A book club is a reading group, usually consisting of a number of people to read and talk about books based on a topic or an agreed-upon reading list. It’s common for book clubs to meet on a regular basis at a set location. Some book clubs are focused on a certain genre, such as romance or horror. There are even book clubs dedicated to a particular author or series.
You can check your local library or community center to see if they run a book club. Independent bookstores often run book clubs as well, and they might even offer a discount to members.
Whatever reading material you prefer, if you can’t find a book club, why not think about starting your own? Book clubs are a great way to stay connected with close friends. It’s always best to including some snacks a wine at your meetings too!
It's important to consider how often your book club will meet and for how long. When choosing when to meet, make sure there is enough time for members to read the portion of the book that will be discussed. Depending on whether one chapter, one section, or the whole book will be discussed, book clubs may meet weekly, monthly, or every 6 weeks.
When it comes to finding a time that works for everyone, it is easier to schedule when there are not too many people. Having 6 to 15 people tends to be a good size for book clubs.
As for how long the meeting should last, one hour is a good place to start. If the conversation exceeds one hour, great! But make sure you cap the meeting at two hours max. After two hours, people will get tired or bored which is not the note you want to end on.
An exciting idea is to choose a book by a local author and arrange to have the author come and speak to your book club! I do that at no charge and I also offer a discount on the book to the members. We could even do a meeting by Zoom! The possibilities are endless!
Thought for the day: Everyone has a happy ending. If you’re not happy, it’s not the end!