SIT & READ

A BOOK CLUB FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED DEADLINES

7/27/24: Sit & Read is currently on hiatus, and will return when my schedule is less full!
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Sit & Read is a virtual book club with multiple deadlines and reminders throughout the month to help you (and me) stay on track. We read speculative literary fiction with absurdist twists and/or gritty vibes.

This book club is free to join, apart from the cost of acquiring the book. I highly recommend patronizing your local library. For more info, subscribe to my newsletter or follow me on Instagram. Sit & Read is a part of Collective Lit.

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Do I have to attend every meeting?
No, though I find regular attendance helps me stay on track with my reading goals. You never need to apologize for missing meetings — this is supposed to be fun, not guilt-inducing.

Do I have to use Discord?
Definitely not. Most of our discussions take place over Zoom. Discord is an alternative, asynchronous way to engage.

Can my friend/cousin/neighbor join?
If you feel like they know how to act in a group setting, then yes! Send your friend/cousin/neighbor a link to this page, and/or have them send an email to [email protected].

Is this a queer/trans book club?
Not really. I am queer/trans, and therefore many attendees are too. But this group is open to everyone, as long as they're able to participate in good faith discussions about books and demonstrate respect for other members.

Why are(n't) we reading ______?
Because I'm in charge of picking the books. I may periodically ask for your input on book selection. Not into my picks? I'd be happy to recommend another book club.

Are there rules?
Yes. Our "community guidelines" are as follows:

No spoilers: It’s fine if you’ve read the book before, but most of us haven’t. Please be careful not to spoil the parts we haven’t read yet! All hail the Deadlines!
Assume full humanity: My hope is that by “assuming full humanity” we might engage with the assumption that there are things about each other (traumas, neurodivergences, etc) that we may never know or understand. That doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to feel hurt or frustrated when someone says/does something off-putting, but rather a suggestion that we all do what we can to deescalate and keep the conversation moving. If something truly egregious happens, I will intervene — but so far, this has not been an issue.
Speak from the personal: It would be wise not to assume a shared politic, ethic, education, or understanding of the world. Be thoughtful when you employ words like “we” or “us”.
Leave some air for others: Conversation, speculation, real-time analysis, and ranting is all well and good. But if you monologue for more than 5 minutes consecutively, I will interrupt you to make space for others to weigh in.
Define your terms: If you catch yourself making literary references or using academic terms/concepts that aren’t widely known, please provide a little context for the group. Your ideas are interesting and we want to understand what you’re talking about.
Ask the silly questions: If you’re confused, you’re probably not the only one. If you prefer to ask anonymously, DM me the question in the chat and I’ll ask on your behalf.
You’re the expert on You: I've never read this book before, which means I can't offer any trigger warnings. I encourage you to do your own research if needed. If at any point during our conversations you feel overwhelmed, distressed, or otherwise unwell, I strongly encourage you to step away, log off, take a break, or whatever else helps you self-regulate. You are the only person in our group who knows how to take care of you.
There is no teacher: My role here is organizer/facilitator, not teacher. Sure, I’ve read a handful of books in my life, but I do not know everything and am bound to be wrong at least some of the time. You are welcome to challenge me, correct me, and offer constructive feedback.

What if I have a question you haven't answered here?
Email me at [email protected]