So what happens in a book club?

[deaconblue]

Want to start a book group. I have 4 interested friends but no idea how to proceed. I assume the host chooses the book but what then? Do I make suggestions for discussion in advance or should it be more free flowing discussion? I like discussing structure, style etc but don't want to put off the others by being too English-teachery (I was one Pre dcs). All advice on how to make it a success gratefully received.

An extra logistics q: do you tend to sit at a dining tables at people's houses or in the sitting room? Wondering if table will seem too formal but would make nibbles easier

Our club we meet every month. Anyone can suggest a book and we all decide which one we like the sound of. We try to pick a different genre every month.
We have cake, lots of cake! and tea and wine.
We all chat til everyone gets there and then the lady that brought us all together says 'ok, shall we talk about the book?'. Sometimes there are longs discussions and sometime it's very short. Either way it's great fun.
We've been going a year in December and are having awards too!
We've been to almost everyones house in the club, and every time it's been in the living room with chairs around the edge and food on a small table in the middle.
It's great fun. Good luck with yours. As long as you're not too serious about it all, I'm sure everyone will enjoy it.

OP - the table is laden, groaning laid with food and we help ourselves and eat on our laps in the front room usually. Food is usually - nice bread(ha ha ha ha as opposed to horrible bread ) and cheese, biscuits, cold meats, salads,fruit, coleslaw, cake, chocolates etc. If it's someone's birthday we bring or make a cake or go out for a meal.

Think the dining table sounds a bit formal. We meet either in the pub or if its in someone's house we sit in the living room with a few bowls of snacks on the coffee table.