Silent reading party, second appointment with silent readings in Bari: “You can read anything, the important thing is to leave your cell phone”

Fashion started from New York, and now arrives in Bari. I Silent reading party they are meetings in which you read, but only if you want to: the important thing is to maintain silence for a prolonged time, which is rare nowadays. Bari will have a Silent reading party on May 11th in a special place, the terrace of Palazzo Verrone in the old city. And the enthusiasm is there, given that within four hours it was sold out, with 50 people registering. “We have another 60 on the waiting list,” he adds, however Ilenia Caito.

She is behind the Silent reading party in Bari, but not only that: the idea comes from Bandelle Collective, which brings together some girls who are passionate about books. They met in a reading group coordinated by Caito, and between one discussion and another they decided to get together, “to promote reading in an absolutely unconventional way”. This is how we arrive at the Silent reading party: a first rehearsal took place last March 23rd at the headquarters of Atelier27but now we take advantage of the good weather and go outdoors.

We will meet on the terrace of Palazzo Verrone on May 11th at 5.30 pm, we will get to know each other by tasting food products prepared by Ferdy’s delicatessen (also gluten-free) and then the most awaited moment will arrive: our cell phones will be left in a basket, everyone will choose a place – a seat, a cushion, a towel – and he will start reading. What, you are free to choose: “Anything is fine, be it books or magazines, university texts or even sticker albums – adds Ilenia Caito – We will read for an hour, each on our own”. Afterwards we talk again, and we can compare ourselves with what we just read, or on any topic that comes to mind: “The cell phones will be taken back and there will be a moment of free sharing”.

Silent reading parties, apart from fashion, are a candidate to be precious events for those who want to meet other people – perhaps passionate about books – or simply escape from routine or daily commitments, putting the phone and notifications aside at least for a bit’. It is a different way of creating community, and moreover the reading groups – in the bookshops of Bari, and not only – also serve this purpose.

Ilenia Caito, who has been involved in promoting reading since 2010, and who after living in Milan preferred to return to Bari, currently leads eight groups between Bari and the province. He knows his readers well, for them and with them he organizes even unconventional events – like the book swap partyor the literary speed dates – and he knows that Silent reading parties can be important: “They are ways to try to attract people who are not strong readers – he explains – So far those who have booked are on average between 30 and 40 years old, with some peaks at the top and bottom low, and many of them gravitate towards reading groups.”

And among the unusual events that the Bandelle Collective has in mind for the next few months there is also a review of “non-presentations”: some well-known writers and personalities – Andrea Piva, Marcello Introna, Annamaria Ferretti And Licia Lanera – will meet the public to talk about books, but “other people’s books, those that have influenced them, that they have loved or hated”.

Despite being sold out, you can put yourself on the waiting list for the Silent reading party on May 11th (on Evenbrite; Palazzo Verrone is located in Strada Verrone 8, in Bari Vecchia), which is organized in partnership with La Content and Ferdy.