"I wish I had more time to read." -Everyone
Let's make some time to read at Cafe Zing! Maybe you've heard of these silent reading parties taking the country by storm. Everyone gathers in a cafe or brewery or bookstore and reads together for a set amount of time, followed by some bookish conversation and mingling. Bring a book or choose one from our shelves of used books if you're feeling adventurous. If you need a recommendation, we Camberville people are so lucky to have amazing booksellers at Porter Square Books, Narrative, All She Wrote, and Sidequest! Pop into one of those stores and leave with something great.
Not sure what to read this month? We asked author of the amazing short story collection Guatemalan Rhapsody, Jared Lemus to recommend some of his favorites. You can place a hold at the library or order a copy from Porter Sq Books or Narrative Bookstore (both within walking distance of Zing). Let's show our local bookstores and libraries some love.
Jared recommends:
Reincarnation Blues by Michael Poore
The Devil's Larder by Jim Crace
Too Loud a Solitude by Bohumil Hrabal
Death: a Life by George Pendle
On Love by Alain de Botton
The Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier
He also mentioned Torture the Artist by Joey Goebel, which is out of print, but Jared found it at a book sale a decade ago and read it because he liked the cover. In that same vein, you can see what grabs you from our used book selection and give it a shot!
7:30-8:00 - Show up, grab a drink from the cafe (which will be open late for the reading party), and get comfy!
8:00-9pm - Read in mostly silence! We'll play some lowkey instrumental music to create a cozy vibe.
9-9:30pm- This segment is totally optional. Stick around and chat about what you read. We'll have some prompts to get the conversation started.
This is a free event, but we are offering a not-free ticket ($8) that includes a package deal: one cafe drink + one free book from our Zing shelves + entry into a raffle for a mystery goodie bag!
You can simply show up, but we appreciate RSVPs because it helps us know how many people to expect. RSVP HERE or Venmo @cafe-zing $8 with “reading party” in the description to reserve your spot.