I’ve been in a lot of book clubs. Unlike the movie versions of staid, gentile discussions, book clubs can have a lot of drama. Odd things can happen, like the police being called to break up a fight over whether or not the main character is a closet knitter. Perhaps one member is abrasive or overbearing, or another member being too shy to speak, yet other members refuse to read any of the books. At times the discussion gets boring or always ends up coming back around to the Nazis. Here are my tips on how to avoid these and other common pitfalls when starting a book club. Implement these steps into your existing book club to liven it up or get it back on track.
1. Look outside your circle. Gather a group of about different 5 friends. Have each friend bring an acquaintance to enhance the discussion with original viewpoints. Don’t start a book club with your immediate circle, or you run the risk of never talking about the book. I’m the odd man out in one of my book clubs. I’ll probably quit it soon because the other members are a tight clique. They spend more time gossiping than they do discussing the book. If I hear one more “this is how COOL I was in high school” story I’m going to denounce Jane Austen in public. Gossip and Glory Days stories are fine, but don’t let chat take over the night until you are finished the book discussion. And give the unwilling witnesses some time to high tail it out of there before the chorus of Auld Lang Syne begins.
2. Have a common thread. It helps if members all have at least one thing in common: you all work for the same employer, you all live in the same town, you are all past presidents of the I-love-bratwurst club, etc. This gives acquaintances something to chat about during breaks and after the discussion is over, while you are piling onions over your sausage links.
3. Decide on a theme. Decide each year if you are going to read fiction only, a combination of fiction and non-fiction, one author’s books, prize winners, a specific genre, etc. Stick to the genre or theme strictly, or resentment will pop up over rejected book selections. And when I say ‘resentment’ I mean that your tires will be slashed and your driver’s door keyed.
4. Recruit enough members. Having 9-10 members ensures that you will have enough members for a lively discussion. 10-15 people is the absolute maximum number for a book club. Some groups do very well with just 5 or 6 committed members but it is good to have a few more members in case some can’t make the meeting. Plus, 10 people is a posse. You never know when you might need one of those.
5. Rotate hosting. The general rule is that if you suggest the book, then you run the meeting. This means you host at your house and you come up with the discussion questions. You also act as discussion leader, keeping topics on track. Sometimes the hosting rotates between the same 3 or 4 people in the group because everyone else has young kids or other barriers to hosting, like radon gas leaks. Another book club of stay-at-home moms I know meets during the day while the little ones play (this is insane, don’t do this). If you can find a meeting place like a church, then that takes the onus away from members, but one person must co-ordinate with the meeting space owner. This duty should be rotated every year or so also. Rotating duties helps avoid hosting burnout. Also for our book clubs, no one shows up empty handed. We all bring a snack or a drink. I usually bring a drink. With no less than 20% alcohol in it.
6. Rotate meeting days. We toggle between Wednesday nights and Thursday nights, every other month. Our schedules are varied, as we all are parents of school age children. If we toggle the meeting nights, everyone can make at least one night. Nights also give us the excuse to drink. Although I do hear that they break out the mimosas at the daytime group…
7. Keep the book length manageable. If you choose a longer book, add a few weeks on the reading schedule. You can do the math. My groups can read about 6 pages a day. That’s 6 weeks for a 264 page book. Gauge your group. You may have to stick with Junie B. Jones. Whatever works.
8. Have a NO MENTION list. The old adage is to never discuss religion or politics, and it is advice best heeded for a book club. If you have varied political or cultural backgrounds amongst your members, you want to ensure proper etiquette is followed. Some other suggestions for the NO MENTION list: School happenings, kids’ relationships, the past, personal finances, anal welts, etc. Decide which subjects would derail your polite company, and announce a reminder at the beginning of each meeting until everyone follows the policy. If they don’t follow the policy, engage the posse.
9. Distribute the books en masse. “En Masse” doesn’t mean in church (but hey, whatever works). Our library has “Book Club Kits” which include multiple copies of the same title that can be checked out for longer periods than the normal two or three weeks. One person can check it out and distribute the books to the members. That one person is responsible for collecting and returning the books. Sometimes we pass these Book Club kit copies amongst each other if there aren’t enough copies to go around. We blame the coffee rings on page 34 on the person we borrowed the book from. It’s convenient.
