Monthly Archives: May 2021

Even between our little zoom boxes, books still connect us

Leave a reply

Silent book club member Todd TyrtleTodd Tyrtle is both a steadfast Toronto silent book club member and organizer of his own international book and tea chat online gathering, as you will quickly learn from his lively introduction to the latest Toronto meeting report. Todd is a wise and observant soul whose interests and activities are so varied, eclectic and vibrant that they almost defy categorization, so I’m going to borrow from one of his social media profiles to describe them further: blogging (at Go Outside Today), cooking, eating, cycling, traveling and doing a new thing every week for a year #52adventures.

I learned about the Toronto Silent Book Club back in 2019 from about as far away as one could: a Times of India article about one that had started in Delhi. Surely, Toronto, a city of readers must have something similar. A quick search proved me right. And so it was that in January 2020, I went to my first meeting having little idea of what to expect.

Some people imagine reading in front of a fireplace with a cup of tea while it snows outside. But from now on my view of cozy reading experience will forever be sitting in a room with other book lovers, the smell of coffee in the air, a scone in front of me with us all reading together. I love how my reading habits were shaken and refreshed. People were reading things I wouldn’t normally read and speaking about them so enthusiastically that I was moved to also try them. I owe my discovery of authors like Ali Smith, and Matt Haig to our group. Likewise, I owe my discovery of flash fiction and rediscovery of poetry to them.

And then, after two in-person meetings, the pandemic hit, and we were all banished to our little Zoom boxes. Even I, a big believer in the power of technology was unsure it would work but the meetings kept going strong, often meeting twice as often as pre-pandemic. Seeing how well it worked gave me an idea. If our attendees are no longer limited by our ability to converge on the same café at the same time, what could a silent book club look like?

And so, about a year ago, the International Book Talk meetings started. This group, consisting of people I’ve met in person, through blogs, or social media meets about once a month to talk about the books we love and our lives. Friends in Canada have talked about English and French books they’ve enjoyed. Others in India have talked about reading books in English, Hindi, and Kannada. A friend in Norway, born in India talks about reading a Marathi book about a famous musician.

It wasn’t long, though, before we realized that for us, books were merely a means of connection. Even with a smaller group than our Toronto contingent, meetings sometimes go up to two hours. Of course, we talk about books, but we also talk about our families, how we’re navigating the pandemic. We’re sharing stories of our childhood experiences in the US or how one person’s father in Pakistan started writing some of the first Urdu science fiction books after he retired. And sometimes it is the simplest of side discussions – what the weather is like where we all are – that it’s raining a little early in parts of Karnataka even as Toronto is getting snow in April.

Our small regular group has enjoyed this connection so much that we started inviting people to just join us. No book talk required. Just show up and enjoy the social connection. A couple of months after starting the book club, a second monthly meeting was started. This group has no agenda at all. Just show up and relax in a virtual living room. Bring a snack or tea and connect with other humans.

There has been so much suffering and sadness during this pandemic, but this group, that started with the idea of a “silent book club” was a blessing that will surely continue well beyond the end of the pandemic.

Vicki on screen, pointing to her books

Mary's books

Dawn's book

Sue R's books

If we do say so ourselves, our combined reading lists never fail to amaze. As always, the books we shared run the gamut of subjects, formats, genres, styles and much more. 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:

  • Several of this silent book club’s members read with awe and enthusiasm Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe. His newest book is Empire of Pain traces three generations of the Sackler family, who pursued the American dream fueled by philanthropy and funded by the development of the painkillers that are now at the core of today’s opioid crisis. Keefe joins Toronto Star journalist Katie Daubs to discuss his book on Monday, May 31st in an online event presented by the Toronto Public Library.
  • A recommended companion to The Overstory by Richard Powers is the documentary My Passion for Trees with actor Dame Judi Dench.
  • The compelling adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad is now streaming on Amazon Prime – highly recommended.
  • The TV series based on Us by David Nicholls is now streaming on CBC Gem – also highly recommended.
  • Silent book club member Todd, who wrote this report’s introduction, also recommends the poetry of Rudy Francisco: “This poem by Rudy Francisco is excellent and got me started reading him.”

We invite our fellow readers to boost their reading with fodder from our previous silent book club meeting reports (online and in-person incarnations) and book lists – find them all 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, of course, do your best to keep reading!

Popping up with more reading inspiration

Leave a reply

They always deserve it because they make us feel so good. However, I am going to minimize my usual rhapsodizing and fanfare about our recent silent book club meetings and great straight to the bookish deliciousness we shared in two warm, wonderful, witty online meetings this past week.

