oh to have a cute little sassy gingerbread man companion

Last year I first heard about the Silent Book Club movement. Coincidentally, a bookstore in a nearby city was hosting one in September, so I decided to go, mostly out of curiosity. It turned out to be such an interesting experience.

I’m from the Netherlands, and this particular Silent Book Club was organized by a bookstore in Groningen (up north). It’s the cutest, coziest bookstore, and that evening there were about 40 people spread throughout the space, all reading quietly together. Sitting there in silence, surrounded by books and fellow readers, felt incredibly calm, almost meditative.

I’ve just signed up for the next one in February, and it got me wondering:

• Have you heard of the Silent Book Club? • Have you ever attended one? If so, what was your experience like? • Where are you from?

oh to have a cute little sassy gingerbread man companion

oh to have a cute little sassy gingerbread man companion

Last year I first heard about the Silent Book Club movement. Coincidentally, a bookstore in a nearby city was hosting one in September, so I decided to go, mostly out of curiosity. It turned out to be such an interesting experience.

I’m from the Netherlands, and this particular Silent Book Club was organized by a bookstore in Groningen (up north). It’s the cutest, coziest bookstore, and that evening there were about 40 people spread throughout the space, all reading quietly together. Sitting there in silence, surrounded by books and fellow readers, felt incredibly calm, almost meditative.

I’ve just signed up for the next one in February, and it got me wondering:

• Have you heard of the Silent Book Club? • Have you ever attended one? If so, what was your experience like? • Where are you from?

I wanted this to be the year where I read more nonfiction: the year where I gained deeper knowledge of social and political topics I'm already interested in; the year where I broadened my understanding of not only issues that I face, but also, perhaps more importantly, the issues that challenge those outside of my own experience. I want to read Not a Nation of Immigrants, Let This Radicalize You, How to Be an Antiracist, and others like them. I put these books onto my e-reader. I want to gain new knowledge so that I can fight harder, understand more, help more.

But I'm American. This week happened, and I'm tired. I feel like I need to read these books and others like them more than ever before, but it just all weighs so heavily on me now. It makes me sadder than I already am, and it feels like... so much? I feel like it's a failing that I'm more drawn to Ten Tomatoes That Changed the World right now, or that I'd really like to read my first Brandon Sanderson. I don't feel like I know enough, or do enough, or contribute to the conversation like I should. Being this drained from simply the idea of learning more feels like self pity, and I really am seeking to broaden my mind outward right now.

I don't know. I don't know if I need to read these with a friend, or if I need a kick in the ass to stop whining, or what. I guess I'm looking for suggestions? Or... something.