The Power of Silent Book Clubs

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Jennifer Foster (Photo by Jessica Alex)With summer officially just around the corner, we get to enjoy yet another guest introduction to our monthly blog post! Kind fellow readers, meet Jennifer Foster, a member of the east Toronto chapter of the Silent Book Club. Jennifer is a long-time, Toronto-based freelance editor, writer and mentor, and her company is Planet Word. Outside of work, Jennifer loves yoga, tap dancing, forest bathing, gardening, photography, camping, travelling, pickleball, kayaking and, of course, reading (especially historical fiction, and kids’ and YA books)!

The Power of Silent Book Clubs
by Jennifer Foster

Several years back, I had a lively conversation with my close friend and neighbour Catherine, who’s also a member of the east Toronto chapter of the Silent Book Club (SBC), about — you guessed it — silent book clubs. I’d never heard of them and, in all honesty, I thought the concept was a wee bit, well, unusual: everyone brings their own book, discusses it briefly with the group, then settles in for one hour of undisturbed reading. But I was beyond intrigued. I’d been in traditional book clubs in the past, and they just hadn’t worked for me, for myriad reasons.

Fast-forward to one afternoon last summer, when Catherine and I ran into Vicki, the co-founder and leader extraordinaire of the east Toronto chapter of the SBC, on our way back from tending to our neighbourhood community garden plot. The conversation eventually turned to the next SBC meeting, and I decided to give it a whirl later that month. I was hooked long before that meeting ended and felt an immense sense of connection in the hush and a freedom that I’d never found with any other book club.

And I know why. SBCs are liberating havens. They offer respite from a noisy and frenetic world, a chance for the nervous system to reset and recharge. They are the perfect blend of guilt-free time to enjoy the pleasure of reading, while being surrounded by the steady companionship of other booklovers. And two of the best parts? Freedom from the often-tedious discussion of a book you could barely finish and refuge from loud talkers who like to dominate conversations.

I’ve been an avid reader my entire life, and some of my best friends have been, are and will always be books. As a freelance editor, I get paid to read all day — but it’s not always material I relish. With SBC, I know that I’m guaranteed an uninterrupted hour each month dedicated to the words and the ideas that I want to read. I’m thankful for our club’s inclusive, relaxed and diverse energy. And I adore the peaceful togetherness, the quiet camaraderie (yay, introverts!) and the opportunity to expand not only my social circle, but also my ever-growing to-be-read list. There are no deadlines and no expectations — ever.

Silent Book Clubs are a time for self-care, reflection and grounding. They are an ode to the power of books to unite and a testament to the love of the written word. And every month I look forward to being with fellow bookworms and delighting in the uncomplicated joy of reading in a shared space.

The May in-person meeting of the east Toronto chapter of the Silent Book Club was no exception. Eight of us shared our recent and current reads over apple strudel, coffee and tea at a local Hungarian restaurant, then settled in to our pages. I’m grateful for this clever and comforting, eclectic and enthusiastic group of like-minded readers who also revel in the sound of silence.

Some of silent book club member Helen's recent reading - two editions of the final volume of Trollope’s Palliser series. The one on the left is the modern reissue that restores the cuts that Trollope’s publisher required him to make. (Photo by Helen Gunnarsson)

Silent book club member Vicki (moi), in her Book City T-shirt, in front of Budapest Restaurant on the Danforth (Photo by Vicki Ziegler)

Towering pile of the collected books being read by east end Toronto silent book club members at the meeting at Budapest Restaurant (Photo by Vicki Ziegler)

Readers reading at Budapest Restaurant, accompanied by refreshments (Photo by Vicki Ziegler)

Readers reading at Budapest Restaurant, accompanied by refreshments (Photo by Vicki Ziegler)

(Photos by Jessica Alex, Helen Gunnarsson and Vicki Ziegler)

Multiple readers from our group have typically given considered attention to each title appearing on our monthly group list of varied and wide-ranging reading. That doesn’t mean that every work on our lists is expressly recommended. However, rest assured that inclusion on our lists always means that our readers have devoted time and thought to each book, which counts for a great deal – don’t you agree?