10. Have an open-door policy for members. Members are invited to every meeting whether or not they’ve read the book. YES, BOOK CLUB POLICE, this means YOU. Have a heart. It may have been a busy month for your member, but that shouldn’t exclude him from coming to the meeting and joining in the “bigger issues” discussions. He can also listen and socialize. This policy is important. The main reason for a book club isn’t the books. It’s the discussions and socializing. All members need to be flexible and inclusive. Get off your high horse; go get yourself a sausage and some wine and enjoy.
If anyone has any more suggestions, by all means, peep up!
My small parochial school did its best to educate me. My university put me through a class where I read a bunch of short stories all semester, but unleashed me on the Psychology department after that.
It turns out, that even though I’d like to be a regular novelist, I’m not very well read. I’ve worked on this in my adult life, so I have many, many books under my belt by now. But I have to say, many have been by foreign authors. The reason for this is because I went through curricula from better high schools and read the books on their syllabi. Many of the “classics” are British novels from the previous two centuries. Prejudice kept me from filling in the gaps with varied American writers, poverty kept me from being exposed to anything more than the Bronte ladies, Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald.
I had a little daydream today, like all budding novelists do, of winning a Pulitzer one day. Wouldn’t that be grand? It is the American novelist’s pinnacle, a lottery of bounty and a trophy of respect. I’m probably being totally naive with that image. Still seems cool though.
I don’t allow myself to laze away in the haze of a dream. I realized quickly I truly know nothing about the Pulitzer. Zero. Zip. Nada. I’m about as far away from winning a Pulitzer as a chihuahua is from being named prima ballerina at the Bolshoi. But I can learn what MAKES a Pulitzer. Not that there is a formula, but I’d like to experience what the Pulitzer committee thinks is worthy of this nation’s top literary prize. I decided, a few minutes ago, that I should read every single book on that list.
Due to the little tiny bit of controversy in my “riding fences” post, I asked a few media mavens to answer a few quick questions about their reading habits and how they see themselves as readers.
A big thank you from me goes out to the participants from our small social media circle. Still waiting to hear back from iJustine, but here are the participants in this impromptu study: DYKC, CC Chapman, Annie Boccio, Julia Roy, Eric Rice, Amanda Gravel, Chris Brogan, Jeff Pulver and Ewan Spence.
I am breaking the results up across several posts, in the interest of spacing.
Please leave a comment with your answers/thoughts; I’ve posted the questions below to copy and paste. Thanks, and enjoy!
1. In one (can be hyphenated!) word, how would you describe your career, culture or identity. E.g., “I am a(n) ________.”
2. Do you think this identity has been represented well in art (including fiction, film, poetry)?
3. What do you typically do on long trips (plane, train, auto) for entertainment?
4. What traditional paper & print media, if any, do you read on a regular basis?
5. What is the last fiction novel or short story you remember reading? When was this?
6. What is your preferred genre for fiction and/or non-fiction?
7. Would you rather read a novel or listen to it?
8. Approximately how many page books do you buy in a year for yourself or other adults?
9. Please pick up the book nearest to you now. What are the first and last words? What is the title?
10. You’ve just been given $300 gift card to Borders right before a 3-week trip to an ‘off the grid’ island. What do you buy?
11. What connections, if any, do you see between social media and traditional fiction?
1. In one (can be hyphenated!) word, how would you describe your career, culture or identity. E.g., “I am a(n) ________.”
CHRIS BROGAN: community-maker.
2. Do you think this identity has been represented well in art (including fiction, film, poetry)?
CHRIS BROGAN: Yes. Very well. I think community is as old as story. It’s the glue that makes a tribe out of a bunch of people.
3. What do you typically do on long trips (plane, train, auto) for entertainment?
CHRIS BROGAN: I read books and magazines, and synthesize ideas for my blog and for other writing projects. I deliver as much output as I can, because I consider that time perfect for keeping me offline.
