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The Saturday Reading Group is for anyone who loves to read, socialize in English, and meet new people. For this meeting, the group will read Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk.

Janina Duszejko is an ageing woman who lives in a rural Polish village, located near the Czech border in the Silesia region, in between Lewin and Kłodzko. Janina spends most of her time studying astrology and translating the poetry of William Blake into Polish with her friend Dizzy. She had two dogs as pets but they both went missing. One day, her neighbour Big Foot, a frequent hunter, is found dead in his home by Janina’s friend Oddball. From Janina and Oddball’s inspection of the scene, it seems Big Foot choked on a bone while eating. Janina also finds a shocking photograph in Big Foot’s house, the contents of which are revealed in the penultimate chapter. Janina disliked Big Foot because she disagrees with hunting animals. She begins to believe that animals could have killed Big Foot out of vengeance. She writes to the local police, who ignore her theory. The police commandant–called the Commandant by Janina–is also a hunter and is later found dead beside his car by Dizzy. The Commandant’s death emboldens Janina’s beliefs, but her friends Dizzy and Oddball are sceptical of her. Janina is questioned by police as a witness to the crime scene. One officer accuses Janina of seemingly valuing the life of animals more than that of humans. Janina tells them that she values both equally.

Meetings are once a month on Saturday afternoons starting at 3 pm. Open to all library members. To sign up please contact the group coordinator at bookgroup@ellia.org.

The April read for the book club is “The Promise” by Damon Galgut.

The Promise charts the crash and burn of a white South African family living on a farm outside Pretoria. The Swarts are gathered for Ma’s funeral. The younger generation, Anton and Amor, detest everything the family stands for – not least the failed promise to the Black woman who has worked for them for her whole life. After years of service, Salome was promised her own house, her own land… yet somehow, as each decade passes, the promise remains unfulfilled.  

To join the book club please send an email to the group coordinator here.

Come along and bring your knitting,

Have a natter while you’re sitting,

Or learn to knit with wool provided,

Needles loaned and stitches guided.

Knitted garments are très chic,

So be in vogue and start this week.

Knit and Natter is a free activity, open to all library members. No need to reserve, just come and enjoy! If anyone has some extra yarn please bring it in.

Join the library community for a special moment to talk about anything and everything (in English of course!). Just come in and chat with others, have a cuppa and enjoy the company! Coffee House is free and open to all library members. No need to reserve! Donations welcome as always!

It’s that time of year again! Time for the library’s Annual Meeting which starts at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, April 12th. All members are cordially invited.

Agenda:

• Approval of the Annual General meeting minutes of March 31st, 2022,
• Presentation and approval of the Annual Report for 2022 and the Orientation Report for 2023,
• Approval of the 2022 accounts,
• Approval of the 2023 & 2024 provisional budgets,
• Election – one seat is open for the library board to represent the Université d’Angers.
• Questions

Please remember that only members with a current membership may vote during this meeting. If you would like to check your membership validity or if you are unable to attend and would like give us your  proxy  please contact the front desk.

Do you love French food and restaurants? Would you like to speak English more, but in a relaxed environment? Join the Luncheon Club! Enjoy a meal and great conversation in English once a month at a local restaurant. This activity is open to library members. Spaces are limited. For more information or to sign up, please contact the group coordinator here.

Treat yourself to an afternoon of a collective reading of one of Shakespeare’s plays. This activity consists of watching a BBC production on DVD and then reading relative scenes. This is a great activity for lovers of language and fans of the great wit. Free and open to all library members. For more information or to sign-up, please contact the group coordinator here. The number of participants is limited.

Come along and bring your knitting,

Have a natter while you’re sitting,

Or learn to knit with wool provided,

Needles loaned and stitches guided.

Knitted garments are très chic,

So be in vogue and start this week.

Knit and Natter is a free activity, open to all library members. No need to reserve, just come and enjoy! If anyone has some extra yarn please bring it in.

Join the library community for a special moment to talk about anything and everything (in English of course!). Just come in and chat with others, have a cuppa and enjoy the company! Coffee House is free and open to all library members. No need to reserve! Donations welcome as always!