We often have extra book-related articles, resources, news and recommendations to share. 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.

  • The Book Club podcast with Dominic Sandbrook (know from the podcast The Rest Is History) and Tabitha Syrett explores classic and contemporary books every week. They offer insights into how the books were written, along ewith interesting information about the authors.
  • The short story “Torching the Dusties” from Margaret Atwood’s 2014 collection Stone Mattress was developed into a fascinating short film.

Our group’s previous reports and book lists are always available for you to enjoy and find some new reads … 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 the worldwide phenomenon of silent book clubs via Guinevere and Laura’s Silent Book Club web site. In fall 2023, they welcomed their 500th chapter … and with continuing, breathtaking momentum, they now boast almost 2,000 chapters … (There were around 60 chapters when we joined as the first Toronto chapter in 2017.) The SBC organization celebrated its 10th anniversary throughout last October … and our chapter celebrated its 8th anniversary in early November, 2025.

You can find information on meetings happening around the world and close to where you live. Every club is different in size, format (in-person, virtual or hybrid) and vibe, so contact a club’s organizers beforehand if you have any questions or preferences. Please feel free to contact me for more information about our club and its offerings.

Are you already excited to see how tall our reading pile will be next month? Us too!

Nothing rains on the silent book club parade of reading and readers

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Our silent book club gatherings are always sunny, online and in person. (This month’s in-person was definitely April showers-y, but all readers arrived toting umbrellas and suitably protected reading material and devices.*) The glow of book enthusiasms and insights warmly shared, and the delighted faces and cordial presence of fellow readers brightens every month. ‘Nuff said!

* … and this month’s in-person gathering was at a new-to-our-group location, Paper Route Cafe in east end Toronto. We gathered around a lovely table in the bright front window (yes, even bright on a rainy day!), with delicious snacks and beverages, for a most memorable meeting. Highly recommended … and we’ll be back!

Silent book club member Jen's recent reading Weyward by Emilia Hart (Photo by Jennifer D. Foster)

Silent book club member Sue's pile of recent reading, including The Lambs of London by Peter Ackroyd (Photo by Sue Reynolds)

Bright yellow front door and windows of the Paper Route Cafe (Photo by Vicki Ziegler)

Towering pile of the collected books being read by east end Toronto silent book club members at the meeting at Paper Route Cafe (Photo by Vicki Ziegler)

Readers reading at Paper Route Cafe, accompanied by refreshments (Photo by Vicki Ziegler)

(Photos by Jennifer D. Foster, Sue Reynolds and Vicki Ziegler)

Usually more than one reader has given considered attention to each title appearing on our monthly group list of varied and wide-ranging reading. That doesn’t mean that every work on our lists is expressly recommended. However, rest assured that inclusion on our lists always means that our readers have devoted time and thought to each book – and that counts for so much!


We often have extra book-related articles, resources, news and recommendations to share. 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.

Our group’s previous reports and book lists are always waiting for you … 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 the worldwide phenomenon of silent book clubs via Guinevere and Laura’s Silent Book Club web site. In fall 2023, they welcomed their 500th chapter … and with continuing, breathtaking momentum, they now boast almost 2,000 chapters … (There were around 60 chapters when we joined as the first Toronto chapter in 2017.) The SBC organization celebrated its 10th anniversary throughout last October … and our chapter celebrated its 8th anniversary in early November.

You can find information on meetings happening around the world and close to where you live. Every club is different in size, format (in-person, virtual or hybrid) and vibe, so contact a club’s organizers beforehand if you have any questions or preferences. Please feel free to contact me for more information about our club and its offerings.

Through rain, snow, sleet, hail, heatwaves, anything weather-y you can throw at us … we’ll be reading!

Opposing views, comfortably expressed

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In the over eight years our silent book club chapter has been gathering, virtually and in person, it has become a warm and reliable place not just for offering book recommendations, but for expressing book reservations. That is, readers feel comfortable both singing the praises of books and authors they’ve enjoyed, but also offering their criticisms of those they’ve found, well, wanting.

