Host your own book club

Do you love to read? If so you’re in good company, alongside 66% of people in the UK, making leisurely reading more popular than gardening or even going to the cinema! Still, there’s no denying that reading is a solitary pursuit and, if you find yourself spilling out every book-inspired thought to your long suffering partner, you could consider joining a book club. 

It’s easy to research clubs in your area - just check out the internet or the notice boards at your local library - but sometimes you simply can’t find one that’s right for you. So what then? Why not start one yourself! We’ve put together this great guide to starting your own book group, so you can gather your most literary friends and neighbours, and kick off a successful book club!

Lay the groundwork

Before you start preemptively baking cakes and puffing up the sofa cushions in your lounge, you’ll need to do a bit of preparation. Start by making notes on some important questions:

How often will you have a book club meeting? Once a month suits most people, as that gives plenty of time for everyone to read a book, around their busy schedules. You’ll also need to work out what to do over the summer and Christmas periods, when many people are either away on holiday or busy looking after their children. 

Will it be a formal or informal discussion? For a more formal gathering you’ll need to have questions prepared and advise members to make notes as they read. If this is the route you want to take, check the publishers’ websites as you can find reading guides and other extra materials for book clubs. If you’re after a more relaxed approach, simply allow natural discussion to flow, perhaps beginning with the person who chose the book. 

How many people do you want? Between five and ten people is the optimal size for a book group, as it allows plenty of opportunities for everyone to speak without it running on for hours. 

Let people know

It’s no good having a book club if nobody turns up! You’ll need to market your book club and get it known about town, and one of the easiest ways to start is by asking family and friends to join and spread the word. But remember, this is a fantastic way to meet new people who are as passionate about reading as you, so don’t just limit yourself to people you already know. You can also get the word out by putting up a notice at the local library, printing and handing out flyers or invitations, and using social media such as Facebook and Twitter. 

Arrange the first meeting

Quiet pubs, cafés, libraries and even parks could all be potential meeting spots. However, many people prefer to hold book club meetings on rotation at the members’ houses. It’s cheaper then holding it at a place where you’ll have to buy drinks and snacks, and it also helps to knit the group together. Once you have your members, discuss with the group where they’d like to hold the meetings, which day of the week is best and how long the meetings should be, before deciding on the first date.

As the founder of the group, it’s probably best if you kick things off at your house. First things first, make sure there is adequate seating. You’re all going to be talking for at least an hour, so you’ll need enough comfy sofa and armchair space for everyone. Don’t forget it’s always courteous to provide endless pots of tea, some wine and a homemade cake or two!

Pick a book

Unless you want your book club to focus on a specific genre (for example, romantic or crime fiction), you’re likely to have members with very varied tastes. Maybe you adore the classics, whilst others prefer contemporary fiction or autobiographies. The whole point of a book club is to open up your mind to new books and styles, so it’s best to let members take turns at picking which book to read. 

Here are a few things to consider when choosing a book club book:

•   Make sure it isn’t too long for even the busiest member to get through in a month. 
•   Check out book reviews first and choose generally well-reviewed or even controversial books. Nobody wants to spend a month reading something dreadful or dull.
•   Choose books that are available in paperback or on e-readers, so no members are forced out because the books are too pricey to get their hands on.

 If you’re still stuck for ideas about which books to tackle, you can also check out other groups’ reading lists online, or take a look at lists of prize winners and best sellers for more inspiration. Don’t lose the art of simply browsing bookshops, though, as this is still a great way to unearth a literary gem. 

Time to discuss

If you have a lot of outspoken members in your club, it’s a good idea to select a chairman to run the discussion. It’s the chairman’s job to make sure everyone gets adequate time to speak, so nobody’s opinions go unheard. The chairman could change each time, depending on whose house you are meeting in.

Before you begin the discussion, get the chairman to give a synopsis of the story to kick things off - this will refresh everyone's memory and encourage discussion. Remember not to take anyone’s opinions personally, especially if you picked the book but everyone hated it. It’s OK to disagree and interesting to hear other people’s arguments: that’s what makes the book club fun! 

Here are some possible questions to ask, to get the conversation flowing:

•   Could you relate to the characters? Was there anyone you really liked or disliked?
•   What did you think of the style of writing? Is it like anything you’ve read before?
•   What were the major themes in the story? What do you think was their significance?

Housekeeping

At the end of each meeting, before everybody leaves, allow five or ten minutes for housekeeping. This is the time to decide the date, time and location of the next meeting, and you can also briefly discuss the next book. The person who is in charge of choosing should give everyone the title and author’s name, as well as a few tips about where to find a copy.

Well-organised book clubs can be a lot of fun and they offer a chance to inject a bit of sociability into an often solitary hobby. So what are you waiting for? Get organising!