AUGUST: Baltasar & Blimunda | Lisbon Book Club

**Event Details:** **🗓️ Date: August 22, 2026** **🕓 Time: 17h (Duration is 90-120min)** **📍 Location: Saldanha Residences--Food Court, Downstairs: Av. Fontes Pereira de Melo 42E · Lisboa** 📚 **Baltasar & Blimunda by Jose Saramago** BOOK SUMMARY from The StoryGraph (https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/668ffd2e-35fd-4923-954f-6308ecfb2692) **From the recipient of the 1998 Nobel Prize in Literature, a "brilliant...enchanting novel" (*New York Times Book Review*) of romance, deceit, religion, and magic set in eighteenth-century Portugal at the height of the Inquisition.** Portugal, 1711: an amorous friar is pursued naked through the rubble-strewn streets of Lisbon; an enthusiastic procession of flagellants roars with pleasure over the damnation of adultery; a royal prince uses hapless sailors for target practice; and women dressed in colorful finery watch as lapsed converts and sorcerers are put to death by flames. In the midst of the terrors of the Inquisition and the plague, a seemingly mismatched couple discover the wonders of love. This poetic tale, graced with exquisite historical details and full of magic and adventure, is a tapestry of human folly and human will. 📚 **Book Club Prep:** Whether you’re an **ear reader** (audiobooks 🎧), an **eye reader** (e-reader, phone, or digital copy 📱), or you love the feel of a physical book 📖—you’re welcome here! *\*We encourage you to support **local bookstores** and **libraries** when possible. And don’t forget: someone in the group often has a physical copy they’re happy to lend once they’ve finished—so check in the WhatsApp group if you’re in need!* Agenda: 🕰️ **Arrive a few minutes early** to grab a coffee or snack from one of the many cafes and restaurants nearby (if budget and dietary restrictions allow--please note, as of Jan. 2026 this is now a requirement of the establishment). 👥 Gather as a large group for introductions, then **break into smaller discussion groups** for more personal conversations about the book. 📖 **Book Discussion:** Share your emotions, thoughts, and reflections on the story. SPOILERS WILL OCCUR. We politely ask only those who have finished the book (or are "oh so close to the end") join the meetup to ensure a deep and full discussion. 🔄 **Regroup** to exchange key takeaways and insights from each group. 🍝 **Optional dinner afterward** at the Italian place upstairs—friends, partners, and loved ones are welcome to join! (RSVP IN WHATSAPP GROUP BY THURSDAY PRIOR) To protect our discussion space and ensure everyone feels comfortable, we have the following "group rules": 📍 RSVP Caps: Meetup RSVPs are capped at 30 members so we can actually find seating and hear one another. 🍷 Mindful Consumption: While we enjoy the social aspect of our club, please keep any alcohol consumption mindful during the discussion. Our priority is a safe, respectful, and focused environment. 📝 Structured Discussions: We follow a gently guided prompt style format. Each book's "recommender", will bring a list of open-ended questions for the large and small groups. This ensures a collaborative discussion where everyone contributes and gives us a "north star" to return to. 🤝 Group Etiquette: Book club is a "give and take" space. We expect everyone to be both a giver and receiver of ideas…meaning no interrupting, talking over others, or multiple discussions at once. Looking forward to a heartfelt, reflective, and enriching evening! **🫶🏼 Maggie** **IG: [@maggiegetsreal](unapologeticallychildfree.com/instagram)**