English book club in Essen

After a lot of rumination, discussions with a few friends and a pm from another member of this board, I have decided to jump on the book club bandwagon and would like to know if there are other people in Essen (or surrounding areas) interested in meeting and discussing books with other English speaking folks over coffee, tea, beer or wine. The plan (so far) is to meet once a month in a local cafe or pub and later once the group is more familiar with each other, we can hold meetings in member's homes. If any of this sounds interesting to you or you have any questions, then contact me by pm or post here for more information.

Generally, this sounds like a good idea (however, it depends on what kind of books people are interested in ...). I'm waiting for further information. Anyway, good on you, Nixe!

Once we have a few more people express some interest, we will have an initial 'getting to know you' meetup (the tentative location: Mamas in Rüttenscheid) to discuss what kind of books we want to discuss

Count me in please! We've been here in Essen since June & I'm missing my UK bookgroup - we used to get together once a month in each others houses, drink large amounts of wine, eat lots of cake & discuss the current book & whatever else we wanted to. Verena

I am interested too. Live not too far from Essen in Moers. Love to read and would like to meet some other English speakers.

Donna

The introductory meeting for the book club will take place in Essen-Rüttenscheid on Friday the 17th of August at 8.30pm. I will see if the kind folks at 'miamamia' (the Cafe/Restaurant formerly known as 'Mamas'), Rüttenscheiderstr. 183 (nearest U-Bahn/tram/bus stop: Martinstraße) would be kind enough to set aside a table (or two) for us, so if you're interested in attending, please try to let me know by the end of this coming week so I have a rough idea of how much space to reserve.

I have second thoughts now about joining the book club ... ;-)

I would also like to join the book club. See you all at the restaurant.

Ok slight change of location for the first book club meeting: instead of meeting at Miamamia, we will be meeting a little further down the road at raum.eins, Rüttenscheiderstr. 154 (a hop skip and a jump away from Fritzpatricks Irish Pub). A table has been reserved under the name of 'English book club'. The date and the time of the meeting (Friday 17th August, 8.30pm) still stand.

See you on Friday.

I also like reading books but I'm not sure if I can contribute a lot to a book discussion, but I would like to pop down (live in Bottrop) to say hello and have a chin wag.

Thanks to the people who made it along to the first meeting last night. For those of you who would like to be involved in the group but weren't able to make it yesterday, the book we decided on for the month is Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns. I will post more information about the date and location of next month's meet-up soon.

the book club sounds great missed the first one but will be there for the next one!

The next book club meetup will be a brunch meeting and take place on Saturday 22.Sep.2007 at 12 noon in Le Chat Noir, Brigittastr. 22, Essen. If you are arriving by public transport, the nearest tram/bus stop is Cäcilienstr (from the Hbf take tram 106 Richtung Helenenstr or bus 146 Richtung Heisingen/Baldeneysee), the nearest U-Bahn station is Rüttenscheider Stern (the U-11 to the Messe/Gruga and all the trams to Bredeney stop here) or if the weather is nice and you're feeling energetic you can walk from the Hbf (it takes about 20 mins).

Apart from reading the book (A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini) beforehand and being prepared to talk about it, the only other requirement for the meeting is to bring along a short list of suggestions for next month's book.

If you have any questions or would like more information just drop me a pm.

Unfortunately, I'll be out of town that day but really hope to make the next meeting and meet some new people.

I'm new to the forum - but am also interested in joining the book club (I even bought the book)

BUT

I'm out of town too on that weekend (stacking plastic cups in Coburg - don't ask!)

I look forward to the next meet

Jenny

Thanks to those who made it to the meeting yesterday. It was great to hear other opinions about the book we had chosen and the ensuing discussion about Afghanistan was also interesting.

The next book club meeting will take place on Friday 26.Oct.2007 at 8pm in the Zweibar, Rüttenscheider Straße 63, Essen (from the Hbf take the U11 in the direction of the Messe/Gruga or any tram going in the direction of Bredeney, to Rüttenscheider Stern). The book we will be discussing next time around is Never Far from Nowhere by Andrea Levy.

I forgot to add that if anyone is planning on coming to the book club for the first time and doesn't know how to find the group: it should be fairly easy to recognise us as we will be the only people in the bar speaking English (listen out for the Australian, Canadian and hybrid Portuguese-Scottish accents) ... oh and one member of our group has long red hair. If you think you still may have difficulties finding us then drop me a pm and I'll send you my mobile number.

Hope to see some new faces (in addition to the regulars) on Friday.

Thanks to the people who made it to the book club meeting last night. We didn't really have all that much to say about the book but the wine and conversation kept flowing all night and it was fun.

