Within the first few weeks of moving to Edinburgh to undertake the challenge of a Publishing MSc, I was eagerly digesting new information and combing through articles for class. One article, Booksellers as Placemakers (Institute of Place Management, 2022), stayed with me, particularly the idea of bookshops as third spaces for communities, highlighting the need for human interaction and connection. With abundant discussion about attending events and visiting bookshops, it struck me that I often treat reading as a solitary activity. With this in mind, I was curious to see what Edinburgh offered in terms of a bookish community.
In my search, I stumbled upon Open Book’s website. Open Book is a charity based in Edinburgh that runs over 1200 shared reading and creative writing sessions each year for various groups across Scotland. Their shared reading sessions display an effort to bring people and books together, no matter one’s age or background. Seeing that there was a shared reading group in Morningside Library, with no prior booking required, I resolved to attend a session.
Morningside Shared Reading Group takes place on Mondays from 2 – 3 pm, but you can check which locations and times suit your needs on Open Book’s website. Upon entering the library, I was directed to a round table where I was welcomed by the Lead Reader and introduced to the regular attendees. As we chatted, it became apparent that this was an important source of community for the women who dedicate their time to weekly sessions. They knew each other’s habits, informing me why someone might miss this week, how someone is probably running late, perhaps because her grandson who drops her off might have hit traffic. There was warmth, familiarity and friendship.
Once everyone was present and accounted for, we jumped into the main session, reading a short story from Margaret Atwood’s Old Babes in the Wood (Vintage Publishing). “Bad Teeth” followed two life-long friends, Lynne and Csilla, reminiscing about old tales. We used a popcorn-reading system, which transported me back to primary school as a small child. This led into discussions of the story, with the attendees comparing their own memories similar to Atwood’s, of go-go boots and short skirts in the 1960s, asking me for my own opinions of today’s clothes, allowing me to share my perspective. Together, we mapped what may have changed from when they were in their twenties to women in their twenties now.
Usually, a poem follows the short story. On this occasion, the Lead Reader recited “Oh, I Wish I’d Looked After Me Teeth” by Pam Ayres, which was also reminiscent of being in primary school. We chuckled along to this together, shared fears of dentists, who did and did not have fillings, and even the different types of fillings one could get.
I forgot how much fun reading aloud can be, injecting personality into characters, stealing laughter from others with your choice of inflection and dramatisation. As well as the added fun, there is research that proves how shared reading has a powerful impact on physical and mental health. I left the session with a smile on my face, new book recommendations and reassurance that there are organisations fostering community in Edinburgh. I will definitely be back to enjoy reading aloud and together, with Open Book.
by Clara Burns
Sources
“About Us.” Open Book, openbookreading.com/#aboutus. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.
Atwood, Margaret. “Bad Teeth.” Old Babes in the Wood. Vintage Publishing (Penguin Books UK), 2023.
Gregory, Chris et al. Booksellers as Placemakers: The Contribution of Booksellers to the Vitality and Viability of High Street. Institute of Place Management at Manchester Metropolitan University, February 2022. booksellers.org.uk, https://booksellers.org.uk/BookSellers/media/Booksellers/Booksellers-as-Placemakers-for-website.pdf.
“Morningside Library.” Facebook, 14 Jul. 2023, http://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=658475722985152&set=a.658475696318488&locale=en_GB. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.
“Pam Ayres – I Wish I’d Looked After My Teeth.” YouTube, uploaded by Pam Ayres MBE, 20 Jul. 2023, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wif1OaM-_W8.
“Shared Reading in Health and Social Care.” The Reader, http://www.thereader.org.uk/shared-reading/shared-reading-in-health-and-social-care/. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.
