Existential Reading Group (Grenoside)

An informal, friendly, online group (of no more than 8 participants).

Please join the waitlist if the event has sold out.

November's book choice: "Open Throat" by Henry Hoke

Henry Hoke’s Open Throat is a strange, tender and thought-provoking novel told from the perspective of a mountain lion living in the Hollywood Hills. Through the lion’s eyes, the book explores existential questions about survival, mortality, freedom, loneliness and what it means to belong. The lion’s fluid, gender-queer identity adds another dimension to its perspective, challenging the human categories we often use to define ourselves and others. Moving between the animal’s instinctive experience of the natural world and the strange, often threatening landscape created by humans, Open Throat asks us to consider how we live alongside other beings—and what it means to search for connection and meaning in an uncertain world.

(This group is also available online on the same day 4.30-6.30pm)

This ongoing bi-monthly Existential Reading Group is for anyone with an interest in exploring existential themes (e.g. love, freedom, responsibility, death, meaning, hope, joy, loneliness, etc.) through literature and discussion of literature, both fiction and non-fiction.

The aim of the workshop is to enable participants to enhance their well-being through developing self-awareness, self-understanding and self-connection through reading and discussion.

The group is part book club, part philosophy group, with (hopefully) some therapeutic benefit. No experience of attending anything like this before is necessary.

What you will need: Ideally, but not essentially, to have read the book (or some of it) up for discussion, and an open, curious mind.

Teas, coffees and light refreshments (including vegan options) will be provided.

Please note: these workshops are for adults aged 18 and over. Refunds are only available up to 7 days before the event.

About the Facilitator

The facilitator, Emma Garrard, is a Biblio/Poetry Therapist and philosophy graduate with over 20 years' experience facilitating groups (more information about Emma can be found here: Emma Garrard – facilitating deeper connections with self, other and the world