Silent reading parties have arrived in Chattanooga, and I’m here for it.
Basically the idea is to gather at a set location, bring books and read silently, together.
The silent reading party concept – or movement, as some call it – was started in Seattle and went virtual during lockdown. Since then people have started hosting in-person silent reading parties at locations across the world, everywhere from Portland, Oregon, to Bolivia.
Chattanooga’s first silent reading party was hosted by Emily Powers and Anna Taylor in December at Cherry Street Tavern.
Taylor saw a TikTok from a silent reading party in Richmond, Virginia, that gave her the idea to contact Powers about partnering to host a local event.
“We both just really thought it was such a great idea,” Powers says. “I kind of feel like we were all missing those human moments and human connections when everything was locked down, and the silent reading party really gives both introverts and extroverts a chance to come together and do something that we love.”
Powers says silent reading parties are good for extroverts because even though the act of reading is solitary, they still get to experience the energy of being around other people. But it’s an especially appealing concept for introverts, who appreciate an event devoid of the usual social pressures that go along with group gatherings.
“You don’t have to go out and talk to everybody at the bar,” Powers says. “You just sort of go, read in peace and still be around people enjoying the same things you’re enjoying. We really thought it was a good way to get out with a group, and there’d be no pressure to make small talk.”
Staff Photo by Matt Hamilton / A sign welcomes visitors to Chattanooga’s first silent reading party.When I arrived at the December party, Powers and Taylor were sitting by the door of the bar, which had a sign letting people know of the ongoing silent reading party, and they handed everyone who entered a sheet of paper explaining who they were, what was going on and how it works. They also handed everyone a little sheet of paper to write down a drink or food order.
I felt pretty self-conscious for the first thirty minutes or so. I found myself sneaking peeks at the other patrons when I’d set down my book to take a sip of my martini. I brought a book that’s occasionally funny, and when I would chuckle aloud to myself it made me feel exposed and vulnerable, like waking up from a dream and realizing I was talking in my sleep. But then I stopped caring and started to really enjoy the weirdness and novelty of it all.
Everyone did a good job of staying silent that night, so the hosts weren’t forced to give anyone a librarian-style shushing. But the silent aspect of silent reading parties is no joke – aside from soft music and the sound of drinks being made, the bar was completely silent.
Party-goers can choose to come and go when they want, and some people choose to stick around and chat at the end of the two-hour time period. By then, I was ready to start talking about the novel situation we were in.
No one really knew what to expect, but the hosts were excited to have a few dozen readers for the first local event, Powers says.
They plan to continue hosting silent reading parties once a month at Cherry Street, though they’re open to suggestions for other locations. So far they’ve been getting the word out about upcoming parties through their Instagram (@silentreadingpartychatt), and you can also sign up for an invite at tinyurl.com/etz922bk.