It's your favorite afternoon of the month (except when the novel selection is boring), here are some tips for running a successful book club.
14. One Animal Memoir Per Year. We all love animals. Surprisingly, there are quite a few memoir about dogs. Many of us cry our eyes out when the dog dies in the end - and these books become instant favorites because of the passion they evoke. But too many animal themed memoirs can ruin it for most people. The discussions become morbid and people loose interest, so limit them to one per year.
13. Once a Year, Select a Book From Childhood. Like the Chronicles of Narnia or Alice in Wonderland. Reliving why we became avid readers in the first place is a great way to get everybody motivated to keep on reading. Also, studies show that reading books for children engage our creative side and leads to possibility thinking.
12. Stay On The Same Page - Literally. This is especially vital if your reading a play, the classics, or foreign translations. It's important everyone borrows or buys the same edition, otherwise you spend a lot of time flipping back and forth trying to locate the passage your discussing.
11. Take December Off. The holidays are jammed packed with so many things to do, it's really difficult to expect anyone to finish a novel in the mist of the holiday rush. So take the holiday's off. If you want, have everyone bring in a poem, or article they'd like to share with the group. One year, our book club members shared book reviews of their favorite books.
10. Set Up An Online Calendar. This will cut down on all the endless "reply all" emails asking when is the next meeting or what are we reading next month. Besides, it's so easy to set up an online calendar which everyone can access.
9. Don't Confuse Your Book Club Meeting with Group Therapy. Reading influences the lives of the reader - and there will be times when we can empathize with the plot. But, book club meetings are a time to focus on the books we read, not on our psyches. It's the leaders responsibility to ensure that the group discussion does not turn into a therapy session - that is not how you want to spend the next two hours.
8. Toast to A Literary-Themed Cocktail. Change things up a bit and meet up at a lounge that serves appetizers and literary-themed cocktails like "Godfathers", "A Kiss Goodnight" or "A Midsummernight's Dream." Check out other fun cocktails at http://www.drinksmixer.com/drinkrq12508.html
7. Beware of the Book Dictator. Just about every book club has at one time or another had that one member who takes the book club way too seriously. She wants to choose the next book, position herself in the room so she's the center of attention, reads not only the book - but every available critique and editorial review that exists so that she can pontificate at nauseum about the merits of the plot. To avoid this, establish a rotation on for discussion leaders so that everyone has a turn and everyone has a chance to suggests texts.
6. Set A 500 Page Limit On Book Selections. Enough said.
5. Keep It Fun. At flair to your menu by having food or drink choices that are connected to the book. Example: Serve orange mint & honey when discussing the book Orange Mint & Honey, Carleen Brice. Atonement, Ian McEwan Serve high tea and transport your book group to pre-WWII England and the large country estate of the Tallis family. The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini Capture some of the flavor and culture of Afghanistan in the early 1970s with this Middle Eastern menu including traditional hummus and Pomegranate Margaritas.
4. Engage The Whole Group. Share the responsibility of hosting the book club by rotating the host/discussion group leader. Everyone should participate in book selections and developing a reader's guide discussion questions when none are available with the book or online. Your members will feel more invested in the group and no one feels put upon to do all the grunt work.
3. Don't Just Bring A Friend. Once your book club gets started members bond over their love of books and past experiences. Don't disrupt the flow by inviting a friend along who might not fit in with your group members. A policy should be established about when and how to invite guests or new members that way no one's feelings are hurt
2. Establish Your Agenda. From the onset, there should be clear guidelines for running your book club group. If the book doesn't have a book guide, establish whose responsibility it is to create one, who will run the discussion, whose bring the food, the when, where, and time. When you take care of the details in the beginning your club should run smoothly.
1. Think Outside the Book. You don't always have to read a specific genre or even books. Every now and again liven things up by reading plays, essays, poetry, spoken word, articles and even short stories. Don't confine yourself to only female writers, or ethnic books, or series. Sometimes, it starts out like fun, but becomes limiting. Explore your options and above all... have fun.
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