Book Swaps Berlin

@ Anna Blume - A cozy book swap and chat meetup!

The "classical" bookswap is simple: * We meet in a café and put the book(s) we brought down on the tables. * We go around to browse and discuss the books with one another while sipping coffee or hot chocolate, or eating cake. * We write our names down on any books we’d like to take home (post-its and pens provided). * At the end of the evening, negotiate any books that are contended and take a new-to-you book home! Books/happiness shared are books/happiness multiplied! A Bookswap is 10 times better than a Book Club because you can talk about ALL the books instead of just one! This is a great way to give your 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, and so on. Moreover, you will meet fellow readers, get a new book or two, and several book recommendations. We’ve often had readers experience books they wouldn't normally buy and enjoy it. GROUP EXPECTATIONS for PLEASANT SWAPPING * Please bring a book! It's not that you bring one you take one, but do try your best to bring something. * Books stay on the tables, open for sharing, until you are ready to leave so that everyone can have a look. We are notably not first come first serve. Please wait until you are leaving to bag the book. * If two or more people want the only copy of a book, negotiate. Maybe one of you reads it first and then gives it to the others. Or perhaps they have found another book instead. Or leave it to fate and toss a coin. The best part: now you have found somebody whose taste you can really admire. In any case, please don't walk away with a book with several names on it without letting the others know. These negotiations are fun and easy, so 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 find interesting. It's not that you bring one you take one; you may take as many as you can negotiate. * Political discussions with consent: make sure the people you are talking to would like to have a political discussion with you. * 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 organizers, and we'll do our best to resolve it. * Lastly, don't expect your book back. It will find a new home. If you love it, let it go. Major LANGUAGES (and genres) of this meetup: English, German, French, Spanish, Italian; Fiction, Non-Fiction, Serious Reading, Light Fun, “classics", Krimis, Booker winners, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Self-Help and more. 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!

Bookowskis read The Catcher in the Rye

The first book of discussion will be the world-famous classic about Holden Caulfield: J.D. Salinger's *The Catcher in the Rye*. If you have read it already, it's time to read it again. Please mark one paragraph in the book which you loved, hated or didn't get at all so we'll have some points for discussion.

Monthly Book Club Meeting - October

Dear Book Enthusiasts, For our September gathering, we’ll be reading ***Crossing the Mangrove*** by the Guadeloupean writer **Maryse Condé**. Set in a small Guadeloupean community, this richly layered and atmospheric novel begins with the mysterious death of Francis Sancher, a man whose presence has touched the lives of many people in the village. As the story unfolds, we hear from a wide range of characters, each offering their own memories, impressions, desires, and secrets. Through these many voices, Condé creates a vibrant portrait of a community shaped by love, resentment, identity, colonial history, and the complicated ties that bind people together. 📅 **Date & Time:** Sunday, 18.10.2026 at 15:00 📍 **Location:** Distrikt Coffee, Bergstrasse 68, 10115 Berlin 💬 **Fee:** As always, a 3 € contribution after the meeting helps cover organization costs. As I mentioned in earlier announcements, due to personal reasons I will not be able to attend a few upcoming meetings. A lovely friend of mine — Tereza, who happens to be a connoisseur of literature — kindly agreed to moderate and host this gathering during my absence. I truly hope you’ll join me in giving her your support. I’m very much looking forward to hearing all about your discussion and to gathering together again soon. Warmly, Sofya

Women’s Book Club: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

This time we will be discussing **Min Jin Lee's Pachinko.** 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. Additional spots are available on **Luma**: https://luma.com/calendar/cal-GFWYra5Jvk9S3Hz. Subscribe to the calendar to get all future events in your personal calendar app, each with a direct link to sign up on Luma. As a quick note, the cafe is kind enough to let us host our meetings there free of charge and flexibly. In return, please make sure to order at least one drink and refrain from bringing your own food. And a heads up: **The café only accept card payments for amounts over €10**, so you may want to bring some cash for smaller orders. Please remember to cancel your participation in good time if you are not coming. This will give someone else enough time to read the book and come to the meeting.

