Atlanta —
On a recent Sunday afternoon, dozens of people explored the Margaret Mitchell House — the historic Atlanta property where the author wrote “Gone With the Wind,” now refashioned as a museum. Between engaging in conversation and sipping drinks, many of the guests were hoping to strike up a friendship.
But about a half hour into the gathering, you could hear a pin drop as the lively scene transformed into the hush of a library. For the next hour, pages turned until silent reading time made way for more conversation. After all, a book is just the icebreaker at a local meeting of the Silent Book Club, which has events all over the world.
Silent Book Club meet-ups — and similar online or IRL gatherings such as reading parties and BookTok — are gaining in popularity. They all play a part in an informal movement to get more people interested in reading for pleasure, which has been in decline over the past 20 years in the United States, according to a 2025 study that analyzed American Time Use Survey data from more than 236,000 participants.
“It’s a great way to meet people, make friends, and take time away from the hustle and bustle of life and just sit down and read,” said Aiden Quayle, who attended the Atlanta meeting. “Party is definitely not the right word, maybe like a hangout.”
