Weve put four new spins on the traditional book club to help you host events that everyone will love to be part of. If youre ready to start a book club, heres 40 of the best book club questions, for fiction and nonfiction alike. Most book clubs discover that there cannot be much discussion about facts. Quick start guide book discussion groups libguides at. How to start a christian book club pen and the pad. Each member or a team of 23 takes a card and answers the question. Or use a search including reading guide to find information on the various book group sites. Jul 17, 2008 book groups should include socializing and food to make the experience relaxed and fun. If you are in a book club and have some ideas to share, id love to hear from. Let anyone propose a book, then have the club vote on the options. Brush up on your netiquette, and post meeting reminders for your book club, discuss whos bringing what snacks or simply encourage each. Some clubs stay very focused on book discussion, others may touch on the book before moving on to general chat. This stepbystep guide will help you start a book club that can last for years.
Book club central, or bcc, will bring a world of information to book lovers, book clubs, libraries, and anyone who wants to increase their enjoyment of reading. Youre together with a common purpose and at least one common interest. Below are some tasks that should be addressed by the club coordinator. Once your club is up and running, you can use the oprah. Chandler has been a member of a bunch of them and has some tips for you and your book club. Appoint a moderator andor admin to help things run more smoothly. You can find more information on the book club questions page. How to run a book club for seniors reading literature together with others is a great way to become involved in your senior living community as well as a way to reach out and make new friends. Online forums easytouse discussion boards that can be accessed at anytime.
How to run a fullchoice book club in your classroom. Oprah, mark zuckerberg, your neighbor in the apartment next door. All of my teen programs start with a few minutes to chat and catch up, as i have discovered that nothing really gets done unless the teens can talk a bit first. Ive found that the best book club discussion questions are ones that are openended and that get people to share their personal opinions. Explore options for setting up and running a book club. Its no mystery that many seniors love reading and have a passion for telling stories. Having discussion questions before your book club meets will help facilitate a good discussion of your book. Either way, starting and sustaining a book club can be a tricky game of planning for a large group and keeping the discussion flowing. Gather a group of friends, choose a book and start reading. Sep 08, 2019 to start a book club, start by finding a small group of people who all love to read, like friends, family members, or coworkers. There are babysitters to consider, traffic to contend with, and the alltooirritating task of looking halfway presentable. Youll also find printable book club questions at the end of this post to bring to your meeting. Some groups receive a list of book recommendations from a facilitator. It is a good idea to plan on finishing the book a little earlier than you might otherwise so that you have time to think about it and prepare before your book club meets.
Combine the book reading with a regularly scheduled discussion meeting to double the impact of the book. Ask one employee to lead the discussion about the weeks assigned chapter or two. Where, when and how will you hold book club meetings. How to run a teen book club teen services underground. Book clubs are a great way to engage students with reading and help build a reading culture at your school. Why not bring the discussion into your own home and create an online book club. Oct 14, 2015 find more advice on starting your book club in nikkis guide. The dos and donts of running a book club most book clubs tend to read fiction rather than nonfiction.
Bring one or two options for meeting times and the first book. Learn from an english professor how to run a book discussion club in this free reading group video on. As technology continues to take up many areas of our lives, reading a good book allows you to disconnect and get lost in the adventures and excitement. This may seem obvious, but it is the most important step, so it is worth stating. A session will probably have run out of steam after two hours, although if the wine is flowing. What are you looking forward to for this first book and discussion. For possible questions to start discussion on specific books, check the back of the book, particularly if the title is a popular book club choice, or the publishers website. Consider starting a blog or an online forum to keep track of the club. It can be hard to make contact with book groups, as they are normally set up by word of.
The band wife raise your hand if youve ever joined a book club, dutifully read the book and showed up to find that 75% of the people hadnt actually read any of the book, there was an obligatory 5 minutes of book discussion and then everyone sat. See more ideas about starting a book, book club books and love book. Take a vote if you would like to have everyone involved in the decision making process. In a discussion book club, the whole group reads the same book between each meeting, usually one per month. There may be a meeting room at your church your pastor will let you use. Youll also find printable book club questions at the end of this post to bring to. All of my teen programs start with a few minutes to chat and catch up, as i have discovered that nothing really gets done unless. Starting a book club is a fun way to enjoy books, meet new people, learn new perspectives and participate in some healthy debate. Look for books that contain book group discussion questions.
