Connecting through horror: Liverghouls Book Club’s Story 

Melek: Although I had lived in Liverpool for half a decade (mind you, we moved shortly before lockdown) I still felt like I hadn’t found a community for myself. I had tried Bumble but I never felt comfortable with the whole “dating” part of it so I reflected back to when I lived in Germany. There I was part of a little horror film club that would meet bi-weekly to watch a film at someone’s house. In my head, horror created a certain kind of solidarity, people facing fears together, so a friend and I decided to start our own film club in Liverpool. This one was a bit grander than what I knew: we did monthly screenings at a brewery which was fun and although I had fun drinking and watching films with people, I was still craving deeper connections. So, I decided to do a little spin off of our film club, and after a few iterations, the Liverghouls book club came to be!

Michelle: I found the Liverghouls through Instagram. Friends of mine joined early meetings, so I asked them what the atmosphere was like and looked at the book choices before I went to a meeting – only because I wasn’t sure I wanted to join another book club! I’ve found a few social groups via Instagram and other social platforms because it’s easy enough to follow along for a while before you jump into it. When I discovered they were due to read a book I was really excited about, I decided to go along, and I haven’t looked back since!

Melek: The first (and most important) reason for the creation of the book club was that I had an incredibly long TBR (To Be Read) list but no pressure to read them! Secondly (and actually more importantly), I just wanted a book group that was welcoming, but also open to different opinions. The previous book clubs I was part of always felt a bit too high-brow for me – I wanted to get back into analysing books but I also didn’t want to feel bad for not understanding or noticing something. I wanted to feel like I could look at the book again with other people’s opinions in my mind, try to see it from a different angle. I also wanted to have a space where people like me, who like horror but aren’t very “alternative” (as is the stereotype), can just be themselves and connect.

I want to talk about the horror of hangnails in Black Swan AND I want to talk about nail art without having to mask myself!

Michelle: I love meeting likeminded people and when you join a group where people have similar interests to you – in this case, reading horror books – it gives you an automatic in and easy built-in conversation. As someone who finds it difficult to initiate conversation with people I don’t know, I really value having something that reduces nervousness by having a conversational touchstone like talking about a book we’ve all read. I am a big reader and member of several book clubs, so I know that not all book clubs are created equal and my expectations weren’t all that high, after having some subpar experiences! I was looking for a book club that would influence me to read a variety of horror books – a genre I had recently dipped my toe back into after several years – and discuss them with a good group of people. I had no idea that it would turn out to be much more than that.

Melek: When the book club came to be, I was going through workplace discrimination and also losing a family member. Having a hive in which I could crawl into, in which I could blend in and didn’t have to pick up any slack, was what I needed at that time. Sure, I was running the book club but once the conversation started, I couldn’t stop it even if I wanted to! I was making friends with similar interests or similar vibes but the friendships were slowly forming, like it used to happen in school, where you’d see each other every day and slowly get to know each other in a laissez-faire intimate manner.

It happening this way has built connections for me that are rich in quality and quantity.

Michelle: Over the past year, the group has really expanded into a community, chatting via WhatsApp between meetings, watching horror films together, buddy reading books separate to the monthly book club choices, going on daytrips and nights out, having drinks and even getting together to do crafting! People will often start messages on the WhatsApp group chat with ‘I don’t know if anyone else will be interested in this, but’, only to find out they are not alone in an interest they thought was niche… I love that people feel comfortable enough to be themselves and share their passions. Thanks to this book club, I have seen films I may have not seen otherwise, I went to my first alternative LBGTQIA+ cabaret and drag night and have had some unexpected conversations, all the while having good laugh doing it.

Melek: If you like something or are good at something and you want to create connections – put yourself out there! I’m pretty sure this is advice people get all the time, but that’s what I had to do. It’s an act that makes you vulnerable but anything that’s worth having is worth putting effort in. And even if it’s only one person who turns up at the first meetup, don’t worry! Our numbers of 15-20 people every month grew steadily over 2 years. On the first night of the club, we pretended that my husband wasn’t someone we knew but rather a new member, because sometimes you gotta fake the numbers to make people feel comfortable.

Michelle:

As scary as it seems, you can only create connection by putting yourself out there.

Do your research and find for groups that interest you. It doesn’t have to be a book club, it can be something social, the dreaded singles night, a quiz night, learning a new skill… almost anything can create connection. For a book club, try to find out if the things that are important to you are reflected in the group, like if books chosen and the membership are diverse, if the organisers are open to being asked questions and accommodating needs. If you can’t get to in-person groups due to accessibility, financial or other reasons, virtual and accessible options do exist. Another book club I attend meets online and people’s ability to take part isn’t hampered by not meeting in person, so please don’t let the typical group structures stop you from seeking connection. You might not find a gem like the Liverghouls Horror Book Club on your first try but keep trying because feeling connected is worth it!