Just found the following article on the Guardian about Slow Reading and it’s really caught my attention.

The idea is to join a group of like minded souls and read together – all devices and distractions set aside for a time. No discussion, no interruptions; the focus purely on the book at hand.

From the Slow Reading website:

“Once a week, members of a Wellington, New Zealand, book club arrive at a cafe, grab a drink and shut off their cellphones. Then they sink into cozy chairs and read in silence for an hour. The point of the club isn’t to talk about literature, but to get away from pinging electronic devices and read, uninterrupted. The group calls itself the Slow Reading Club, and it is at the forefront of a movement populated by frazzled book lovers who miss old-school reading” – Jeanne Whalen, Wall Street Journal

Our mantra is:

• Calm Body – free yourself of digital disruption and simply focus on the act of reading
• Curious Mind – enjoy the stimulation that reading brings, improve your spelling and expand your vocabulary
• Open Heart – go on a journey with a character and experience their thoughts and perspectives

Originating in New Zealand, you can find out more about how Slow Reading got started at the website – HERE

What a fantastic idea!

I love the idea of it (though have as yet managed to refrain from signing up to start one here – though if anyone wanted to start one, I would surely help in any way that I could!) – to take the time to truly appreciate the book at hand…though it does seem a little sad that I don’t quite trust myself to make the time to read in an undisturbed fashion without being surrounded by a group.

Perhaps my favourite post so far – Ten Tips for Slow Reading