Gather everyone together to discuss the first book option, the permanent meeting location and time, how the book club will be run, and the goals for the book club. If you dont have anywhere to meet in person, you can start a virtual book club using social media or video chatting. If youre having trouble getting your book club off the ground or looking for new ways to keep your current group energized, think outside the oldschool rules. For a traditional style book club where everyone reads the same thing start by picking a book that a lot of teens in your community have already read like the hunger games. Since reading is such a common hobby, starting a senior book club is an excellent opportunity for incorporating socialization and continued learning and engagement for your elderly loved one. There are lots of book clubs out there now, and theres more than one way to run a successful one. Its best to have a structure to your discussion, and i strongly recommend following some questions. How to start a reading group reading group choices book. Alert friends, family, and coworkers that youre starting a club. Websites like are free to join, easy to use, and allow all the members of your club to post on a communal site. I will talk you through everything you need to consider when selecting a venue and choosing a time to meet.
If youre looking for a book club to join, check with your library. Jan 25, 2017 its hard enough for book lovers to finish everything on their reading list, much less find an hour to attend a club meeting. Out of all the how to run a meeting tips this is the most important one. Go alphabetically, by birthdays, or by whatever order you decide. You can get monthly book recommendations and free teaching notes as part of our oxford education book club. How to start a book club that doesnt suck book riot. Form an employee book club see success stories in which a group of employees voluntarily read the same book. Jan 03, 2017 so, how does one run a book club for teens. Frankly, it was the only book on our list that we both hadnt read and we both agreed we wanted to read. If there is any business to discuss, such as picking books for future meetings, you may want to cover these points before the discussion starts in case people need to leave quickly at the end. Ten tips for a successful book club the reading club. How to set up a book club in your school, including ideas for key questions for your discussion.
Nov, 20 5 steps to building a business book club next article shares. In some groups, each member brings a couple of her or his own questions about the book. The shortness also helped, as we wanted to start off the book club with something that was quick to get through to account for any people who heard about the new club late. Remember that the theme of your book may determine the atmosphere of your book club. You do not want your book club members to get bored. The second post details how to establish expectations and create a schedule, and the third post discusses accountability and assessment procedures recent literacy research has revealed that choice is the key ingredient in a successful reading program, especially for reluctant readers. Tips for running a successful, sustainable book club. A few years ago, a friend of mine decided a group of us women enjoyed talking about books and the things we liked to read. Coordinate with your members to set up a prebook club meeting. The best places to try are libraries and independent book shops.
Thoughtfully planned book clubs position learning in the hands of the students and provide discussion tools students can use as they work out their responses to the book. Just like book clubs, movie clubs offer an opportunity to gather with friends for entertainment, fun discussion, food and drinks. How to start a book discussion group get together a core group it is much easier to start a book club with two or three people who already have some connection. Here are some tips and ideas for starting a book or other club, and having it run without you having to do all of the work. Then, decide on a place for your book club to meet, like your house or a local library. Good books to consider though would be biographies or books on a topic that everyone is interested in. Starting a book club many book clubs start when a few friends get together and decide that theyd like to meet to discuss books on a regular basis.
Its your turn to moderatelead your book club s discussion. Now youre faced with the basic question that all groups have to deal with when they first start out. Home for book lovers for book clubs structuring your meeting structuring your meeting find a book club start a book club be a book club member lead a book club structuring a meeting facilitate a discussion troubleshoot a bookclub find books further resources. Book club central will be a repository of resources on book clubs from tools to start and maintain your club to recommendations on books, as well as fun ideas like food pairings for. I know this seems a little formal, but there is still a fair bit of admin involved when it comes to running a book club. Book clubs have become a staple of library services, although book clubs for adults outnumber book clubs for kids or teens. As you read each novel, jot down page numbers and passages that moved you and where you found answers to the discussion questions. In start and run a book club you will learn everything you need to know to start your own book club, organise meetings, recruit members, select books, hold interesting discussions, and deal with any issues that may arise. How to start and run a book club a thousand words youtube. Finish reading your book mark any interesting passages you might want to discuss. That way, you can easily share them with the group later on. At reading group choices we publish a guide filled with new recommendations each year. Find ideas for discussions and activities your book club will enjoy.
