Our three Reading Groups (two in English – one in-person and one online – and one in-person group in Russian) create a space for sharing and exploring our connections with text, literature and culture

The Reading Groups are run each month by facilitator Sasha Padziarei, with Lianna Akopova co-facilitating the Russian-language group, to discuss a book available in the UK in the language of the group. We bring our unique perspectives to the meetings and question what we know and what we can learn about ourselves and about each other. The meetings take two hours with a break in the middle.

At our meetings we tend to explore narratives from the voices less heard, historical events witnessed from minorised perspectives, authors whose paths lead through oppression, censorship and resistance such as emigre writers, women, displaced peoples, and those whose native lands were claimed by the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union and post-Soviet Russia.

The Reading Groups explore a shared selection of books in Russian and English, creating opportunities for conversations across languages and perspectives. Where possible, all three groups read the same title, allowing participants to engage with a text through different linguistic and cultural contexts. The programme brings together contemporary voices, Soviet and post-Soviet texts, critical re-readings of classics, and a range of genres spanning fiction and non-fiction.

Everyone can suggest titles by submitting a short form, providing a title, the name of its author, and why it is interesting to discuss this book. Readers get a 20% discount in our bookshop on titles that we are currently reading.
The in-person English-language group takes place on the first Friday of the month from 4–6pm at Pushkin House; the online group meets on the third Friday of the month from 4–6pm UK time on Zoom; the Russian-language group takes place in person on the last Friday of the month from 4–6pm at Pushkin House. To sign up, check the events page on our website. You can email any questions or feedback to the facilitators at reading.group@pushkinghouse.org.uk, which we check at least once a week.