Mumbai book lovers can spend a night among books at Bandra’s Title Waves

Participants will socialise, play literary games, and return with recommendations. ILLUSTRATION/ISTOCK

All book lovers are always thinking about opening a bookstore one day, or living in one. We find bookstores to be cosy spaces," says Ekta Bhandari, co-founder of Read A Kitaab book club. This idea led to the duo, Bhandari and Anurag Kothari, to plan an event called ‘Night at the Bookstore' on August 29 at Bandra's Title Waves, where readers get to spend a few hours late in the night with fellow readers. "What excites us most is the idea of experiencing a bookstore beyond its usual hours. At night, when the doors are closed, and the world goes quiet, a bookstore almost feels like a different place, more intimate, a little magical and completely ours," she tells us.

Readers at a previous book club meet-up. PIC COURTESY/Read A Kitaab

The store will be closed for the customers after 8 pm. Only the registered participants get to be inside. "We've planned activities that include reading together, curated literary games, readers finding clues, and book challenges." She hesitates to give away too much to avoid spoiling surprises saved for the participants. "The idea is to be among books," she shares. The club will also serve food and beverages, so that book lovers can be well-fed as they immerse themselves in a four-hour literary night.

Anurag Kothari and Ekta Bhandari

This is the first time they are hosting such an event. "Anurag and I have been friends, and thought of spreading the joy of reading; we've been reading in silos," she reveals. The club had its first session in Mumbai five years ago, and has since had monthly meet-ups and reading sessions in 12 cities including Delhi, Bengaluru, Pune and Lucknow, among others. They choose a theme every month. The members read books based on it and discuss it at their regular session. "This way, people always end up taking thousands of recommendations with them and bloating their TBRs," she says. This month's themes are ‘Partition literature' and ‘Women in Translation'.

Bhandari and Kothari are both full-time corporate employees, so running the club is a labour of love. They are excited that the special event's seats are filling fast, and have already begun thinking about bringing another edition in September. "What could be better than being surrounded by books, stories, conversations, and fellow readers till midnight? It's the kind of night we'd probably never want to end," Bhandari concludes.

ON August 29; 8 pm to 12.30 am
AT Title Waves, St Paul's Media Complex, Bandra West.
TO REGISTER 9082076420