Silent book clubs are spreading across Canada, and for folks seeking a literary and social scene in Kamloops, these spaces offer a space to build community while buried in a book.
The Kamloops chapter of the international group Silent Book Club started as a pet project for founder Chelsea Balmer. She wanted to create an inclusive, encouraging space for local book lovers to tuck into their favourite story. But when she looked, she couldn’t find anything locally.
“I’m an avid reader,” Balmer says. “I just wanted to attend a chapter and there wasn’t one.”
While the typical book club format of reading a book a month didn’t really fit into Balmer’s schedule between her full-time job and raising two kids, the silent book club is less formatted with individual pace and choice.
Since starting the club in 2024, it has only grown showing in action how British Columbians are diving into books again.
“It’s just kind of taken off…we have over a thousand members on social media,” Balmer adds.
In 2022 the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development found Canada scored above average in literacy among 27 participating countries, and of the Canadian provinces, British Columbia had one of the highest scores.
“I had no idea what to expect,” Balmer says, recalling how she started the club. “I think I had 30 people respond that were interested and then I ended up having 45 people show up to the first one which blew my mind.”
After input from others she decided to host the meetups in different restaurants in town, with the number of attendees varying depending on the time of year, between 40 to 50 people, reaching 60 this February.
“There are people who have come every single month for two years and there’s always new people.”
Building Community
In addition to helping Tabitha Perlitz get through her latest read, the Silent Book Club has been a social outlet.
“If you weren’t born and raised here, then it’s really hard to get to know people and build friendships,” Perlitz says. “I had really made no friends up until I started attending the book club.”
Perlitz recalls being very nervous when she first joined in March 2024.
“But I remember being welcomed by just a group of lovely, friendly women.”
What she enjoyed most about it was that there was no pressure.
“We’re a bunch of introverts that talk about books.”
Kristi La Croix is one of those introverts, and has been a part of the group for two years after finding a pamphlet in Walmart.
“I work full time,” La Croix says. “So sometimes it’s really hard for me to get myself out there doing things.”
She also describes the environment as welcoming and accommodating, although she acknowledges that “for a first time person, it can be very intimidating.”
The pressure is minimized by the format of the group, Perlitz says. Unlike your typical round table book club, participants bring their own reading material and go at their own pace over an hour.
All types of reading is welcome whether it is on a physical book, an e-reader or an audiobook.
The structure of the meetups is the same every month, starting at 6:30 p.m. to order drinks or appetizers, followed by an hour of reading from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., and optional socializing after.
Regardless of if folks stay to chat, Balmer reiterates the scene is low-pressure.
“It’s not like you RSVP to this event and you have to show up. It’s just super chill,” Balmer says.
During the two year anniversary, the members of the club gave Balmer a present with moving messages on a card describing how the club allowed people to find community.
“I just wanted to read with people and facilitating this I had no idea the impact it would have,” Balmer adds.
Both Perlitz and La Croix have gone to most meetups since the club started and they have shared their gratitude for this space.
“[Chelsea] has touched a lot of people and has made an impact in so many people’s lives,” Perlitz says.
For those who are unsure to join, Perlitz says that as long as you love to read there will be a space for folks there.
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