Book Club Advice and Books?

[WildflowerMom]

I am hoping to start a book club soon (actually I was interested in attending one and somehow found myself as the 'admin' of the group 🤷🏻‍♀️).    

This group is made up of 5-6 people from our Next Door group.    There are men and women, ages 30+ so far.    
For our first book (and maybe all of them), I want something very light, not controversial in the least, no love story.   A feel good book.  

One book I've come across is The 100-year-old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson.  

If you've read this, do you think it would work well?  
 

What other books do you recommend? 
 

 

Any advice on how to conduct a good book club?    I have no clue what I'm doing.  I have agoraphobia.   This is going to test me, for sure.   Any advice to help me be somewhat successful at this new endeavor is greatly appreciated!   

[QueenCat]

I've been in book clubs every where I've lived. In each of them, we rotated homes for hosting (except one, where we met in restaurants). In each of them, the host chooses the book. They won't always be to everyone's taste but this actually causes one to explore things they don't normally explore. I'm far more open to different genres than I used to be. I've never been in a co-ed group before. 

[whitestavern]

One of the book clubs I belong to currently consists of four people. Each person takes a turn hosting, and they provide a selection of 3-4 books to read (these are chosen at the end of the previous month's gathering). If anyone has read one of the selections it comes off the list. We pick a book by voting. It works well, and I like that you have a vote even if the book you wanted doesn't get chosen. Some hosts get discussion questions off the internet, some are more chill and ask general questions they think up. We've been together 20 years and have read every type of book. The nonfiction selections we've read seem to generate more and better discussion, though we read more fiction. There have been a few books that were universally disliked, but for the most part, you really can't go wrong. The only disappointing ones have been when 2 or more members did not read or finish a book. It's just hard to have a good discussion then. But of course we still have fun eating and talking about other things, so it's still a nice night out 🙂 

[WildflowerMom]

How often do y'all meet?   How much of the book do you expect to be read between meetings?  
 

 

[Carol in Cal.]

I’m in a book group that I’ve been part of for about 7 years.  It has roots that go back much further than that.

We read one book per month from a variety of genres.  We have used different strategies to choose our books over the years but for the last 2-3 have done it like this:

1.  Proposing books alternates between all the members in a strict rotation.

2.  The proposer must suggest at least three choices.  4-5 is more typical.

3.  Usually the proposer picks a theme.  This is helpful but not required.  

4.  Any genre is fine, but I’ve noticed an informal avoidance of horror books or extremely explicit ones.  Also, some don’t want to read more than 300 pages, although we sometimes do.

5.  Two meetings in advance of the discussion, the proposer distributes a list of titles, sometimes with descriptions, of the books she is proposing.  Then at that meeting a vote is taken among them.  Then that is the book selection for two months out.  

6.  After that we remind each other of the book for the next month, and choose which Tuesday we will discuss it on, and who will host.

7.  Then we discuss the book for the current month.  Even if some have not read it, we do not avoid spoilers.  If they haven’t read it and they still come, that’s on them.  

8.  Discussion of the current book involves going around the circle with each person articulating a response to the book and giving it a rating from 1-10.

9.  Someone tracks and documents the ratings as well as notable comments in the responses, the date, location, and book for the next meeting, and the book for the meeting after that, and sends these out in an email.  That makes it easy to shop.

 

I’ve been in themed book clubs as well, but this one is just all over the board.

[WildflowerMom]

@Carol in Cal., this is excellent!   Thanks so much!!  

[Storygirl]

The 100 Year Old Man..... I had a little family book club with my sister, aunt, cousin, etc., and I suggested that book without reading it, because I had seen so many posts of people who loved it. And I hated it. A giant slog, and I only made it halfway through before giving up. We ended up never meeting for that session, so I didn't have to confess that I hadn't finished it.

Just my opinion, but I would pick something different.

Note -- there are very few books that I've read in my life that I have not been able to make myself finish, even if I didn't care much for them. Maybe two or three. I think some people love that book, but honestly, I don't know why!

Edited June 24, 2021 by Storygirl

[marbel]

I've been in a few book groups. No idea about the !00 Year Old Man... .but in general, the books that are very light, not at all controversial, have low conflict, etc... are the books that don't generate much discussion.  Of course you don't want to choose books that may be offensive, but you also want to have something to talk about! 