During this month’s zoom meeting, one reader confessed that she had tried three or four novels by an author that various other readers in the group had applauded and recommmended … and just could not warm to any of them (the novels, not the fellow readers). That she tried more than one selection before making this confession is commendable unto itself, don’t we all think? Before the meeting was over, another reader declared that she liked the author in question, for some of the very reasons the first reader was giving up on that author. So there you go, eh?

During this meeting, other readers observed that those diametrically opposed views can even happen with one author, from book to book. Various people jumped in with examples of “loved this book … then I couldn’t even finish his next one …

Notice, by the way, that we’re not mentioning the names of the authors and/or the titles of the books here? For each critic of that author or that title, there is another reader who admires that author’s work and waits for the next title coming … and they’re all collegial members of our book club.

Silent book club member Jen's recent reading includes Embers by Richard Wagamese and Peace Is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh (Photo by Jennifer D. Foster)

Silent book club member Emily was recently in Oklahoma City, where she visited Second Story Books, which is home to a sister silent book club chapter (Photo by Emily Petroff)

Silent book club member Vicki (oui, c'est moi), wearing a

Silent book club members Ruth (left) and Jenn (right) present the collected books being read by east end Toronto sbc members at the meeting at Firkin on Danforth (Photo by Vicki Ziegler)

Closeup of the collected books being read by east end Toronto sbc members at the meeting at Firkin on Danforth (Photo by Vicki Ziegler)

Readers reading at Firkin on Danforth, accompanied by refreshments (Photo by Vicki Ziegler)

Reader reading at East Toronto Coffee Co, accompanied by tea (Photo by Vicki Ziegler)

(Photos by Jennifer D. Foster, Emily Petroff and Vicki Ziegler)

At least one reader (and usually more) has given considered attention to each title on our monthly combined list of literary delights. That doesn’t mean, of course, that every work on our lists is expressly recommended. Inclusion on our lists always means that our readers have devoted time and thought to books – and that counts for so much!


We often have some extra book-related articles, resources, news and recommendations to share. 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.

  • KnifeForkBook, a Toronto-based independent poetry press and publisher we so admire/adore, is holding a pop-up shop and residency at Arts Etobicoke (4893A Dundas St W) from April 1–30th, 2026 to celebrate National Poetry Month. Learn more here!
  • Novelist Chimamanda Adichie tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice — and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding. Listen to her TED Talk entitled “The Danger of a Single Story”.
  • Bright, beautiful bookmarks are available at all Toronto Public Library branches. Take a look at the award-winning designs from the 0-6, 7-9 and 10-13 years of age categories.

You can always find our group’s previous reports and book lists 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 the worldwide phenomenon of silent book clubs via Guinevere and Laura’s Silent Book Club web site. In fall 2023, they welcomed their 500th chapter … and with continuing, breathtaking momentum, they now boast almost 2,000 chapters … (There were around 60 chapters when we joined as the first Toronto chapter in 2017.) The SBC organization celebrated its 10th anniversary throughout last October … and our chapter celebrated its 8th anniversary in early November.

You can find information on meetings happening around the world and close to where you live. Every club is different in size, format (in-person, virtual or hybrid) and vibe, so contact a club’s organizers beforehand if you have any questions or preferences. Please feel free to contact me for more information about our club and its offerings.

We don’t have to like all the same authors and books to be friends in reading …

When necessary, do you POMS a book?

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In the early days of the east end Toronto silent book club chapter, a member revealed that she set herself a limit by which, if a book was not captivating her in one way or another, that book went “over her shoulder” and she moved on to others. Life is too short, the tbr pile is too tall … ONWARD! It sometimes varied, but that limit was generally 50 pages.

That member’s forthright admission gave other readers permission: some to confess that they wanted to make that freeing toss from time to time, but couldn’t bring themselves to do it, and others to gratefully acknowledge that they did it but had never felt free until finding reassurance in our group to admit it. A smaller group of readers revealed that they simply couldn’t leave a book unfinished, as much as they wanted to from time to time …

Because these admissions come up regularly during our meetings, a wise member recently offered a handy acronym for the practice: POMS, for Pitch Over My Shoulder. And to be clear, this is a figurative expression (or at least that’s how I think we’re all using it), because even if a book does not please us, I don’t think any of our members would so callously mishandle a book.

