Went to a book club for the first time.

Part of it for me is reading books and discovering authors you might not normally read.

“Read bigly”

im out

This is like Caroline Bingley wanting balls where people talk rationally rather than dance 😂.
“But it would not be near so much like a ball book club”

Isn’t talking about any and all books you’ve read recently just having a chat? A book club is about sharing perspectives on a particular book. A general conversation about books is hanging out with your friends who read.

@tobee I’ve been in two main types of book groups. There are open ones organised by libraries or book shops or the WI of whatever where people can join. There tend to be a core of regular attendees and then a large number who drop in and out.

Then there are closed ones that have evolved from a group of friends over the years and they are very hard to join. That’s obviously because the atmosphere is very established and stable; new people would make it different and it’s very nice as it is. That’s when they might invite a mutual if someone moves away. But basically it’s a long term friendship group you can’t really gatecrash. Some have been going 20 years.

The ratio of on topic discussion and wine consumption are inversely proportionate.

Cheltenham. I've been checking out book clubs locally online this morning ,think I will need to join U3e but that's probably not a bad thing.

Whereabouts are you?

Can't you just bring that up in conversation? That's what happens at the one I go to.

The good thing about book groups , is that you get to read books you probably wouldn't have picked to read yourself .
Also what I find is the sessions that stand out for me is when the book is hit & miss between the participants , it makes the discussion more interesting than if we've all enjoyed it .

Our book club ends with a round up of other books people have read. Personally I enjoy the discussion about the same book that we have read.

@MsAmerica I looked that book up and I think I'll like it - I tend to read via Audible so I've ordered it on there. Thank you!

The book group I attend is pretty laid back .
It only lasts around an hour , we catch up with each other the first 10 mins or so , then talk about the book before letting the rest of the group know about books we've recently also read . Then all go off for a drink !

But I can have casual chats with mates about "books we are reading right now" and our book club can also discuss "other good stuff they recommend"

I suppose i don't want it for making friends, though everyone is friendly. It's too read more books :different books to usual -rather than a social group.

A murder set in a book club - That's is a fantastic idea!

They could make a midsummer murder out of this - someone gets murdered to create a space in the book club!

I already talk to my friends (and they to me) about the books we like. I am not sure this approach offers anything more.

These sorts of book club can be awful. It turns competitive and people brag about how many books they have read in the month. I much prefer to keep it to the one, same book.

Agreed, it would be interesting to hear what others are reading and enjoying (or not). I'm put off "normal" book clubs by everybody having to read a certain book. They are rarely something I would choose myself, and it's too much like being back at school with set books!

I am in a book club but it isnt as strict as some of these! It is nice just to chat, have a glass of wine and discuss what you thought of the book (even if you failed to finish it!)

I'd like to go to a book club where, instead of everyone having to read the same book and discuss it, you all just talk about the different books you've been reading over the past month and get recommendations from each other.

U3A have them near me , and the library.

Mine's in a bookshop , you'd just have to come and ask to join.

I joined one last summer. Luckily it's mostly discussing the book.

I don't tend to like most books picked so it's more to expand my reading to "better stuff" and rest of the month read lovely trash novels.

Then worry about my selection each time.

In the village where I live you have to apply to join the book club and then, when there's a space (I.e someone dies...) there's an interview to see if you will be acceptable to join...

I set up a rival group by advertising for members on the local Facebook page - we read less intellectual books and drink a lot of wine - it's great! 😂

Start your own! Pick a book you want to read and then put up an advert asking if anyone wants to read it with you.

They can be wonderful, so long as you've got the right people, by which I mean people with manners – people who know how to behave (who make eye contact, listen, don't talk over you, don't show off, don't try and impress, don't monopolise/dominate). The worst are those who treat the other members like rivals. You know, people who have to 'win' the discussion – prove they know more than you, disagree just for the sake of it, etc. Another pet hate is people who wait for you to finish and then talk about something completely different. It is good manners to respond to what the other person just said, even if you politely disagree. I would far rather chat to someone who could barely read but had nice manners than someone with a PhD from Oxford but foul manners.

Anyway, sorry, had to get that off my chest lol. In my experience, book groups generally attract pleasant, civilized people. Unfortunately (and this has also been my experience), you only need one twat to join and the whole thing is ruined.

The book clubs round here are during the day in the week when I'm at work.

Gordon Bennett! When did book clubs get so highfalutin?!