The Silent Book Club provides a peaceful reading environment for Madison County bibliophiles

MADISON COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — Have you ever wanted to join a book club but been put off by the idea of deadlines and discussions? The Silent Book Club might be just what you need!

Guinevere de la Mare and Laura Gluhanich, two friends and founders of the Silent Book Club, would meet at a local bar in San Francisco to read in “comfortable silence.” They said that most of their attempts at book clubs had failed. That’s when they came up with the idea for the concept.

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There’s no pressure to have a discussion or to scramble to finish a book, and you can read whatever you want. Several cities and towns across the United States have started chapters of the club, including Huntsville and Madison.

Brittney Carnell was looking for book clubs and none of the ones she found fit her expectations. She came across SBC and asked Alex Lopez-Rogina if she would help her start a chapter. In March 2022, they launched the Huntsville chapter.

“I personally don’t like deadlines. Sometimes life gets too busy and I can’t keep up. And I don’t want to walk into a meeting and think, ‘Oh, I didn’t do my homework.’”

Stephanie Barnett was looking for something similar when she started attending Huntsville chapter events. In October 2023, she started the Madison chapter.

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All three women agreed that finding a location is the hardest part. The SBC brand has terms and conditions that you agree to when you start a chapter. As for locations, they make suggestions, but as long as the location is accessible, there are no strict guidelines.

“They just want you to communicate with the business owner and make sure you clean up after yourself and don’t create a disturbance or anything.”

They often meet at Gold Sprint, a Huntsville coffee shop. Carnell said many places close early on weekday evenings, especially if it’s for coffee.

“A lot of places close really early. But this is a good place because you can get coffee, tea, alcohol, whatever you want to drink. And food… That’s a big plus too.”

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The coffee shops also provide an environment that is suitable for all ages. While some chapters meet in bars, the Huntsville and Madison chapters meet in family-friendly venues so book lovers of all ages can enjoy the book club. One member is in high school, and some adults bring their young children.

They meet several times a month in different locations. They have a set schedule, but on the last Wednesday of each month, they meet in a new location. Carnell said they are experimenting with expanding to different locations. She said they are currently working on organizing an audiobook walk, where members get together to walk and listen to their individual audiobooks.

Barnett said the Madison branch has met at a few locations and also has a set schedule, and has traveled to several different locations, such as the Madison Public Library and, most recently, Edgar’s at Town Madison.

The SBC has also been a great way for people to meet each other. When asked what the highlights of their time in the chapter have been, Lopez-Rogina said friendships.

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“It’s really cool to see people sitting around a table, because there’s these discussions at the beginning and the end, and these little conversations that usually start with, ‘Oh, what are you reading?’ And then at the end, people are exchanging information. Exchanging phone numbers, Instagram handles.”

With the rapid growth of the population, they added that it has been a good way for newcomers to meet people in a new city without any pressure.

There are no limits to what you can read – or how you can do it.

“When I was getting ready for the Taylor Swift tour and listening to an audiobook and dazzling outfits at the table, so as long as you’re quiet and you’re not disturbing other people, you can listen to an audiobook,” Carnell said.

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Readers bring all sorts of things to do while they read, from knitting to embroidery, some even bring their laptops to work on their own writing.

The Huntsville chapter meets from 5:30-7 p.m. every first and third Monday at Gold Sprint, second Friday at Piper and Leaf in Constitution Village, and the last Wednesday of each month at a new location. The Madison chapter meets from 5:30-7 p.m. the second and fourth Monday of each month. You can find their full schedule, including meeting locations, on their social media pages.

On Sunday, October 6, the Huntsville SBC and Spicy Book Club will host a crossover event at Maple Hill Park. A snack buffet will be provided and readers can bring up to three books to participate in a book swap.

If you are interested in organizing a Silent Book Club event, you can contact them on Facebook or Instagram.

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