Photo: Pexels Pixabay In Brazil, reading has never been a habit for most people. Whether due to a lack of investment in education or even in family history, books became more associated with intellectuals. After the popularity of cell phones, encouraging reading became more difficult, as the device attracts attention even when users don't even notice.Some people can spend hours with the device in their hands, communicating online, watching videos or carrying out other activities. At the end of the day, they feel like time has passed and they haven't been able to pick up a single book.
However, there is a growing trend that could change this reality. These are book clubs where ideas about books are shared and readers of all ages can participate. Book clubs have been around for years and you can find references to them in the classics too. The difference is that now groups can meet in a virtual environment with several options.
Why You Should Join a Book Club Unlike the Internet, where people share messages, photos, videos, and memes, reading is a more solitary form. You need to concentrate to read a book, whether physical or digital, and spend time without communicating with other people around you.
For those who are used to it, it's not a problem, in fact, it's one of the benefits of reading. However, those who have never maintained this habit may find it difficult to concentrate and especially not have anyone to share the thoughts they see at work with.
Book clubs solved this problem. Readers of the same story can get together to hear other takes, discuss theories, discuss characters they liked and didn't like, and so on. In other words, it is a way to make reading more dynamic and interesting.
Furthermore, this interaction can generate friendships, which increases the participants' social circle. So much so that this was why the groups expanded, as many wanted to socialize but were restricted by health measures.
Join a book club Firstly, it is important to say that there are different types of book clubs. Some groups are paid, while others are free. There are also those that specialize in literature, such as horror books, and others that are more general. The division is also between face-to-face groups, which usually meet in libraries or educational institutions, and digital groups, which allow the presence of people from different parts of the country.
For those who like virtual meetings, it is interesting to look for a club based on the genre you want to read. However, if the idea is to meet people in person, then the research should be done by reading discussion groups in a given city.
In general, readers do not need to spend money on works. In addition to there being many books in libraries, there are also digital versions that can be downloaded or purchased for a lower price than physical works. If the option is to read on Kindle, it is possible to even get the file in a text editor and then change the format, that is, from Word to PDF. The conversion takes place in a few minutes and is free.
Check out the main reading clubs for those who want to participate online or are in São Paulo:
The brotherhood of the gecko: it's a conversation about literature, cinema and art. Each month the group chooses a book to read and a film to watch. Then, on a given day, participants discuss their opinions online about works that usually have some points in common. Blooks Club: an individual meeting held at Livraria Shopping Frei Caneca, on the first Monday of each month. The discussion is more focused on science fiction books, so anyone who likes the subject and is in the capital of São Paulo can take advantage. The book to be discussed is selected at the end of each event, and you can also find out about it on the bookstore's social networks. Mário de Andrade Library Club: The largest library in São Paulo and the second largest in the country, Mário de Andrade is another opportunity for those who want to dive into the world of books and make friends. There are several book clubs, including groups dedicated to works written by women, poetry, and more. In addition to encouraging reading, literary discussion clubs can be an opportunity to make friends, learn more and gain new perspectives on different topics. Even those who don't know the books yet can follow the discussion and obtain many benefits.