Book Swaps Toronto

OSC #5 - Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Welcome to our 5th meetup for the Open Shelf Collective. We have selected Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid as our selection for this event. 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. We encourage attendees to stay afterwards and chat if they would like to as well. Out of respect for the venue and people on the waitlist, if you do not intend on attending please cancel as soon as possible and at the very latest 48 hours in advance. To ensure spots go to engaged members, we have limited new sign ups to two weeks before the event — existing RSVPs are not affected. We would like to keep these events free of charge, and continued last minute cancellations or no-shows may require us to introduce a small fee in the future. "Atmosphere" by Taylor Jenkins Reid: Joan Goodwin has been obsessed with the stars for as long as she can remember. Thoughtful and reserved, Joan is content with her life as a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University and as aunt to her precocious niece, Frances. That is, until she comes across an advertisement seeking the first women scientists to join NASA’s Space Shuttle program. Suddenly, Joan burns to be one of the few people to go to space. Selected from a pool of thousands of applicants in the summer of 1980, Joan begins training at Houston’s Johnson Space Center, alongside an exceptional group of fellow candidates: Top Gun pilot Hank Redmond and scientist John Griffin, who are kind and easy-going even when the stakes are highest; mission specialist Lydia Danes, who has worked too hard to play nice; warm-hearted Donna Fitzgerald, who is navigating her own secrets; and Vanessa Ford, the magnetic and mysterious aeronautical engineer, who can fix any engine and fly any plane. As the new astronauts become unlikely friends and prepare for their first flights, Joan finds a passion and a love she never imagined. In this new light, Joan begins to question everything she thinks she knows about her place in the observable universe. Then, in December of 1984, on mission STS-LR9, everything changes in an instant. Fast-paced, thrilling, and emotional, *Atmosphere* is Taylor Jenkins Reid at her best: transporting readers to iconic times and places, with complex protagonists, telling a passionate and soaring story about the transformative power of love, this time among the stars.

Cookie Swap at the Book Bar🍪

Hello there! This event is exactly what it sounds like: **we meet and swap cookies!** 🍪 Six ladies, six different cookies. Each person bakes their favourite cookie and brings **6 pieces** to share. That means we all go home with 6 different cookies to taste! No need to announce what you’re bringing. Be as creative (or lazy 😄) as you’d like. The only rule is that the cookies should be **homemade**. We’ll meet at **The Book Bar**, a beautiful new café, bar, and bookstore with delicious coffee, croissants, and other treats. ☕📚 We can drink coffee, browse the books, journal, knit, read, or do whatever cozy hobby you’re into. Just bring it along! Maybe I’ll bring my colouring book. 😊 Stay for as long or as little as you’d like, but it would be great if we could all meet at **11:00** so nobody has to wait for the cookies. 😊 If you have food allergies, this may not be the best event for you, as we can’t guarantee specific ingredients or avoid cross-contamination. **Come for the cookies, stay for the cozy company!** 🍪☕📚

Books Up August Meetup

**Books Up Circle** Join us for Books Up Circle meetup! This will be a relaxed, informal gathering where we chat, get to know each other, and share our love for books. **What to expect:** * Casual introductions and open conversation * Socializing with fellow book lovers **What to bring:** * Your book ideas or favorite recommendations * An open mind and a love for reading Come to socialize, discover new books, and make friends along the way. Sounds like a good deal to us—**come join the circle!** 📚

The Girls Book Club: Fantasy/Romance Book Club Meetup #9

Hi everyone!! 💖 This is now our NINTH 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 STARTING Gild by Raven Kennedy!!! Please read the first 20 chapters of the book before coming so that 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!! 📚✨

Candide by Voltaire

For August, we'll read Candide by Voltaire. 129 pages First published in 1759 About the book: *Candide* is the story of a gentle man who, though pummeled and slapped in every direction by fate, clings desperately to the belief that he lives in "the best of all possible worlds." On the surface a witty, bantering tale, this eighteenth-century classic is actually a savage, satiric thrust at the philosophical optimism that proclaims that all disaster and human suffering is part of a benevolent cosmic plan. Fast, funny, often outrageous, the French philosopher's immortal narrative takes Candide around the world to discover that — contrary to the teachings of his distinguished tutor Dr. Pangloss — all is not always for the best. Alive with wit, brilliance, and graceful storytelling, *Candide* has become Voltaire's most celebrated work.

Summer Social at Sneaky Dee's

Come out for good times and nachos! Our regular online book discussions are on hiatus, so we're taking the opportunity for an IRL get-together. Of course, our group spans far and wide now, but if you can make it to downtown Toronto, we hope you'll join us! (Sneaky's is cash only, so come prepared.)

