The Silent Book Club meets once a month for time in nature, no-pressure reading and minimal socializing
Some people would rather curl up with a good book than go out and socialize with friends. At Long Beach’s Silent Book Club, they can now do both.
After a three-year hiatus from meeting in person, the Silent Book Club Long Beach has begun gathering at local parks for what’s guaranteed to be Long Beach’s quietest social club.
Residents bring whatever book they’re currently reading, quickly introduce themselves and their accompanied novel—this part is optional, of course—then sit amongst each other in a comforting silence as they lose themselves in their books for an introvert’s happy hour.
The club isn’t for everyone, Katy Kilroy admits. She’s been running the club alongside her friend Kejera Jolly for the past month.
“A lot of people I try to invite, they’re either really into it or they think it’s weird,” Kilroy said, joking that her mom was one of the people who questioned the purpose of such a club.
Silent Book Clubs have been quietly popping up all over the world since two friends had the idea in San Francisco in 2012. According to the national website, book lovers have established over 300 chapters worldwide.
Kilroy and Jolly work together at an emergency animal hospital, talking about whatever book is gripping their attention at the moment in between saving critter’s lives. The two craved a community of similar-minded people without the commitment of an assigned book.
“It’s just being able to go out and you are still meeting people who are introverted like you and have the same personality type in one aspect and still being able to enjoy something together,” Kilroy said.
While traditional book clubs require everyone to read the same book following the same timeframe, Silent Book Club simply provides a friendly space to read whatever you choose.
Kilroy and Jolly had only attended one meeting when the former head of the club announced she was leaving and asked if anyone wanted to take over.
Although Kilroy considers herself an introvert, she and Jolly happily volunteered for the position.
“It’s just being able to go out and you are still meeting people who are introverted like you and have the same personality type in one aspect and still being able to enjoy something together.”
Katy Kilroy, introverted book-lover who co-runs the club.
Since taking over, the two friends have tried to engage the community with social media polls, book recommendations and are planning to send out a survey asking people what days and times best work for them to meet up.
It’s a no-judgment environment, Kilroy said. People are welcome to bring audiobooks, paperback novels, Kindles or whatever form of reading they choose. The outdoor space also gives residents the choice to sit near their fellow bibliophiles or spread out as they see fit.
The club members tend to socialize for a few minutes afterwards, but Kilroy said there’s no judgment if someone packs up their things and leaves once the hour is up.
“Maybe some people don’t go to certain things because of the social pressure … the whole point is that everybody is coming into it with that attitude,” Kilroy said.
Silent Book Club Long Beach’s next meeting will be on Saturday, Aug. 19 at Los Altos Park from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Follow @silentbookclub_longbeach on Instagram for updates.
To learn how to start a Silent Book Club chapter in a different city, visit the national chapter website.
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