Recently, we’ve been talking about the benefits and importance of reading. Whether you describe yourself as a book lover but have been neglecting the habit (we get it, life is so busy!), or you’re wanting to kickstart a new reading habit, from quick reads to audiobooks, there are plenty of tools to help you discover a new love of books.
Hosting your own, or joining a book club, can be another excellent way to get you back into reading, particularly if you are open to reading across different genres and exploring new authors. From finding clubs to join, to starting your own, we look at how you can find a reading club that works for you.
Finding a reading club to join
If you are looking for a club you can join in-person, there are a few places you can try:
- Connect with your local library: They may be able to direct you to any clubs they’re aware of.
- Community noticeboards: Try your local theatre, council, churches, cafes, markets, Facebook groups etc. If there is a local book club, they’ll likely have a poster highlighting a new or next meet.
- Check for local Facebook pages: Use simple and definitive search terms, such as ‘book club’ and your location.
Online book clubs
If you’re not precious about having to get together with a group once a week, every 2 weeks or once a month, but would rather be a part of a community that will help encourage a reading habit, there are many online groups you can take part in.
In fact, the best place to go is the goodreads Groups. Whether you’re wanting to follow along with a celebrity group, such as Reese’s Book Club, or Oprah’s Book Club, or follow along with a particular genre you know you’ll love, it’s a space where you can connect with likeminded people and develop your reading habit. You’re sure to find new authors of interest and can join in the conversation.
Of course, with the goodreads Groups, you don’t have to participate, if you don’t want to. Other passive groups include Florence Welch (yes, from Florence and the Machine )’s book club: Between Two Books and our very own Reader’s Corner book club. Every month we pick and review a new book, which you can find on our homepage. And, if you’re so inclined, you can also join our dedicated Facebook page and join in a conversation.
How to go about hosting your own book club
We appreciate there can be a number of barriers to getting to a club in the evenings. So if you’re struggling to get sitters or navigate transport, you could consider hosting your own club. The additional beauty of this, in addition to being more flexible around your needs, is you can create a club around your specific reading interests and timeframes to completing a book. So whether your preference is for fiction, or nonfiction and/or a particular genre or sub-genre, starting and hosting your own club can ensure you read much more.
So, you’re inspired to get started, but how do you go about it?
Finding people to join your club
- Put up little notices in the places mentioned above (library, community centres, etc.).
- Start a little Facebook or Instagram page – though this entails a little more admin but can make managing the book club long-term easier.
- Ask your friends, family, colleagues, those you meet at other classes and mums at the school gate etc.
- If you’re comfortable in doing so, you can also have members join by recommendation – a family or friend referral, as an example.
Picking a book
Choosing the book can be a seemingly tricky part of hosting a book club, but it doesn’t have to be:
- You could turn to any of the widely known book clubs and pick something from that. E.g. Reese’s book club, the goodreads highest rated or new releases, or the top rated books or new releases in the national newspapers.
- Reader recommended: It could be that members of the group get to pick ‘the’ book to read, or you have several options available and the group gets to pick via vote.
Book club rules
It may be beneficial to outline some very basic rules for your club. Although these may need to evolve, try not to change them in a way that could exclude anyone (e.g. changing the genre drastically). These rules could include:
- The genre your club focuses on (and stipulate this from the outset and throughout any marketing).
- Respect should be high on the list, particularly if there is to be a discussion – all viewpoints and perspectives should be respected.
- Schedule: Outline when the group will meet (try and stick to the same day/times) and include the number of books you’ll be reading at any given time (even if you intend to read one at a time, this can be helpful to stipulate).
- No pressure environment: We all know how busy life can get and how unexpected events can derail our plans to read. Encourage a no-pressure policy to complete the book and at the start of each session, before discussion, confirm if everyone has completed it (or to what state) to ensure any dramatic twists or endings are not revealed to those still reading- this ensures the discussion can be inclusive.
Other considerations for hosting your own club
You have the basics outlined for hosting your own book club, but here are a couple of other ideas to consider:
- Rotating locations: If you don’t want to host every club at your home, consider asking members to take it in turns. Alternatively, the club could be held at a neutral venue like your local library (during opening hours), or in a small corner of your local pub on a quieter night.
- Encourage lift sharing: Not only does it offer a benefit to the planet, but it means that those who struggle with transport can ensure they attend.
- Child-friendly clubs: If babysitting is a barrier, encourage it to be a family-friendly function. Children can be given small activities, or their own books to read whilst the parents discuss the latest book.
- Suggest everyone bring a snack and drink: If you’re hosting at home, or in someone else’s home, this can alleviate the pressure for the host. If you are hosting it at another venue, you can chip in for snacks and buy your own drinks. If it’s a venue without these facilities (e.g. library) confirm housekeeping rules and whether you can bring your own.
Are you inspired to join a club or start your own? Let us know!
Featured image: SolStock from Getty Images Signature
