DreamCatcher Publishing Inc.
 

HOW TO START A BOOK CLUB

The ABC’s of a Reading Group

A growing number of people are rediscovering the rewards of the shared reading experience.  Of course, even the most experienced fan of the printed page can use some advice, so here are answers to basic questions about reading groups. 

Getting Started

Reading groups can start up any time and any place, in small towns and big cities, in living rooms or in chat rooms.  And the wonderful thing about such groups is the inclusion of people of every stripe.  The more opinions from people with varied backgrounds and mindsets, the better. 

Who Should Form a Group?

Anybody who is interested in books, regardless of their experience, ideologies or passions, is a prime candidate for the reading group experience. 

Some clubs are started by people who all share a similar interest.  Others are peopled by those with little in common but their mutual love of literature.  The main thing to remember is that every reading group should make the open exchange of ideas and viewpoints its ultimate goal. 

How Do You Find Participants?

Friends and co-workers are a natural starting point.  Just pick up the phone and start networking, or spread the word at work. 

Bulletin boards in libraries, coffee shops or schools are a good way to advertise.  You’ll be surprised where some of the best connections can be made. 

If you prefer to go online, there are message boards and discussion groups across the Internet.  The plus to this is that you can cross international borders to find people to share in the discussion. 

How Many People Should Be in a Group?

Groups should be kept to a manageable size.  Veterans of reading groups report that 6 to 12 people is ideal.  Any fewer and the group tends to bog down without enough feedback.  Any more and the discussions can become unwieldy. 

How Committed Should You Be?

Any successful group requires a certain level of dedication from its members.  If the idea is to create a group of people who will benefit from each other’s company for the months and years to come, it is important that all members share a similar sense of commitment.

Otherwise, the group can quickly lose focus and devolve into little more than a social opportunity, and books can take a back seat to other distractions.  The best groups can find a happy balance between literary goals and communal benefits.   

Running The Show

There are a number of reasons to become involved in a reading group, but none is more important than to have FUN!  These groups allow the individual the kind of understanding and knowledge that can only come from a collective experience.  The rewards from this process should be joyful and long lasting. 

Where Should You Meet?

Living rooms or dens are probably the most common locations, but libraries are also good gathering points.  Some bookstores or cafes encourage meetings.  Naturally, the vast space of the Internet opens up a world of possibilities. 

How Often Should You Gather?

Some groups find once or twice a month to keep them satisfied, and given the frantic pace of most people’s lives, that pace keeps the joy of these sessions from becoming a chore.  More devoted and less time-constrained readers will appreciate a weekly or bi-weekly session, where the discussions can be more concentrated. 

A good tip for frequent sessions is to divide books into sections, focusing on a handful of chapters at a time, so that every one can read along with the development of book simultaneously. 

How Do You Set Guidelines?

Once you have formed a group, it is essential to establish some ground rules.  For instance, decide how you will make your book selections, and what form your discussions will take.  This way everyone will know what is expected of them, and what the group hopes to achieve in the short and long term. 

Some groups specialize in certain areas, such as mysteries or love stories or groups of authors.  It is also not a bad idea to select a group leader, who can schedule meetings, email reminders, keep track of book lists and more. 

Should You Use A Professional?

Some groups turn to experienced sources – a local teacher, professor, bookstore employee, etc. – to help organize and run the meetings.  This can be good for people who are new to the reading club concept. 

A paid professional can help set boundaries – establish goals, guide discussions and select books.  They can become a full-time member of the group, or simply stick around until the group becomes established.  

Making The Most Of Your Group

Once all the pieces are in place and the rules have been established, the best part of the reading group can get under way: reading and discussing a broad range of books. 

How Do You Pick Books?

This can be daunting for some groups, while others are so centered that they rarely look beyond their niche.  As long as all members agree upon the parameters, the reading group will benefit on many levels.  Know the common interest range of your appointed members, but do not be afraid to be flexible and accept a challenge from what the experience of literature can offer for broadening one’s horizon.    

Where Do The Selections Come From?

It depends on the group.  The best method is to have members set the reading lists.  Some like to experience books for the first time, while others prefer to share books they’ve already experienced.  Others use word of mouth or book reviews, which can be found in newspapers, magazines or the Internet.  

How Do You Test The Limits?

It’s good to mix things up on occasion.  Try a book that is off the beaten path.  Use Internet search engines or talk to a local bookstore.  You may end up with a book that sends the group in new directions and onto unexpected places that, in the end, will be a beneficial experience for all. 

Good luck and enjoy the benefits of community that literature can offer!

 Some Suggested DreamCatcher Titles:

Porcelain Doll: My Life With Mental Illness

Locked In, Locked Out

The Making of Harry Cossaboom

I Cry For Innocence

A Light Above the Sun

Dancing With The Dead

Something Lovely

Ragged Believers

By Invitation Only

The World That Is

Strange Lights At Midnight

Hotter Than Hell

Two Island Light

The White Iris

Tatya I - Moscow Nights

Tatya II - The Mossad Agenda