My book club is over twenty years old. When we started, we had small children. Now, hundreds of books later, our kids are grown. We gather earlier than we used to (no longer are we herding little tykes through a bed time ritual) and we enjoy the odd weekend get-away for our discussion events. Over the years, we've witnessed ups and downs in each other's lives, mourning the losses of loved ones and celebrating birthdays.
Being a part of such a strong, smart and loyal group of women is a privilege. Everyone who loves to read and longs to discuss what they read with others should have such a sisterhood (is peoplehood a word?)! Which makes me wonder: How can I help readers create a lasting book club? What is the secret sauce that enables a book club to endure?
Last year, I started researching questions like what is the ideal number of members for a book club, what is the best way to format the discussions, and how do members decide which genres to discuss. Additionally, I passed out survey questions to anyone I knew who was already in a book club, eventually amassing a bulging file of interview answers, expert tips, and library blogs.
It is almost time to compile all this information into a book that readers interested in book clubbing can access. While I contemplate that project, there has been an exciting development in my quest for book club development factoids: the opportunity to join another book club!
My neighbour across the street put the word out to her kids' friends' moms, dog walking buddies, and other neighbours that she intends to form a book club. She was a part of one in Seoul before she moved here two years ago and she misses it. Eventually, she garnered enough interest to make it happen.
What a wonderful opportunity to witness the building of a brand new book club from the ground up! Will it last? How many people will be in it? How will we choose books? What will we do for snacks? In what ways will it be similar to, or different from, my existing book club? To document its progression, I decided to start this blog.
New Book Club First Meeting
This week we had our first meeting. We gathered on R's balcony, on a warm autumn evening, around wine, fruit, cheese and crackers. We were told to bring nothing other than a book or two to recommend if we wanted. She provided wine and snacks.
My existing book club, (let's call it "Alpha" for now) has a well honed refreshments procedure. The hostess provides all wine and snacks. When we gather, we chat and catch up until someone suggests it's time to discuss the book.
The researcher (who is never the hostess), leads the discussion. Typically, she consults her notes on the author's background, any awards, reviews, and interesting tidbits. Sometimes there are questions but usually, after each member says whether she liked the book or not, the ensuing discussion needs no more prompts. At some point, the hostess serves dessert, a signal that the discussion has run its course. Typically, Alpha lasts two and a half hours (seven-thirty until ten o'clock).
For this new ("Beta") book club, the organizer emphasized that the gathering should be fun and without stress. Members should make an effort to read the book, but if they cannot finish, they can still join the discussion (as long as they don't protest against spoilers). Whoever chooses the book hosts and leads the discussion. They can use questions from the back of the book, if available, come up with questions of their own, or proceed in any way they desire (it was suggested that members be polled first on whether they liked or didn't like the book). At each book club, a new book will be chosen for the next month. Members can come with one or two options for other members to consider. If someone cannot or does not want to host, she can provide the snacks in lieu of hosting.
Our first meeting consisted of eight potential members, including the organizer. We made our introductions, sipped wine and debated which of the books people mentioned would feature in the next meeting. We discussed the importance of a book's availability, avoiding books that we would have to buy if possible. We set a date for next month and settled on a book called The Cat's Table, by Michael Ondaatje to be held at a neighbour's house who lives a few streets away. Before deciding, we confirmed the book is available in various formats to borrow from the local library.
Key Differences So Far
Here are some key differences I have noted so far between the Alpha and Beta Clubs:
Alpha has twelve members, Beta has eight.
Alpha chooses its books at one organizational meeting at the beginning of the year, Beta chooses a book each month.
Alpha's books are often recent releases and must often be purchased unless the "holds list" at the library is short enough. Beta sets a priority on readily available books.
Alpha serves snacks, wine, and dessert. Beta omits dessert (which I saw as an opportunity to save calories until I came home afterwards seeking something sweet to eat before bed!). Is dessert an essential element, I wonder? I'll keep you posted.
Alpha's members are spread across the city (west, east, south and central Ottawa). Beta's members are primarily walking distance from each other.
Alpha members are women of similar ages. Beta members' stages in life vary between women whose children are grown and women who still have school aged children.
And that concludes my first update on how book clubs are formed. In the coming weeks and months, I will provide details on how things progress with both groups, and maybe even throw in a few tips I have gathered from my research.
Are you a member of a book club? How is it similar to or different from the two book clubs described here? Leave me a comment if you have a moment. Happy reading!