So, do you ever POMS when you’re reading?

Silent book club member Jen's recent reading includes Wintering by Katherine May (Photo by Jennifer D. Foster)

Silent book club member Helen's recent reading includes Read Dangerously by Azar Nafisi, The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, There's No Turning Back by Alba De Céspedes, translated by Ann Goldstein and Free Day by Inès Cagnati, translated by Liesl Schillinger (Photo by Helen Gunnarsson)

Silent book club member Vicki (oui, c'est moi) on screen, preparing for the sbc zoom meeting, with recent reading next to the computer, including the 6 volumes of In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust, translated by Andreas Mayor and Terence Kilmartin, revised by D.J. Enright, Green by Zachari Logan and The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai (Photo by Vicki Ziegler)

Group book pile at East Toronto Coffee Co, including titles by Katherine May, Stanislaw Lem, Kiran Desai + more (Photo by Vicki Ziegler)

Readers reading at East Toronto Coffee Co, accompanied by coffee and pastries (Photo by Vicki Ziegler)

Reader reading at East Toronto Coffee Co, accompanied by coffee (Photo by Vicki Ziegler)

Books spread out on tables at East Toronto Coffee Co, including titles by Zachari Logan, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Adania Shibli + more, accompanied by coffee and pastries (Photo by Vicki Ziegler)

(Photos by Jennifer D. Foster, Helen Gunnarsson and Vicki Ziegler)

Every title on our group’s bursting-with-goodness lists means that at least one reader (and usually more) has given that title considered attention. That doesn’t mean, of course, that every work on our lists is expressly recommended. Inclusion on our lists always means that our readers have devoted time and thought to books – and that counts for so much!


We often have some extra book-related articles, resources, news and recommendations to share. These are items and tidbits that 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.

Our group’s previous reports and book lists are always available 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 the worldwide phenomenon of silent book clubs via Guinevere and Laura’s Silent Book Club web site. In fall 2023, they welcomed their 500th chapter … and with continuing, breathtaking momentum, they now boast almost 2,000 chapters … (There were around 60 chapters when we joined as the first Toronto chapter in 2017.) The SBC organization celebrated its 10th anniversary throughout last October … and our chapter celebrated its 8th anniversary in early November.

You can find information on meetings happening around the world and close to where you live. Every club is different in size, format (in-person, virtual or hybrid) and vibe, so contact a club’s organizers beforehand if you have any questions or preferences. Please feel free to contact me for more information about our club and its offerings.

To POMS or not to POMS – that is the question for every thoughtful reader with a towering tbr pile!

Rejoicing in …

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… the solitary pleasure of reading and the quiet magic of community

by Amber Daugherty

… and as 2026 gets warmed up (we hope – brrr!), we get to enjoy yet another guest introduction to our monthly blog post! Kind fellow readers, meet Amber Daugherty. Amber works in communications, teaches fitness classes and reads constantly somewhere in between. She’s drawn to stories, ideas and conversations that make people think a little differently. Big believer in community, curiosity and the magic of sitting quietly together with a book.

Silent book club member Amber DaughertyA year and a half ago, I found myself looking for new ways to feel rooted in my neighbourhood. Not networking. Not professional development. Just real, human connection close to home. Somewhere in that search, I stumbled across the idea of a Silent Book Club and felt immediately curious. When I realized there was a chapter meeting at a café just a five-minute walk from my house, it felt like the universe giving me a very gentle nudge.

I can’t make it every month, but every time I do, I’m reminded why this group is so special. There’s something quietly radical about gathering with strangers and neighbours, opening our books and simply being together. No pressure to perform. Just the shared understanding that reading, even when done alone, doesn’t have to be lonely. Sitting with other people absorbed in their own worlds somehow creates a connection that’s hard to describe but easy to feel.

