Saturday Reading Group
 |
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 Paradise by Abdulrazak Gurnah Paradise is at once the story of an African boy’s coming of age, a tragic love story, and a tale of the corruption of traditional African patterns by European colonialism. It presents a major African voice to American readers – a voice that prompted Peter Tinniswood to write in the London Times, reviewing Gurnah’s previous novel, “Mr. Gurnah is a very fine writer. I am certain he will become a great one.” Paradise is Abdulrazak Gurnah’s great novel. At twelve, Yusuf, the protagonist of this twentieth-century odyssey, is sold by his father in repayment of a debt. From the simple life of rural Africa, Yusuf is thrown into the complexities of precolonial urban East Africa – a fascinating world in which Muslim black Africans, Christian missionaries, and Indians from the subcontinent coexist in a fragile, subtle social hierarchy. Through the eyes of Yusuf, Gurnah depicts communities at war, trading safaris gone awry, and the universal trials of adolescence. Then, just as Yusuf begins to comprehend the choices required of him, he and everyone around him must adjust to the new reality of European colonialism. The result is a page-turning saga that covers the same territory as the novels of Isak Dinesen and William Boyd, but does so from a perspective never before available on that seldom-chronicled part of the world. 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.
|
Book Club reads “Stoner”
 |
The May read for the book club is “Stoner” by John Williams. William Stoner enters the University of Missouri at nineteen to study agriculture. A seminar on English Literature changes his life and he never returns to work on his father’s farm. Stoner becomes a teacher. He marries the wrong woman. His life is quiet and after his death his colleagues remember him rarely. To join the book club please send an email to the group coordinator here.
|
Knit and Natter
 |
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. |
Coffee House
 |
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! |
Theater in English… Word for Word!
 |
“Word For Word”, an American theater company from San Francisco, is back in town for 3 performances of the short story “Home” by George Saunders. “Home” is the story of Mikey, a war veteran returning to a home that is increasingly cruel and absurd-and his quest for understanding and compassion. George Saunders’ subtle, yet absurdist, humor brings a unique slant to otherwise dark topics. Click here for more information about “Home”. If you would like to read the short story before seeing the performance, click here for HOME by George Saunders.
WORD FOR WORD Performing Arts Company performs short works of fiction in their entirety, preserving the author’s voice and honoring her/his intent with exciting visuals and inventive staging. Word for Word Performing Arts Company is an ensemble whose mission is to tell great stories with elegant theatricality, staging performances of classic and contemporary fiction. Founded in 1993 by Susan Harloe and JoAnne Winter, Word for Word believes in the power of the short story to provide solace, compassion, and insight into our daily lives. We bring stories from diverse cultures to our diverse communities, and develop future audiences’ love for the printed and spoken word. |
Theater in English… Word for Word!
|
|
“Word For Word”, an American theater company from San Francisco, is back in town for 3 performances of the short story “Home” by George Saunders. “Home” is the story of Mikey, a war veteran returning to a home that is increasingly cruel and absurd-and his quest for understanding and compassion. George Saunders’ subtle, yet absurdist, humor brings a unique slant to otherwise dark topics. Click here for more information about “Home”. If you would like to read the short story before seeing the performance, click here for HOME by George Saunders.
WORD FOR WORD Performing Arts Company performs short works of fiction in their entirety, preserving the author’s voice and honoring her/his intent with exciting visuals and inventive staging. Word for Word Performing Arts Company is an ensemble whose mission is to tell great stories with elegant theatricality, staging performances of classic and contemporary fiction. Founded in 1993 by Susan Harloe and JoAnne Winter, Word for Word believes in the power of the short story to provide solace, compassion, and insight into our daily lives. We bring stories from diverse cultures to our diverse communities, and develop future audiences’ love for the printed and spoken word. |
Theater in English… Word for Word!
|
|
“Word For Word”, an American theater company from San Francisco, is back in town for 3 performances of the short story “Home” by George Saunders. “Home” is the story of Mikey, a war veteran returning to a home that is increasingly cruel and absurd-and his quest for understanding and compassion. George Saunders’ subtle, yet absurdist, humor brings a unique slant to otherwise dark topics. Click here for more information about “Home”. If you would like to read the short story before seeing the performance, click here for HOME by George Saunders.
WORD FOR WORD Performing Arts Company performs short works of fiction in their entirety, preserving the author’s voice and honoring her/his intent with exciting visuals and inventive staging. Word for Word Performing Arts Company is an ensemble whose mission is to tell great stories with elegant theatricality, staging performances of classic and contemporary fiction. Founded in 1993 by Susan Harloe and JoAnne Winter, Word for Word believes in the power of the short story to provide solace, compassion, and insight into our daily lives. We bring stories from diverse cultures to our diverse communities, and develop future audiences’ love for the printed and spoken word. |
Pizza and board games
 |
Join us for our ever-popular game night and pizza party! Cost is 7 euros (covers pizza and non-alcoholic drinks, 5 euros for native English speakers and children under 13). Event starts at 6 pm sharp. Last entry at 6:15 pm. First come, first serve with 40 participants max. Children under 13 need to be accompanied by an adult. |
Luncheon Club
 |
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. |
Plant sale: fundraiser for the library
 |
The library’s Garden Club will be selling seedlings from Saturday, May 6th through Saturday, May 13th…lots of vegetable seedlings but not only…! Buying plants from the library will make the planet greener, will help give you a lovely choice of interesting homegrown seedlings and, the cherry on the cake or the plum on the tree…this fundraiser helps to support the library! |