Archives: Events

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. During the current sanitary crisis, the group will meet outside the library until further notice. For more information or to sign-up, please contact the group coordinator here.

The October read for the book club is “The Speckled People” by Hugo Hamilton.

The childhood world of Hugo Hamilton, born and brought up in Dublin, is a confusing place. His father, a sometimes brutal Irish nationalist, demands his children speak Gaelic, while his mother a softly spoken German immigrant, marked by the Nazi past, speaks to them in German. He personally prefers to speak English. English is, after all, what the other children in Dublin speak. English is what they use when they hunt him down in the streets and dub him Eichmann, as they bring him to trial and sentence him to death at a mock seaside court.

Out of this fear and guilt and often comical cultural entanglements, he tries to understand the differences between Irish history and German history and turn the twisted logic of what he is told into truth. It is a journey that ends in liberation, but not before he uncovers the long-buried secrets that lie at the bottom of his parents wardrobe.

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!) over a cup of coffee or tea. Coffee House is free and open to all library members. Just drop by, no need to reserve!

The garden club invites you to discover the beautiful gardens in the area!

This visit is to the Manoir de Clairefontaine, in Baugé. An authentic medieval manor, transformed in the 15th century, surrounded by 5 hectares of landscaped park with animals and ponds. We will have a short visit of the manor and then hopefully we will be able to enjoy the Autumn leaf colours in the park.

Please note that this visit will be on the third Thursday of the month, not the first one!

This activity is open to library members and offers visits once a month to a garden between April and October. For more information and/or to sign up for this visit please send an email to Sylvie Leys  at elliagardenclub@gmail.com.

“Books and Tea” is a monthly meeting for bookworms and tea drinkers. Bring a book you’ve really enjoyed, talk about it and pass it on! The group will meet from 2 to 3:30 pm at the tea shop in town called “La Cour”. No need to sign up, just come and enjoy!

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.

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.

Time to get outside! Get on those hiking boots and take some time to revel in the great outdoors! The idea is to organize an easy walk once a month – approximately 10 km, 4 hours, in the afternoon – in order to discover or re-discover the beautiful hiking paths of the Maine-et-Loire. Come along with good walking shoes, protection against rain, cold or heat according to the season… a bottle of water and a little “en-cas” to keep you going! Maximum group is 20 so be sure to sign up!

Open to library members only. Sign up by sending your name, email address and phone number (preferably cell phone) to the group leader by clicking here. You will be sent full details for the upcoming walk.

The film club presents a film in English once a month on a Saturday afternoon. This showing will be of “Some Like It Hot”, a 1959 comedy by Billy Wilder. Set during prohibition time, two guys escape from a Chicago nightclub that is being raided. To be sure of their anonymity, they dress up as female musicians, meet Miss Monroe and romance starts. A good tempo, wit and fun.. Watch the trailer here.

Screening begins at 3 o’clock sharp and will be followed by a discussion in English. This activity is free and open to all library members. If possible, please reserve by signing up at the front desk.