Cricklereaders December 2025 – Julia by Sandra Newman

The last book of the year is Julia by Sandra Newman. 1984 from Julia’s viewpoint. London, chief city of Airstrip One, the third most populous province of Oceania. It’s 1984 and Julia Worthing works as a mechanic fixing the novel-writing machines in the Fiction Department at the Ministry of Truth. Under the ideology of IngSoc and the rule of the Party and its leader Big Brother, Julia is a model citizen – cheerfully cynical, believing in nothing and caring not at all about politics. She knows how to survive in a world of constant surveillance, Thought Police, Newspeak, Doublethink, child spies and the black markets of the prole neighbourhoods. She’s very good at staying alive.

But Julia becomes intrigued by a colleague from the Records Department – a mid-level worker of the Outer Party called Winston Smith, she comes to realise that she’s losing her grip and can no longer safely navigate her world.

Read along at home with us (places in the group are on hold for now but may open up again in the new year.

November’s Last Friday – Anjela Abelian & Andrea Rinciari

Anjela Abelian & Andrea Rinciari

Stripped-back jazz with a unique blend of jazz vocal and guitar drawing inspiration from the timeless collaboration of Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass. During this special evening Anjela Abelian, Camden’s very own jazz/contemporary singer and songwriter, collaborates with the virtuoso jazz guitarist Andrea Rinciari, they perform a carefully curated mix of jazz standards and originals. Anjela will be also introducing her recent single – “It’s So Much Fun”.

Anjela Abelian – Camden based jazz/contemporary singer and songwriter. Deeply rooted in jazz tradition, she loves the purity of the song form in every musical style and seamlessly fuses her musical journey with contemporary nuances. She mastered vocals with Speech Level Singing school, and under the guidance of such voice gurus as Anita Wardell and Dr. Voice.Anjela started refining her songwriting craft during the pandemic, when she found solace in an international online community of songwriters, and one of her songs, “Strawberries”, went to the semi-final of the International Songwriting Competition. The track “Strawberries” was later released and gained international acclaim with widespread radio plays across Europe and the US.

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5a6XSEFwJs Website: www.anjelaabelian.com Instagram @anjelaabelian

Andrea Rinciari, a dedicated full-time jazz guitarist, had the privilege of learning from the legendary Barry Harris, greatly influencing his playing. With two successful album releases, Andrea’s guitar style is uniquely shaped around the influences of piano players, making pianistic choices on the guitar. His inspiration comes from jazz icons such as Bud Powell, Tadd Dameron, Elmo Hope, Freddie Redd, and Barry Harris, as well as non-pianist greats like Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins, Sonny Stitt, Fats Navarro, and Clifford Brown, resulting in a distinctive approach to bebop-straight ahead jazz.

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fDRV7-Hf2c

New! – Tantra Hatha Yoga at the Library

Tantra Hatha Yoga is a sacred, embodied practice that cultivates energetic awareness and transformation (i.e., the chakra system) through asana (physical postures), pranayama (breathing techniques), and meditation practices.

In this practice, you will be invited to slow down and guided on an internalised meditative journey, strengthening your physical body, purifying and balancing your energetic body, and liberating your mind.

In Jade’s classes you can expect a heart-centred, trauma informed and re-empowerment approach, cultivated through many years of supporting women who are living with trauma to heal and re-claim their lives. Jade’s yoga teaching is a creative expression, interwoven with yogic philosophy, reflexive poetry, and embodied practices and wisdom.

Jade’s aim is to support you to be in yoga and experience your true nature, loving stillness.

Suitable for everyone, all experience levels welcome! Head over to our Events page to book.