Two readers, one book and a shared idea: Pia Kandarajah and Eva Telemachou went from familiar faces at school to book club co-founders after they spotted each other reading the same book, Dolly Alderton’s ‘Everything I Know About Love’. What started as a post-read debrief quickly evolved into the beginning of their book club, To Be Read.
“Our intention was [to have] our six friends in a pub once a month but when we started posting content, it turned out there were a lot of people in Sydney who also wanted to come together and chat about books,” says Eva. “We went from six friends and a pub to over 200 people expressing interest in our second month of book club. We never expected it to become what it is.”
We spoke with Eva and Pia to find out how they create the perfect book club event, how they collaborate together while managing their busy schedules, and the tech devices that help make it all happen.
E-Readers for Reading On The Go
When it comes to the print book versus digital e-reader debate, Eva and Pia see the best in both.
“I love physical books, like the crackling of your spine, the smell,” says Pia. “I also love to go to places like the beach with a physical book and it gets sand in it or a little wet and [it will remind you of those moments] because it's got traces of where you took it.”
“We both have a Kobo, which we love. For travel, when it isn't conducive to carrying two or three 300-page books, that's where it is really practical,” says Eva. “You can upload PDFs to it and you can connect to your local library and then download and borrow books, which is so good.”
Portable Speaker for Setting the Mood at Book Club Events
Music is an important part of creating the right mood at To Be Read events, but it’s also an essential for Eva and Pia when it comes to getting organised in the lead-up.
“Having a speaker playing music at events helps to set the tone for the evening,” says Pia. “Not having a speaker [has a huge impact], or if something goes wrong technically; you really feel it when there’s no music in the room,” says Eva.
“[For events like] book swaps, we’ll often have to put aside a couple of hours to wrap the books, write the blurbs and we try to make that a little bit meditative by playing music on the speaker,” says Eva.
Action Camera for Capturing Authentic, Candid Footage
For Eva and Pia, it’s paramount they maintain an organic atmosphere for people to chat and connect at their events, which is why they swear by using a small action camera for capturing content for their social media channels.
“Sometimes when you’re filming with a phone, it’s really distracting. If you're in a conversation with someone else and you see a phone being raised out of the corner of your eye [to film], it’s a little uncomfortable. [An action camera] is so discreet – you can just walk around the room and film. And the quality is incredible,” says Eva.
Tripod for Streamlining Social Content
When it comes to filming social content, like their monthly reading recaps, Eva and Pia find they’re in need of a bit of extra support. This is where the trusty tripod comes in handy.
“When we are filming, it’s often just the two of us, so a tripod is super helpful and it also alleviates any issues of trying to find the right spot to prop your phone or camera,” says Pia. “We have quite a compact one, which is helpful [for portability],” says Eva.
![An Otto wireless lapel microphone with clip‑on mic and open charging case showing a digital battery level, shown against a light purple background.[H2] Lapel Microphone for Clear Audio in Noisy Spaces](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6152909339c5938b8fdca638/69bc6bce76dafe85a49c38f7_OWT175_to-be-read-book-club-lapel-mic_900x600.jpg)
Great audio is an essential part of engaging online content. The tried and true hero of capturing clear audio? A humble lapel microphone.
“We didn't realise how much they actually changed the audio quality,” says Eva. “You can record in the noisiest spaces and if you've got that little mic, it's just so easy. It has also streamlined editing videos because you don't have to go through the whole process of audio editing.”
Mood Lighting for Reading: Lamps and Smart Bulbs
When it comes to setting the right tone for a relaxing reading environment, both Eva and Pia agree creating the right mood lighting is a priority.
“I love lamps, and not using the big light, because they seriously set the mood. I also have a colour-changing bulb that really makes the room very moody,” says Pia. “I like those clip-on book lights; they're really helpful too,” says Eva.