ABCD Reads "Whistler" by Ann Patchett

ABCD Reads "**[Whistler](https://tpl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S234C4751790)**" by Ann Patchett [[RESULTS](https://opavote.com/results/5448125428006912) of the poll for this event] **:: ABOUT THE BOOK ::** "When Daphne Fuller and her husband Jonathan visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art, they notice an older, white-haired gentleman following them. The man turns out to be Eddie Triplett, her former stepfather, who had been married to her mother for a little more than year when Daphne was nine. [...] Whistler is a story about two adults looking back over the choices they made, and the choices that were made for them. It’s a story about bravery, memory, the often small yet consequential moments that define our lives, and the endless stream of loss that in time comes for us all. Beautiful in its simplicity, it is ultimately about how love endures, and how the feeling of being known by one other person, even for a short period of time, can change everything." (from [Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/242693052-whistler)) "Now fifty-three, Daphne hasn’t seen Eddie for many years, not since the fateful event that changed the direction of both their lives. Meeting again, time falls away; while their relationship was brief, it had a profound impact on them both, and now that they are reunited, they have no intention of ever being separated again." (from [BookMarks.reviews](https://bookmarks.reviews/reviews/whistler/)) **:: 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.

August Books n’ Brunch: The Courage to be Disliked

Book Description: An international bestseller and TikTok sensation with more than 10 million copies sold worldwide, The Courage to Be Disliked is a transformative and practical guide to personal happiness and self-fulfillment. Now you can unlock your full potential and free yourself from the shackles of past traumas and societal expectations to find true personal happiness. Based on the theories of renowned psychologist Alfred Adler, this book guides you through the principles of self-forgiveness, self-care, and mind decluttering in a straightforward, easy-to-digest style that’s accessible to all. The Courage to Be Disliked unfolds as a dialogue between a philosopher and a young man, who, over the course of five enriching conversations, realizes that each of us is in control of our life’s direction, independent of past burdens and expectations of others. Wise, empowering, and profoundly liberating, this book is a life-changing experience that shows you a path to lasting happiness and how to finally be the person you truly want to be. Millions are already benefiting from its teachings—and you can be next. PLEASE NOTE: There is no cost to attend but it is a restaurant so please plan to purchase at least a drink. It would be even better if you join us for brunch. 😁

Silent Bookclub Meeting #85

The next event is happening on Tuesday August 25 at 6:00 PM at the Deck located in Clarence Square! Please RSVP if you're planning on coming so we can plan appropriately! To help cover the costs of meetup fees, we will be taking optional donations for this event. If you're inclined to, feel free to send any amount you're comfortable with to harresh.s@hotmail.com, or bring cash to the event. Please note that this is entirely optional and not required to join the event! All proceeds will go towards fees for this event and future events, as well as meetup fees

Silent Bookclub Meeting #89 (Bookstore Crawl and High Park)

The next event will be a two parter, bringing back a fan favourite! We're back with our fourth Bookstore Crawl and we'll be soaking up the sun in the West End! Bookstores are TBD, and then having our typical Silent Book Club event at High Park. Hope to see you there, and bring sunscreen! Please RSVP if you're planning on coming so we can plan appropriately To help cover the costs of meetup fees, we will be taking optional donations for this event. If you're inclined to, feel free to send any amount you're comfortable with to harresh.s@hotmail.com, or bring cash to the event. Please note that this is entirely optional and not required to join the event! All proceeds will go towards fees for this event and future events, as well as meetup fees

Short Reads Social #12: "Why Don't We Dream of Labour?" (Aug 25th)

Short-Read Socials are back! Come meet with like-minded and unlikeminded people to talk about the topic of the month. This time, we're thinking about **work and meaning.** *Why do some people feel like their work is meaningless? Is some work more inherently "meaningful" than others? Should work be something that necessarily has to fulfill us in the first place?* \-\-\- **How does it work?** * The event is casual. You can talk to anyone there with or without our prompt sheets, either about the month's topic or about whatever you want. * Open philosophical discussion, including for controversial topics, is welcome but be respectful :) * If you've read/watched/heard anything related to the topic of the month, feel free to bring it in! Not necessarily physically, but you can if you want... * If not, here are some thought-provoking reads to start you off (read as many or as few as you want): * [Why Is Everyone In Tech So Sad?](https://www.noemamag.com/why-is-everyone-in-tech-so-sad/) * [Workism Is Making Americans Miserable](https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/02/religion-workism-making-americans-miserable/583441/) (paywall-free version [here](https://archive.is/20260808071246/https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/02/religion-workism-making-americans-miserable/583441/)) * [The Nature of Meaningless Work](https://thestillwandering.substack.com/p/the-nature-of-meaningless-work?r=2zfszx&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true) * [What do Japan’s hikikomori reveal about our lonely world?](https://psyche.co/ideas/what-do-japans-hikikomori-reveal-about-our-lonely-world) * And as a throwback to our second book club meeting ever, Chapter 6: Why Do We as a Society Not Object to the Growth of Pointless Employment? of [David Graeber's Bullshit Jobs](https://nextcloud.quackhouse.ca/s/DMqpQD8wSR8WPcy) (pages 103-135 in the pdf or 193-244 in the text) * Feel free to post other recommendations (blogs, movies, tv episodes, video essays, etc.) in the comments!

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