Books have always been a significant part of my life. As a kid, I was proud of reading above my grade level, not because it meant anything impressive, but because books felt like portals. They took me to places I couldn’t imagine otherwise and introduced me to lives, emotions and perspectives far beyond my own. That sense of escape and expansion never really left me. Over time, reading became not just a habit, but a refuge. I’ll almost always choose a book over a movie, drawn to the slow immersion, the quiet intimacy, the way a story unfolds at its own pace.

What’s surprised me most in recent years, though, is how much reading has become a source of connection. I’m now part of several book clubs and each one offers something different. There’s joy in sharing recommendations, in hearing what moved someone or challenged them and in discovering books I never would have picked up on my own. Even when our tastes are wildly different, there’s something deeply bonding about talking through how a story landed, what we filtered through our own experiences and how a book left us changed, even in small ways.

I once read that fiction strengthens our empathy by allowing us to see the world through another person’s eyes. That idea has stayed with me. Reading is deeply personal, shaped by who we are and where we are in our lives, but talking about books opens that experience outward. I’ve seen it happen in unexpected places too. At a conference last year, a casual mention of having read A Court of Thorns and Roses instantly lit up the women around me. In seconds, strangers became allies, bonded by characters, plot twists and shared delight. It was joyful, surprising and a perfect reminder of how quickly books can bring people together.

At this point, reading has become a visible part of my life. I have over a thousand books in my house, shelves tucked into nearly every available space, and I carry a deep sense of gratitude for the worlds they’ve opened for me. But more than that, I’m grateful for the connections they’ve sparked. Silent Book Club is one of those rare spaces where both things are honoured: the solitary pleasure of reading and the quiet magic of community. And for me, that combination has made all the difference.

Books spread out on tables at East Toronto Coffee Co, including titles by Margaret Atwood, Paul Theroux, Jane Austen, Julia Kelly + more, accompanied by coffee (Photo by Jennifer D. Foster)

Group book pile at East Toronto Coffee Co, including titles by Margaret Atwood, John Scalzi, Stanislaw Lem, Jane Austen + more (Photo by Jennifer D. Foster)

Readers reading at East Toronto Coffee Co, accompanied by coffee and pastries (Photo by Jennifer D. Foster)

(Photos by Jennifer D. Foster)

Every title on our group’s always gloriously brimming lists means that at least one (usually more) readers have given that title thoughtful attention. That doesn’t mean that every work on our lists is expressly recommended, of course. Inclusion on this list always means that our readers have devoted time and consideration to a title – and that counts for a lot!


We often have some extra book-related articles, resources, news and recommendations to share. These are items and tidbits that 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.

Our group’s previous reports and book lists are always available 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 the worldwide phenomenon of silent book clubs via Guinevere and Laura’s Silent Book Club web site. In fall 2023, they welcomed their 500th chapter … and with continuing, breathtaking momentum, they now boast almost 2,000 chapters … (There were around 60 chapters when we joined as the first Toronto chapter in 2017.) The SBC organization celebrated its 10th anniversary throughout last October … and our chapter celebrated its 8th anniversary in early November.

You can find information on meetings happening around the world and close to where you live. Every club is different in size, format (in-person, virtual or hybrid) and vibe, so contact a club’s organizers beforehand if you have any questions or preferences. Please feel free to contact me for more information about our club and its offerings.

Happy and amazing reading in 2026, all!

A quick(ish) look at my 2025 reading

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… and it will be quick(ish) in large part because, well, I want to get back to my reading as we head on into 2026!

My 2025 year in reading ended beautifully just last night – New Year’s Eve – when my husband and I finished a book we were reading aloud together: Flight Paths – How a Passionate and Quirky Group of Pioneering Scientists Solved the Mystery of Bird Migration by Rebecca Heisman.

The book Flight Paths by Rebecca Heisman sits next to a notebook in which the book title is written.

With that, I finished 69 books in 2025. I’ve always contended that it’s not a competition, but confess that I do compete a bit with myself from year to year. In 2023, I read 83 books and in 2024, I read 100. Contributing to those numbers in recent years has been my participation in the poetry Sealey Challenge, which means I read 31 works of poetry in the month of August. But this year, I decided in July (the month before the Sealey Challenge) to challenge myself to read In Search of Lost Time, and realized very quickly that that commitment meant I couldn’t juggle that and 31 works of poetry in a month.

