#booksandliteraturemeeting — Public Fediverse posts

The Literary Contribution of 300 million books

🗓️ Start: Tue 27 Oct 2026 7:00 pm
⏳ End: Tue 27 Oct 2026 8:00 pm

Soon after the demise of Jeffrey Archer we discuss his contribution through:
31 novels
11 children’s books
7 short story collections
3 prison diaries and
3 plays

A massive output, rarely praised by critics but many titles said to be those no-one could put down till they’d finished

https://u3acommunities.org/event/the-literary-contribution-of-300-million-books/

Science Fiction of Iain M Banks, Tonight

🗓️ Start: Tue 22 Sep 2026 7:00 pm
⏳ End: Tue 22 Sep 2026 8:00 pm

Apologies this is a late reminder for this evening’s session but domestic u3a has had me in a spin.

But, hopefully, tonight we can discuss the contribution Banks made to Science Fiction. He could be stylish, inventive and downright funny. So how do his version of the genre stand up to time?

https://u3acommunities.org/event/science-fiction-of-iain-m-banks-tonight/

Let’s discuss if the novel is really dead

🗓️ Start: Tue 28 Jul 2026 7:00 pm
⏳ End: Tue 28 Jul 2026 8:00 pm

We constantly hear that the novel is dead. But stories keep being written and published. So is it really?
Bring your own thoughts and examples

https://u3acommunities.org/event/lets-discuss-if-the-novel-is-really-dead/

Hilaire Belloc was he a great writer or simply grumpy

🗓️ Start: Tue 26 May 2026 7:00 pm
⏳ End: Tue 26 May 2026 8:00 pm

Tonight, we go back in time to discuss the formidable output of some 500 works of literature across multiple genres, who at the same time managed to fall out with most of his contemporaries. So let’s discuss what he was trying to do.

https://u3acommunities.org/event/hilaire-belloc-was-he-a-great-writer-or-simply-grumpy/

Daniel Defoe… The ignored classical author

🗓️ Start: Tue 28 Apr 2026 7:00 pm
⏳ End: Tue 28 Apr 2026 8:00 pm

Sadly, the man who wrote tales like Robinson Crusoe and Moll Flanders is an ignored author in the current rush to reread the Classics. Why? Is he marred by some of his other more erotic and non-mainstream titles? Let’s discuss

https://u3acommunities.org/event/daniel-defoe-the-ignored-classical-author/

Discussion on the Poetry of Philip Larkin

🗓️ Start: Tue 24 Mar 2026 7:00 pm
⏳ End: Tue 24 Mar 2026 8:00 pm

Just over a century after Philip Larkin passed away we will chat about what his poetry means to us today. We will start with his “A study of reading habits” and move on from there

https://u3acommunities.org/event/discussion-on-the-poetry-of-philip-larkin/

Books and Literature Unusual Book Titles of 2025

🗓️ Start: Tue 24 Feb 2026 7:00 pm
⏳ End: Tue 24 Feb 2026 8:00 pm

It’s your chance to let your hair down by talking about unusual book titles!

Some of the past have included:

The Mushroom At The End Of The World

The Woman Who Gave Birth To Rabbits

and

There Once Lived A Girl Who Seduced Her Sister’s Husband. And He Hanged Himself. Love Stories.

So what’s yours?

https://u3acommunities.org/event/books-and-literature-unusual-book-titles-of-2025/

Books and Literature January Meeting

🗓️ Start: Tue 27 Jan 2026 7:00 pm
⏳ End: Tue 27 Jan 2026 8:00 pm

Discussion.

Winnie the Pooh was 100 on Christmas Eve.

Are his Hundred Acre Wood adventures simply a pleasure of the past?

Or do children still enjoy Pooh today?

As grans and grandads should we keeping the bear as family reading?

https://u3acommunities.org/event/books-and-literature-january-meeting/

Our favourite festive film from a book

🗓️ Start: Tue 23 Dec 2025 7:00 pm
⏳ End: Tue 23 Dec 2025 8:00 pm

Come along armed with your favourite Christmas viewing based on a book.

And the reasons why it is your top choice.

There are hundreds to choose from.

But if you select A Christmas Carol we will want to know which version!

https://u3acommunities.org/event/our-favourite-festive-film-from-a-book/

What did Just William mean to us?

