Silent Book Clubs--Happy Hour for Introverts

Are you an introvert? Do you like books? Do you like to read books of your own choosing? On your own schedule? Then a silent book club may be the book club for you!

What the heck is a silent book club? Simply put, it's a book club in which people gather together (usually for an hour) to read on their own in silence. You B.Y.O.B. (Bring Your Own Book...or Kindle or audiobook with earbuds), arrive early for provided beverages and munchies, find a seat, and start reading with the sounding of a bell. When the bell is rung again to mark the hour's end, socializing with your fellow book club members is optional. You can talk with others about your book, continue reading, or just leave.

I haven't heard of silent book clubs until recently, but apparently they've been around for over a decade and can be found around the world. They started in 2012 when two friends in San Francisco enjoyed reading but disliked traditional book clubs that felt like classes with assigned books. The emphasis of silent book clubs are on reading, and there's no pressure to read the same book in advance of the event. There's also no pressure to participate in conversation, no stress of trying to think of something witty to say.

Some of you may be wondering what's the sense of getting together with others just to read quietly and have snacks. Well, there's something to be said about companionable silence. Readers who are introverts are not necessarily hermits and may want to be among others like themselves. As C.S. Lewis once wrote, "We read to know we are not alone." 

Have you been in a silent book club? Would you like to be in one? Share with us!

Wishing you a happy hour (or more) reading from the perch.

Date Your Book

Reading a book can be like dating. 

Occasionally, it's love at first page and you're feeling an instant connection. You want to get to know the characters better and spend more time in the world the author has created. Although you may be busy, you WILL make the time to be with this new love of yours, whether it's a quickie during a work break, dinner, or under the bed covers. Any time spent apart is pure agony; you can't help thinking about your book and what the characters may be doing without you.

Hopefully it's rare, but you may not feel a spark from the first page. Maybe even from the first chapter. You might need to give a little time for your connection to the book to fully develop, so you begin with a mild interest, optimistic that some event in the story may create a spark that fans into a raging bonfire...or at least a flame. But if that spark never ignites, it may be time to move on.

Yes, you understood me correctly--if a book isn't grabbing your attention, it's time to ditch the book and find another that will. "But Perch Librarian," you may say, "I've invested 71 pages and 3 hours into this book, so surely I should power through, even to the bitter end?" To which I will reply, "Dear Patron, why force yourself to stay in an unhappy, difficult relationship with this book? You're a good reader and this is a good book, but you're just not meant to be together. Life is short and there are plenty of books out there--read the books that make you smile and give you the tinglies."

I will be honest with you, my dear readers. When I was younger, I stuck with some books not because I necessarily liked them, but because I didn't want to be a quitter. In more recent times, however, I've ended relationships with books that haven't satisfied me. Divorcing a book can truly be the best thing for your happiness and peace of mind. I am here to tell you that it's OKAY to stop reading a book that doesn't bring you joy and to find one that does...WITHOUT GUILT! I believe in you--YOU CAN DO IT! Reading is an activity you should enjoy; don't make it a chore.

Always wishing you love at first page from the perch.