Still, 69 books in one year is just fine. That breaks down as follows:

  • works of poetry: 20
  • works of fiction: 35
  • works of non-fiction: 14
  • rereads: 4
  • works by Canadian authors: 33
  • works in translation: 9
  • read aloud: 2
  • audiobooks: 26

The one sub-category of reading I regret neglecting this past year was graphic novels. I’ll do my best to correct that omission in 2026!

Here is my 2025 reading, in all its glory!

January, 2025

February, 2025

March, 2025

April, 2025

May, 2025

June, 2025

July, 2025

August, 2025

September, 2025

October, 2025

November, 2025

December, 2025

In years past, I concluded my reflections on and list of the past year’s reading with observations that I still find very applicable again this year:

  • It’s not how many books or works you read (in whatever form) that counts. It’s that you read that counts – and it counts so very much.
  • If you can read in good company, be it a partner, a four-legged reading companion and/or a group of trusted bookish friends, your reading will always be imbued with a special, warm glow.

Wishing you comforting, clarifying, entertaining, challenging and all round good reading in 2026!

We’ve done the sums … of the books we’ve shared

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One of my vital and ongoing sources of joy again this year was our silent book club group: meeting, discussing and sharing online and in person and savouring and expanding one’s horizons every month through our endlessly rich and varied combined reading lists. It never feels like homework or competition, just the most splendid kinds of sharing, encouragement and discovery.

How wonderful then to be able to fit in one more set of meetings before the end of this year!

Those meetings left me and, I hope, my fellow readers (including those of you relishing our meetings after the fact through this blog post) abuzz with more reading aspirations that will send me happily into another new year of reading.

One of yesterday’s zoom attendees praised Not the End of the World: How We Can Be the First Generation to Build a Sustainable Planet by Hannah Ritchie. According to the reader, not only were the book’s themes and examples heartening and optimistic, but the author’s contention that “I’ve done the sums” was also reassuring.

I’ve never “done the sums” with our collected reading lists, as the sums really aren’t the point, are they? But just for fun, I scanned through our 2025 lists … and discovered that we shared an average of 52 books amongst ourselves and with readers of this blog every month in the past year. So, it’s not homework or competition, as we’ve always contended, but isn’t it nice to know a new, fresh wave of books of all kinds awaits you every month?

One of silent book club member Lisa's books, I Become Her by Joe Hart (Photo by Lisa Presnell)

Group book pile at East Toronto Coffee Co, including titles by Margaret Atwood, Marcel Proust (in translation), Elena Armas, Bonnie Tsui + more, accompanied by coffee and pastries (Photo by Vicki Ziegler)

Chapbook of poems from Wales on a table at East Toronto Coffee Co, accompanied by coffee and pastries (Photo by Vicki Ziegler)

Readers reading at East Toronto Coffee Co, accompanied by coffee and pastries (Photo by Vicki Ziegler)

Every title on our group’s always generous lists means that at least one (usually more) readers have given that title thoughtful attention. That doesn’t mean that every work on our lists is explicitly recommended, of course. Inclusion on this list always means that our readers have devoted time and consideration to a title – and that counts for a lot!


And yes, we usually have some extra book-related articles, resources, news and recommendations to share. These are items and tidbits that 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.

Our group’s previous reports and book lists are always available 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 the worldwide phenomenon of silent book clubs via Guinevere and Laura’s Silent Book Club web site. In fall 2023, they welcomed their 500th chapter … and with continuing, breathtaking momentum, they now boast almost 2,000 chapters … (There were around 60 chapters when we joined as the first Toronto chapter in 2017.) The SBC organization celebrated its 10th anniversary throughout October … and our chapter celebrated its 8th anniversary in early November.

You can find information on meetings happening around the world and close to where you live. Every club is different in size, format (in-person, virtual or hybrid) and vibe, so contact a club’s organizers beforehand if you have any questions or preferences. Please feel free to contact me for more information about our club and its offerings.

