Being an introvert and finding companionship don’t always go hand in hand. By nature, introverts find being with people for long periods can drain energy levels. Large crowds and small talk aren’t their fortes, and they often prefer to keep social circles small. But sometimes even the most introverted introvert craves a community of like-minded individuals—and that’s the beauty of Silent Book Clubs.
Silent Book Clubs aren’t typical meet ups of readers who gather to discuss the merits and themes of a preselected title. In fact, at a Silent Book Club, you can choose any book you want. And as the name suggests, there’s no talking during designated reading times.
When the opportunity presented itself for me to join fellow bookworms in a forced socialization-free environment, I jumped at the chance to head to Comfort Zone Café in Hamburg and check it out. According to the Café’s Facebook page, it’s recommended participants arrive between 6:15-6:30 p.m. if they want to order food or drinks. The café’s menu features sandwiches, soups and salads, which would make for a perfect light dinner if you didn’t have the chance to eat beforehand, as well as coffee, tea, juice, and soda. Even if you’re not placing an order, I still recommend arriving close to 6:30 to grab a seat. By the time Silent Book Club started, the space, which held around thirty people, was mostly filled.
From6:30-7p.m. is scheduled settling in time, where participants take seats, eat, and mingle if desired. Mingling isn’t necessary, but it may become so because of the limited seating. I ended up at a table and another Silent Book Clubber kindly asked if she could take the other chair. We briefly introduced ourselves and talked about what book we were reading, genres we liked, and if we preferred e-readers or actual books (note: there was a variety of each in tow). At 7 p.m. sharp, our host welcomed us and briefly outlined the rules: we’d silently read what we brought for an hour and then at 8 p.m., we could either leave, mingle a bit more, or keep reading until the club ended at 8:30.
I was skeptical as to how “silent” Silent Book Club would actually be, but after a few minutes of murmurs and rustling as people settled in, you really could hear a pin drop in the space. In today’s busy world filled with deadlines and deliverables, it was bliss to have a solid hour devoted to sipping a hot beverage on a chilly winter night and just be while I read my book.
All too soon, our host announced the silent portion of the evening was over, and I reluctantly came back to reality. There was no pressure as to what to do next. About half the participants left right away, a few opted to keep reading, and I stayed to chat with my tablemate for a few minutes before heading out.
Silent Book Clubs may not exactly be “putting yourself out there” in the traditional sense, but for the introverted and/or shy, they can be perfect for connecting with someone else and establishing a sense of community. After all, companionship can sometimes be simply sharing a space with a person you have something in common with (even if that connection is not wanting to talk!), and Silent Book Clubs fit the bill.
Interested in checking out a Silent Book Club near you? Options abound! While the info below was accurate at press time, call or check venues’ social media pages to confirm dates, times and locations.
Buffalo
Black Rock Books
43 Hamilton St.
Buffalo, New York 14207
331-3487
hello@blackrockbooksbuffalo.com
When: First Sunday of every month, 3 p.m.
Southtowns
Comfort Zone Café
17 Main St.
Hamburg, NY 14075
648-5779; comfortzonecafe.com
When: Last Thursday of every month, 7 p.m.
Niagara County
Where and when: a relatively new chapter, Silent Book Club Niagara meets at various venues and dates/times around Niagara County about twice a month. Check Instagram and Facebook pages for information.
If you’re out of town or want to start a new Silent Book Club, there are official (that is, registered through the website) Silent Book Clubs all over the world. Go to silentbook.club to find a local chapter or learn how to start one.
Tara Erwin lives and writes in Western New York.
