In my humble opinion, few things surpass or match the joy of lying in your bed, all curled up in a blanket with a comfort book in your hand. But modern life demands modern solutions and hence it is the metro, my daily commute to and from my workplace, where I end up reading the most (pro tip: once you move past the motion-induced headaches, it is nothing but a fun time of reading by yourself).
For many though, who end up cribbing about not matching their reading goals (much like me), book clubs offer a systematic way of reading more. Usually, the club organiser chooses a relevant book and members meet on a pre-decided date to discuss it, giving out their interpretations and observations, hoping the others agree. But it is this traditional set-up of a book club that just doesn’t work for me. No, I don’t want to read a book decided on by the organiser of the book club and be forced to discuss it with people. Don’t get me wrong, I love reading by myself and discussing books with my friends (after all, the best recommendations sometimes end up coming from your friends) but the compulsion of it and not being able to pace it to my enjoyment just doesn’t seem enticing enough. Hence it is the building community of silent readers across the country where I find that sweet spot of socialising and enjoying my book (most probably, by the author I’ve been obsessing over at that time).
So for those like me, who just can’t work around the traditional book club format, here are some recommendations for reading clubs in Delhi-NCR that have embraced a more flexible reading set-up and offer a vibrant community, moving away from the chosen book format and allowing you to pick out a book you like.
The best reading clubs in Delhi-NCR
Bring Your Own Book Club (Meets monthly)
Source: Bring your own Book/Instagram
Why wait for a book club to decide on a book you’ll enjoy discussing when you can bring along your favourite read and discuss it with other book lovers? Claiming itself as “a book club with a difference,” this unconventional book club in Delhi lets you bring your favourite book along.
First started in 2015, the book club’s format is such that each person brings a book of their choice (pertaining to the theme) and gives other members a brief book review. A short discussion on each book usually follows. They meet monthly in Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai and Jamnagar, the updates for which are shared through their newsletter.
USP: you get to pick the book you’d like to discuss
Lodhi Reads (Meets every Saturday)
Born off the Cubbon Reads format, the Delhi chapter of the silent reading community meets every Sunday from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at Lodhi Garden. The best part for those who are socially awkward is that there is no obligation to say hi to fellow readers either during or after the reading hours. Add to that the fact that you can choose what you want to read, be it fiction, non-fiction, textbooks, papers and if their social media page is to be believed “even terms and conditions of your insurance policy.”
USP: silent book reading community
Delhi Book Lovers (Dispersed events throughout the year)
Considered to be Delhi’s largest community of book lovers, Delhi Book Lovers (DBL) is a thriving community of over 8000 members from various professional backgrounds. Founded in 2012 by Kunal Gupta and Meenakshi Goyal, DBL aims to connect like-minded individuals and spread literature in innovative ways, serving as a platform for budding Indian authors.
Going beyond book discussions, they are known for organising book releases, workshops for aspiring writers, author interactive sessions and more such community-centred interactions. Inspired by this sense of community, they also actively promote authors and books both online and offline. What stands out though is their commitment to foster creative expression, evident through their passion for debates and discussions on books encompassing different philosophies, experiences, and mindsets.
USP: interactive sessions with authors
Gurgaon Reads (Meets every Saturday)
Source: Gurgaon Reads/Instagram
The quiet book reading community of Gurgaon meets every Saturday from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm at the Tau Devilal Biodiversity Park and advises you to avoid bringing chatty friends to enjoy a peaceful day of reading. All you need is your mat, a book and a few snacks (if you please). Their Instagram post says, “Bring anything you want to read. Love letters, research papers, course books, even shampoo bottles.” Like its silent reading counterparts, there is no obligation to socialise.
USP: silent book reading community
Noida Reads (Every Sunday)
The Noida chapter of the quiet book reading community meets every Sunday from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at the Meghdootam Park (near Park of Ujjaini pillar). Like its similar editions across the city, all you need is a mat, a good book and some snacks. Have your book-loving friends tag along too, for a wholesome day of silent reading in the park.
USP: silent book reading community