The happiest of happy reading, however you keep track … or don’t!

One of our silent book club members reveals …

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Confessions of a Non-Reader

by Rev. J. Ruth Bartlett

As 2025 draws to a close, we get to enjoy another guest introduction to our monthly blog post. Dear fellow readers, meet Ruth Bartlett, who is a pastor at the Calvary Baptist Church, which is a short walk from East Toronto Coffee Co, where our readers meet in person.

Rev. Ruth BartlettI live in a world surrounded by books.

The collection of books and bookshelves where I reside fill every nook and cranny of our home with books my aunt has picked up over the years of mysteries, spy thrillers, and nursing research. At work, I look around my office, and I see shelves of books on all manners of theology, philosophy, spiritual help, self-help, church-help, international and community development, and ministry resources.

But I find it so so so hard to read any of it …

During my studies, we used the phrase “alone-together-time” for all the times when we knew we needed to do work, but knew we just could not concentrate on doing the work if we were trying to do it by ourselves. As a capital E Extrovert, I think that anything and everything is done better together, so it really helped me with my studies and forcing myself to reach and research alongside friends who were doing the same.

And so, when I was scrolling through Instagram one evening (instead of picking up a book and reading), the algorithm brought me to a silent book club chapter somewhere in the UK. The concept was so cute and cozy I just had to see if they were something here in Toronto – after all, Toronto seems to have pretty well every kind of group going!

After some research, I was so excited to find that not only was there a silent book club chapter in Toronto, but right here, in my very own neighbourhood!

Vicki has been so incredibly warm and welcoming, and I’ve been so inspired by all of the readers in this group, hearing many, varied types of books that I never find on my own shelves, but find myself intrigued to try.

Joining the silent book club helped me reconnect with the genres that brought me joy before the days of university and seminary. I’ve enjoyed a biography of one of my favourite actors, reread a novel that piqued my attention as an elementary school kid, and now I’m reading the classic Jane Austen novel Pride and Prejudice in anticipation of trying my first murder mystery novel The Murder of Mr. Wickham!

Though I still can’t quite call myself a reader, per se, I think I can finally shed the non-reader title knowing how much I enjoy reading alongside the wonderful people of the East End Toronto chapter of the silent book club.

Silent book club member Kath's books (and a rugby match on the TV in the background), including The Cafe With No Name by Robert Seethaler and Things That Disappear by Jenny Erpenbeck (Photo by Kathryn Eastman)

Silent book club member Jen's books, including The Girl from Berlin, by Kate Hewitt (Photo by Jennifer D. Foster)

Silent book club member Jess' books, including The Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants by Rick Gray and Shaun Booth (Photo by Jess Bootsma)

One of silent book club member Lisa's books, The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne (Photo by Lisa Presnell)

Silent book club member Ruth's books, including The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray (Photo by Ruth Bartlett)

Silent book club member Vicki (that's me, with my signature messy hair and glasses), on screen getting ready for our zoom meeting, with books stacked next to my computer, including works by Marcel Proust (Photo by Vicki Ziegler)

Group book pile at East Toronto Coffee Co, accompanied by coffee and pastries (Photo by Vicki Ziegler)

Group book pile at East Toronto Coffee Co, accompanied by coffee and pastries (Photo by Vicki Ziegler)

Group book pile at East Toronto Coffee Co, accompanied by coffee and pastries (Photo by Vicki Ziegler)

Every title on our group’s always immense lists means that at least one (usually more) readers have given that title thoughtful attention. That doesn’t mean that every work on our lists is expressly recommended, of course. Inclusion on this list always means that our readers have devoted time and consideration to a title – and that counts for a lot!


Here are some extra book-related articles, resources, news and recommendations, items and tidbits that 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.

  • Silent book club member Richard took part of his book update time this month to introduce us all to the ICCT Book Club, the Icelandic Canada Club of Toronto’s gathering of readers, who rally round the motto: Að ganga með bók í maganum: To walk with a book in your stomach. Everyone gives birth to a book. As you’ll see at the link, they’ve jumped enthusiastically into their relaunch this fall with some great books, with more ahead going into 2026.
  • The Walrus recently showcased the many book club choices readers in Toronto can consider, of which silent book clubs are just one.

