I liked it so much, I started one of my own

Toronto silent book club member (times two!) Beth Gordon offers this wonderful introduction to our latest silent book club meeting report. Lifelong reader, long-time book club aficionado, it is no surprise that she indefatigably attends and organizes multiple sbc meetings, for which we are all very grateful!

Silent book club member Beth Gordon with some of her reading, 99% Invisible City

I’ve always been a big reader and dedicated member of book clubs. With other demands on my time, I gradually became less enamoured of reading “what everybody else wanted to read”, so when Vicki invited me to a Silent Book Club meeting, I was intrigued enough to make the 45-minute trip to her neighbourhood on a Saturday morning. What I found at Press Books was a friendly and welcoming group of random people, some previously known to Vicki and Jo, and some who had discovered it in other ways.

At about the same time, another book club which I had joined about 20 years ago was ending, largely for logistical reasons. Inspired by my experiences at the East End SBC, I suggested to some of the members that we start a Silent Book Club in Midtown Toronto. Because it was being held in a private space, my condo dining room, I didn’t really publicize it, but there’s been good cross-pollination with the East End group and we have a healthy membership. I have noticed that it doesn’t matter how many people show up – we always manage to talk for at least an hour.

One of the benefits of having to switch to online meetings, of course, has been that geography has not been as much of a factor. A friend from Vancouver now joins us when she can, and one of the chief players in the previous book group can now join us as well, since she doesn’t have to travel. What hasn’t changed is the sense of community present in each meeting, and since there are fewer opportunities to meet in person, I think we’re all a bit more flexible about social chat as opposed to “sticking to business”.

There are many articles online about Silent Book Club which describe it as “a book club for introverts” because of the communal silent reading aspect. You’d have to ask an introvert if that rings true for them, but I respectfully disagree with that limiting description. The discussions at the beginning of each meeting are lively and opinionated, and have introduced me to a variety of books that I would likely never have found if left to my own devices. And speaking of devices, there is very much a live and let live atmosphere as to how we all consume our reading material. I am an ebook devotee, because I don’t like to leave home without a book and it’s much more convenient to have one on my phone. Others are fiercely loyal to their paper books, and several are audiobook devotees. Although I prefer to read with my eyes, I’ve swung towards audiobooks as walking companions during COVID lockdowns. I probably wouldn’t have gotten there as fast without the recommendations of my fellow SBC members. The debate rages about whether one is obligated to actually finish a book once started, but opinions may be changing as we all cope with “lockdown brain”.

So I’m grateful to Vicki for telling me about Silent Book Clubs and inviting me to join her SBC community. It has definitely enriched my life over the past couple of years, and has been a big part of my social life lately. Now that the weather is warming up, I’m hoping that safe meetings in the park will soon be an option again.

Sven and Jenn's bookshelves

Sven and Jenn's cat and books

Sue R's books

Sue R in the garden with a book

Jess' books

Vicki's books, next to her computer

Vicki with books and Jake the beagle-basset in the backyard

Once again, our latest combined reading list brims over with variety, diversity and range. The titles featured in each of our reports combine print and digital versions of books, along with audiobooks (which are indicated separately, with narrator/performer information where possible).

More book-related articles, resources, recommendations and more were offered by our members and/or came up during this meeting’s discussions and chat, including:

Boost your reading with fodder from our previous silent book club meeting reports (online and in-person incarnations) and book lists – you’ll find them here.

You can also check out links to articles, interviews and more here – some with San Francisco-based Silent Book Club founders Guinevere de La Mare and Laura Gluhanich, and some with us here in east end Toronto.

Learn more about silent book clubs via Guinevere and Laura’s Silent Book Club web site. You can find information on meetings happening around the world and close to where you live. Some clubs are currently on haitus, but many are running virtual meetings in different formats. Please feel free to contact me for more information about our club and its offerings.

Stay safe, stay well, keep your spirits up … and keep reading!

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