You’ve probably noticed that the theme for our blog posts this month has been reading, from looking at the benefits of regular reading to recommending books for our residents at Port Landing at Fife. We are going to continue with that theme in today’s post by sharing a few ideas about organizing a book club.
Book clubs provide an opportunity for socializing and the opportunity to discuss books you’ve read with others who have read the same book. Books and readers are the two essential ingredients for forming a book club. Adding other components such as good food, a comfortable setting, and thought-provoking discussion questions will simply make a good thing better. One of the best things about creating a book club is how flexible the format can be, and the details can be determined over time by the members.
Flexibility is a hallmark of book clubs. The club can be formal or informal. They can focus on a specific genre, or they can explore multiple genres. One person can decide the titles or it can be a decision by consensus, where everyone puts forth an opinion. Books to read can be planned for the whole year in advance or decided upon month-to-month. Being consistent in when the meeting is hosted is one thing that has a big impact on the success of a book club.
About a dozen members is an ideal size for a book club — there are enough members so that there is a consistent turnout, but there are not too many, so everyone has an opportunity to share their thoughts, and lively discussions can ensue.
This guide provides details about how to set up a book club. And these websites are good resources for what to read: LitLovers and About.com Resources for Book Clubs, Classes & Reading Research.
Book groups are a fun, friendly way to socialize in our apartment community. Schedule the clubhouse at Port Landing at Fife soon and launch a book club. Let is know what book you’re going to start with in the comments.