Our group’s previous reports and book lists are always available 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 the worldwide phenomenon of silent book clubs via Guinevere and Laura’s Silent Book Club web site. In fall 2023, they welcomed their 500th chapter … and with continuing, breathtaking momentum, they now boast almost 2,000 chapters … (There were around 60 chapters when we joined as the first Toronto chapter in 2017.) The SBC organization celebrated its 10th anniversary throughout October … and our chapter celebrated its 8th anniversary in early November.

You can find information on meetings happening around the world and close to where you live. Every club is different in size, format (in-person, virtual or hybrid) and vibe, so contact a club’s organizers beforehand if you have any questions or preferences. Please feel free to contact me for more information about our club and its offerings.

Happy reading till next we gather!

The (reading) numbers don’t lie, but sometimes they can be a wee bit misleading …

2 Replies

I came away from another set of warm, welcoming and elucidating silent book club meetings this past weekend … with head, heart and to be read list brimming!

As readers share their delights and challenges during our zoom and in-person gatherings every month, I always discern interesting recurring themes. This time, there was an undercurrent of mild disappointment with each reader’s perceived amount and pace of reading since we last gathered. And then every reader reported on numbers of books and pages read that surely would make any reader proud … really.

My reaction? Just as every read in our group is legitimate in every way, the pace at which every reader reads is also just right, whatever that pace and volume of books and pages that represents from month to month. If you’ve read more of or less of or differently than you did the last time you took note … well, it’s all good. That you’re reading is the essential constant. The rest might be interesting to record or monitor – on Goodreads, in a book diary, in a text file, whatever – but it need not be a competition, with other readers or even with yourself.

Your reaction?

Silent book club member Jen's books: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt and Grief is the Thing With Feathers by Max Porter (Photo by Jennifer Foster)

Silent book club member Helen's stack of books, next to a cat pole, including Vanity Fair by Thackeray (Photo by Helen Gunnarsson)

Silent book club member Vicki (that's me, with my signature messy hair and glasses), on screen getting ready for our zoom meeting, with books stacked next to my computer, including works by Marcel Proust, Ronna Bloom and Joseph Dandurand (Photo by Vicki Ziegler)

Group book pile at East Toronto Coffee Co, accompanied by coffee and pastries - titles include Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt, Intermezzo by Sally Rooney + more (Photo by Vicki Ziegler)

Group book pile at East Toronto Coffee Co, accompanied by coffee and pastries - titles include That Librarian by Amanda Jones, A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst, The Tenant by Freida McFadden + more (Photo by Vicki Ziegler)

Group book pile at East Toronto Coffee Co, accompanied by coffee and pastries (Photo by Vicki Ziegler)

Photo credits: Jennifer D. Foster, Helen Gunnarsson, Vicki Ziegler

Every title on our group’s always brimming lists means that at least one (usually more) readers have given that title thoughtful attention. That doesn’t mean that every work on our lists is expressly recommended, of course. Inclusion on this list always means that our readers have devoted time and consideration to a title – and that counts for so very much.


Here are some extra book-related articles, resources, news and recommendations, items and tidbits that 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.

Our group’s previous reports and book lists are always available 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 the worldwide phenomenon of silent book clubs via Guinevere and Laura’s Silent Book Club web site. In fall 2023, they welcomed their 500th chapter … and with continuing, breathtaking momentum, they now boast almost 2,000 chapters … (There were around 60 chapters when we joined as the first Toronto chapter in 2017.) The SBC organization celebrated its 10th anniversary throughout October … and our chapter celebrates its 8th anniversary ths month, thank you very much!

You can find information on meetings happening around the world and close to where you live. Every club is different in size, format (in-person, virtual or hybrid) and vibe, so contact a club’s organizers beforehand if you have any questions or preferences. Please feel free to contact me for more information about our club and its offerings.

However much and frequently you’re doing it, relish every moment you get to read!