Any rowdies heading to the back room of Brooklyn’s Soda Bar for some mid-week carrying-on last Wednesday night were in for a surprise. In the large, living-room-like space—ringed by a mismatched assortment of couches, cushy chairs, and coffee tables—there was a civilized silence.
In this New Yorker article, Jamie Burns, who organizes silent-reading parties, is quoted for saying, “Being out and reading is better than staying home and planning to read.”
For those looking to immerse themselves in their books of choice, silent-reading parties present an opportunity to read in public without the distractions one might find at home. There’s an energy that comes from reading in the company of others who are also reading, which is precisely what Jamie Burns hopes to achieve by organizing these literary social gatherings. Anyone who has ever tried, but failed, to read in private will understand what a great impact the energy of other readers can have.
