Feature photo by Sarah Baczewski
Story by Sarah Baczewski
Late afternoon on Sept. 26, readers rushed through the doors of Dapper Owl Coffee Pub & Bakery, book — or books — in hand.
Sharpies scribbled on name tags. Footsteps marched to the register. Espresso shots dripped into cup after cup. As members hugged, smiled and chatted, the dimly lit coffee shop was anything but quiet.
But when the clock hit 6 p.m., the room fell into near silence. Only the sound of pages turning and soft acoustic music playing through the speakers remained.
Saige Coble beamed as she looked around the crowded room. She founded Silent Book Club Murfreesboro with this sense of community in mind.
“I was looking for friends,” Coble said. “I was looking for a community to fit into. And, yeah, I found it.”
In August 2023, Coble’s sister sent her a video about a similar club to encourage her to start her own. The next day, Coble reached out to the global Silent Book Club organization and created a chapter in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
When Coble attended Dapper Owl’s ribbon cutting the next month, she fell in love with the cozy cafe. Dapper Owl’s owners open their space after hours for the book club’s meetings three times a month to the book club three times a month. This allows members uninterrupted silent reading time.
The club gives book lovers the opportunity to step away from the noise and distractions of life and partake in self care.
Co-host Lindsey Richardson joined the book club as a gift to herself. She’s an aspiring author and working mom of two. Taking time for herself out of her busy schedule led to new friends who also enjoy reading.
“I’ve met so many friends here,” Richardson said. “Some of them have even extended beyond books into actually talking about our lives and getting a bit closer.”
Also looking to connect with other readers, co-host Kaitlyn Thomas found a sense of belonging when she joined the club.
“I feel like everybody has their hobby that they do, and I felt like I didn’t really have something like that,” Thomas said. “I was looking for friends that were interested in the same things that I was interested in, and this gave me the chance to make those friendships and find somewhere where I felt like I fit in.”
Coble has created a strong social media presence for SBC Murfreesboro. Through those posts, Delaney Rohrs found her place in the book community with the club. Rohrs is a mood reader — she prefers to read based on her mood rather than being told what to read or when to read it.
“You get to meet people, you can bring your own book, you can sit here and yap for a little while,” Rohrs said. “And honestly, I know it’s really great for people who are more introverted ‘cause it’s kind of more of a ‘choose your own adventure’ book club. You don’t have to talk to people, but you can if you want to.”
As someone who loves talking with other readers, Maureen Sullivan was caught off guard when she realized this book club was a silent one. Although Sullivan expected meetings solely focused on socializing, she has found serenity and calmness in the hour the members read to themselves.
“Even with coffee pulsating through (my) veins, I am the calmest I’ve ever been,” Sullivan said.
Whether club members decide to socialize over coffee or not, SBC Murfreesboro provides community and a judgment-free environment for readers to feel at peace while they read. The second readers walk through the door, they’re welcomed with open arms.
Meeting dates and additional information about Silent Book Club Murfreesboro can be found on Instagram. Each reader can decide whether to socialize before and after or simply make the most of the silence.
“When you choose to come to book club,” Coble said, “you’re choosing yourself.”
Sarah Baczewski is a contributing writer for MTSU Sidelines.
To contact the Lifestyles Editor, email lifestyles@mtsusidelines.com.
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