January was a fun month for press. TheSkimm interviewed SBC co-founder Laura to clear up some misconceptions (no, we don’t hate book clubs), and NPR’s Nerdette podcast paid a visit to Silent Book Club at Dorothy, a lesbian bar in Chicago. The episode is a fantastic listen, highly recommend (transcript here).
We loved hearing the voices of attendees who come to Dorothy in droves to read alone together. On Silent Book Club nights, the bar is at full capacity. Owner Whitney LaMora says, “It’s the most polite 100 people to ever walk in the door. They just silently line up at the bar at two corners and everyone, just one by one, orders a cocktail.”
Even if you're not lucky enough to live in Chicago to attend in person, you can still get monthly recommendations for queer reads from SBC host Charlie Schumann on Dorothy's website. Added bonus, book links on their site directly benefit Semicolon, Chicago’s only Black woman–owned bookstore and gallery. Here are Charlie’s picks for Black History Month. Happy reading!
Spotlight: West Side, Puerto Rico
“There’s something unique about Silent Book Club meetups! Everyone is always looking forward to spending time together, sharing book recommendations, and just having fun while reading. As readers, we need those kinds of spaces, and we love connecting with fellow book lovers.” — Mariely Vélez Pérez & Andrea Carolina Delgado Villarrubia, co-organizers, SBC West Side, Puerto Rico
Books we loved this month
Yellowface, by R.F. Kuang
End of the Hour, by Meghan Riordan Jarvis
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, by James McBride
Joan is Okay, by Weike Wang
Bookmarks
Book-related links and other good stuff online
SBC Playlist: Literature that inspired hip hop SBC Blog
Gen Z “rediscovers” the public library The Guardian
In praise of literary mean girls Lit Hub
2024 kid’s lit prizes announced: Newbery, Caldecott, and Printz Publishers Weekly
On book hoarding and the perilous paradox of clutter Lit Hub
Why the L.A. Public Library acquired a book publisher New York Times
SBC in the news
theSkimm with Silent Book Club Co-Founder, Laura Gluhanich Daily Skimm
Silent Book Club: An introvert’s dream WBEZ Chicago/NPR (start at 15:15)
A Younger Generation Is Embracing Public Libraries Inside Hook
In Maine libraries, stores and cafes, silent book clubs quietly catch on Portland Press Herald
'An introvert's happy hour': Silent Book Club opens new chapter in Ottawa apt613
7 Engaging Book Clubs To Start Your Reading Journey Elle India
Singapore’s Silent Book Clubs a novel respite for shy bookworms The Straits Times
Find the SBC chapter for you
Find a local chapter near you, or join a virtual meetup.
Ack! We goofed the email but fixed the post here. Heaven & Earth Grocery Store is by James McBride, not James Baldwin (of course). Thanks to Bonnie for catching our typo!