What is the best
memory you have associated with this group?
Ifrah Waqar: Often during our book club meetings there comes
a point when everyone is active, everyone is talking and cutting in to each
other. It’s a very ‘Menay jo book parhi
us k baray mein suno, forget about the world’ type of environment, we start
interrupting each other’s sentences because we want to talk about our books, or
if the person in front of us is talking about a book we’ve read we’re eager to
give our opinion about it. I think that’s the best part, where we can’t help
but get overwhelmed.
The Introduction
KHIBookSwap is that rare entity that exists solely based on
the passion of those who read. Formed by Farman Shams and Ifrah Waqar in August
2014, KHIBookSwap is nothing more and nothing less than a gathering of people
who like to read and are equal parts astonished and gratified to encounter
those in our country who love it as much as they do. With once-a-month meet ups
held in various corners of Karachi, a number of new and old readers will
converge on the designated spot with a book chosen from the topic selected for
that month (ranging from particular genres like thrillers to particular authors
like Paulo Coelho to specifications like books-adapted-into-movies). People
exchange books, they eat a little food, and then they get to talk about more
books! Sounds like bliss.
Why You Should Be Interested
Book clubs are a recent trend in the country, and while it’s
well and good for organizations, schools and institutions to hold literary meetings,
there is something charming in the idea of a bunch of people who are meeting
only because they like to read and nothing else. Most of these people never
knew each other before KHIBookSwap; they have met over Twitter, or been
recommended to this group by an acquaintance, or accidentally stumbled into
this bewildering world of enthusiastic readers in Karachi on their own. With varying
jobs and ages, there’s almost an endless supply of ideas, opinions and best of
all, recommendations. If you like to read, and you can’t find anyone else to
gush over your favourite book about, then I suggest you start here.
The Location
https://www.facebook.com/groups/KHIBookSwap/
- Facebook
https://twitter.com/KHIBookSwap-
Twitter
https://instagram.com/khibookswap/
-Instagram