How many unread books do you have sitting on your bedside table or bookshelf? Is there a layer of dust surrounding the forever-growing pile of books? Do you find yourself incapable of taking time to sit down and read?

You might just want to hear about Newcastle’s very own Silent Book Club.

A book club unlike the traditional ones you may be aware of, Silent Book Club isn’t about gathering to discuss a book of the month as you share countless glasses of wine. Instead, Silent Book Club aims to offer readers a safe space and dedicated time to read.

Brought to you as a collective effort from Emily and Katie of Betty Loves Books and Chez of The Press Book House, the Silent Book Club is a worldwide phenomenon offering meetups all around the globe with Newcastle being the one and only available across NSW.

“Silent Book Club helps by providing a dedicated time and a space to sit and chill, we’re creating a kind of breathing space so readers can get through their book lists where there’s no pressure to finish a book, page, or chapter by a certain date.”

Meeting every third Thursday of the month from 4.30pm-6pm, the Silent Book Club offers book lovers a chance to read their own books in a peaceful space, surrounded by fellow book lovers.

Kicking off the club in April, the inaugural event was a great success with each event growing in numbers.

“The gentle warmth that comes with being surrounded by books, your favourite drink in hand, and the permission to let yourself be immersed in your own book, to lose yourself in a safe space – it’s a special kind of something.”

Stepping into The Press after hours is a unique experience in itself, no longer is it a buzzing café bookstore, instead, it offers a moody warmth, perfect for a late afternoon/early evening book read.

Arriving at 4.30pm, readers are given the first 30 minutes to settle into a spot around the space. Grab yourself a wine or a coffee before the silent hour of reading from 5pm-6pm.

“The music is turned down and the space becomes a little more chilled. It really steps into another realm and almost breathes with the readers as they relax into their books.”

Come 6pm, there’s now the chance to chat about your books with other Silent Book Clubbers, before getting ready to enjoy the change of gear at The Press with their Open Mic Night kicking off at 6.30pm.

“Everyone is welcome to stay and enjoy some pretty magical performances from all genres and ages – even the staff at The Press get involved.”

The once-a-month evening is open to all lovers of books. With no joining fee, age limits, or pressure to attend, Silent Book Club is the perfect opportunity for book lovers to meet fellow book lovers and share a nice (and quiet) night together.