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Original poster

Anyone in a book group - can you advise me to get one started please?

38 replies

wendyhappysmile · 26/10/2009 10:28

Hello all
I'd like to get a book group started but having never been to one am not sure of how they work, exactly! Would anyone like to let me know
a) is it worth it? do you enjoy it?
b) what compnonents make it successful?
c) how do I start? i.e. how many to invite, good first books etc

Thanks, would appreciate all your insights!

OP posts:
Original poster
wendyhappysmile · 26/10/2009 19:39

Sorry,thesecondcoming: those probably aren't necessarily the questions I would concentrate on in the classroom.

OP posts:
Lilymaid · 26/10/2009 19:34

I belong to a group that consists of 10 members in theory - usually around 6 in practice. We do get our books from the library (this limits us to books that have been published for at least 2-3 years, so no best sellers). One of the librarians in the county library service helps set up groups in our county, but doesn't do any more than suggest an initial list and let you know how to order the books/set up a book club account.
We meet in each others homes roughly monthly and unusually do tea/coffee and cake/biscuit rather than the usual wine and nibbles (one of organisers had a drink problem at one time).
We suggest books for inclusion in the list and the organiser usually goes to the library and orders/collects the books. BTW we don't seem to have to pay any library fines for late return!

mwahahahamwahahahallyroger · 26/10/2009 19:32

I hit a snag with the library book club system. One person has to be responsible for it. And if you have 1 person who doesn't get their book back on time, that named person (ie me!) is liable for replacememnt of the book. It happened twice....
It is all too easy for one or two people to just drop out and disappear...

thesecondcoming · 26/10/2009 19:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
wendyhappysmile · 26/10/2009 19:23

nobid - planning a regular group myself, just getting the books from the library! They have a decent selection of books to choose from, contemporary stuff!
Thanks guys, brilliant ideas! Anyone got ideas about how to focus the discussion, or do you just go with the flow?
I'm an English teacher (well, SAHM atm!) so I am sort of perversely worried I'll make it too 'academic' when I suppose I shouldn't be worried about the discussion bit at all! I don't want everyone to be intimidated when they all know I'm an English teacher!

So do you all think maximum about 10 people, then?

Wine and nibbles will definitely be priority!!

OP posts:
pinknosedevereux · 26/10/2009 19:19

This doesn't sound like the kind of library book groups I've been involved with nobid.

You can use your local library for book groups without having to hold your meetings there, so you can have the meetings in members homes or wherever.

nobid · 26/10/2009 19:04

Not so sure about the Library thing! I used to go to a book group at the Library; they had a county-wide stack of 'readers' books and we selected off the list. They tended to be terribly PC, right-on sorts of subjects where you could practically see the writers crowbarring-in their precious research on women in 19th century muslim society, life in the trenches in WW1, etc.
There was no nibbles nor wine.
We had too many in the group- it was impossible for everyone to have their say and we never really got in-depth discussions.
Also we had a ghastly tradition where we would go round the group and people would share what else they had read that month and say whether they recommended it (we had a lot of retired ladies). I would just sit there and admit that I had only managed the set book.

pipsqueak · 26/10/2009 18:54

we do a monthly meeting - we are a group of 9 women in totoal and we rotate round ecah others houses and who ever is hosting provides the wine/nibbles and choses the book . we tend to only go for softbacks to limit expense . we all get on really well and it is the great fun . we go out for ameal a couple fo times a year too .
go for it !!

luciemule · 26/10/2009 18:50

The library thing is a great idea. The only thing about having it at a village hall, is that it limits anyone who doesn't have a sitter that night. We used to ask if anyone had a specific night they couldn't get a sitter and they then hosted for that night.

thelunar66 · 26/10/2009 18:34

We started one in our village 10 years ago and it is still going strong. We do it through the library. They send us a list of books that are available to book groups at the beginning of the year and we vote for 12 titles. They send a box to us once a month with 15 copies of same book. We meet in the village hall on the last Wednesday of the month. The books are free from the library and we pay £1 each for the rent of the room in the village hall.

thesecondcoming · 26/10/2009 18:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
wendyhappysmile · 26/10/2009 18:26

Thanks, luciemule, that's really helpful info! I really like the sound of doing it, but am also worried about everyone being able to get through the books in time, and also everyone being able to afford to buy them each month. Think my library has a service for book clubs where you order several copies at once, which would determine what books to read.
Any more ideas, anyone?

OP posts:
luciemule · 26/10/2009 11:31

Choose a number of friends (say 6-8) and for the first one (at your house) ask everyone to bring a book they loved and that they don't want anymore. Put them all wrapped up in a bag and get each person to pick one out. That could then be your first book. At the second session, you can all talk about your book and if you liked it etc. Depending on whose hosting the second one, normally chooses the next book. They could either choose one and say that's the next one, or have 2/3 and let everyone vote on it.
Ask for opinions about how often to meet. Our book club was once a month but with 2 little ones,and being a preschool chairperson, I found it extremely hard to get through some of the books in 4 weeks. Also, rather than everyone trying to go out and buy the book, you could nominate one person to be the buyer from Amazon for example and he/she orders the books and then everyone pays on collection. At our's, the nibbles and wine were an important part!!!