The next meeting will take place at 8pm Fri 23.Nov.2007 at the Unperfekthaus Friedrich-Ebert-Str. 18, Essen Stadtmitte. To get there you can simply walk from the Hbf in the direction of the giant construction site at Limbeckerplatz or take the U-18 to Berlinerplatz. (The UP Haus is opposite Karstadt - or on the other side of Karstadt if you are coming from the direction of Berlinerplatz U-Bahn station).

As for reading material, we decided to go for a non-fiction book this time around: Emergency Sex (and Other Desperate Measures) a story about foreign aid workers and their experiences in Cambodia, Somalia, Rwanda etc.

So, if there is anyone else who is interested in joining the group, you can either contact me for some more information or simply read the book and show up at the next meeting.

Hi Gals!

I'm not going to make it next week ... I have a husband who has to work that evening (such is the life of an entertainer) and my babysitting options aren't great.

I'm bummed about it.

Let me know the next book and the next meet. Are you going to skip December? Or is it a good excuse to sing some english carols together (maybe we can teach everyone 'six white boomers'

Jenny

It's a shame you can't make it Jenny - the book we'll be discussing this month is much better than the last one. There'll be other meetings though. We haven't decided about December yet (I think the general consensus was to give it a miss) but we might meet up in the city for a Glühwein or something even if we don't hold a book meeting that month. I won't be singing anything though (don't want to traumatise anyone and I don't remember the clean lyrics to the boomer song anyway ).

You seem to be quite a naughty girl, nixe! ;-)

Last December, "Six white boomers" was a great hit on one my favorite Canadian radio stations - CKGY in Red Deer, Alberta - they played it at least once a day ... Mind you, nixe, the clean version!!!

You seem to be quite a naughty girl, nixe ... ;-)
Last December, on my favourite Canadian radio station - CKGY in Red Deer, Alberta - "Six White Boomers" was a very popular song. They used to play it at least once every day. Mind you, nixe, the clean version! ;-)

nixe, this is where you can find the clean lyrics of "Six white boomers" ... "http://www.tasgreetings.com/boomers.htm" ;-)

Well, it's time to say 'thank you' again to the people who made it along to last night's meet-up in the Unperfekthaus. As expected, the book of the month lead to an interesting discussion and most people had very a positive reaction to it. Sadly, the same cannot be said about the selection of wine on offer at the UP Haus which ranged from barely drinkable to totally vile. (Thankfully they offered a €5,50 flat rate for the non-alcoholic bevvies; the food and the atmosphere also made up for the horrible wine).

The next book we'll be reading is The Tender Bar by J.R Moehringer and the next meeting will take place at 8pm on Friday the 18.Jan.2008 at Le Chat Noir, Brigittastr. 22, Essen-Rüttenscheid. (If you haven't been there before and are interested in joining the group that night, you can find directions on how to get there in one of the earlier posts on this thread).

I'll come along if I can... is it possible to reach by public transport? Any ideas - I'm coming from Düsseldorf...

Cartooncat - Getting to the meeting by public transport (from Düsseldorf) shouldn't be a problem. The S1 to Dortmund, the RE1 to Hamm, the RE6 to Minden and the RE11 to Paderborn all stop in D'dorf and Essen. Once at the Hauptbahnhof the directions to Le Chat Noir are as follows:

Thanks... it will depend on whether I can get away in time now - I have a meeting in Luxembourg that day, so I'll be travelling back from there first.

this will make me look TOTALLY uncoordinated but ...

I have two copies of the Tender Bar - does anyone want to read the other? let me know asap

It's time again to write the details of the next meeting for our group and to say 'thanks' to the people who made it last night. It was nice to see a couple of new faces in addition to the regulars, disappointing that there were a couple of MIAs and also quite amazing that someone had driven all the way from Neuss to attend. (Hopefully it was worth it!)

The date (and time) of the next meeting is Friday 29.Feb.2008 at 8pm and the location: Lorenz, Rüttenscheiderstr. 187, Essen - Rüttenscheid. The book we will be reading for the next month is The Book Thief by Markus Zusack.

Since we had a bit of fun and games trying to get a table for our group at the last meeting (and because Lorenz tends to be a bit crowded on Friday nights) I am planning on reserving some space for us ahead of time. In order to do this, I need a rough idea of how many people will show up, so if you intend making it along to the next meet-up, please try to let me know by pm (or email or sms - if you already have those details) by Monday the 25th of February.

Hope you're all enjoying the book and I'll see you on the 29th.

I'm counting on being there - so thats one!

jenny

Hi everyone,
It is great to learn that there is a book club going on. I just moved to Bornheim (between Cologne and Bonn) and I dearly miss my old book club. Is there any chance of these monthly meetings to be organised somewhere closer to here, or is there a book club you know of that meets in this area? I look forward to hearing from you.
Indigo

I think most people are really based in Essen or surrounds so I think it would be highly unlikely that it 'relocate' but why not start one of your own - that's what happened with this one! It just needed someone with initiative to get it started - be that one!

