A lot of people choose to get into a different world — into a fictional world. Sometimes it can be a good relief for the mind. One way people escape from their everyday lives is through the healthy form of entertainment of reading.
Some read to get knowledge, others as an obligation for a class. But the fact is: reading can give many benefits and can be a safe place.
Today, social media can provides a community with similar interests but from different locations. Many users create and share content related to reading. Their content may include book reviews/analyses, recommendations and even reading challenges. This community of book enthusiasts has become so large that on some platforms it even has a name, on TikTok it would be “BookTok”.
The increase in reading encourages learning for people of all ages. Considering that reading can bring us several benefits, such as expanding our vocabulary and knowledge or even stimulating our creativity and imagination. This even reflects on social behaviors and can be an effective form of relaxation, helping to reduce stress and anxiety.
These benefits can grow even further when participating in a book club. In addition to creating friendships and social interactions, these meetings often feature a variety of genres and authors that club members might not choose on their own, helping them to discover new interests.
Book club discussions are full of perspectives and insights from people with different life experiences, providing us with an even greater analysis of the book. In short, joining a book club brings social, intellectual and emotional benefits, making the reading experience even more fulfilling.
Think about it like this: to have a space to connect and exchange reading experiences in a club created by the students, might sound like heaven to you. The meetings are held to talk about novels that will later on create a community of people looking for points to connect.
The club also includes a focus on Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) culture and identity as well. So the reading plan is based on representing AAPI experiences and/or written by an author who identifies as AAPI.
“I myself am Asian American and proud of my identity and choosing to insert AAPI topics into my club was a way for myself and others to express this part of our identity, and also for those who aren’t AAPI to see similarities of our experiences within their own,” said Savvy Mau, a member of the club.
The meetings are held every Thursday from 3 to 4 p.m. in the AAPI Student Center room 1305. The current book they are reading is “The Joy Luck Club” by Amy Tan. Even if you haven’t been keeping up with the reading, don’t worry! The discussions and questions are for and can be answered by any student who feels comfortable doing so. Therefore, any students can join at any point in the quarter.
Savvy also further explained how she prepared a slideshow with a few questions about the books from the beginning so that everyone feels encouraged to bring their points to the discussion.
Feel free to join the club, it’ll be a fun time!
