This post is all about how to start a book club.

Do you want to make new friends? Do you want to deepen friendships that you already have? How about sharing your passion for reading with someone? Do you want to create the opportunity to read and discuss interesting books?

Well, the answer to all these questions is obvious. Start a book club!

And you are in the right place because this post is all about how to start a book club.

How to Start a Book Club

To start a book club that everyone will enjoy, here are some details you need to consider.

First, you need to think about the kind of genre that you want to center around. For instance:

• Mysteries and Thrillers
• Self-help
• Fiction
• Non-fiction
• Autobiographies
• Romances
• Book clubs dedicated to one author, such as Jane Austen, John Grisham, or Stephen King
• Religious writings
• Or a mixture of all the above

One important note: While you will want to read and discuss books that are interesting to you, it is often enriching to find a new genre that you would not typically be drawn toward. Think outside the box when deciding which genre to focus on.

If you are new to book clubs or have no idea which category to choose, a mixture of all genres is always a good choice.

After you have thought about the types of books you want to read, next think about the size of your club?

Do you want to start a book club with everyone you know, or do you want to limit the number of participants?

There are many reasons that you would want to limit the number of participants, such as the following:

• The venue (there may need to be more space to hold everyone comfortably).
• If you meet at a restaurant, you might not all be able to sit at the same table.
• Sometimes too many people can hinder meaningful discussions because there are too many side chats or too many trying to talk all at once.
• It may be hard for introverted or shy people to express their thoughts.
• It is often hard to control the time when a group is large.

With a smaller group, there is more opportunity for everyone to get involved.

 After you have thought about the size of your group, consider the personalities of those you would like to invite.

Do you want people that are close friends and relatives?

Do you want individuals that are from the same religious background as you?

Do you want a mixture of introverts and extroverts?

Do you want people that have the same level of education?

Do you want folks from the same neighborhood or building where you live?

Do you want only couples or singles?

Ideally, the best clubs are made from a combination of these groups.

Okay, now you have decided on the genre, how big or small you want your club to be, and you have also figured out who you want to invite to the club. 

Now it is time to decide the structure of how the club will function.

On your first meeting decide what time and frequency works best for everyone. (Morning, afternoon, or evening, once a month, or every other month)

Next, decide where to hold your meetings. Below are some suggestions:

• in club members’ homes, with a different member hosting each time (You could make this a lunchtime activity with everyone bringing a dish and discussing the book while you eat. You could also have your meetings in the evening with everyone bringing a different dessert to sample.)
• in a different restaurant each time
• at a local coffee house
• at your local library
• in a park, at a beach, or lake

In our local neighborhood club, we meet every month at a different member’s house. The host provides all the snacks and goodies, and we meet at 8:30 after everyone has had a chance to put their children to bed.

How to Choose Books and Make the Meeting Fun

Choosing books is always the highlight.

Our most important meeting is always in January. We all get together and bring a wrapped used book. Then we have a used book exchange similar to a white elephant gift exchange. 

Here are the rules for the book exchange:

1. The books must be wrapped, but no to-and-from tags are required.
2. Place all books in one spot, such as on the coffee table or floor in the center of the room.
3. Count how many participants you have and write the numbers on individual slips of paper.
4. Have each participant draw a number.
5. Number 1 chooses a wrapped book first. Then unwraps it and holds it up for everyone to see.
6. Number 2 chooses next; however, number 2 may select a wrapped book from the pile, or may steal the book that number 1 has. If number 2 chooses to steal number 1’s book, then number 1 chooses a new wrapped book from the pile.
7. Number 3 goes next, and like number 2, they can choose a wrapped book or steal any book that has been opened. This goes around the room until all participants have had a chance to either steal an unwrapped book or open a wrapped book.
8. There can only be 2 steals of a book. Once the third person has it, it is considered dead and cannot be stolen again.

This is a great way to get the party started.

After everyone has their books, we go around the room with everyone talking about three choices they would like to read in the coming year. We then write all the choices down and vote. The top 11 books with the most votes are chosen, and we decide what month to discuss them.

After the year’s book list has been compiled, all the tasty treats the host has prepared are sampled, and then we adjourn until the next month.

This a really fun way to get the new year started.

Here are some other ideas for how to choose which books to read:

• The host each month determines the next month’s book.
• You can designate one person each month to bring three choices to vote on for the next month, then at the end of the meeting everyone can vote for their favorite.
• Each month every member writes the title of a book they want to read on a slip of paper. Then at the end of the meeting, the host will draw one title, which will be the book for the following month.
• You could choose books based on availability at amazon, your local library, or Kindle resources.

If you need some inspiration for some good books to get started with, check out this earlier post.

You can also get suggestions from my two favorite book bloggers:

The Literary Lifestyle

Peanut Blossom

There you have it. You have all the information you need to start a book club. If you have any suggestions or comments, please leave them below.

Happy Reading,

Xooxoo

Julie