Nestled in the corner of a Beeston bar, surrounded by people eating or socialising over a pint, are a group of people sat silently with their heads in a book. They may look slightly out of place, but for these readers, that’s the draw of this book club with a difference. Sandish Shoker went along to find out more about the silent book clubs taking over Nottingham and their appeal.
Silent book clubs have become a new phenomenon in recent years and are growing in popularity in Nottingham.
This type of club is a step away from the traditional book clubs we all know, allowing bookworms to set aside time reading something of their choosing - and as the name suggests - they can go along without the pressure of talking to anyone else.
There’s no deadlines on finishing the book chosen for them, no discussions on the themes and topics, and no need to review it. And for these attendees, that’s exactly what attracts them.
“The appeal of just being able to read whatever you want draws a lot of people in,” says Meghan Aguiar, a self-confessed introvert who set up the Silent Book Club Nottingham SW in 2024.
“If you would like to be in a social setting; maybe you’re tired of reading at home on your sofa but you’re a bit shy and still want to be with your fellow bookworms, then this is the perfect place for you to be.”
You definitely still get that exchange of ideas and suggestions. There’s several books I’ve picked up and read just because someone else here was reading it. So our group still helps people get out of their comfort zone, just not as much as a traditional book club might.
The group takes over the top floor of the bar once a month. Some people order dinner, coffees, pints, new members introduce themselves, there’s some chat about what everyone’s reading, then come 6.15pm it’s heads down and time for uninterrupted reading time.
Ben Clay is a long-standing member of the group and says he prefers this club over others because he can read what he wants and at his own pace.
“I moved to Nottingham two years ago and thought it was a nice way to meet like-minded people who also like to read, and it’s a bit more laid back,” he said.
“I live alone and being able to sit with others and read around people is nice. It’s an opportunity to interact with others, even if it’s sitting in silence and reading.”
While the group is advertised as silent, there is still an element of people offering up their recommendations and discovering new titles, authors and genres. Meghan says this is exactly the beauty of their club.
“People find it a really interesting concept not to read the same thing as each other and have that discussion about different books," she adds.
“People who come to us enjoy that it is very low stakes. You can read what you want, especially as a lot of readers have their list of books they want to read and a traditional book club isn’t always going to match that.
“You definitely still get that exchange of ideas and suggestions. There’s several books I’ve picked up and read just because someone else here was reading it. So our group still helps people get out of their comfort zone, just not as much as a traditional book club might.”
Avid reader, Holly Scratchered was at the very first meeting and has attended every month since with her partner Chris and dog Sprocket, who has now become the club’s furry mascot.
“People who come to us enjoy that it is very low stakes. You can read what you want, especially as a lot of readers have their list of books they want to read and a traditional book club isn’t always going to match that.
“You definitely still get that exchange of ideas and suggestions. There’s several books I’ve picked up and read just because someone else here was reading it. So our group still helps people get out of their comfort zone, just not as much as a traditional book club might.”
Avid reader, Holly Scratchered was at the very first meeting and has attended every month since with her partner Chris and dog Sprocket, who has now become the club’s furry mascot.
It’s definitely become a bit of a community. People just get that reason to leave the house and talk with people further beyond what you might do day to day. For some people they go out to play sport, but for us, reading is our favourite activity
“I was looking for something social to do but I’m a total introvert,” said Holly. “I don’t like meeting new people or going to new places, but the idea that I could go and sit with people to read and I didn’t have to actually speak to them was great.
“I will happily just hibernate and not go out but I know it’s good for me to have social connection so this is a really good way of doing it.
“It’s very much out of my comfort zone but I’m glad I’ve done it.”
Across the city in Sherwood is a similar group that initially started as somewhere new mums could meet to discuss their favourite books and escape the stresses of motherhood.
Founder of the Tired Mummas Book Club, Kirsty Hayward, said traditional book clubs didn’t always work for her.
“I’ve always loved reading and been to book clubs in the past where there’s a set book and I found that didn’t suit me,” she said. “I didn’t like the fact that if I didn’t have time to read the book I felt I was doing the group a disservice, and sometimes the book just didn’t interest me.”
But on becoming a mother, she found herself constantly talking about her child and wanted an outlet that gave her something else to talk about.
“It has become somewhere that I could pop out to for a couple of hours and not feel too guilty,” she added.
“It’s definitely become a bit of a community. People just get that reason to leave the house and talk with people further beyond what you might do day to day.
“For some people they go out to play sport, but for us, reading is our favourite activity.”
And her group, despite the name, is not just for mothers. Their door is open to anyone who loves reading and talking about books or TV shows and arranging cinema trips.
“It’s really lovely reading in a comfortable silence with someone else next to you.
“You just meet so many different people as well, who all come from different backgrounds. It’s a strange combination of people brought together by the one thing they enjoy - reading.”
The whole concept may sound bizarre, and goes against everything we know and think that a book club should be, but ultimately it’s an opportunity for bookworms to set aside dedicated time for reading, in the company of others without any of the distractions found at home.
The Beeston Silent Book Group meets on first Wednesday of each month at the Bendigo Lounge, 55 High Road Nottingham NG9 2JQ. For more info click here.
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