Sarah looking to ease lockdown blues by getting readers to join new book club
AS we head face into another potentially long lockdown, one Kilgarvan woman is looking to help people while away the long hours and days through reading.
Sarah Barron, who is from the UK originally but now well and truly settled in Kerry, is setting a new online book club this month; and she is looking for any fellow readers who are keen on a bit of escapism from the troubles of the world today to join her.
Sarah’s new club will start in the middle of this month and they will read a new book every six to eight weeks and then discuss it online, with the hope that when restrictions do ease, that people will be able to meet up in real life and form some friendships.
Speaking to The Kerryman last week, Sarah - who works as an independent organiser for the publisher, Usborne - told us all about the new club and why she hopes it won’t end when lockdown ends.
“What with the lockdown here and in the UK, I thought to myself, ‘what is something that I can do?’. I primarily deal with children’s books but I also have access to adult fiction so I wanted to try and do something different and for adults,” she said.
“Look, it might just help people keep busy and books are a brilliant form of escapism and it allows people to chat with people they wouldn’t normally chat with. Obviously in the local community when the restrictions ease, whenever that is, people will already know each other and they can meet up and so on and so forth. Really though, what better hobby to pick up during lockdown than reading?” she continued.
“I think something like is would be very important for mental health and those that are isolating,” she finished.
Membership will cost €10 every 8 weeks and everyone will keep the books that they purchase.
After a vote, the group has just chosen their first book and it is Holly Bourne’s ‘ The
Places I’ve Cried in Public’.
If you’d like to join or would like more information, you can message Sarah through her ‘Robin’s Cosy Corner’ Facebook message and she’ll give you all the details.
Additionally, Sarah is also currently running an online fundraiser in aid of Bumbleance and so far she has managed to raise just under €300 of her €500 target.
The link to the donation page can be found on Sarah’s ‘Robin’s Cosy Corner’ Facebook page as well.