The book club at Karpovka is gathering to discuss Gogol - without school obligations and with fresh impressions. They will talk about the mysteries of the writer's biography, the fate of the second volume of "Dead Souls," and the strange story of "Hanz Küchelgarten," as well as choose favorite texts and analyze why they resonate today. There will be emotions, debate, and unexpected details. The book club at the library on Karpovka started as a group of Yandex Practicum graduates, and now people from various fields meet there. They are united by a simple habit: to read fiction carefully and to talk about it honestly, without "correct" answers. At the January meeting, the focus will be on Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol. Participants will choose one or two favorite texts and bring them into the conversation - with thoughts, emotions, and those moments that touched them personally. The discussion is built around personal reading: what makes them laugh, what scares them, where they want to argue, and where to be silent and reread. The program also includes specific topics that will set the rhythm for the conversation. They will discuss why the second volume of "Dead Souls" never reached readers, and how the story of its burning affects the perception of the entire poem. They will recall "Hanz Küchelgarten" - an early book published under a pseudonym, and discuss how failure can impact the author and his future path. They will also touch on details from the writer's childhood - for example, his love for handicrafts, which unexpectedly reveals character behind the strict portrait. This meeting will suit those who want to refresh their school impressions and see Gogol not as a "monument," but as a living person and observer. Those who love short prose and satire, are interested in biographical mysteries, or simply looking for a reason to reread the familiar. Here, one can ask questions, argue, and listen to others - sometimes someone else's interpretation helps to understand one's own better. The end of the conversation is usually the most pleasant: from scattered impressions, a collective portrait of the author emerges - not academic, but human. And a desire arises to return to the texts once more, already with new thoughts.