4. What traditional paper & print media, if any, do you read on a regular basis?
CHRIS BROGAN: I read Fast Company and Wired Magazine in print. Wired, as sometimes described by Chris Anderson, is more like a monthly book. I feel that way about its production value.
5. What is the last fiction novel or short story you remember reading? When was this?
CHRIS BROGAN: I read The Thief Lord, by Cornelia Funk and finished it two months ago. Before that, it was Spook Country by William Gibson, 3 months ago.
6. What is your preferred genre for fiction and/or non-fiction?
CHRIS BROGAN: In fiction, I prefer cyberpunk and some of its more recent descendants, but I don’t read a lot of fiction any more. In non-fiction, I mix it up between memoirs, business books, theory/science books, and the occasional zeitgeist book.
7. Would you rather read a novel or listen to it?
CHRIS BROGAN: Honestly, listen to it, because I have a really long commute, and it’s a great way to get reading done.
8. Approximately how many page books do you buy in a year for yourself or other adults?
CHRIS BROGAN: If you mean how many books do I buy for people and myself in a given year, I’m slowing down on BUYING books, because I use the library. For others, maybe between 12-20.
9. Please pick up the book nearest to you now. What are the first and last words? What is the title?
CHRIS BROGAN: The, Together. Book: Connect, by Anne Zelenka.
10. You’ve just been given $300 gift card to Borders right before a 3-week trip to an ‘off the grid’ island. What do you buy?
CHRIS BROGAN: A mix of business how-to books, leadership books, a few cyberpunk novels, some memoirs, and graphic novels.
11. What connections, if any, do you see between social media and traditional fiction?
Social media is a great way for fiction authors to connect and/or observe. Both are necessary to the future of the genre.
CHRIS BROGAN: Social media is a great way for fiction authors to connect and/or observe. Both are necessary to the future of the genre.
Due to the little tiny bit of controversy in my “riding fences” post, I asked a few media mavens to answer a few quick questions about their reading habits and how they see themselves as readers.
A big thank you from me goes out to the participants from our small social media circle. Still waiting to hear back from iJustine, but here are the participants in this impromptu study: DYKC, CC Chapman, Annie Boccio, Julia Roy, Eric Rice, Amanda Gravel, Chris Brogan, Jeff Pulver and Ewan Spence.
I am breaking the results up across several posts, in the interest of spacing.
Please leave a comment with your answers/thoughts; I’ve posted the questions below to copy and paste. Thanks, and enjoy!
1. In one (can be hyphenated!) word, how would you describe your career, culture or identity. E.g., “I am a(n) ________.”
2. Do you think this identity has been represented well in art (including fiction, film, poetry)?
3. What do you typically do on long trips (plane, train, auto) for entertainment?
4. What traditional paper & print media, if any, do you read on a regular basis?
5. What is the last fiction novel or short story you remember reading? When was this?
6. What is your preferred genre for fiction and/or non-fiction?
7. Would you rather read a novel or listen to it?
8. Approximately how many page books do you buy in a year for yourself or other adults?
9. Please pick up the book nearest to you now. What are the first and last words? What is the title?
10. You’ve just been given $300 gift card to Borders right before a 3-week trip to an ‘off the grid’ island. What do you buy?
11. What connections, if any, do you see between social media and traditional fiction?
1. In one (can be hyphenated!) word, how would you describe your career, culture or identity. E.g., “I am a(n) ________.”
ERIC RICE: Explorer-Adventurer
AMANDA GRAVEL: firecracker
2. Do you think this identity has been represented well in art (including fiction, film, poetry)?
ERIC RICE: Not digitally, no. We get stupid hacker movies.
AMANDA GRAVEL: yes (thinking of lisa loeb’s 1997 album entitled ‘firecracker’)
3. What do you typically do on long trips (plane, train, auto) for entertainment?
ERIC RICE: Books, TV, and games. And a pillow.
