Good news for book lovers in the capital. You are not alone.

The feeling of being alienated and people pointing fingers at you calling you weirdos may become a thing of the past because more people are getting into books in a city where it had appeared literature had gone out of fashion.

One strong indication for this new trend is the growing existence of book clubs and reading communities in the capital.

Book lover community Forum Indonesia Membaca (Indonesia Reading Forum) estimates that there are up to 30 reading communities in the capital.

Some are run from cafes and others gather in malls, holding book review events. Some have their own monthly radio shows, which spread their love for books to the masses.

One of largest book clubs in the capital, Goodreads Indonesia, which is the local version of a global social networking site for book lovers, says its membership is just under 3,700 people as of June this year on its three-year anniversary.

Within less than a month, the membership had grown to 3,900 readers by the end of July, indicating a growing passion for books among Jakartans.

Goodread moderator Amang Suramang said the community had a ritual of reviewing books once a month, in which it would gather around 40 members to discuss several books.

This month, the forum will discuss a book written by Aria Wiratma Yudhistira called Dilarang Gondrong (Long Hair Forbidden) about restrictions enforced by the government in the 1970s to control youth movements.

"Before the event, we assign the participant to read the book first so that we can discuss it during the event," Amang said, adding that the event usually took place at Toga Mas bookstore in Depok.

There are many other book communities in Jakarta besides from Goodreads Indonesia, all with different interests.

The members of BritZone English book club are interested in learning English, while Kampung Buku uses books as a vessel to disseminate knowledge to the public.

The Library Lovers Club is run by bookworms from state high school SMA 49 in Jagakarsa, South Jakarta, and there are many others like this one.

For the members, these gatherings offer more than just a time to share their hobby and passion for books, they also use the occasion to enjoy an interesting rendezvous point with their friends and colleagues.

For some, such gatherings have a special meaning. Merry Riansyah, 23, secured a translation contract from a publisher through her membership to Goodreads Indonesia.

She joined the community in January 2009.

The college graduate was offered a contract to translate the Vampire Academy series, a worldwide best-selling series about a paranormal romance, because she was a huge fan of the series.

Commenting on the growing popularity of book clubs, Dessy Sekar of Forum Indonesia Membaca, said the communities had started to flood the capital in the late 90s with the help of the Internet and particular social networking sites that helped members contact others will similar passions.

Some communities, she says, did not begin with a book-related theme.

An example of this is the Indo-Startrek community, whose members are die-hard fans of science fiction movie Star Trek.

Enthusiasts of Harry Potter grouped in the IndoHogwarts community also developed a book club from their common interest.

"It is funny that when they gather, books will be part of their discussion. That's why these communities end up as reading clubs, discussing books with subjects that have become their interest," Dessy says.

"From this, we can say that all activities must lead to books," she adds.

Dessy said she was optimistic that Indonesians would begin to adopt reading and a love for books into their lifestyles and that Jakarta was a great place for this trend to start.

Jakarta, home to more than 10 million people, has a high literacy rate and access to information and transportation and is therefore a great city for reading to become a national hobby.

Forum Indonesia Membaca has turned Jakarta, which has played host to some of the biggest book fairs in the country, into a laboratory to test the effectiveness of campaigns or programs to promote reading among the public in Indonesia.

Dessy said the same book communities could also be found in other big cities, helping to promote pro-reading campaigns.

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