Here, we welcome silent readers, to gather in person to read in quiet camaraderie, and to share a bookish moment or two.
[Silent Book Club ~ Ottawa Chapter] Symbols and meanings and tropes, oh my!!
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We're well into Spring and moving swiftly (some say too swiftly!) into Summer, Reader. We've said hello and goodbye to a million tulips; we've seen magnolia and cherry blossoms bloom; we've seen forsythia go from bright yellow to deep and rich greens; and, we've already welcomed the unfurling of leaves on all the trees that surround us. As Summer approaches this month, lilacs will make themselves known with their bright purples, creams and pinks, and their strong and heady scent. Whether you enjoy them as they sit on the branch or collect them inside and into your favourite vase, the presence of lilac signals the beginning of our warmest season. Flowers have significant beauty and in some cultures, they have meanings and symbols that can be quite different. Of course, symbolism and meaning are subjective and traditional at best - and at worst can be confusing. The rose, the undeniable flower of June, has more symbolic meaning than many, with each colour taking on a different meaning. Red means love; and some say that yellow means friendship... others, infidelity! The lilac symbolizes the joy of youth and the hyacinth, depending on its colour, can symbolize playfulness, prayers or jealousy! It's not so different when we dive into a book that promises a rich story, no matter the genre. Whether they are tropes or allusions to past classic literature, whether we think of them as symbols or not, many writers rely on our understanding of some traditional meanings, to help convey stories and help move their plots forward. Enemies to lovers or the off-limits crush in romance, or time travel or dystopian society in science fiction (and there are countless more!) Authors count on us to have a sense of these at the back of our minds, in order to either satisfy our need for a predictable next scene, or to shock us with a plot twist. Yann Martel's Life of Pi offers up a twist in the narrator's retelling of his journey, to his rescuers. And Then There Were None, an Agatha Christie classic, has an unexpected twist of just who murdered who. Then there's For Whom the Belle Tolls (Hell's Belles, #1) by Jaysea Lynn, where the entire book is a huge twist on the afterlife - yet, it still contains some comforting character arcs. Are there tropes or symbols that you tend to gravitate to when reading your favourite books, Reader? Are there some that drive you a little nutty when they show up too often? What are some surprises you've encountered when traveling through the story of a book, when the author threw a curveball right in the centre of a trope or story line? Click reply and let me know! Warmly, and as always, bookishly, ~ nicole · · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · · Highlights Still fresh and new, the Kanata meetup: Kanata Brunch THREE brand new meetups join the list this month: The Downtown meetup is moving outdoors this month! Check the list below for all of the information. And as for the East End meetup, the Summer will see those fine folks meeting up on the fourth TUESDAY of each month; · · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · · JUNE 2026 MEETUPS 📆 Rather than a list of meetups, perhaps you'd prefer a calendar page. 📝 All meetups are available for signup here. ⭐ = NEW!
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Silent Book Club ~ Ottawa Chapter
Here, we welcome silent readers, to gather in person to read in quiet camaraderie, and to share a bookish moment or two.
November 2026 ph.cr.: [detail] G.Houston, CBC Dear Reader ~ Have you noticed the frost on spruce-tips and white, cloudy puffs of air rising as you speak? There have been a morning or two when these were some of the sights of Autumn. But today, as I type this, there is a warm, overcast weight in the air, while tomorrow promises bright, crisp sunshine. Such changing weather, keeping us on our toes. In the past month, I have had the adventurous pleasure of being part of a bookish event that I...
October 2026 Hello again, Reader ~ Please forgive the second email at the outset of this month.In listing the meetup information, I was a bit quick on the 'Enter' key and the 'Send' button. A couple of small errors slipped in and the list below has them corrected.Warmly, and of course as always, bookishly, ~ nicole · · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · · Please note... Our meetup list is growing,so please make sure to scroll down the the list of meetups below,to take note of the time and date changes...
October 2026 photo cr: UnSplash (Roman Khramov) Greetings, Reader ~ Fall colours are peeking into view and, as many say, they'll soon be peaking too! For now, in our part of the world, yellows are stealing the show, along with whispers of red. Soon, there will be a burst of golds, reds, and oranges too, from the green belt to the Gatineau hills, and everywhere in between. For some, Autumn is all about the colours. For others, it's about being the true New Year. We're one month in (as...