The Book Club
Book clubs have become a beloved way for people to connect, share ideas, and discover new stories together. While the concept might seem simple—read a book and discuss it—the reality is that every book club is shaped by a series of choices. There are numerous decisions to make: where will it meet, face to face or online? Will it be traditional, formal or informal, Seat of the Pants or Strict Outline? How do you pick a book? What types of books? Yikes, I’m exhausted already. It feels like the decisions often made by many for Thanksgiving. Who to invite, what is the main entre, Turkey, Ham, Beef Roast or Pork, who will sit next to each other, what to have for sides and desserts, who will be relegated to the kids table?
Let’s break it down. Where to meet — face to face or online, the ones I’ve experienced prefer face to face. Perfect for those who believe that books—and snacks—are best enjoyed in good company. Bonus points if someone brings homemade brownies. Although since covid, online has become popular too. I experienced an online bible book study recently and felt the same social value and camaraderie as face to face. Ideal for anyone whose idea of dressing up is switching from pajama pants to sweatpants. No commute, no problem!
Structure:
Traditional–everyone reads the same book, so you can finally have a heated debate about whether the ending was genius or just plain confusing.
Thematic or genre specific–caters to group interests. This is for groups who know what they like and aren’t afraid to read twelve cozy mysteries in a row. Sherlock Holmes would approve.
Seat of the pants– Informal, spontaneous conversations that can be lively and unpredictable. Warning: May result in wild tangents, enthusiastic rants, and someone inevitably asking, “Wait, what book are we discussing again?”
Outline– Structured discussions that keep the group focused and organized. For those who love order and secretly wish every meeting came with a PowerPoint presentation. Many a meeting at my corporate office could have used a good outline!
I personally love to experiment with different formats and structures to find what works best. Some may prefer a relaxed, open-ended approach, while others thrive with a clear agenda.
Popular Genres:
Mystery & Thriller – these keep you reading well into the morning. Keeps readers engaged and eager to discuss plot twists.
Science Fiction & Fantasy – love losing myself in the make believe.
Historical Fiction – one of my favorites because it can come close to science fiction. History has a way of repeating itself (cliché) and you can see the future by imagining the past.
Classics – Love learning prose from the past greats of literature.
Biography – Encourages personal reflection and empathy by exploring real-life stories.
Family Relationships – Resonates emotionally and sparks meaningful conversations.
So like Thanksgiving, choose judiciously, and with a lot of help from God above. You can’t go wrong with advice from the best-selling book of all time. Go ahead and google it, yes, it’s still number one!
So, whether your book club meets in a cozy living room, a bustling café, or the wild frontier of Zoom, remember: the real plot twist is the friendships you’ll make along the way. Don’t stress over picking the “perfect” book–half the fun is passionately defending your favorite and discovering new ones you never expected to love. And if all else fails, just bring snacks. Because in the end, an enjoyable book club is like a good novel: full of lively characters, unexpected turns, and, hopefully, a few homemade brownies.
If you’re not already part of a book club, consider reaching out to your local library or bookstore, or searching online for groups that match your interests.
Ready to turn the page? Your next great read—and a group of fellow book lovers to debate it with—is just a meeting away.
