FEATURES
Meet The M'sian Who Started Her Own Book Club Because She Couldn't Find One
Seeing someone read on public transport is a rare sight nowadays, and many bookstores have shuttered such as Borders which ceased operations in the country last year.
But are books making a comeback? Last year, the CEO of publishing giant Bloomsbury said they were because streaming prices were getting more expensive. BookTok, the corner of TikTok dedicated to all things literary, is also a thing. There has also been a new wave of celebrity book clubs, with model Kaia Gerber, actress Emma Watson, and pop singer Dua Lipa jumping on the bandwagon.
KLite Rishika Lazarus, a self-professed bibliophile, is one such individual who is hoping to share her love of reading with others through her newly founded Rish’s Book Club. Rojak Daily spoke to the 27-year-old to learn more about the gatherings of lovers of the written word.
.png)
Image Credit: @rishsbookclubRish, who started reading at the age of four and avidly in primary school, said, “I remember going to bookshops like MPH, Borders, and Kinokuniya with my parents almost every other weekend to buy new books. I was so excited when MPH offered membership cards to children and I begged my dad to let me have one.”
Citing romantic comedy as her favourite genre, as well as Roald Dahl and Cecilia Ahern amongst her favourite authors, she now boasts over 500 books in her personal collection.
This love of books for over two decades inspired her to start her book club, which held its first event on February 17, 2024. Rish, a full-time Speech and Language therapist, explains that the club is not a money-making venture but a passion project for now. She first made a video discussing her idea to start one, which garnered interest.
@rishlazarus Finally starting my own bookclub ? If you’re keen to start reading more this year as well as meeting new people this is the place for you ? DM me ‘BOOKCLUB’ to my instagram @rishlazarus and we’ll take it from there ? I’ve already got the first book in mind ? If you’re based in the UK check out @Lucy Ellis ‘s book club! also @Dododots Pimple Patches to the rescue for the uninvited guest on my face ? #booktok #booktokmalaysia #kualalumpur #foryoupage #fyp #bookclubtiktok #bookclub ♬ original sound - Rish ?
“I’ve always wanted to be a part of a book club and was inspired to start my own when I saw that Lucy, my friend from the UK started one called Lucy’s Book Club. I love the concept of having meaningful and thought-provoking conversations about literature, all while networking, too. Making friends in adulthood can be challenging, so I’m hoping this could be an avenue to aid that,” Rish said.
Hitting the books
.png)
Image Credit: @rishsbookclubThe meet-ups are held throughout the Klang Valley, typically up to 30 pax joining each session. They typically last for around two hours, “It starts with a quick speech and an ice breaker before moving on to food and drinks, followed by the actual discussion. After that, I round up everyone’s thoughts, and the meetings are adjourned” explained Rish.
A fair amount of work goes into the events, so it’s definitely something one needs passion for. “First, I need to decide on a venue, date and time that can accommodate a big group”, said Rish.
She also works with the venues to provide light snacks and refreshments (there is a small fee to join each meeting), makes her own floral arrangements to decorate the space, and prepares the discussion points with help from the members.
Rish pointed out the difference between reading a book with others and reading one on your own. She said, “I find it so fun because, even while reading, if there’s a monumental or interesting moment, I start thinking about how the other members would have felt about it. There is also the accountability factor, knowing that I must finish the book because I have a meet-up on the way.”
.png)
Image Credit: @rishsbookclubMost of the members are also female, but Rish said, “I think males are definitely keen to join book clubs. However, it could just be that my book club reading choices don’t appeal to them. I have male friends who commented that they find my book club pretty cool but prefer to read other types of books.”
Some of the books that the club has read together so far include ‘I Want to Die, But I Want To Eat Tteokbokki’ by Baek Sehee, ‘Normal People’ by Sally Rooney, ‘Tuesdays with Morrie’ by Mitch Albom, and ‘Days at the Morisaki Bookshop’ by Satoshi Yagisawa. Besides reading, they also recently included a pottery painting workshop and plan to have other similar activities in the near future.
Touching on the feedback from members, Rish said, “Everyone I’ve talked to has been enjoying them. The main takeaway I’ve gotten from them is that they’re grateful to have a space to connect with other readers and, for some, just an opportunity to get out of their comfort zone and meet new people.”
She added, “It also helps that the book and the discussion help to break the ice or any awkwardness that can be felt sometimes with meeting new people, and eventually the conversations start to flow naturally.”
Are people lost to social media for good?
.png)
Image Credit: @rishsbookclubRish weighed in with her thoughts on the subject, saying, “I think that the interest in reading is pretty prevalent and definitely not lost. In fact so many people still read but just don't ‘post’ about it on social media.”
“I think that many people have also opted for Kindles or online versions of books versus physical books, and therefore, maybe people are reading in public, but we are mistaking it for them using their devices for other purposes,” she added.
The next chapter
Looking ahead, Rish said, “I would love to partner with Reese’s Book Club (by actress Reese Witherspoon) one day, but whether or not it will take the route that Reese has taken…I guess we just have to wait and see,” she laughed.
Meanwhile, Rish also shared that in the future, she foresees the club being more than just about books and that she plans to expand the monthly meetups into other potential social events.
Must-Watch Video