A Social Reading Experience

If you have already tried attending book clubs and reading groups but found their stringent rules and too-closed atmosphere made you run away, then reading parties are for you!

Via Elle

Reading parties, also called book raves, are events organized in a friendly environment for reading in the company. These are real parties where reading lovers meet to share their passion, wrapped in a relaxing atmosphere made of soft lights, lit candles, and cell phones strictly turned off. The purpose is to disconnect from hectic life and technological connections for a couple of hours and dive into deep reading without giving up sociality. Company is often given by friends and acquaintances, but not only that—anyone who shares a love for books can approach and participate, but also those who are simply curious to try something different. This new aggregation trend, which is becoming popular globally, was recently born in New York. It was successful thanks to a simple spontaneous organization, but above all thanks to the people who cultivate the pleasure of meeting and chatting, sipping a drink while reading pages of a good book. The reading parties are real literary parties, born from the initiative of a group of friends who met in a couple of clubs in Brooklyn to drink and listen to jazz in the company of their favorite book. From that moment on, FourFiveSix and Reading Rhythms have become famous meeting places for their literary parties. The book rave is not a conventional book club; it has a different vision. This is an event based on an occasional approach to reading, ideal not only for those who never leave home without a book in their pocket but also for those who want to approach leisure reading for the first time, without forgetting those who have little time to do it. For these reasons, they are considered authentic parties, i.e., occasional events in which people meet in a specific place, possibly a club, to leaf through the pages of a book without anxiety and haste, in the company of like minds. This relaxing atmosphere is the perfect setting to exchange jokes, opinions, and points of view on the reading you have just read, accompanied by a drink and light background music. In this moment of authentic reading and contact with others, what matters is to let yourself be carried away by the story you are reading and meet new people united by the same passion.

There are many differences between a reading party and a book club. In the book club, it is taken for granted that the participant agrees to read what is voted by the majority or chosen by the organization. Essentially, everyone reads the same book in the same period. There is a regularity of meetings, usually monthly, and at each meeting, we read a chapter of the same book together. Subsequently, a debate opens between the participants managed by a moderator, which will focus on the book everyone has just read. Book clubs or reading groups that apply the same methods are very valid, but they highlight how the passion for reading is already a habit consolidated over time and consistently by the participants. So it's not for everyone. Those who want to get closer to books could be frightened by these reading rhythms, by the fact of having to give an account of them in public, by the fact that volumes that are too demanding or do not meet instinctive interest are offered. It is also for all of them that book raves were born: to make the encounter with books and other readers unique and exciting. In the festive atmosphere of a book rave, however, there is the awareness of participating in a unique and non-repeatable event because there are no standards. We meet in a café and usually read for an hour or two together with others. But the peculiarity here lies in that everyone reads their book in silence: the choice of reading is individual, there are no pre-established genres and it happens according to one's taste. In the meantime, you can sip an excellent drink or eat a snack, sitting in absolute comfort and immersed in a soft and welcoming atmosphere. Anyone who wants can get up and go around the tables to exchange reflections and points of view on what they have just read with another participant. Everyone can feel free to talk to whoever they want, as long as they do so in a whisper so as not to disturb those who are still absorbed in reading. This type of literary aggregation is considered delicate because it allows anyone to concentrate for a short reading time, and without the anxiety of reaching a certain result (the end of the book). In reading parties, you reclaim your time, your taste, and the pleasure of reading, without having to do it alone. The beauty of the banquet makes everything very fluid, and even the exchange of opinions and different points of view occurs naturally. Not to mention the fact that it is a wonderful opportunity to open your mind to other views, meet new people, and even new books. In a reading party, therefore, we find ourselves cultivating a lively curiosity. Furthermore, in a book rave or reading party, the participants are not obliged to read what others are reading, there is no obligation to finish a certain number of pages, there is no anxiety about falling behind others, and no one judges the way of reading or the results achieved. It is considered a reading without ambitions or demonstrations, and one is not obliged to socialize, even if the environment and the common passion help a lot to make conversation: the exchange of ideas is favored in an impalpable way, even among those who are shyer. Another characteristic is that, depending on the event and the venue where it is organized, a reading party can present different participation methods. Sometimes entry is completely free, but sometimes there may be a fee. In some cases, there is only compulsory consumption, and in others, a free offering is requested, which usually helps to support independent bookshops, cultural associations, and social centers or to encourage younger people to familiarize themselves with books, offering a different way from video games or smartphones to experience leisure. Taking part in a book rave is easy, just check the social profiles of your favorite venues and associations, on which reports of these events are made. In this regard, Bookstagram and BookTok (the Instagram and TikTok reading communities) also offer suggestions on a local basis. Through social media, you can find out about the events you can participate in, staying updated on the dates and any registrations. Once you have identified the event, you choose a book that you are passionate about (both paper and digital) and you show up on the agreed date, in the indicated location. You can go alone or with friends, and you can also bring a blanket and a personalized bookmark. During the book rave, it will be wonderful to create your welcoming atmosphere: sitting comfortably, you turn off your cell phone, order something to drink, and listen to background music. When you feel ready, open your book and start reading. Once you have finished reading, you can share your impressions with other participants: it is a way to discover new content and enrich yourself internally. The important thing here is always to respect the concentration of others and the diversity of opinions, maintaining an open and calm attitude. Participating in a reading party offers valuable advantages because the group strengthens personal motivation to read. Not only that: it is an immersive experience that leads participants to benefit from an inclusive atmosphere and dynamic sharing. The exchange of impressions, opinions, and different perspectives on the stories read leads to developing new friendships with similar interests, and also to creating or broadening one's literary horizon. So: what's better than getting out of your comfort zone thanks to a literary party? An experience worth trying at least once, aware of the fact that you will enjoy the present moment thanks to a good read, no longer alone but rediscovering yourself and others.