AMANDA GRAVEL: i listen to music on my ipod or read a book
4. What traditional paper & print media, if any, do you read on a regular basis?
ERIC RICE: I don’t read print newspapers, but read the online additions. I do purchase a metric ton of magazines, ranging from architectural, design, cars, gaming, etc. I LOVE magazines.
AMANDA GRAVEL: not really any. no newspapers, and an occasional magazine.
5. What is the last fiction novel or short story you remember reading? When was this?
ERIC RICE: Crooked Little Vein, by Warren Ellis, on the last plane trip.
AMANDA GRAVEL: jeanette winterson’s lighthousing. a few months ago. i started reading another novel since then but didn’t like it so i put it away.
6. What is your preferred genre for fiction and/or non-fiction?
ERIC RICE: Cyberpunk, dystopian fiction, etc.
AMANDA GRAVEL: fiction- i like books that are written with a poetic ear that are a little dark and have characters who get deep with their issues. non-fiction i like how-to types of books (PR, marketing or girly stuff, usually) or memoirs.
7. Would you rather read a novel or listen to it?
ERIC RICE: Listen. Although, I can only do this when driving and my mind is not focused on a non-reflexive task.
AMANDA GRAVEL: I’d rather read it I think. I’ve never listened to a novel before.
8. Approximately how many page books do you buy in a year for yourself or other adults?
ERIC RICE: Sadly, maybe five fiction. but a lot of non-fiction.
AMANDA GRAVEL: I probably buy like, 2-5 books a year for myself or for other people as gifts.
9. Please pick up the book nearest to you now. What are the first and last words? What is the title?
ERIC RICE: “In” “awoke” Title: Echelon
AMANDA GRAVEL: This, prize Title: Chasing Cool First
10. You’ve just been given $300 gift card to Borders right before a 3-week trip to an ‘off the grid’ island. What do you buy?
ERIC RICE: Design books, notepads, and maps.
AMANDA GRAVEL: Jeanette Winterson books, magazines, maybe a book about social media, PR and/or marketing
11. What connections, if any, do you see between social media and traditional fiction?
ERIC RICE: I don’t see many connections between social media and traditional fiction, outside of my own project where the hyper-broadcasted future has its roots in the relentless and perhaps irresponsible display of life’s minutia. Some writers may engage in using social software and sites to create new types of media, however, their numbers seem small.
AMANDA GRAVEL: Traditional fiction is created not reported, and in social media (as well as social life in general) we are all agents creating what’s real. We become characters in this story we’re all creating together.
Due to the little tiny bit of controversy in my “riding fences” post, I asked a few media mavens to answer a few quick questions about their reading habits and how they see themselves as readers.
A big thank you from me goes out to the participants from our small social media circle. Still waiting to hear back from iJustine, but here are the participants in this impromptu study: DYKC, CC Chapman, Annie Boccio, Julia Roy, Eric Rice, Amanda Gravel, Chris Brogan and Jeff Pulver.
I am breaking the results up across several posts, in the interest of spacing.
Please leave a comment with your answers/thoughts; I’ve posted the questions below to copy and paste. Thanks, and enjoy!
1. In one (can be hyphenated!) word, how would you describe your career, culture or identity. E.g., “I am a(n) ________.”
2. Do you think this identity has been represented well in art (including fiction, film, poetry)?
3. What do you typically do on long trips (plane, train, auto) for entertainment?
4. What traditional paper & print media, if any, do you read on a regular basis?
5. What is the last fiction novel or short story you remember reading? When was this?
6. What is your preferred genre for fiction and/or non-fiction?
7. Would you rather read a novel or listen to it?
8. Approximately how many page books do you buy in a year for yourself or other adults?
9. Please pick up the book nearest to you now. What are the first and last words? What is the title?
10. You’ve just been given $300 gift card to Borders right before a 3-week trip to an ‘off the grid’ island. What do you buy?
11. What connections, if any, do you see between social media and traditional fiction?
1. In one (can be hyphenated!) word, how would you describe your career, culture or identity. E.g., “I am [a(n)] ________.”
