10 tips from experts — Best Life

If you read a lot, you know the frustration of finishing a great book and having no one to talk to about it. Sure, you can look through online reviews and Goodreads comments, but there’s nothing better than getting together with a friend and sharing your thoughts over a cup of coffee. That’s the idea behind book clubs. If you’re wondering how to start your own book club, read on. We asked librarians and other book pros for their best tips on how to start and keep one going.

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The first step in starting your own book club is to find members – four to 15 is ideal. Laura RadočajFounder of Radocaj Creative and director of the Get LIT(erate)! book club since 2016, says her club started with a few friends.

“Each of us, from different circles of friends, selected two women to join, making a total of 12 members,” she says. “We liked that number and kept it to maintain confidential conversations.”

If members leave, you can replace them with new ones.

“Members love a unique book club theme or activity that makes meetings more interesting and interactive than just reading and collecting,” says Stephanie SabaLibrary director for San Mateo County, California and author of Restart of the book club.

She has experienced themes such as “walk-and-talks,” where all discussions take place while taking a walk, cookbook clubs, where the group chooses a different cookbook each month and members cook a dish from it for the meeting, or a mother-daughter or father-son book club.

You can also base your theme on a book genre. “Our overall theme is horror,” says Louisa SmithEditor and founder of the Epic Book Society. “Themes are incredibly important to sustain interest.”

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Scheduling a large group of adults can be a nightmare, so keep the same time and date for each meeting. For example, choose the first Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. and stick to it.

“If you try to find a different time and day every month that fits into everyone’s schedule, it will never work,” says Radocaj. “You’ll end up spending more time on logistics than reading!”

“Every month we take turns being responsible for selecting the book, moderating it and leading the discussion,” says Radocaj.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb

This makes everyone feel responsible for the success of the group. The person in charge can hold the meeting at their home or in a restaurant.

This keeps the group on track. “I send a weekly email with chapter suggestions and thoughtful questions to help them process the information,” says Julie VincentWellness coach and founder of the Mindful Book Club.

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This is probably the most important thing you need to get right in your book club.

“The best book club experiences start with a broad discussion that can take on a life of its own depending on the life experiences of each member,” says Saba. “This is especially true when the membership is diverse and contributes to enriching discussions.”

You don’t have to overthink your questions either. “A general, generic question like ‘Did you like the book?’ is a great starter question because people don’t have to worry about ‘Did I interpret the book correctly?'” Saba says. “Instead, they bring their own experiences and can easily join the discussion.”

You should also make sure that every group member gets a chance to speak, even if they are shy. “It helps to organize an activity like painting or going for a walk to make things less formal so people are more willing to share – a relaxed atmosphere can encourage conversation,” says Saba.

This way, everyone has a say. “We discuss potential books that are on everyone’s reading list and decide together what to read next – whereas in some book clubs, members take turns choosing books,” says Smith. “We’ve found that a democracy where everyone has a say maintains interest much better.”

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When choosing books, don’t avoid those that might excite your group.

“Controversial books are great – we have a lot of women in our group with different views, but we respect each other and our opinions, even if they are different,” says Radocaj. “Some of my favorite meetings have been about hot, pressing topics.”

The people there can complement your club. “Libraries often host author visits, book signings, and literary events, and book clubs can use these events to bring their members together in a new way to interact with authors, gain deeper insights into books, and participate in larger literary conversations,” says Saba.

This is key to ensuring the longevity of your club. “Instead of thinking, ‘This is what my book club should be like,’ be open to finding what’s right for your community,” Saba says. If something isn’t working, be willing to change.