Issue link: https://www.cominghomemag.com/i/1492999
Book Club 101 A step-by-step guide to starting a book club. o you love books? Are you always recommending titles to friends? Do you want to meet other literary fanatics? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you might want to start a book club. These reading groups decide on a book and meet periodically to discuss progress and what's happening in the story. Here's a step-by-step guide to getting yours up and running. 1. Recruit your members. Members will affect what you read, when you meet, and how conversation flows. Invite people with a legitimate interest in reading and willingness to commit. Ask neighbors, coworkers, friends, or even people from your local bookstore if they want to join. Ideally, your book club will have six to 16 members, but there are no rules—just gather enthusiastic readers who make good company! 2. Set your goals. Once you have a group of readers, host a preliminary meeting to determine how the book club will operate. Decide what you want to achieve, what books and topics you want to explore, how often you'll meet, how books will be chosen, and where meetings will take place. When all members have a hand in forming the book club, they feel more inclined to participate and stick around. 3. Pick your first book. Next, pick out your club's first book. The initial selection is important, as it'll set the tone for the future. Opt for a safe choice, like a popular New York Times Best Seller, or choose a book that gets people thinking and offers a reflection of self or society. Usually relatable, these kinds of stories will lend themselves to an engaging discussion. After members are settled in, branch out to lesser-known titles and take chances. 4. Meet and define the meeting flow. Guiding a book club can be daunting. To find out what's best, experiment with different structures at your meetings. Some groups will have a more casual vibe where each member brings up aspects that grabbed their attention. Others will follow a more structured setup where one member may lead the discussion with questions and their observations. Try a few structures and see what works. It's perfectly OK to let the setup evolve as the wants and needs of the group change, but these general questions are great conversation starters: • What did you like most about the book? • What did you like least about the book? • Who was your favorite character and why? • Did the ending surprise you? • Who would you cast in the movie adaptation? 5. Remember to have fun. While books are the base for your book club, the memories will come from time spent together. Keep selections exciting and switch it up with refreshments, themed meetings, book signings, or movie adaptation showings. By breaking up the roundtable-style of your standard meeting, things will stay fresh and fun. First Book Favorites Here are some premier page-turners to get your book club going. Reputation Sara Vaughn Released: 2022 Genre: Mystery/Thriller Length: 336 Pages Book Lovers Emily Henry Released: 2022 Genre: Romance Length: 400 pages From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home Tembi Locke Released: 2019 Genre: Autobiography Length: 320 pages Fairy Tale Stephen King Released: 2022 Genre: Fantasy Length: 607 pages 12