The weather in the Toronto area went from excessive humidex values to verging on windchill, essentially in the span of a day. It definitely looks and feels like autumn now. I was reminded that one of the best antidotes for that chill in the air is a warm gathering of booklovers. Then I was reminded that there was quite a chill in the air when this particular group of booklovers, or the start of this group, first met – a year ago. How time flies when you’re immersed in great books, enthused about your reading and eager to share it with others. So yes, we toasted – with upraised chai lattes and our rendition of this – how this group has grown and evolved in a year.

Before we settled in with beverages, treats and much anticipated books for an hour of quiet, concentrated reading, we had our usual go round the table to share recent reading delights and challenges. As well, one of our fellow readers shared a lovely new reading journal she is inspired to use to augment the reading lists and ideas she’s acquiring through this group. Another reader announced something very special that she is planning next month for her 70th birthday: she wants everyone to share with her the gift of stories and storytelling. I hope she won’t mind that I’m sharing some of her words describing what prompted this idea and how it would work:

“Over the last year, and particularly the last few months, I have experienced deep despair about the future of the world. Constant negative news about economic, political, cultural, environmental events and forecasts have had a huge impact on me. And when I talk with others, there is a near universal response of ‘I’ve experienced the same thing’. Many of the events we hear about seem to be beyond our control.

At the same time, every so often, stories crop up of something that ordinary people are doing in their communities or beyond, that make a significant difference in people’s lives. Many have huge ripple effects. These give me hope, and are the antidote to despair. The more I look for them, the more I see and hear.

… So as my gift to the world, I propose to host a birthday party event … that is a storytelling event. It can include people who can physically attend, as well as all my friends, colleagues, and family globally who can participate virtually by sending their stories to me.

… Here’s what I’m asking of you to do as a gift to me and this process: look everywhere for stories of where ordinary people are making a positive difference in others’ lives, and capture them. Tell the stories in your own words, and write them down.”

She goes on to say that the captured stories can range from the local to the international and ones in the headlines. I’ve come to see the silent book club as an oasis and respite from all the news and noise that creates the anxiety and despair she mentions here. Her brilliant idea is another way of harnessing the power of storytelling to immensely positive effect, don’t you think?

Here is this month’s list of the books we read and discussed at this latest edition of our silent book club. As I’ve mentioned previously, each title is presented and discussed within the group with readers’ capsule positive, negative or mixed reviews. We do have cases of diverging opinions about some books, but the discussion is consistently interesting and respectful. The list as I present it here has no rating system, just a link to either publisher information or generally positive reviews or informational pieces. The list is not inherently a list of recommendations, just a record of what we discussed, for good, bad or indifferent. That said, I think each list brims with rich and eclectic offerings, and you could indeed use it to spark and expand your own reading.

• Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali
• A God in the Ruins by Kate Atkinson
• Transcription by Kate Atkinson
• Beartown by Fredrik Backman
• The Unpublished City curated by Dionne Brand
• The Blue Clerk by Dionne Brand
• A Long Way From Home by Peter Carey
• The Magic Toyshop by Angela Carter
• Whiskey & Ribbons by Leesa Cross-Smith
• On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin
• Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond
• Heartbreaker by Claudia Dey
• Take Us to Your Chief by Drew Hayden Taylor
• The Mist in the Mirror by Susan Hill
• Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin
• Pirate King by Laurie R King
• Birdie by Tracey Lindberg
• Full Disclosure by Beverley McLachlin
• A Prayer Journal by Flannery O’Connor
• Small Treasons by Mark Powell
• Citizens: A Chronicle of the French Revolution by Simon Schama
• Women Talking by Miriam Toews
• Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese
• The Outlaw Album by Daniel Woodrell
• A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

As always, you can 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 perhaps interested in checking ours out, please feel free to contact me for more information.