ANNIE BOCCIO: Suburban-Geeky-Mom
JULIA ROY: I am a digital-girl
2. Do you think this identity has been represented well in art (including fiction, film, poetry)?
ANNIE BOCCIO: Only if you are looking for it, not in popular culture though.
JULIA ROY: Yes, I think being “born digital” is beginning to be represented in different artistic mediums.
3. What do you typically do on long trips (plane, train, auto) for entertainment?
ANNIE BOCCIO: Listen to radio, audiobooks or podcasts.
JULIA ROY: Listen to podcasts and vidcasts on my iPhone that I subscribe to through iTunes. Work offline — drafting blog posts, client outreach plans and other projects.
4. What traditional paper & print media, if any, do you read on a regular basis?
ANNIE BOCCIO: Daily newspaper, a novel every 2 months or so, at least one non-fiction book per month.
JULIA ROY: None. The only traditional print media I buy and read are books.
5. What is the last fiction novel or short story you remember reading? When was this?
ANNIE BOCCIO: Last novel I finished was The Abstinence Teacher by Tom Perrotta, during November (for a book club.)
JULIA ROY: The Kite Runner, 6 months ago.
6. What is your preferred genre for fiction and/or non-fiction?
ANNIE BOCCIO: Character driven stories, genre doesn’t really matter so much to me if the characters are interesting.
JULIA ROY: I like Marketing and Mystery books.
7. Would you rather read a novel or listen to it?
ANNIE BOCCIO: Recently I’ve been listening, but I think I focus better when I read.
JULIA ROY: Both, I’d like to read it first and then follow up by listening to an audiobook version.
8. Approximately how many page books do you buy in a year for yourself or other adults?
ANNIE BOCCIO: Eight to Ten books. That’s down drastically because I have a giant stack of unread books to get through so I don’t let myself buy more.
JULIA ROY: 30
9. Please pick up the book nearest to you now. What are the first and last words? What is the title?
ANNIE BOCCIO: Transcendent, future. Title: Transcending CSS: The Fine Art of Web Design (such a geeky book!)
JULIA ROY: Before, commit. Title- Meatball Sundae
10. You’ve just been given $300 gift card to Borders right before a 3-week trip to an ‘off the grid’ island. What do you buy?
ANNIE BOCCIO: For off the grid I suppose I’d buy biographies, memoirs, histories, and a stack of short-story compilations.
JULIA ROY: All Seth Godin’s books.
11. What connections, if any, do you see between social media and traditional fiction?
ANNIE BOCCIO: The only connection I see personally is in the form of recommendations from others about what’s worth reading. The Facebook Bookshelf application is interesting but I haven’t really used it much.
JULIA ROY: Success hinges on the ability to tell a great story that people will talk about.
Due to the little tiny bit of controversy in my “riding fences” post, I asked a few media mavens to answer a few quick questions about their reading habits and how they see themselves as readers.
A big thank you from me goes out to the participants from our small social media circle. Still waiting to hear back from iJustine, but here are the participants in this impromptu study: DYKC, CC Chapman, Annie Boccio, Julia Roy, Eric Rice, Amanda Gravel, Chris Brogan, and Jeff Pulver.
I am breaking the results up across several posts, in the interest of spacing.
Please leave a comment with your answers/thoughts; I’ve posted the questions below to copy and paste. Thanks, and enjoy!
1. In one (can be hyphenated!) word, how would you describe your career, culture or identity. E.g., “I am a(n) ________.”
2. Do you think this identity has been represented well in art (including fiction, film, poetry)?
3. What do you typically do on long trips (plane, train, auto) for entertainment?
4. What traditional paper & print media, if any, do you read on a regular basis?
5. What is the last fiction novel or short story you remember reading? When was this?
6. What is your preferred genre for fiction and/or non-fiction?
7. Would you rather read a novel or listen to it?
8. Approximately how many page books do you buy in a year for yourself or other adults?
9. Please pick up the book nearest to you now. What are the first and last words? What is the title?
10. You’ve just been given $300 gift card to Borders right before a 3-week trip to an ‘off the grid’ island. What do you buy?
