How to Start a Book Club

Ever wondered how you could start a book club with your friends? Or better yet, ever wondered how to start a book club with friends that aren’t bookworms? Well, you’ve come to the right place! Today I’ll be giving you a few easy and simple tips on how to start a book club.

Pick out the objective of your club

What do you want to accomplish? What are your goals? If you are simply searching for a way to hang out with friends, then your book club can simply be a small gathering in someone’s house to read for a while, discuss a book, and have a few snacks. If you are planning on starting a book club with real members, and the goal of actually reading more books, and discussing everyone’s point of view, then you should have a broader and clearer plan of what books you’ll be discussing, and when you’ll meet. It can really help to write down your plan to have a clearer idea.

When will you meet?

If you are having more of a relaxed type of club, then you can gather with your friends once a week and read quietly for twenty or fifteen minutes. Afterwards you can simply discuss what you are reading, talk with your friends, and have a nice “hang-out” time. You can do this in your friends’ houses, or in your own home. It’s really up to you.

If you are doing a serious book club, then you can meet once a month. Everyone will agree on a book and be responsible for buying it, whether a physical book or an-book will be up to the person. Meeting once a month for this type of club will be easier on everyone since you are planning on reading an entire book. For holding this sort of club, you can meet basically anywhere, a coffee shop, your house, or even the park! This will depend on the group’s flexibility and budget. You don’t want to have to pay for everyone’s food if you go to a restaurant and your club has a big number of people!

Pick a book everyone will like

The important part of a book club is that the members will actually enjoy it. There is no point in having a book club with boring books and yawning members! The key here is to agree on a fun and interesting book. Keep the mood cheerful, and don’t turn the club into a quiet room where no one can laugh.

If you are planning a more simple book club, then every member can just bring their own book, read together for a while, and then discuss everyone’s point of view on their own books. This will prevent having a major disagreement between Leo Tolstoy and Jane Austen. Remember, keep it fun.

Have a snack

To keep your book club fun and easy-going, then always have a snack after you’ve read the assigned chapters or while discussing the book (or books). There is nothing better than tea and books together! If you can, organise every member to bring a different snack each week. Like C.S. Lewis said, “Eating and reading are two pleasures that combine admirably.”

I hope these tips where helpful to you!

Anna