Silent book club was a particularly peaceful oasis after a particularly demanding week (work, politics, you name it … but let’s not …) The conversation was splendid, lively, enthusiastic and edifying – I love what all the silent book club members quite literally bring to the table – followed by an hour of blissful, focused reading.
Once again this month, there are some repeats on our book list, because the group is actively sharing and passing along books among the members. I would dare say there is a fine trust developing among these fellow readers that is encouraging us all to read outside our comfort zones. It’s heartening and inspiring.
Here is this month’s list of books read and discussed.
- Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson
- Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
- A God in the Ruins by Kate Atkinson
- Exit Lines by Joan Barfoot
- This Wound is a World by Billy-Ray Belcourt
- The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
- An Audience of Chairs by Joan Clark
- Dancing With Strangers by Inga Clendinnen
- Transit by Rachel Cusk
- Kudos by Rachel Cusk
- My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
- Trumpocracy: The Corruption of the American Republic by David Frum
- 2018 Griffin Poetry Prize shortlist
- The Built Environment by Emily Hasler
- The Vows of Silence by Susan Hill
- A Death in the Family by Karl Ove Knausgaard
- The Poetic Edda by Carolyne Larrington
- Voodoo Hypothesis by Canisia Lubrin
- Heart Berries: A Memoir by Terese Marie Mailhot
- Dead Cold by Louise Penny
- Small Treasons by Mark Powell
- Bellevue Square by Michael Redhill
- Traplines by Eden Robinson
- Son of a Trickster by Eden Robinson
- Rough Crossings>/a> by Simon Schama
- The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck
- Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
- The English Wife by Lauren Willig
- Winter’s Bone by Daniel Woodrell
Moments after the hour of silent reading commenced, one of our readers begged a second to read the first sentence of a new book that had charmed and immediately drew her in. (It was from Dead Cold by Louise Penny. I won’t spoil it for you – seek it out!) I wonder if it might be a fun added feature to our gatherings to have each member read the first sentence of what they will be reading during the hour, to kick things off …
Enjoy our previous silent book club meeting reports and book lists here.
If you’re interested in starting your own silent book club or are in the Toronto area and maybe interested in checking ours out, please feel free to contact me for more information.