Take a Look, in a Book … Club

“How did you start your book club?”

When I started a book club 10 years ago, I never thought I would be asked that question. I also didn’t think we would still be gathering every other month (or so) discussing our latest reads. But we are, and maybe we can help you create your book club!

Tip One – Start Small

I was planning our wedding when I got this idea. A few of my wedding crew read just as much as I did, and I thought a book club would be a good fit to continue our fun. I sent an email, which I still have, to eight ladies to gauge interest; two of those ladies joined to make our total five. Over the years, we have had 15 members in our ranks. We are always looking for new readers to join.

Tip Two – Be Flexible

Sometimes a member needs to step away for a few months; they can always return. In months when you can’t finish the book, the door is still open to come to eat, chat and be merry. A silver lining from the pandemic, we pivoted and went to Zoom. In our virtual gatherings, ladies who have moved away can participate.

Tip Three – Get Everyone Involved

One person hosting every meeting can be daunting and expensive. We solved this by rotating hosts. The upcoming host chooses four to five books for the group to consider for our next read. We vote as a group – the majority wins. If there is a tie, we check library availabilities and Goodreads ratings. Then in about two months, we gather at the host’s location – typically their home or workplace (I miss the purple chairs, Jennifer). She (or sometimes a significant other) provides food and drinks.

To start each discussion, everyone gets an opportunity to rate the book on a scale from 1 to 5. They also present their overall thoughts. This guarantees everyone is heard and shapes how the discussion will go. To wrap up each night, I ask if anyone would like to change their initial rating.  Changes happen more than you would think!

Tip Four – Find Good Questions

Good questions can make or break a discussion. Occasionally, questions are in the book, but if not, I do a Google search for the specific book. As a backup, I have a list of generic questions that apply to any book. (Who would you cast for the roles in the movie version of this book?) I am the question gatherer and moderator of our group. It helps us to have one person in charge to keep us on task when we wander off the course.

Tip Five – Not Everyone Is Going to Agree, and That Is OK

Every book will not be everyone’s cup of tea. I will admit I have read some good books that I would never have read had they not been a book club selection. We have had uncomfortable discussions, but we all came back. Do not get offended easily, be open to others’ opinions and come ready to listen.

Tip Six – Set Some Ground Rules

Before I even sent the initial email, my second-in-command Amber told me we would need some rules. I read a lot of books about the Civil War. Her main concern was that I would only pick Civil War books. I would never subject anyone else, except my husband, to this genre. (But if this topic interests you, I do have some great recommendations.) Other rules have developed over time.

1. No one has read the book before.
2. Try to keep it under 400 pages.
3. Set in a time where air conditioning was common in homes (the Civil War rule), except WWII books.

Get a feel for your group, and the guidelines will fall into place. Your group may want to stick with a specific genre while others may not. We primarily read crime/thriller, but it is not set in stone. True story: The one time we did go with a light, beach read the nicest among us admitted she was hoping for a plane crash.

I love my book club. We have been together through marriages, kids, job changes, and so much more. I know that I can rely on this group to make me laugh until it hurts. I know that we will eat and drink well. I know that our conversations, both about the book and about life, will be good for my soul. We may only meet every other month, but it’s a date I rarely ever miss.