<
https://www.positive.news/society/reading-between-the-lines-the-book-club-boom/>
"Move over, Netflix – there’s a novel favourite pastime in town. From Dua
Lipa’s celebrity-endorsed reading circle to the quiet allure of ‘silent’ book
clubs, Brits are rediscovering the joy of reading together. But these
gatherings are not just about ploughing through books: they’re about community,
connection and a refreshing escape from our screen-dominated lives.
“The rise of book clubs is a testament to our longing for deeper connections,”
says Holly Cooke, founder of The Lonely Girls Club, which has branches in
London, Manchester, Birmingham and Nottingham. Her community started as a
friendship network for women and has recently expanded to include book clubs.
Across the UK, book clubs are experiencing a renaissance. Eventbrite reported a
350% increase in book club listings over the past four years, with more than
127,000 attendees getting together over their shared love of the written word.
Meetup revealed that ‘book club’ has surged back into the top 10 most searched
events, reclaiming its popularity after a dip in 2021.
The resurgence of book clubs is more than just a statistical anomaly. Many
believe it’s a cultural phenomenon. The Feminist Book Club in Glasgow, founded
by Stefanie McCartney, is among the clubs to experience a surge of interest in
recent months, growing from a small group to having 25 to 40 attendees per
event.
“I discovered the book club on Eventbrite in 2021, as things were starting to
open up [following the Covid-19 lockdowns],” says Marta Kizym, a regular
attendee. “I loved it because we were all just relaxing at home in our comfies,
but what I really cherish is meeting new people and forming genuine
connections. I’ve made many close friends through the book club, people I can
truly be myself with.”"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
