A participant at The Quiet Chapter’s bookcation
At The Quiet Chapter bookcation, the 13-strong group would wake up in the morning, sit by a riverside and read, for hours, for three whole days.
But that’s what bookcations are all about, says architect Rajani Sashikanth, founder of Chennai-based book club, The Quiet Chapter. “Participants travel together to a quiet destination to just read. ” And it’s slowly gaining popularity, he says. People could choose where they wanted to sit in the resort,” says Rajani. “Most participants are avid readers, but we also get people who are still dipping their toes into reading,” says Radhika Nathani of LoveLitSociety, which recently organised their first bookcation to Puducherry . “Fourteen book lovers under one roof, with books, beach walks and three whole days away from real life” is how their advertised the trip. We wanted people to have the freedom to bring whatever they were currently reading, wanted to start, or simply wanted to spend some quiet time with,” says Radhika. The ambience is crucial for such trips, which is why she chose a quiet resort away from the beach at Goa, with just nine rooms and a river running alongside and a pool, says Rajani. “Because we were doing activities together and spending so much time with each other, we naturally got to know what everyone was reading,” says Rajani. At the LoveLitSociety bookcation too, they had a mix of fun bonding activities such as treasure hunts, and the group spent time exploring the town together, says Radhika. “We collaborated with Serendipity: The Change Foundation, an NGO based there, which sets up vegetable gardens in schools in Jaffna,” says Rajani. “We also host Sunday morning reading sessions and storytelling nights on full-moon days in Chennai. ” You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Chennai | Silver Rate in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai | Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Petrol Price in Chennai | Diesel Price in Chennai | CNG Price in Chennai | LPG Price in Chennai Stay updated with the latest Chennai news.
Who goes to Goa to read? “Some read in their rooms. “Everyone brought their own books. There is no compulsion to participate in formal book discussions at these retreats. A few activities were included such as visits to natural springs or experiencing local cuisine. “The idea was to give people freedom. If they wanted to join an activity, they could. If they wanted to stay back and read, they could do that too. For The Quiet Chapter, this is their third book retreat, after the first two in Kumbakonam and Jaffna, Sri Lanka. They also organised a storytelling night as part of the vacation, with storyteller Bigg Boss star Kani Thiru, which they opened to people in Jaffna as well. Download the TOI App.