Spotlight: Silent Book Club of Death NYC
We knew Silent Book Clubs were a work of art, but this exceeds expectations.
This will be a topic-specific Silent Book Club, called Silent Book Club of Death.
Much like regular Silent Book Clubs, this meeting will involve reading with pleasant bookworms in companionable silence, with a twist: if you choose to, you can read books on death, dying, grief, aging, mortality, and chat about death awareness in good company. Bring your own book, or books on the theme will be available for you to peruse.
Silent Book Club of Death was founded in Los Angeles in 2022 by deathcare professionals Catherine of Death Project Manager, Lisa Pahl of The Death Deck, Stefanie Elkins of Be Present Care, and Natalie Noel of Heavenly Mist Death Doula. It has expanded to over 16 chapters and pop ups globally; founder Catherine of Death Project Manager happily offers tips and encouragement for those seeking to grow their own chapters. Catherine has founded and organized chapters of Silent Book Club since 2017. In launching Silent Book Club of Death, she connected with the organizers of global Silent Book Club to create the first topical spin off of Silent Book Club; there are now other themed Silent Book Clubs around the world.
Silent Book Club of Death NYC was started by death doula and artist Lauren Seeley in Brooklyn in 2023 and has expanded across New York City. Lauren is a prolific reader of books on death, disposition, anatomy, grief, and more, and was looking for a book club where she could discuss her reading interests around these topics. As she was unable to find one, she came across Death Project Manager’s Instagram post for a Silent Book Club Of Death meetup in Los Angeles. She reached out to founder Catherine who encouraged her to start her own meetup in NYC.
Two years later, Silent Book Club of Death NYC is a gathering for deathcare professionals, as well as the morbidly curious. Meetings occur at various places of disposition and death-themed spaces such the historic Green-Wood Cemetery, Morbid Anatomy Library, Sparrow: A Contemporary Funeral Home, gothic-themed and queer-owned coffee shops, and now, The Met Cloisters.
Silent Book Club of Death NYC at the Met Cloisters will take place on July 2nd from 2 - 5PM. The event is free, but registration is required.
We look forward to reading with you in the sepulchral silence of the Cloisters!