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August 2, 2026 \u2014 7:24pm<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Ciara Thompson went to a popular city bar on Sunday but there were no flashing lights, shouted conversations or loud dance music. Nor was there any dancing.<\/p>\n Instead, the 25-year-old sat against a wall inside the packed venue and read a novel, as soft ambient music played.<\/p>\n But no one raised an eyebrow because everyone else was silently reading in the venue, Section 8 bar in Tattersalls Lane, in Melbourne\u2019s Chinatown, many sipping a beer or mocktail.<\/p>\n Welcome to Book Doof<\/a>, a mass reading event held in bars, pubs and clubs, which dubs itself a \u201crave for readers\u201d.<\/p>\n The music ranges from ambient to jazz and progressive rock, played at a slower beat with no lyrics. Entry is \u201cpay as you feel\u201d.<\/p>\n Towards closing time, Book Doof founder Grant Krupp invites readers to talk to each other.<\/p>\n Krupp said he was a keen nightclub-goer, but one day at a friend\u2019s party, he picked up a book.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought, \u2018Wouldn\u2019t it be great if I could have my friends together in a space where everybody read and nobody talked?\u2019\u201d Krupp said.<\/p>\n He said venues \u201clove it\u201d because Book Doof often runs at quiet times. Maz Salt, the owner of Section 8, said Book Doof was a \u201cfantastic concept\u201d and a way to diversify the business and support the community.<\/p>\n The name Book Doof is a play on the terms \u201cdoof doof\u201d, or electronic dance music, \u201cbush doof\u201d an outdoor dance party and \u201cpoof doof\u201d, a queer community event.<\/p>\n Since October, Krupp has run 12 Book Doofs in Melbourne, including one in May attended by more than 300 people at Prahran\u2019s Revolver nightclub.<\/p>\n On August 21, the State Library of Victoria will run a Book Doof in the Redmond Barry Room \u2013 a Library Up Late event for the Now Or Never Festival.<\/p>\n Sunday\u2019s Book Doof at Section 8 bar was the first in the CBD, and it proved a hit, attracting about 200 people over four hours.<\/p>\n It was the first Book Doof for Ciara Thompson, of Brunswick. \u201cI think it\u2019s fun to be in your own space but be around people at the same time,\u201d Thompson said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m more of an introverted person, so it\u2019s a different way of socialising.\u201d<\/p>\n Alex Nguyen, 29, of Preston, said nightclubs could be overwhelming with loud music, and it could be hard to make friends.<\/p>\n As a PhD student in the field of artificial intelligence Nguyen welcomes a break from staring at screens.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we\u2019ve all become more lonely, and we\u2019re all craving a third space [not home and not work] that social media and the internet have taken away,\u201d Nguyen said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Ian Koslow and Emily Han, of Nunawading, brought their son Aidan, 7, who read Anh Do\u2019s book Hot Dog!<\/p>\n Koslow was reading a historical novel, The Pagan Lord by Bernard Cornwell.<\/p>\n Koslow said Book Doof was lovely. \u201cBook reading is usually a solo thing, and this makes it into a social thing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Start the day with a summary of the day\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Fun](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/a3ddd5a63c8d114736030f629ef6ac98dfdb4d98.jpeg\")
Fun day out: Ciara Thompson reading a novel at Section 8 bar in Chinatown.Luis Enrique Ascui<\/p>\n![\"Reading](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/863a370c4eb15a8542bff11247fe4ef5ea112c3f.jpeg\")
Reading the room: Book Doof founder Grant Krupp pictured at Section 8 bar in Melbourne CBD.Luis Enrique Ascui<\/p>\n![\"Time](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/78fc67365e08a772a18423664ee6d1876b71f336.jpeg\")
Time out: PhD student Alex Nguyen loves both the reading and social side of Book Doofs.Luis Enrique Ascui<\/p>\n![\"Reading](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/bed7186e96e1df1fad6c8f768613706e6812253a.jpeg\")
Reading as a social activity: Ian Koslow brought his son Aidan, 7, to Book Doof.Luis Enrique Ascui<\/p>\n