How do I start a Book Club: Things You Need To Think About
So you’re thinking of starting a book club?
You’re probably a book enthusiast and want to share the literary world you love so much with friends. Or, maybe you’re not reading as much as you’d like and want to join forces with other page-turning slackers in the hope of finishing George Eliot’s Middlemarch. Or, perhaps the idea has just popped into your head and you are looking for inspiration?
Well if any of the reasons above are the case, you’ve stumbled into the right corner of the internet. Read on as I navigate the trials and tribulations of how to start a book club.
The first rule of book club is... you don't talk about bookclub
Well, that’s not exactly going to spread the word of your new adventure, is it? But what our good friend Tyler Durden is alluding to here is, you’ve got to choose the right people. You’ve got to have the right bums on seats ready to debate the world of fiction to the hilt, you’ve got to have chemistry between all members. Perhaps your carefully selected bunch are more on the nonchalant side. You want a speakeasy book club, a club where your Pinot Grigio rubs shoulders with your Twain, your party snacks sprinkle onto the pages of a Hemingway or your Fitzgerald is accompanied by a plate of fine cheeses. A place where the books are equalled by laughter and smiles. The first rule of book club is… expand your social circle.
“What's it going to be then, eh”
Choices, decisions and more choices. Choosing the right book, the right mood setter, the right topic of discussion is no easy feat, in fact, it’s incredibly difficult. Start light, find a book that the group will be aware of or perhaps have already read. Eliminate tension and find a common literary ground. Start off with a book all members are aware of so you can dive deeper and even find a fresh perspective. Of course, there’s no right or wrong answer. In fact, the possibilities are only restricted to the number of books in the world, but I suggest starting light and ramping up the stakes as the weeks go on. Choose wisely!
Guide your followers
So you’ve got your band of merry book worms together ready to discuss, examine and scrutinize everything from Homer to Enid Blyton. But, you want to make sure everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet. You’ve got to push the conversation in the right direction and cultivate some genuine discussions.
Thankfully, there are a number of wonderful resources available to help you guide the group and make your book club the talk of the town:
A good place to start is the authors or publishers’ website. You can often find an interesting take or an insightful nugget of wisdom about that book that can really enhance the discussion.
A valuable resource is litlovers.com. With over 3,000 book discussion guides, useful questions and information about how to bring your books to life.
Goodreads.com is another brilliant trick to really get the book chatter going.
Readinggroupguides.com will certainly come in use if you’re looking to get to the heart of a book and really delve deep into its contents.
There’s no place like home
Above all make your book club a reflection of yourself, make it the highlight of the week or month whatever you decide. There’s simply nothing better than getting a few friends together after a long week and having a good old natter about your favourite books. So what are you waiting for, make it happen!
