry, magazine articles, comic books...

Wizards & Workouts

Do you consider rolling dice strength training? Can you run a D&D campaign, but not a city block? If so, **WIZARDS & WORKOUTS** is for you. My name is Peter Reynolds. I'm a writer and lover of role playing games. I'm also out of shape. I've been looking for ways to motivate myself to start working out with the same enthusiasm I bring to my Dungeons & Dragons campaign. The plan is simple: host a fun, live role playing game where players take on the role of their favourite fantasy characters. The catch? You need to exercise if you want to succeed. Fighting a dragon? A fireball might cost you 5 pushups. Crossing a rooftop? Can you balance on one foot for a minute? By combining simple, low impact exercises, including walking & stretching, with an interactive adventure, we'll all get healthier, have fun and maybe meet some new friends along the way. All fitness levels are welcome (as are dogs), and no previous knowledge of Dungeons & Dragons is necessary. We meet in front of Broadview subway station at 10:00 am sharp and then walk to the Outdoor Fitness Station in Riverdale Park East (there are washrooms). At 11:30 we start walking west, through the park, ending at the Blake House Restaurant \* (Wellesley & Jarvis) by 12:30. There's no costs for the first session. If it proves successful, I'll be looking to create an multi-week campaign that will run through the summer. Details to follow for those that register. Hope to see you there! *\*The Blake House is where our Sci-Fi and Fantasy Writers' Group meets every Saturday from 1pm - 4pm to critique each others work. For more information on this event. Check out our Meetup events page.*

The Toronto Artist's Way Meetup Monthly Meetup

The purpose of the group, based on the book The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, is for people to meet and talk about their artistic challenges in any field (painting, writing, music etc.) and encourage each other to break their creative blocks and fulfill themselves in their art. If you find people who are sympathetic, you may want to form your own group, meeting regularly to explore the book and supporting each other in their artistic journeys. I have gone through 2 such clusters and can say that it is a very powerful experience. Why not come to a meeting and see for yourself?

Murder in an Italian Village by Michael Falco (Kris)

10 books