When this veil of sustained silent reading lifts, bookworms are free to stay and chat, or leave. One of these chapters is run by Megan Sampson, a 35 year-old executive assistant in Easton, MA.

A reader participates in Dorothy's Chicago-area silent reading club. There’s also no stress to read at a certain pace or by a certain date. “That is a beautiful thing if it works,” LaMora says.