If that fails then try to join an existing book club. Jan 22, 2015 im writing this post after the chatterbooks group i run weekly at our local primary school. Even though there are many online book clubs on the internet, you can start your own online book club. Its up to everyone to contribute and fuel the discussion. This person may also get background information on the book or author to share with the group. Select a number of questions, write each on an index card, and distribute. They usually have their own book clubs or will know someone local who does. How do we go from being a random bunch of people who like to read to an organized reading group. Jan 14, 2016 how to start a book club jan 14, 2016 by deborah andreasen this post may contain affiliate links about 3 minutes to read this article. Armed with an ma in creative writing and childrens literature i decided it would be fun to set up a childrens book group. Try this if the members have a similar taste in books and dont want to explore new genres. Learn how to get started and find tips about structuring your meetings, facilitating a great discussion link, and finding the.
You dont have to be in an english class to analyze books as a group. Invite an outside facilitator english teacher, librarian. Check out our book club discussion questions post that has 40 of them. How to start a successful book club everyday reading. We have 7 tips to help you lead a great book club discussion everything from book discussion questions, prompts, games, handouts. You might have one member usually the one who chose the book prepare some questions that will launch your discussion. Find more advice on starting your book club in nikkis guide. The best thing about starting your own is that you can design it to reflect your particular reading. Mary burnham is dubray books book club coordinator. When youre starting a digital book club, all the standard book club rules apply. Joining a book club will encourage you to read more and to enjoy books that you may not otherwise have chosen.
After everyone has presented their suggestions take a vote on each title. I am starting book clubs in my reading workshop this semester and have been researching the best way to do. Consider the size of the space where youll be meeting. Starting and running a book club can be a challenging but very. This post is the first in a threepart series about how to run a book club in your classroom. Remind the group when its time for the discussion to start. Will they be hosted at someones home, in a public space, or online. Starting a virtual book club is a great way to discuss a book online with friends or colleagues, at your convenience. Running a book group so youve got a group of friends who are eager to start a reading group together. Aug 08, 2019 the official launch of book club central took place during the presidents program at the ala annual conference and exhibition in chicago on saturday, june 24, 2017.
Ive only had experience with mine, so ill share how ours is organized and why i believe weve had such endurance. Rotate discussion leaders each monthmaybe its the person who selects the book or the one who hosts the meeting. A list of book discussion questions can also be helpful to keep the group on track. Starting a book club fab book club recommendations. If your library doesnt offer a regular reading group at your library now is the time to start. Many book clubs start when a few friends get together and decide that theyd like to meet to discuss books on a regular basis. Whoevers turn it is selects the next book to be read. Start a book club in your community association today. Starting a book club is more complicated than you might think.
Heres how to start a book club that doesnt peter out along the way. When you are ready to lead your first discussion, heed the following tips to get the most rewarding experience out of your club meeting. Based in dun laoghaire, she sets up clubs all over the country from 6 to 60 people. Your guide to starting a book club in your school oxford. Keep your book club interesting by switching up the themes, genres, and time periods. Start by planning where youd like to hold meetings. Just follow these steps to start your own movie club.
There are a couple ways to decide which books to read. Will you have a web based book club or will you meet facetoface. For me, reading is a passion, but my personal library at home is surprisingly small. Home book discussion groups libguides at american library. You can focus on a specific author, genre, time period, or topic. How to run a book club for seniors senior living link. Thus, if you want to start a group a great place to begin can be with your friends but dont assume that they share your expectations about the sort of books to read or how the club will run. The role of club coordinator in a book club as the book club evolves, the role of the group coordinator will change.
If there are new members, make sure they are introduced. You can also try joining real simple s noobligation book club. Aug 24, 2015 how to start a successful book club photo credit and tutorial for painting book covers. Coordinate with your members to set up a pre book club meeting. How to run a successful book club tallahassee democrat.
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