hello, honolulu silent book club

If you’ve been in book clubs you know how stressful and maddening they can be. People don’t read. Or they don’t read well. Or you hurry to get the reading done and don’t get to enjoy the book. Or someone always picks that super-long book about the economic history of some country you’ve never heard of.

Silent book clubs take this bother away: just show up, say hi (or not!), have a drink (or not!), and read whatever you brought!

We’re indebted to articles we’ve read about the original Silent Book Club, which inspires us and provides the model.

Thursday, July 10, from 6 to 8 at Kahala Mall.

Meet at the enormous round table outside Whole Foods Market, if it’s available. Look for two hippos perched atop a book on the table, and you’ll know you found us. We’ll have the book exchange table again, so bring a book or two if you’d like to make room on your bookshelf.

We’ll follow roughly this schedule:

6:00 say hi (or not!), get something to eat or drink (or not!)
6:30 optional group photo, read whatever you’ve brought
7:30 chat or keep reading

We’re not rigid about time, so these are just approximations. 🙂

It’s been a bit noisy lately, so if you’re sensitive to the sounds of yelling kids, beeping trucks, and loud engines, bring some noise-canceling ear things if you have them.

Sunday, July 13, from 3 to 5 at Kawaikui Beach Park.

Kawaikui is on the far east end of Aina Haina, pretty much on the edge before entering Niu Valley going east. Free parking, shady trees, and a (public park) restroom.

Gina is hosting!

Look for her in a shady spot on the Waimanalo side of the park (the left side as you face the ocean). She has a table sign with a reading hippo on it.

Bring snacks and drinks if you want. Bring a chair or beach towel, and perhaps some sunscreen. Bring your physical books, ebooks, audio books, textbooks, comic books, or whatever!

We’ll chat a little, take a voluntary group photo, then read for about an hour, and then chat a little more. Socializing is totally optional, of course! Please add your name to our email list (if you’re not on it), and please take a Honolulu Silent Book Club sticker if you don’t already have one, a Honolulu Silent Book Club bookmark, and a couple of our calling cards so you can spread the love.

Thursday, July 17, from 6 to 8 at Kapiolani Park.

Audio bookwalk!

Meet at the bandstand, front and center (or as close as we can get). Chat, take a voluntary group photo, then walk! We’ll start walking together as we listen to audiobooks, but please walk at your own pace and for your own duration. You can peel off at any time and just meet us at the finish line (also the bandstand).

IF THERE’S SOMETHING GOING ON AT THE BANDSTAND, MEET US BACK AND CENTER! BEHIND THE LAST ROW OF SEATS!

We’ll schedule the whole hour for walking, then take the show to the Barefoot Beach Cafe for food and drink, if you want! If not, just hang with us.

If parking at the park is rough, try the zoo or the area around Monsarrat Ave. Remember, there are two lots on the Diamond Head side, near the rec building (if that’s what it is). Street parking on Kapahulu in front of the zoo is free beginning at 6.

Text Mitchell at 830-255-7423 (830 ALL RICE) for any reason, whenever.

Let me know if you need help getting audiobooks on your phone. There are some free options, but you have to plan ahead!

Sunday, July 27, from 3 to 5 at Kawaikui Beach Park.

Kawaikui is on the far east end of Aina Haina, pretty much on the edge before entering Niu Valley going east. Free parking, shady trees, and a (public park) restroom.

Gina is hosting!

Look for her in a shady spot on the Waimanalo side of the park (the left side as you face the ocean). She has a table sign with a reading hippo on it.

Bring snacks and drinks if you want. Bring a chair or beach towel, and perhaps some sunscreen. Bring your physical books, ebooks, audio books, textbooks, comic books, or whatever!

Wednesday, July 30, from 6 to 9 at Proof Social Club.

Proof Social Club is a bar in Downtown Honolulu where Chaplain Lane meets Fort Street Mall.

There is no program. Just show up, get something to eat or drink, read, and (if you like!) meet other book-lovers. Pasta Boys will be there to provide reading fuel. Check out their Instagram to see what they might be offering!

We’ll have the book exchange table again, so bring a book or two if you’d like to make room on your bookshelf. The kitty lamps will also be there. And Proof has its own book exchange shelf, so please take a look there too!

Once again, if you can spell Mitchell for a half-hour shift at the greeting table, he would appreciate it. Please let me know if you can help.