Book Drives Toronto

Silent Bookclub Meeting #97

The next event is happening on Tuesday October 27, starting at 6PM in the Wellington Market Food Hall at The Well! We'll be meeting in front of the Nord Lyon in The Wellington Market (food court!) Please RSVP if you're planning on coming so we can plan appropriately!

October's Book: Weyward

**This event has been rescheduled to October 27th. If you are unable to make it due to this scheduling change, please contact our organizer, Melis Tokgoz.** 2019: Under cover of darkness, Kate flees London for ramshackle Weyward Cottage, inherited from a great aunt she barely remembers. With its tumbling ivy and overgrown garden, the cottage is worlds away from the abusive partner who tormented Kate. But she begins to suspect that her great aunt had a secret. One that lurks in the bones of the cottage, hidden ever since the witch-hunts of the 17th century. 1619: Altha is awaiting trial for the murder of a local farmer who was stampeded to death by his herd. As a girl, Altha’s mother taught her their magic, a kind not rooted in spell casting but in a deep knowledge of the natural world. But unusual women have always been deemed dangerous, and as the evidence for witchcraft is set out against Altha, she knows it will take all of her powers to maintain her freedom. 1942: As World War II rages, Violet is trapped in her family's grand, crumbling estate. Straitjacketed by societal convention, she longs for the robust education her brother receives––and for her mother, long deceased, who was rumored to have gone mad before her death. The only traces Violet has of her are a locket bearing the initial W and the word weyward scratched into the baseboard of her bedroom. Weaving together the stories of three extraordinary women across five centuries, Emilia Hart's Weyward is an enthralling novel of female resilience and the transformative power of the natural world.

ABCD Reads Body Language by Meg Howrey

ABCD Reads ***[Body Language](https://tpl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S234C4801989)*** by Meg Howrey. ([RESULTS](https://opavote.com/results/6325601387675648) of the poll for this event.) **:: ABOUT THE BOOK ::** "Sloane, a former actress now working as a therapist, is determined to find a meaningful way through menopause, away from marketing schemes, possibly with the aid of psychedelics. Her sister Laurel is managing her own growing rage and restlessness while engaging in work at an environmental non-profit and raising teenagers. Nanette, the youngest, has answered a long-delayed religious calling and is living as a Novice in a convent. All three lives will be further disrupted when Sloane receives a call summoning her to their mother’s house, Laurel discovers possible evidence of her husband’s infidelity, and Nanette finds herself in the middle of a media frenzy after a spontaneous act of public prayer. Soon, all three are reunited under their mother’s roof, and no one can seem to agree about anything beyond the Barbara has dementia, as did her mother and sister before her. Will it be an opportunity for the closed door of their very private mother’s inner life to crack open? A lesson in care; a shared responsibility that will be the making of this family, divided by large age gaps, parental divorce, and temperament? Or will a stunning revelation upend not only their mother’s remaining time, but divide the sisters permanently? With razor-sharp prose and undeniable humor, acclaimed author Meg Howrey brings an American family in the midst of a painful crisis to unforgettable life, interrogating memory and emotional inheritance, the right of a woman’s autonomy, and the indelible bonds even the most disparate of sisters can share." (from [Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/244709885-body-language)) "Howrey is a reliably beautiful stylist, and her slyly funny prose and blade-sharp insights into human behavior really should put her in the same conversation as writers like Ann Patchett and Barbara Kingsolver. Though this novel hits some familiar beats, Howrey manages to haul in plenty of shimmering pearls on the perils and joys of womanhood—whatever that means. A comfort meal of a novel: poignant and prismatic." (from [Kirkus](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/meg-howrey/body-language-4/)) **:: 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.

Murder Must Advertise by Dorothy L. Sayers (Fernanda)

6 books, 1 large print, 4 ebooks, 4 audio

November's Book: Wild Dark Shore

A family on a remote island. A mysterious woman washed ashore. A rising storm on the horizon. Dominic Salt and his three children are caretakers of Shearwater, a tiny island not far from Antarctica. Home to the world’s largest seed bank, Shearwater was once full of researchers, but with sea levels rising, the Salts are now its final inhabitants. Until, during the worst storm the island has ever seen, a woman mysteriously washes ashore. Isolation has taken its toll on the Salts, but as they nurse the woman, Rowan, back to strength, it begins to feel like she might just be what they need. Rowan, long accustomed to protecting herself, starts imagining a future where she could belong to someone again. But Rowan isn’t telling the whole truth about why she set out for Shearwater. And when she discovers sabotaged radios and a freshly dug grave, she realizes Dominic is keeping his own secrets. As the storms on Shearwater gather force, they all must decide if they can trust each other enough to protect the precious seeds in their care before it’s too late—and if they can finally put the tragedies of the past behind them to create something new, together. A novel of breathtaking twists, dizzying beauty, and ferocious love, *Wild Dark Shore* is about the impossible choices we make to protect the people we love, even as the world around us disappears.

