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Lost City Books’ Meet Cute book club; courtesy of Jacinta Allee
Allee believes its success and high attendance prove how difficult it is to make friends as an adult. Book clubs, she says, are a way to do that. “Running the book club makes my presence in the bookstore, and also in D.C., feel much more solid and tangible,” says Allee. “It’s wonderful to be recognized. To be seen.”
Jack Kalil, a bookseller at Solid State who runs Books on Hands, the store’s newest book club to be conducted in American Sign Language for signers to discuss Deaf-focused literature, can relate to the pursuit of being seen and in community with others. Kalil received a degree in Deaf Studies at Gallaudet last year and began working at Solid State after graduating. Though he had no background in bookselling, Kalil is passionate about building community for Deaf and hard of hearing locals. Since he started working at the store, he’s realized Solid State’s power to promote education, community, and friendship. The shop has hosted other ASL events previously, but this is its first monthly book club conducted in ASL. Books on Hands will host its first meeting on Sunday, May 14. In preparation, the store has ordered more Deaf-authored work for patrons and book club members to check out.
“I hope the book club can be a welcoming environment for people with a range of experiences and signing abilities,” says Kalil. In Deaf culture, storytelling is a powerful tool to disseminate information, language, and lived experiences. Thus, Kalil hopes Books on Hands being conducted in ASL will help participants speak about not only the books being read but also share their own experiences and stories with each other. Traditionally, people join book clubs because they’re seeking spaces to convene and connect with others over a shared text. But it’s more than that. Queer Escapism, Meet Cute, and Books on Hands demonstrate that people are also seeking spaces to connect over shared experiences, interests, and identities, which has felt even more pressing in this COVID-altered world. So if you’re looking to find a community in the country’s loneliest city a book club might be the answer. There should be something for every reader
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