Vicki's books and computer

Dawn's books

Dusty from Seattle's books

Sue's book

Our latest combined reading list blossoms, as always, with a diverse assortment of subjects, genres, styles and more. 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:

  • The Philadelphia Library has a number of virtual book club meetings and related programming associated with their One Book choices for this year: The Tradition by Jericho Brown and The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo. Learn more here.
  • BBC Sounds is offering readings of Muriel Sparks’ works, by the author herself. Hurry here to enjoy A Far Cry from Kensington (abridged version) – it’s only available for a few more days.
  • On May 20th, you don’t want to miss Nobel Prize winning author Olga Tokarczuk and author and translator Jennifer Croft in conversation, part of the Pittsburgh International LitFest Found in Translation events.
  • To boost our young adult reading, silent book club member Sundus Butt has very kindly put together some great round-ups of mini reviews of recommended works. Take a look at her April and May selections.
  • A fellow silent book club enthusiast from Seattle points out to us that Seattle Arts & Lectures (SAL) has created a Summer Book Bingo card for adults. Check it out here.

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 seek out a sunny spot and keep reading!

Another boost to our young adult (YA) reading – the second of a series of review round-ups

Leave a reply

Toronto silent book club member Sundus Butt is back with another installment of what we hope will be an ongoing series of mini-reviews and previews of young adult (YA) titles and recommendations. Enjoy the first installment here.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Wonder by R.J. Palacio (8–12)

[…] The things we do are like monuments that people build to honour heroes after they’ve died. They’re like the pyramids that the Egyptians built to honour the pharaohs. Only instead of being made out of stone, they’re made out of the memories people have of you. That’s why your deeds are like your monuments. Built with memories instead of with stone.

Wonder is about August Pullman (Auggie), a child who was born with a facial difference and is about to go to school for the first time as a fifth grader.

All the characters in this book are well-crafted, which makes the telling of the story through multiple perspectives that much more enjoyable. And even though the story could’ve been gritty and harsh, it’s actually very uplifting in a way that real life wouldn’t be in these circumstances. The overall message is simple and overwhelmingly positive—it’s to be kind and to be kind deliberately, with purpose.

The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had by Kristin Levine

The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had by Kristin Levine

The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had by Kristin Levine (10+)

[…] my mama had a rule—we didn’t have to like anyone, but we had to be nice to everyone. That’s exactly the kind of rule grown-ups make up, ain’t it?

Set in Alabama, in 1917, this story is about a brave friendship between two children in a time and a place where racism is rampant. Dit is White and has lived in Moundville his whole life. Emma is Black and has just arrived from Boston. They have nothing in common and don’t think much of each other when they first meet. But when they’re thrown together, they learn from each other and challenge each other, and grow into the very best of friends.

The story is channelled through Dit, who is well-written. His observations and dialogue (inner and outer) ring true of a child growing up and discovering hard truths about his community and himself.

Pumpkinheads written by Rainbow Rowell and illustrated by Faith Erin Hicks

Pumpkinheads written by Rainbow Rowell and illustrated by Faith Erin Hicks

Pumpkinheads written by Rainbow Rowell and illustrated by Faith Erin Hicks (14-18)

“Maybe don’t repeat her name dreamily like she’s just handed you the One Ring.”

This graphic novel follows Josie and Deja working at the pumpkin patch. For their last-ever shift, Deja decides they need to go out with a bang. They abandon their post at the Succotash Hut and adventure all across the patch.

Right from the first page, the signature humour of both Powell and Hicks is on display in the fun dialogue and wonderful illustrations. Josie and Deja are great characters and their trails across the patch highlight some of the best things about autumn, friendship, and being on the cusp of adulthood (and delicious snacks!). The ending didn’t feel quite right, but overall, this was a charming and fun read.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Coraline by Neil Gaiman (9+)

Coraline sighed. “You really don’t understand, do you?” she said. “I don’t want whatever I want. Nobody does. Not really. What kind of fun would it be if I just got everything I ever wanted? Just like that, and it didn’t mean anything. What then?”

Coraline and her parents have just moved to a new flat, but it’s terribly boring. So Coraline goes exploring and finds another world where her flat, family, and neighbours are all duplicated. This new place is full of colour, fun, and great-tasting food. But Coraline soon learns there’s a price to pay for this world—a price that involves buttons, eyes, and her soul.

This story is full of the weird and wonderful that we’ve come to expect from Gaiman. He skillfully creates a world that feels sinister; the Other Mother in particular is a wonderfully creepy character. The pace is well-balanced and a lot of story is packed into a short number of pages.

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy


The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy (6+)

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
“Kind,” said the boy.

There is a thread of a story in this book, but essentially, it’s a compilation of simple quotes focused on love and kindness for others and yourself. There is a warmth to this read right from the introduction, and the four unlikely friends are all charming and whimsically illustrated. My favourite was mole, whose single-mindedness for cake was something I both respected and recognized. This is a very quick and light read, but it felt good for the soul.