Book Club Meeting 9 - Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

***Goal*** Hey there Readers! We decided to face a tough yet super important read in September, a story about love, identity and truth. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts about it! IMPORTANT: Bring a little sketch or drawing that was inspired by the book! ***Schedule*** 18:00 - Arrival and chitchats 18:20 - Small introduction of the book and first thoughts 18:30 - General discussion 19:30 - Show your drawing/painting! 19:50 - Choice of the book for November/December (bring some options if you have some books in mind :))

Co-Working in Charlottenburg

**Registration through [https://luma.com/5pjmh8wv](https://luma.com/5pjmh8wv)** ____________________________ This is a cozy co-working session in a private living room. The idea is to spend some social time together while also getting work done. ​A small **€5 participation fee** helps cover coffee, tea, milk, some snacks and prevent no-shows. * ​**10:00** — Introduction round * **10:15–13:00** — Focused working time * **13:00–14:00** — Lunch together ​(There're a lot of nearby restaurants and a supermarket. Microwave available as well). * ​**14:00–17:00** — Focused working time ​(There’s a separate room for calls if needed). ​Looking forward to seeing you! ☕💻

„Wo warst du, Adam?“ von Heinrich Böll (1951)

Hi, dieses Mal besprechen wir „Wo warst du, Adam?“ von Heinrich Böll (1951). Hier der Link zum Inhalt und Buch : https://www.dtv.de/buch/wo-warst-du-adam-856 Wir treffen uns diesmal im Fuchsbau nahe Kottbusser Damm. :)

„Nach Mitternacht“ von Irmgard Keun (1937)

Hi, dieses Mal besprechen wir „Nach Mitternacht“ von Irmgard Keun (1937). Hier der Link zum Inhalt und Buch : https://www.ullstein.de/werke/nach-mitternacht/hardcover/9783546100342 Wir treffen uns diesmal im Café Chagall nahe U-Bahnhof Senefelder Platz. :)

Reading in companionable SILENCE

Let’s get together, read and share what we have read at Kultur Café in Dussmann - the paradise for all book lovers where I have reserved a table for 5. Only RSVP if you really intend to come and are sure that you can make it.

„Werte. Ein Kompass für die Zukunft“ von Maja Göpel

Buchclub: Perspektiven für die Klimakrise Wenn man die Nachrichten liest, kann man ziemlich die Krise kriegen. Klimaerwärmung, Wassermangel, Biodiversitätsverlust – die ökologische Polykrise fühlt sich oft an wie etwas, gegen das man nicht mehr ankommt. **Aber was kommt danach? Welche Zukunft wollen wir und wie kommen wir dorthin?** Wir treffen uns jeden Monat und lesen und besprechen Bücher - solche, die diskussionswürdig sind, aber auch Lösungen aufzeigen. **🔥 Warum Du dabei sein solltest:** * Wir tauschen Ohnmacht gegen Ideen – denn die gibt es und es lohnt sich, sie besser zu verstehen und zu diskutieren. * Du hast das Buch nur zur Hälfte geschafft (oder noch weniger)? Völlig egal. Komm einfach trotzdem und teile Deine Gedanken und Fragen mit uns. **📅 Wann & Wo?** * **Datum:** 14\.10\. \| 19:30 Uhr * **Ort:** Landsberger Allee 99C, 10407 Berlin * **Das nächste Buch:** Maja Göpel: „Werte. Ein Kompass für die Zukunft“ Bring Dich und Deine Gedanken mit. Einige Getränken steht auf Spendenbasis bereit * Weitere Bücher & Termine: „Von Tieren und anderen Menschen“ von Lea Schneider (18.11.), „Ways of Being“ von James Bridle (09.12.), „Ecocivilization: Making a World that Works for All“ von Jeremy Lent (tba, Januar 2027) **Wir freuen uns auf Dich!**

October Sci-Fi #2.1: "The Yiddish Policemen's Union" by Michael Chabon (464pp)

October Sci-Fi #1.1: "The Centre" by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi (288pp)