Monthly book club sessions in Kuantan
Kalamrasa meets at The Bloom Society by Hajar on the first Saturday of each month, from 11am to 12.30pm. Each session has 10 seats.
Session 1: bring your favourite book
No reading beforehand. Bring a book you love, in any language, and be ready to say in two minutes why it stayed with you.
- Arrive. Browse the lending shelf and pick up your Kalamrasa passport.
- Welcome and warm-up. A quick question that everyone answers, to break the ice.
- Show and tell. Two minutes each on the book you brought.
- Think, pair, share. Write a few lines on one question, talk it over with the person next to you, then bring it to the table.
- Vote and one step. We choose our first book together, and each person names one thing they'll try before next month.
Coming up
| Session | Date | Book |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saturday 7 November 2026 | Bring your favourite book |
| 2 | Saturday 5 December 2026 (to be confirmed) | Chosen by vote at Session 1 |
| 3 | Saturday 2 January 2027 | Chosen by vote at Session 2 |
We keep to short books, under 250 pages where we can, and rotate between fiction, non-fiction and Malay titles.
A regular session, from Session 2
- Sampai (arrive). Order a drink from The Bloom Society by Hajar to support the café that hosts us. Return or borrow a book, and collect your passport sticker.
- Tulis (write). A few quiet minutes with a question and your notebook before anyone speaks. See example prompts
- Bicara (talk). Pair up, then the whole table. Questions climb from what the book says to what it means for your own life. Mental health and self-development
- Langkah (step). Vote on the next book, and name one thing you'll try before next month.
Your Kalamrasa passport
Everyone gets a passport at their first session. Each session you come to earns a sticker. Fill five spaces and you get a Kalamrasa journal set.
What to bring
- The book, in any format. Library copies, ebooks and borrowed copies from our shelf are all fine.
- A notebook and a pen for the writing minutes.
- A book you'd like to lend, if you have one.
Where we meet
- Address
- The Bloom Society by Hajar
Lot 4A, Jalan Besar
25000 Kuantan, Pahang - Getting there
- Next to UOB Bank, on the same row as Ms Elliot at Hock Bee.
- Access
- On the ground floor. The entrance is from the back alley.
The Bloom Society by Hajar hosts Kalamrasa free of charge, and we're grateful for it. The club is run separately from the café, so please RSVP with us. For the café's own talks and events, follow @thebloomsocietybyhajar.
RSVP for Session 1
There are 10 seats. Fill in this form and we'll confirm your seat by email. The Bloom Society by Hajar kindly hosts us, but Kalamrasa keeps its own list, so please RSVP here rather than with the café.
What happens next
- We confirm your seat by email. For later sessions, we also send the book and the chapters to read.
- Get the book: buy it, borrow it from our lending shelf, or find it at a library. For Session 1, just bring a book you love.
- Come along. If you can't make it, tell us so someone else can have your seat.
Questions before you RSVP? Send us a message or find us on Instagram at @kalamrasa.kuantan.
Questions about sessions
- I haven't read a book since school. Is this for me?
- Yes. We choose short books, under 250 pages where we can, and you're welcome even if you didn't finish.
- How much does it cost?
- Sessions are free. The Bloom Society by Hajar hosts us at no charge, so we ask everyone to support the café by buying their own drink. Kalamrasa isn't run for profit.
- Who can join?
- All readers and book lovers, whatever your stage of life. Students, working adults, parents and retirees are all welcome.
- What language is the discussion in?
- Bahasa Melayu, English, or both in one sentence. Whatever comes easiest.
- How are books chosen?
- Members vote at the end of each session. We keep to short books and rotate between fiction, non-fiction and Malay titles.
- Will there be photos?
- We only photograph people who say yes, and we ask again before posting anything.
- Is this counselling or therapy?
- No. Kalamrasa is a book club. We talk about books and the themes in them, and for help with your own situation we'll point you to qualified professionals.