From Reading to cherishing bonds: The Significance of Community Reading

Reading: A Solitary Activity

Reading has often been a solitary activity. We read and get hooked by the characters of a story. Then we set off on an adventurous journey, and there is no looking back till the last page. We flip through the pages, analyse texts, parse through the syntax of words written, read between the lines, and form an interpretation from the words unsaid. Silence heaves an inaudible sigh with only rustles of pages making their presence felt.

Storytelling: A Precursor to community reading

Community reading or reading in a group is a byproduct of storytelling. Storytelling became the driving force to be informed and conscious of our experiences so that it can be regaled with enriching forms of entertainment and dramatic composition in front of an audience later. Sitting around a storyteller with curious ears gave way to discussion of the stories narrated. Gradually, with more access to written forms of texts and written material, the concept of reading grew popular. Teachers narrated the stories of famous authors, and students were encouraged to participate in the reading, comprehension, and a group discussion.

The Origin of Reading in a Group

Research takes us down the lane of the past, where civilizations like Mesopotamia practiced community reading. People shared clay tablets inscribed with cuneiform script. The civilization raised not only readers, but the community reading in it shows that it encouraged people to be thinkers and empathizers. This practice of reading in a group helped one hear others’ perspectives and empathize with their thoughts and learnings.

According to Somerset Maugham, a revered author of his times, storytelling began when the hunter narrated to his fellows, by the cavern fire, after they had eaten and drunk their fill, some fascinating incident he had heard or witnessed during the day.

Reading by myself comforted me

For much of my life, I had been a solitary reader who found solace in reading alone. I found comfort in the company of characters. I spoke with fictional characters in my head and tried resolving their conflict. I was content with my interpretations and never felt a need to understand others’ perspectives. But reading clubs changed me. And I started believing in the power of community reading.

Until I read aloud

This belief was further strengthened when I introduced books to my daughter. Reading aloud to her opened up more opportunity to develop and establish a bond with her. I understood what she liked more and how she thought and expressed my views on the story. This continuous exchange unlocked the doors to learning and expression in a cohesive way. Distributive reading became a routine where she read one page and I read the next. The ‘us time’ made me pause and reflect, which further helped me make new neural connections.

The push came to shove: How communities became a new normal

When crisis falls mercilessly at our doorstep, we cannot shrug it away, but we can try managing it in unique ways. When going out got tough, we built our own world inside the four walls. Socialising in these pockets became the new norm, and thus the community concept became the buzz and fizzed in all of us in effervescence. That closed the doors for sure but opened up many avenues to gather in groups and carry out the shared interests. Fitness practitioners formed yoga groups to share and cultivate strength and flexibility. Food connoisseurs promoted their recipes and satisfied the respite-yearning masses whose tempers were always frayed because of the unending house, child, and professional chores. Community reading became our way to find a breathing space between hearth and humdrum.

Shared stories, enriching insights: 5 gems of community reading

• Unpacks varied perspectives: Reading with people helps discover deep hidden motives and emotions in the text, which you might have missed reading earlier. It is good to know different perspectives and interpretations for the same topic. Each reader comes up with the opinions and views based on their frame of reference and lived-in experiences.

•  Develops empathy: You start putting yourself in others shoes. And you understand that one size doesn’t fit all. You give wide berth for other ideas to dwell even if those don’t seem agreeable to you. Fostering a safe place for discussions where everyone feels comfortable sharing their thoughts.

• .Makes you a confident speaker: It is not about reading alone, but it reflects a holistic growth in you. You are not confined to your own thoughts, but you engage with other readers who bring out the best in you. The more you talk about the books you read, the more chances you will turn out to be a confident speaker. Community reading is a public speaking class in disguise.

• Widens your social environment: When you are reading with a community, you interact with the people around you. You break free from the comfort of your cocoon. This gives you a chance to socialise with others in the community and show up for them. Community reading increases your interpersonal skills and enhances your social health.

• Multisensory experience: Reading with a community indeed offers a rich, multisensory experience that:
• Engages multiple senses: sight, sound, touch, and even emotions
• Activates the brain's reward system, releasing feel-good chemicals like dopamine
• Fosters neural connections, promoting cognitive growth and development

In the cavemen days, humans, as social beings, leaned on each other for support and safety from predators. We moved in herds, and that was the survival mechanism. Now the landscape has not changed much, but we have evolved to seek not only safety and support but also a wholesome experience that helped us connect, share, and grow.