Date: 6 December 2025
Time: 19:30-22:00
Location: Varia, Gouwstraat 3

After a year of reading sessions organised in different spaces throughout Rotterdam; After many hours spent perched behind our laptops, writing, editing, 3d sculpting, designing, debating word-choices in the comment sections of online documents; After a month of tensely awaiting the arrival of our companions, our small but abundant books, we are thrilled to announce the launch of our publication ‘Why Read Together? On Companions, Co-conspirators, and Breathing Words’, published with HumDrumPress.

📖✨We invite all those longing for companionship in their love for the written (and spoken) word, those with a desire to conspire together towards building a different world, those who rejoice in breathing life into words through their voices and actions, to attend our book launch on Saturday December 6th from 19.30-22.00 at Varia. During the launch, we will be peering into the flesh and bones of the book in ways you wouldn’t expect. You are also welcome to ask us questions about the process of making the book and purchase a copy. There will be snacks, drinks, and delicious home-made cake!

The book documents the year-long reading curriculum we organised in 2024 that explored different social, political, and economic matters which affect our everyday lives. From the way protest chants travel across localities, to the language of gentrification, to the role of food in queer community building practices. This book includes playful reading methods such as performative storytelling, spatial reading choreographies, and critical neighbourhood walks, alongside a conversation on the urgency of collective reading.

The book has contributions by: Amy Gowen, Carla Arcos, Cultural Workers Unite, Julian Crestian, Katayun Taraporevala, KIOSK Rotterdam (Flip Driest), Lea Novi, Leomar Imperator, Queer Rotterdam (Sofia Carnelli), Queer Feminist Books (Sam Portnoy), Sami Hammana, Tomi, Christian and the volunteers of the Doe-Het-Zelf Werkplaats, Wibke Bramesfeld, WORKNOT! (Golnar Abbasi and Arvand Pourabbasi), and Yusser al Obaidi.

Compiled, written, and designed by Reading Rhythms Club (Senka Milutinović and Julia Wilhelm).