Of course you know your crowd and I don't, so feel free to ignore me!  🙂

 

[happi duck]

I lead the book club at my church.  It's men and women but mostly women attend.  We stopped meeting during covid and haven't started up again yet.

We meet, at church, once per month, (September-November, January-May) for two hours and discuss a different book each month.  If simple, we theme our snacks to the book.

We have an initial meeting each year to suggest books and vote for 8 books then I make a schedule.  We like knowing all our books in advance.

The book men especially liked happens to be my favorite nonfiction book: Neither Wolf Nor Dog: On Forgotten Roads With an Indian Elder by Kent Nerburn. (Not necessarily"light")

[happi duck]

14 minutes ago, marbel said:

I've been in a few book groups. No idea about the !00 Year Old Man... .but in general, the books that are very light, not at all controversial, have low conflict, etc... are the books that don't generate much discussion.  Of course you don't want to choose books that may be offensive, but you also want to have something to talk about! 

Of course you know your crowd and I don't, so feel free to ignore me!  🙂

 

Ita! A librarian once told me that the best discussions happen when not everyone likes the book.

[Ottakee]

Check with your local library.  Ours has book club kits you can check out with enough copies of each book for everyone and a discussion guide

[marbel]

6 minutes ago, Ottakee said:

Check with your local library.  Ours has book club kits you can check out with enough copies of each book for everyone and a discussion guide

Along these lines - I am in a small book group now (only 3 of us, would like a few more!) but when it's my turn to decide on a book, I look in our local library system (for physical, ebook and audiobooks) and on used book sites. I don't have a lot of $$ to spend on books, so if I'm suggesting the book I make sure there are sufficient free or almost-free options.  If people want to buy them of course they are able and welcome to, but I won't be choosing a book that must be purchased.

[WildflowerMom]

Ok, the 100 year old man book is out.   
 

happi duck recommended "Neither Wolf Nor Dog: On Forgotten Roads With an Indian Elder by Kent Nerburn"

what else do y'all recommend?    I do want something that gets us talking.   Men & women, 30yo+

[happi duck]

44 minutes ago, marbel said:

Along these lines - I am in a small book group now (only 3 of us, would like a few more!) but when it's my turn to decide on a book, I look in our local library system (for physical, ebook and audiobooks) and on used book sites. I don't have a lot of $$ to spend on books, so if I'm suggesting the book I make sure there are sufficient free or almost-free options.  If people want to buy them of course they are able and welcome to, but I won't be choosing a book that must be purchased.

Good point!  This is part of why we went on hiatus...book availability.  Also, no extra zoom meetings!

[Beth S]

Our church gals are reading "All the Light We Cannot See" for next month's book discussion.
Last time it was a Jane Austen book. 

[Toocrazy!!]

I agree, read something somewhat controversial. You need something meaty to talk about. Interesting true stories or memoirs might work for your group. Educated, Into Thin Air. That kind of book. 

[QueenCat]

4 hours ago, WildflowerMom said:

How often do y'all meet?   How much of the book do you expect to be read between meetings?  
 

 

We meet once  a month and read a book each month.

[clara_jenkins]

On 6/24/2021 at 5:32 AM, WildflowerMom said:

I am hoping to start a book club soon (actually I was interested in attending one and somehow found myself as the 'admin' of the group 🤷🏻‍♀️).    

This group is made up of 5-6 people from our Next Door group.    There are men and women, ages 30+ so far.    
For our first book (and maybe all of them), I want something very light, not controversial in the least, no love story.   A feel good book.  

One book I've come across is The 100-year-old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson.  

If you've read this, do you think it would work well?  
 

What other books do you recommend? 
 

The book club is awesome! I'm a potential member of a book club and I already have a large list of books that I want to talk about in your club, hehe. For example, the first story I would tell about is Daisy Miller. If you have not read it, then be sure to read here https://freebooksummary.com/category/daisy-miller at least a small summary. By the way, there are a lot of similar summaries on the site, so I hope this site will be very useful for all bookworms.

Any advice on how to conduct a good book club?    I have no clue what I'm doing.  I have agoraphobia.   This is going to test me, for sure.   Any advice to help me be somewhat successful at this new endeavor is greatly appreciated!   

