Mystified by the emergence of quiet reading groups popping up across Toronto? Here's the lowdown on silent reading clubs.
In the bustling city of Toronto, a fresh wave of reading clubs is stirring up an unconventional bookworm revolution. Instead of the conventional book club model, a new breed of bibliophile hangouts offers Toronto residents an unconstrained opportunity to share their love for reading.
One of the most prominent, underground circles, the Curious Company Reading Club, meets once a month in the quaint, off-the-beaten-path Bampot tea house on Harbord Street. Gathered around tables, far from the noise and hubbub, engaged readers dive into a myriad of books amidst a cozy, intimate atmosphere. This club, spearheaded by friends Lawvin Hadisi and Marilyn Kehl, came about from a shared passion for literature, which eventually led to their vision of breaking the boundaries of solitary reading.
"We were constantly messaging each other, recommending books and eventually decided to read together," Hadisi told The Star. "Wefigured public readings create a sense of communal engagement and serve as a playground redefining the concept of reading as an isolating hobby."
Another pioneer of this new literary movement is Actual Book Club, established by Malcolm Duncan in 2023. Seeking to escape the capitalistic noise surrounding books as aesthetic objects, Duncan wanted to create a space where passionate readers could connect, without financial obligations or the pressure of traditional book clubs. Monthly gatherings at Osprey Cafe facilitate meaningful conversations, book swaps, and the exchange of recommendations. Charitable events also play a key role in their community-building endeavors; they've managed to raise over $2,000 for literacy programs like Parkdale Project Read.
The "third space" concept—that humans crave a place not home nor work to connect with others—is at the heart of these captivating reading circles. Indigo, a beloved bookstore chain, has long espoused the value of public reading as a meaningful social activity, sharing Alberto Manguel's "A History of Reading" sentiment that the first libraries were meant to be lively spaces, where readers sounded out letters aloud.
This growing trend, however, is not just limited to Toronto. Book clubs like the trademarked Silent Book Club boast chapters in 54 countries, including Reading Rhythms, a dynamic social-media-famous organization. Founded in San Francisco in 2012, Reading Rhythms hosts silent reading parties across the globe, fostering a global community of book enthusiasts. Its Toronto chapter recently had its first event, attracting record bookworms eager for a unique twist on the traditional book club experience.
Toronto is blessed with a vibrant literary scene, and these innovative non-traditional reading clubs are testaments to the city's dynamic reading culture. Whether it's about silent reading or sharing various books, these clubs provide Torontonians with a platform to celebrate their love for literature, expand their horizons, and build meaningful connections in a world increasingly dominated by screens.
- The Curious Company Reading Club, based in Toronto, meets monthly at Bampot tea house on Harbord Street, fostering a cozy, intimate atmosphere for passionate readers to share their love for books.
- Lawvin Hadisi and Marilyn Kehl, the founders of Curious Company Reading Club, aim to break the boundaries of solitary reading and encourage communal engagement through public readings.
- Malcolm Duncan, a Toronto resident, established Actual Book Club in 2023 to create a space for book enthusiasts to connect without financial obligations or the pressure of traditional book clubs.
- Actual Book Club's charitable events, like raising money for literacy programs, play a crucial role in their community-building endeavors, embodying the motto that literature has the power to bring people together.
- Indigo, a well-known bookstore chain, supports the value of public reading as a social activity, embracing the idea that libraries have always been spaces for readers to connect and share their passion for books.
- The trend of non-traditional reading clubs is not only limited to Toronto. Organizations like Silent Book Club, with chapters in 54 countries, and Reading Rhythms, a social media-famous organization founded in San Francisco, are fostering global communities of book enthusiasts, extending the borders of the conventional book club experience.
