Reading with intent, whatever you’re reading

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Since the start of the pandemic, our silent book club group has met – mostly virtually, but in person when we could, safely and in glorious settings – twice a month. We’ve sustained that tempo for over two years now, and I think it’s safe to say that tempo has sustained many of us. Certainly, it has sustained us through the ups and downs of our reading, our focus and ability to read at all at times. Most of us are coming to the end of the summer reading happily and with intent, whatever we’re reading.

How wonderful that the same silent book club member who praised the virtues and delights of reading with intent also declared in the next breath, “All hail the beach read!” All assembled agreed with their own variations of “huzzah!” … as all kinds of reads have a home in a silent book club, as those who attend them and follow these reports well know.

Anne Louise's books, placed in a reading chair with trees in the background

Catherine, reading Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson, in Italy

Vicki's books on a table on the porch of her cottage bunkie

Our latest combined book list – which combines lists from many of our members, as well as titles discussed in two meetings in the month of August, so it is truly vast! – gathers the recent reading of many of our members, whether they attended the meeting in question or not. When I send out meeting notifications to the group, I get prompt and generous replies back. Whether or not someone is joining the meeting, they regularly send their recent reading to share with the rest of the group and everyone who reads our blog posts.

And there is more combining going on, as 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). Any title on any of our group’s lists means that at least one (often more) readers have given that title some consideration. That is enough, to my mind, to say that another reader reading our reports and lists might consider it, too. Is that an out-and-out recommendation? Not necessarily, but it means a title has been given attention and thought, which always counts for a lot.

Along with this voluminous book list, we have lots more book-related articles, resources, news, recommendations and more. These items and tidbits are often companions to books on the list, or are inspired or offered by our members and/or come up during our discussions and chat. Here are the latest:

Our previous reports and book lists are always available for you to enjoy and get some reading inspiration right 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 hiatus or modified schedules, many are running virtual meetings in different formats, and some are carefully running in-person gatherings again. Please feel free to contact me for more information about our club and its offerings.

Give your reading the attention it deserves, and it will repay you richly.

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