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.
Follow us in any of these places!
I maintain an updated-monthly list of events, groups, and other stuff of interest to readers. Here’s the March and April list (opens in Google Docs). Yes, I’ll update this with a June-July list in the next few days!
Thursday, June 4, from 5 to 6:50 at Hawaii State Library.
Emily (a librarian!) is our host. Meet in the Language, Literature, and History section — first floor, left wing as you enter, straight back.
Parking. There’s metered parking all around. Street parking is free after 6. The nearest lot is at Iolani Palace (metered, free after 6), which is also secure, because the palace locks the gate at 6. If you wish to leave before the library closes at 7, just let a security guard know and they’ll open the gate for you.
We’ll spend the first half hour chatting and taking voluntary photos. Then we’ll read for an hour, and then call it a night, or chat a little more. The library closes at 7.
Thursday, June 11, 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 can get a bit noisy, 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. Baron donated a box of foam earplugs, and Mitchell will bring them if he can find them.
RAIN PLAN: We’ll try to get the tables right by the Whole Foods door, beneath the eaves, and take a few tables inside the mall. If you usually come early and the weather is yucko, maybe we can try to claim tables inside early. I haaaaate to forgo the introductions and stuff so somebody think of how we might do it in the mall without drawing mall security’s attention.
Sunday, June 14, from 10 to noon at Bottleheads Hawaii Kai.
Bottleheads, that fabulous wine shop, has opened a second location in Hawaii Kai, and we are pleased to collaborate with them for a morning of mimosas and reading.
The shop is in Koko Marina, next to Cookies Clothing Co., in the building near Kona Brewing Co.
This is our first activity with a fee and reservations. $10 holds your space and comes with a mimosa, and you must make your reservations on the store’s website here: https://www.bottleheadshk.com/product/silent-book-club/L5YWRBZ4SZSXXNVILMZPDJ2J.
Jen is hosting!
Tuesday, June 16, 5:30 to 8(ish) at Ward Center and South Shore Market.
FIELD TRIP!
It’s time for the 77th annual Friends of the Library Book Sale, this year at Ward Centre in the space that used to be Roger Dunn Golf and (before that) Famous Footwear, on the far Ewa end of the mall.
We’ll meet in front at 5:30, or whenever you can get there. The sale closes for the day at 7. If anyone wants to join up for a silent reading sesh, we’ll head across the street to South Shore Market. Meet at the long table in the common area on the ground floor. Food and drink options nearby but no need to spend money. Clean bathrooms.
I may be there early, so if you get there early too, just text Mitchell or look for me inside!
Again, if you’d like a ride home, just ask. Please. Text me at 830-255-7423!
Wednesday, June 24, from 6 to whenever 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.
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.
Text mitchell at 830-255-7423 if you’d like a ride there, a ride home, company walking to or from your car or bus stop, or an arbitrary quote from a good YA novel!
Sunday, June 28, from 4 to 6 at Vintage Books.
Vintage Books is a speakeasy in Kaimuki, all antiquarian books in the front and classy bookish cocktails and food in the back.
Nikki is your host, and she made this great overview of menu pricing.
🍹 Craft cocktails (ALL $16)
🥂 Spirit-free cocktails (ALL $14)
🍺Beer ($9)
🍷Wine glass ($13-16)
🍽️ Cold plates ($12-20)
🔥 Hot plates ($21-42)
🍙 Rice cakes + rice dishes ($4-23)
🥗 Salads ($15-17)
🌮 ʻUlu Taco Flight ($24)
In addition, the Lounge offers special half apps/bar bites.
✨ Half Apps ($8–14)
✨ Bar Bites ($6–10)
Nikki recommends the Legend of Nearest Green and the Mushroom Rice Cakes. Mitchell (who will probably have to miss this one) recommends the Tennessee Surf Club and the Chocolate Crème Brûlée.
Full menu here.
Parking: Validated parking inside 3660 Waialae Building. Ask the book clerk to validate.
Payments: “Proudly cashless.” Major credit/debit cards and contactless payments accepted.