Sit & Read is a virtual book club with multiple deadlines and reminder throughout the month to help you (and me) stay on track. We have Zoom meetings and a Discord, and you can use either to participate.
I pick the books and deadlines based on my own availability and interests. Currently, I’m really enjoying stories with light speculative elements, absurdist twists, and gritty vibes. I’m not into hardcore sci-fi or YA, so you won’t catch us reading “Bruno and Desmond Briefly Defy the Laws of Physics” or whatever.
This book club is queer/trans-run but all identities are welcome to join. It is free to participate, apart from the cost of acquiring the book. I highly recommend asking your local librarian for a copy.
For more info on joining, subscribe to my newsletter. Sit & Read is a part of Collective Lit.
I pick the books and deadlines based on my own availability and interests. Currently, I’m really enjoying stories with light speculative elements, absurdist twists, and gritty vibes. I’m not into hardcore sci-fi or YA, so you won’t catch us reading “Bruno and Desmond Briefly Defy the Laws of Physics” or whatever.
This book club is queer/trans-run but all identities are welcome to join. It is free to participate, apart from the cost of acquiring the book. I highly recommend asking your local librarian for a copy.
For more info on joining, subscribe to my newsletter. Sit & Read is a part of Collective Lit.
BOOKS
February: Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
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March: Triple feature! Three short/fast reads about weird workplace situations.
Several People Are Typing by Calvin Kasulke
The Room by Jonas Karlsson
We Had to Remove This Post by Hanna Bervoets
Several People Are Typing by Calvin Kasulke
The Room by Jonas Karlsson
We Had to Remove This Post by Hanna Bervoets
April: The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan
May: A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
Frequently Asked Questions
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 guild-inducing.
Do I have to use Discord?
Definitely not. Discord is a great way to exchange resources, ideas, and recommendations with other members in between meeting dates, but you won't miss much if you skip it. All important book club info will always be shared via email too. But if you want to join our Discord, you can email me at collectivelit@substack.com to request an invite link.
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 collectivelit@substack.com.
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 aren't we reading ______?
Because I am in charge of picking the books. While I may periodically ask for your input on book selection, I am going to make executive decisions based on my own personal literary preferences. Not into my selections? No worries. I can recommend some other book clubs that might suit you better, or give you some tips on starting your own book club.
Are there rules?
Rules, guidelines, call them whatever you want. But yes. Our "community expectations" are as follows:
What if I have a question you haven't answered here?
Email me at collectivelit@substack.com
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 guild-inducing.
Do I have to use Discord?
Definitely not. Discord is a great way to exchange resources, ideas, and recommendations with other members in between meeting dates, but you won't miss much if you skip it. All important book club info will always be shared via email too. But if you want to join our Discord, you can email me at collectivelit@substack.com to request an invite link.
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 collectivelit@substack.com.
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 aren't we reading ______?
Because I am in charge of picking the books. While I may periodically ask for your input on book selection, I am going to make executive decisions based on my own personal literary preferences. Not into my selections? No worries. I can recommend some other book clubs that might suit you better, or give you some tips on starting your own book club.
Are there rules?
Rules, guidelines, call them whatever you want. But yes. Our "community expectations" 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 am down to 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 on this call 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 collectivelit@substack.com
