A Parlor Read 2.0
Reader: “A person who reads.” (But also: wine [?] + my trusty glasses. I put those images below in stories yesterday after I realized we were coincidentally hosting our “parlor read” on International Book Day…)
A couple of years ago, I wanted to host a small gathering. I wondered how it would work if I asked people to bring a book recommendation. And I originally only invited women, many of whom didn’t know each other. Matt was going to scram for the evening because I thought it sounded kind of mommy book-club-y. (Like, is this cringe? Is anyone else going to track with what I’m assuming are my nerdy and odd impulses?) I’m already going out on a limb here, folks! But one friend’s query about bringing her husband (who is actually a writing professor and avid reader) widened the circle — and he was not the only man who ended up being present and providing awesome book recs and, of course, great company.
A year ago, I knew I wanted to do it again, but I wondered what would happen if I also asked people to bring along something to read aloud — optional, of course. I sent that email and immediately was like, “I think I’ve just sent the weirdest invitation ever.” But much to my delight (and surprise, tbh), 8 of us read aloud that evening.
This year, 10 of us read aloud. Poetry, fiction, nonfiction. Again, it was a diverse cross section of people, many of whom didn’t know each other. (I mean, even I didn’t know everyone … the invites always state that you can bring a friend!) To be honest, I’m not actually sure everyone left a book recommendation on the board. What can I say: It was a lively and engaging evening full of sharing why we picked a passage to read plus just regular ol’ socializing...hearing about work and family and travels and embarrassing workout classes that involve banging sticks (moi) and of course Matt showing off the trapdoor to his workshop.
Everyone, regardless of “read aloud status,” was a reader at our house last night: the person who does audiobooks; the person who doesn’t read regularly because of, you know, LIFE; and even Matt, who read a poem from the new collection by his junior prom date!
{You can click on the images with book titles below to enlarge them…}
originally published on instagram