Ask Demi Moore: book clubs offer emotional support, stress management for people in lockdown from Hollywood to Asia
- Online book clubs are seeing a surge in popularity, among celebrities and ordinary people, as book lovers under lockdown come together
- Reading relieves stress, and the clubs’ members offer each other emotional support and a community
While shut in their homes voluntarily or under lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic, savvy people around the world are joining online activities to stay healthy – physically and mentally. For many, it has been a time to rediscover their love of reading and unite with fellow bookworms through book clubs.
After the Indonesian government issued a stay-at-home order on March 27, Jakarta-based freelance journalist Sebastian Partogi moved to his family’s West Java home so he wouldn’t be alone. The 30-year-old is a regular member of the Baca Rasa Dengar (Read Feel Listen) book club in Jakarta, established in 2015.
While its monthly meetings usually take place in cafes, it migrated online in February, using the Zoom videoconferencing platform so members could see and talk to each other.
“Since the quarantine period, we committed ourselves to host weekly meetings to support one another emotionally,” says Partogi.