Silent Writing/Reading #7

We will be meeting at the MaRS Discovery District (near Queen's Park Station), in the mezzanine area.

Bookish Bi Reading Club

Short Reads Social #16 (+costume contest!): Are we living in an age of fear?

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 **fear.** *Are people more fearful now than they were in the past or are we just scared of different things? Are people truly safer now? Has our media consumption helped us deal with our fears or exacerbated our ability to cope?* \-\-\- **\*\*\*Note: this event and future events (at least until 2027) will be on second and last Wednesdays! we won't be there on Tuesday :(** \-\-\- **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. Every has had different experiences so aim to have good-faith discussions :) * 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): * [Waiting for the End of the World](https://harpers.org/archive/2020/03/waiting-for-the-end-of-the-world-prepper-camp-saluda-north-carolina/) * [Why We’re Living in the Age of Fear](https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/why-were-living-in-the-age-of-fear-190818/) (without paywall [here](https://archive.is/20210531023827/https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/why-were-living-in-the-age-of-fear-190818/)) * [How a True-Crime Podcast Became a Mental-Health Support Group](https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/02/the-true-crime-podcast-turned-mental-health-support-group/517200/) (without paywall [here](https://archive.is/20210403101221/https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/02/the-true-crime-podcast-turned-mental-health-support-group/517200/)) * [Why Kidnapping Conspiracy Theories Are Everywhere](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/part-two-why-kidnapping-conspiracy-theories-are-everywhere/id1373812661?i=1000621718915) * (I linked part two above, but you can listen to [part one](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/part-one-why-kidnapping-conspiracy-theories-are-everywhere/id1373812661?i=1000621466452) if you want too) * Feel free to post other recommendations (blogs, movies, tv episodes, video essays, etc.) in the comments! **ALSO, we will be doing a costume contest this night at 8pm! There will be a prize!** \-\-\- Finally, Short Read Socials have a 'pay what you can' policy. They'll always be free to attend--but if you've been having a good time with us and want to pass along a couple of bucks to help cover Meetup platform costs for future events, there is a contribution bucket on the table that night and a [Paypal](https://paypal.me/bookclubforhumans?country.x=CA&locale.x=en_US) link :)

Let's discuss "The God of the Woods" by Liz Moore

In a remote part of the Adirondack Mountains, the wealthy Van Laar family gains control of an extensive parcel of forested land. The Van Laars use their influence to put in place strict rules forbidding development, with the exception of a palatial vacation home for the family and a summer camp for children. When a paper mill is closed down, the local job market collapses. People in a nearby town have few choices beyond working for the rich family, creating tension between the classes. A child disappears from the property, but someone is wrongly accused for the disappearance. Years later, another child disappears. State police launch an investigation. Aided by the efforts of an inexperienced female investigator, long-standing secrets are revealed. We will start our discussion at 7:30. Food and drink are available for purchase.

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.

MUG Toronto NOV 2026 - Voyage AI with MongoDB

# **REGISTER OVER IN LUMA: [https://luma.com/sn68vy7c ](https://luma.com/sn68vy7c)** # **Follow our new Calendar in Luma: [https://luma.com/mug-toronto](https://luma.com/mug-toronto)** \*\*\*\*\* # **Join us for a MongoDB User Group in Toronto 🚀** ​Come connect with fellow developers, tech enthusiasts, and the curious-minded for an evening exploring the best practices and real-world use cases powering modern apps with MongoDB. Whether you're building your first project or scaling to millions of users, you'll walk away with practical insights, fresh ideas, and a great group of people to swap notes with. ​Grab a drink, meet the local MongoDB community, and see what's possible when you build with the right database. See you there! # ​**Agenda** ​**17.30:** Arrival & Networking **18.00:** Welcome **18.10: Voyage AI with MongoDB Skill Badge** **19.00:** Pizza & Networking **19.30:** Event Close # ​Session Details ## ​**Voyage AI with MongoDB Skill Badge** ​In this session, you’ll learn what vector embeddings are, how they’re created, and why they’re essential for powering modern AI applications and semantic search. ​At the end of the workshop, you will also be able to check your learning and earn a [skill badge](https://mdb.link/skills?utm_source=luma) to share with your network! Speaker: Leonardo Gomes, Developer, Pelmorex Leo is a Full Stack Developer and passionate about Node.js, Cloud, and MongoDB.

November Trek Alert | Desert Canyons & Epic Views

November Trek Alert | Desert Canyons & Epic Views Think: Red rock canyons Cool November weather Wide open trails Zero crowds, zero chaos We’ll be hiking Zion, Bryce Canyon, and the Grand Canyon at a comfortable, steady pace — with time to breathe, pause, and actually enjoy where we are. If you’ve been craving: ✔️ A reset ✔️ Nature over noise ✔️ Movement with meaning Motel 6 1322 Fremont Street, Las Vegas, 89101, United States