🗓️ Start: Tue 25 Nov 2025 7:00 pm
⏳ End: Tue 25 Nov 2025 8:00 pm

We take a trip back in time to the Richmal Crompton’s stories of William Brown and his family.  Not so popular now, they were a read back in the days. But have they left any lasting memories? Discuss.

https://u3acommunities.org/event/what-did-just-william-mean-to-us/

Why is Jane Austen so popular today?

🗓️ Start: Tue 28 Oct 2025 7:00 pm
⏳ End: Tue 28 Oct 2025 8:00 pm

In the past few years Jane Austen adaptations have filled our TV screens. Why?

She lived more than 200 years ago so why the fascination?

https://u3acommunities.org/event/why-is-jane-austen-so-popular-today/

Books and Literature Meeting, September 23 at 7pm

🗓️ Start: Tue 23 Sep 2025 7:00 pm
⏳ End: Tue 23 Sep 2025 8:00 pm

First discussion involving poetry

It is 60 years since the death of Sylvia Plath.

Is she defined by her confessional verse or her eventual suicide?

https://u3acommunities.org/event/books-and-literature-meeting-september-23-at-7pm/

Books and Literature Meeting …… What’s happened to Biggles?

🗓️ Start: Tue 26 Aug 2025 7:00 pm
⏳ End: Tue 26 Aug 2025 8:00 pm

Sorry to revive memories but Biggles flew through most of our childhoods and has now vanished almost completely. He starred in 99 novels but try and find them in a public library or even a charity bookshop. They are not there.

So what has happened? Why has he diasappered like Spam, Viennetta and fondue meals?

Let’s discuss …………

https://u3acommunities.org/event/books-and-literature-meeting-whats-happened-to-biggles/

Books and Literature Meeting …… Relevance of Scoop today

🗓️ Start: 22 July 2025 7:00 pm
⏳ End: 22 July 2025 8:00 pm

Back in 1938 Evelyn Waugh wrote the satire of sensational journalism and foreign correspondents called Scoop.

It  was named among the Best 100 Novels of the Twentieth Century.

But how relevant is his work to journalism today?

https://u3acommunities.org/event/books-and-literature-meeting-relevance-of-scoop-today/

Discussion on the biggest sales in literature

🗓️ Start: 27 May 2025 7:00 pm
⏳ End: 27 May 2025 8:00 pm

Using the historical aspect of this section of literature, we enter the world of cookery.

Elizabeth David tried to rejuvenate diets after the Second World War with cook books.

But her efforts are as much travel guides as culinary.

But it set the pathway for dozens of others to follow.

So why are chefs so popular?

Join us to discuss the topic.

https://u3acommunities.org/event/discussion-on-the-biggest-sales-in-literature/

Centenary of Ulysses April 22 meeting

🗓️ Start: 22 April 2025 7:00 pm
⏳ End: 22 April 2025 8:00 pm

The 100th anniverary of the publication of Ulysses by James Joyce is being celebrated around the world.

But it was not well received by all on publication.

So what are today’s thoughts?

And is it ‘the novel to end all novels’ as critic Henry Levin said.

Whatever, your input your comments will be very welcome.

If you would like to take part join the Books and Literature group for meeting arrangement details.

https://u3acommunities.org/event/centenary-of-ulysses-april-22-meeting/

u3a Communities Books and Literature March 25 meeting

🗓️ Start: 25 March 2025 7:00 pm
⏳ End: 25 March 2025 8:00 pm

Here is a reminder of the topic and the Zoom link for tonight’s discussion on Time Travel in Literature.

Input can be as wide as you like to make it …. with plenty of scope on offer.

We could stick to novels based on travel itself … or maybe your mind focuses on sagas …. or journeys.

Whatever, your input your comments will be very welcome.

The session starts on Zoom at 7pm. The link is:

Click and join Zoom meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87306957164?pwd=2Skeq3ebPFmS9c2ZWIUGAaUQIpaG7x.1

Meeting ID: 873 0695 7164

Passcode: 777444

Via Zoom App

Meeting ID: 873 0695 7164

Passcode: 777444

I look forward to welcoming you.

Ray

https://u3acommunities.org/event/u3a-communities-books-and-literature-march-25-meeting/