[Feature: New Theory of Reading] <Scenes of Reading> "Reading Groups" as a Form of Reading / Asayo Takii

2020/05/11

In March 2016, I started the "Luxurious Reading Group" at a shared space called "BUKATSUDO" in Minato Mirai, Yokohama. I took on the role of moderator at the request of Ayako Kimura, who plans various bookstore events.

While there are many ways to run a reading group, the characteristics of the "Luxurious Reading Group" are that it consists of a two-part set, with each session lasting two hours, and that the author of the assigned book appears as a guest in the second part. The maximum number of participants is 20. In the first part, everyone shares their impressions, and in the second part, we ask the author questions based on the topics that came up during the first session. I consult with Ms. Kimura regarding the authors, and the assigned books are chosen based on the latest releases or the author's preference. The genres vary widely, from so-called pure literature to entertainment fiction.

Actually, until then, although I had experience moderating talk events, I had never participated in a reading group. For that reason, I was anxious at first. What if no one speaks? What if someone starts talking only about themselves?

What I realized during the first part, which I approached with nervousness, was that many of the participants were far more nervous than I was (though some were relaxed). At that moment, I told myself to "be friendly." My role is to put all the participants at ease. However, perhaps because there are many working adults, the first thing that surprised me was how well everyone spoke. Quite a few people say, "I can't get my thoughts together," but I often want to say, "No, no, you're making a very sharp point!" or "You're much better at verbalizing your impressions than I am!" Of course, if there is someone who is truly bad at speaking, it is my role to follow up and support them.

As we held more sessions, the specific progression became established. Part 1: Distribution of a simple summary I created → brief self-introductions by each person → explanation of the author and work by me → exchange of opinions while each person shares their impressions and views → finally, filling out a questionnaire with things they want to ask the author. Part 2: Proceeding by asking the author questions based on the questionnaires. Recently, I have asked the authors to provide a question for the participants, which each person answers during their self-introduction at the start of Part 2. The questions are simple, such as "What would you want to eat for your last supper?", and they serve as a good warm-up for the participants.

Sometimes we have the author do a reading or show us reference materials and creative notebooks. In the session where Yu Nagashima's "Neta Ato ni" (After Sleeping) was the assigned book, we all tried the "What is that?" game that appears in the work during the first part, and it was one burst of laughter after another.

The gender ratio and age range of participants vary by session. While there are many fans of the guest author, surprisingly, there are also people who say, "I've always wanted to join a reading group" or "I wanted to start a reading habit," and are reading the author's work for the first time. Until now, I personally had few opportunities to discuss impressions of books with others. I would talk with editors I am close to, but those were conversations between people who knew each other well and shared a common love for novels.

However, a reading group is different. Everything from the obsessive readings of the author's devoted fans to the simple impressions of first-time readers that make me think, "I never saw it from that perspective," comes flying out. There might be a mystery lover who picks up elements of a puzzle from a work of pure literature, or someone who reacts to parts that overlap with their own experiences. Sometimes the feelings of like or dislike for the same character are completely different depending on the person. It makes me realize how broadly and shallowly I have been reading, and conversely, how I have only been using a "practiced way of reading." I learned for the first time in the reading group how interesting it is to hear other people's impressions. The guest authors also tell me it was a "valuable experience," likely because they can listen closely to the raw voices of their readers.

It's not that there are no obvious misreadings or distortions. However, as the moderator, I try not to deny them and instead invite opinions from other participants. Even if opinions are divided, it is not a place to compete over right and wrong or winning and losing, so I don't try to force a resolution. However, there were times when I asked someone asserting an unusual interpretation, "Why do you think so?" and they only replied, "Just because," leaving things vague with a "I see..." I often find myself reflecting on the train ride home, thinking, "I should have moderated that better."

Even so, now that new reading groups are being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I find myself wanting to be back in that space soon. There is the joy of hearing various impressions of the assigned book, but what I find irresistible is how the personality and life of each participant come into view as we discuss our impressions. People connected by a single book have different personalities, lead different lives, hold different emotions, and have different impressions. A reading group is also a place that allows us to see the real faces of various human beings.