The book club is awesome! I'm a potential member of a book club and I already have a large list of books that I want to talk about in your club, hehe. 

Edited January 19, 2022 by clara_jenkins

[ScoutTN]

Agatha Christie is fun, readily available, and page-turning. 
 

Maybe poll your group for genres? 
Spy stories
Animal related books
Adventure 
Classic novel 
Biography - Erik Larson’s books are great. Or Hidden Figures. Or The Boys in the Boat. 

Something local to you? 
 

[J-rap]

I love book clubs!  I'd probably start with a lighter one for the first choice, as you said.  My father and son read The 100-year-old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared and loved it.  Very quirky humor.  Unless one person is running it and choosing the books, then at some point, I'd present a list and everyone can vote.  (But I think you deciding on the first book is a good idea.)  Or, each person can come up with two or three suggestions and sometime before you're done with the first book, everyone can vote for their top three or something like that.  In the clubs I've been in, we've enjoyed a great variety.  So, it might be a mystery, then a biography, then a modern novel.

I've been in clubs where one person really runs it and is responsible for book choice and guiding the discussion.  I've been in others where the group votes and picks a selection of them and they take turns leading the discussion.  And I've been in others where there isn't an actual host.  You just kind of go with the flow during the discussions.  I do think it's helpful to have a host/leader, but sometimes if no one really wants to be that, then the go-with-the-flow model generally works okay.  

[Lady Florida.]

I belong to a small book club of 6 women. I should state upfront that 4 of us were hs mom friends for years before one woman started the club. We added one person's mom and a new person that the one other member still homeschooling met through her daughter. The two new people fit in right away. While we're a book club, we're first and foremost friends. That probably affects the dynamic of the group and we might be different than most book clubs.

I once belonged to a larger book club which was made up of moms from our hs group. While we all knew each other we didn't necessarily all socialize outside of book group. Both were run in similar ways as described below.

In my current club at each meeting we decide who will choose the next book. We do try to take turns but if someone isn't at the meeting we don't volunteer her. Only someone from the meeting will host the next one. The person hosting chooses the book and the restaurant - yes we meet at a restaurant which means we've hardly met in the last 2 years. We've done some outdoor dining but for the most part we're on hold.

In the other book club from years ago we all took turns regardless of whether or not you were at the previous meeting. Again, the host chose the book. Oddly enough, though we weren't all friends outside book club, we held meetings at each other's homes. IIRC (it's been years) the host chose a main dish (sometimes themed with the book but not always) and others brought sides. 

In both clubs you read the book one month and meet the following month. For example if the meeting is the 1st Tuesday of the month, then at the February meeting you're discussing the book from January.

Edited January 19, 2022 by Lady Florida.

[KungFuPanda]

I have my first book club meeting tomorrow there are three of us and we’re planning to tick off the following list this year. 
 

We’re big on shortcuts. We’re crossing off about 1/4 of the list with the first two books. We’re allowing three weeks to read a book, then meeting for snacks and discussion. (We’re Covid testing before each meeting)

our first book is Dear Black Girl followed by Bombshell. 

[BrianRameriz]

On 6/24/2021 at 5:32 AM, WildflowerMom said:

I am hoping to start a book club soon (actually I was interested in attending one and somehow found myself as the 'admin' of the group 🤷🏻‍♀️).    

This group is made up of 5-6 people from our Next Door group.    There are men and women, ages 30+ so far.    
For our first book (and maybe all of them), I want something very light, not controversial in the least, no love story.   A feel good book.  

One book I've come across is The 100-year-old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson.  

If you've read this, do you think it would work well?  
 

What other books do you recommend? 
 

 

Any advice on how to conduct a good book club?    I have no clue what I'm doing.  I have agoraphobia.   This is going to test me, for sure.   Any advice to help me be somewhat successful at this new endeavor is greatly appreciated!   

I'm very grateful for the book recommendations. I love various literature, but lately, I prefer books that help me in my learning process. Moreover, recently I've been got serious and responsible tasks based on medical research. And I found a source that can help https://www.nursingpaper.com/evidence-based-practice-writing-service/ Thanks to this, I can improve the quality of my work and finish on time.

Edited April 1, 2022 by BrianRameriz

[QueenCat]

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