11. What connections, if any, do you see between social media and traditional fiction?
1. In one (can be hyphenated!) word, how would you describe your career, culture or identity. E.g., “I am [a(n)] ________.” DYKC: Black.
CC_CHAPMAN: Helper 2. Do you think this identity has been represented well in art (including fiction, film, poetry)? DYKC: Not comprehensively enough.
CC_CHAPMAN: Sure, we see it over and over again in the person that is friendly and helpful to those around them. Sometimes to the point of their own self sacrifice. 3. What do you typically do on long trips (plane, train, auto) for entertainment? DYKC: Watch the scenery while listening to music.
CC_CHAPMAN: My iPod is always synched up with the latest music and podcasts. I also always pick up a couple of magazines and bring a book with me. Almost always fiction if it is a long ride or else I’ll never get lost in it. 4. What traditional paper & print media, if any, do you read on a regular basis? DYKC: Good Magazine, Harpers, Black Enterprise, XXL, GQ
CC_CHAPMAN: Sunday Boston Globe, Rolling Stone, Wired, Fast Company, Mens Health 5. What is the last fiction novel or short story you remember reading? When was this? DYKC: Halting State, by Charlie Stross — last week.
CC_CHAPMAN: I read the last Harry Potter book as soon as it came out. 6. What is your preferred genre for fiction and/or non-fiction? DYKC: Cyberpunk, or hacker related.
CC_CHAPMAN: If I’m reading non-fiction is is most likely a business book of some sort. On the fiction side I really read anything. Grew up reading tons of fantasy novels and they are still my favorite. I like to try out new genres based on great writers telling interesting and new stories. I’m a big fan of deep character development rather then rapid plot. 7. Would you rather read a novel or listen to it? DYKC: I’d prefer to read it.
CC_CHAPMAN: ALWAYS read it over listen. I’ve never been audio book guy. I also can’t see me ever getting a Kindle or anything similar. I like the tactile feel of holding a book, flipping the pages. I may be totally digital in a lot of areas of my life but reading it not one of them. 8. Approximately how many page books do you buy in a year for yourself or other adults? DYKC: Between 15 and 30, not including hardbound/softbounds graphic novels (i.e. Comic compilations).
CC_CHAPMAN: Wow, I have no idea. I buy lots of books. A good 10-20 a year easily and I love to give books as gifts to people because to do it right really shows you know that person. 9. Please pick up the book nearest to you now. What are the first and last words? What is the title? DYKC: Laugh, Washington. Title, Laugh if You Like, Ain’t a Damn Thing Funny: The Life and Story of Ralph Waldo “Petey” Geene
CC_CHAPMAN: The, Chase. Title = Rules of the Red Rubber Ball 10. You’ve just been given $300 gift card to Borders right before a 3-week trip to an ‘off the grid’ island. What do you buy? DYKC: Every book by William Gibson, Neil Stepenson, Bruce Sterling, and Toure’.
CC_CHAPMAN: I’d certainly get something philisophical and mind provoking to get my brain going. I always love doing that if I’m going on a back country trip of any sort because it gives your mind something to chew on during all the quality idle time. I’d also pick up some other travel adventure books since I find there is nothing better then reading about someone elses trip while I’m on one myself. I’d also probably grab a couple of the latest hot books since I hardly ever read these and it would be the perfect time to catch up on what everyone else is raving about. I also LOVE the bargin tables at any bookstore so I’m sure I’d spend every last time grabbing a couple of these gems. 11. What connections, if any, do you see between social media and traditional fiction? DYKC: Social media is a lot like fiction, in that you are able to “read” everyones story (as presented) online. The trick, is to discern the real narrative (is it true, is it embellished, pure fiction? etc).
CC_CHAPMAN: Aren’t we all sort of making it up as we go along in both? *laugh* The key to good fiction is characters you can connect with and the telling of a good story. It could be argued that this is the same for social media. A lot of the people we connect with we have never met in the flesh so we only have their words (and photos, voice and video in some cases) to connect with them.
Tags: 10 steps, book club, Books, discussion, group, how to, Readin', start, top ten 
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