The next book club meet will take place at 8.30pm on Friday 18.April.2008 at the Forum Bergmannsglück, Bergmannsglückstr. 42, Gelsenkirchen-Buer/Hassel as one of our group has kindly offered the use of her studio gallery as space to hold our meeting. If you are interested in coming along you need to read Schlepping through the Alps by Sam Apple and bring along a bottle of something to drink &/or some snacks.

For more information about the group or how to get to the Forum Bergmannsglück just send me a pm.

I was at Nancy's gallery last weekend - its really super interesting stuff to see - it should be a great night there - wish I could be there - sipping red wine among the visual feast sounds better than what I have to do!

getting there:

if anyone is interested and coming from Essen then consider taking the S9 from Essen Hauptbahnhof direction Haltern am See to Buer Nord. It leaves at 7:41 PM, then it is a 10 minute walk to Bergmannsglück

jenny

On behalf of those who were present on Friday night, I'd like to say a big 'thank you' to Nancy for allowing us to have our meeting in one of her studios, surrounded by her artwork. Nancy, it was really interesting hearing you talk about the paintings and sculptures we saw and it added an extra dimension to our book discussion ... and wine drinking. Those of you who weren't able to make it this time around really missed a fun night.

To the people interested in coming to the next meeting: we decided to read 'Stasiland' by Anna Funder this month (a couple of us have already read it but most haven't, so we thought it would be a good book to (re)read and discuss).

More details about the next meeting (eg. date, time, venue) will follow soon.

Hi,

I've just moved to Essen, and really like the sound of your book club. It would really good to come along and meet a few people as well as taking part. Are you open to new people coming along?

Thanks

Anna

absolutely - its an open forum where books are discussed and joys and tribulations alike are shared over a glass of red (or whatever you fancy). The next meet is May 30 though I'm not sure of the venue.

Nixe ... have we decided yet???

jenny

Just to confirm the date, time and place of the next meeting: the venue will be Miamamia on Rüttenscheiderstr 183. and as mentioned by Jenny, the meeting will be on Friday, 30.May.2008. at 8.00pm. If the weather turns out to be nice, we will probably sit outside in the small beergarden of the restaurant so if you're new to the group, just head outside and listen for the English speakers.

Thanks to the people who came to the last meeting. And thanks to Prue and Astrid for filling me in on what I missed out on (as I wasn't able to make it this time around). Apparently a good night was had by all who attended.

The next meeting will take place on Friday 4.July.2008 at 8pm at a venue that is yet to be agreed upon and the book to read before the meet is: You Gotta Have Balls by Lily Brett.

Since the majority of our group will be on holidays (or coming back from holidays) or on business trips elsewhere on Friday, I'm going to postpone the next meet-up. More details about the day, time, venue etc of the next meeting to follow soon ...

Hi,

I've stumbled across your book club here and it sounds really interesting!

Could I join you for the next one?

Cheers, Mon

Hi,

My name is Rebecca, an American who's been in Essen Holsterhausen for about a year, and I was just wondering if this will be taking place tonight, and if so, where? I'd be very interested in getting involved with a book club should you decide to organize one - please feel free to PM me with more information!

the book club is open to all comers - last week, the meeting was postponed because we figured out that we would all be on holiday (and those who weren't, had been working so hard that they hadn't had time to read the book!)

I think that means that we will be meeting the first Friday in August - the book is 'You gotta have balls' by Lily Brett.

Its a fun group - the discussion is certainly not limited to the books we are reading - that's for sure!!!

As callalacorks mentioned above, the next meeting of the book Club will take place on the first Friday of the month, (which just happens to be this coming Friday) 1.Aug.2008 at 8.30pm. The venue this time around will be the Zweibar, Rüttenscheiderstr. 63, Essen - Rüttenscheid. See you then!

Hi, another interested person in the book group - I've recently moved to just outside Essen and would love to come along. I can't do this month but can you let me know what next month's book is so I can get reading?!

Thanks and hope to be able to attend the next meeting.

Thank you to the people who came to last week's meeting. To those who weren't able to make it but would like to be there next time: the book we will be reading this month is Mr Pip by Lloyd Jones. The next meet-up will be at 8:30pm on Friday 5.September.2008 at a venue yet to be decided and I will post details about the location closer to the day/evening concerned.

Ok, so now the venue for September's meet has been decided: we will be meeting at Pelayo, Rüttenscheiderstr. 138, Essen and if the weather behaves itself we might even be able to sit outside.

sorry to say that I can't make it this month ... bummer ... yet another drinking opportunity slips through my fingers

(sound of breaking glass) ...