I’ve never been in a real-life book club. (I know there’s a virtual book club here in the Cafe, but I’d love to find a “real” one.) For those of you in book clubs or book groups - how did you hook up with your fellow readers?
My public library does sponsor some groups as does my church. However, the books are a little schlock-y in the former and a little too holy in the latter. (Not that I have anything against schlock or holiness; I would just prefer them in moderation.) Any other suggestions would be much appreciated!
Tell your librarian what kind of book club you are looking for and don’t be afraid to say that the books posted are not what you are looking for, they are used to that. They may have other people looking for something similar, they may know of other groups.
I am in two book clubs, one with neighbors and the other is a group of women that didn’t know each other to start. If you can find a few people that are interested then they can each bring a friend and there you go, instant book club. A few men I know organized a book club by putting it out on the Nextdoor website and others have used Facebook to organize.
Use LibraryThingDOTcom. I use it for other things, but one tab at the top is for “Groups.” I think you do have to sign up for LibraryThing–which is free—to be able to use it. Once you’ve entered where you live in your profile, look for “local” under groups and it will show you a list. A lot are private groups, but at least some are public.
Stores like Barnes & Noble–not just independent booksellers–usually have a number of book clubs.
Libraries have them. My local New York Public Library branch has several.
I’ve only been in one IRL book club. I was invited in by one of the moms in our kids’ friends circle. It was an “okay” experience. The books chosen were fine, the discussions were so-so. Not sure what I expected. I lasted not even a year.
A friend of mine (retired) drives several suburbs over to attend a book club run by a librarian at this other suburb’s library. She says the librarian who runs the book club is exceptional. I’ve thought about joining them, but, you know, no time.
I’m in a bookclub – another friend and I just got together with picked out people we thought liked to read and people we enjoy being with.
But our local bookstore has a club, and people have posted on NextDoor that they are looking for clubs - you could try that. I think a lot of people would like to be in a bookclub.
I just joined one that is beginning that was posted on NextDoor. Also, you could post that you want to start one. We limited ours to 15 and there was much more interest than that and another is beginning to form.
Thanks for all the great ideas! I looked at Meetup and there are lots of book clubs in the suburbs surrounding mine (just depends on how far I’m willing to drive to find like-minded readers.)
And I will talk to my librarian too. I noticed that the library just to the north of me has a very active book club and their books appear to me more of what I’m interested in.
I hadn’t thought of NextDoor. Looks like someone posted there about a year ago looking for a club - maybe time for another post. I wouldn’t mind starting one myself if I had to.
I took over our city’s bookclub in 2007. It was formerly run by a librarian. Our books are chosen democratically. There are many avid readers in the group, and they offer opinions, good and bad. We chose books at least 4 months in advance and make sure there are available copies.
Anyway, I would talk to the leader of your library bookclub. Ask how books are chosen. Discuss your concerns.
I just started one this year. I emailed a bunch of friends that I know like to read and most of them were interested. Ended up with about 10 each meeting so far. We’re taking turns hosting and whoever hosts picks the book. Most of the women are friends I saw a lot more often when we all had little kids and it’s nice to now have a regular time to get together. About half our discussion ends up being about the book and half just life, which I like
I like the comic but I also like book clubs. I am in 3 right now - one at my library, one at a local church, and one with a group of women. The church and group of women I was brought into by friends who have since left both of these groups.
I find public ones are different than ones with “friends” as you spend more time discussing the book. The library one is open to anybody (no sign up - the librarian selects the books), and we get different people every month. The people who show up will frequently share things about their lives which prove interesting (even though they aren’t friends).
For the book group with women who I now consider friends (after 8 years of book group), we go to a different restaurant each month (book selector picks the restaurant) and has led to me sampling many restaurants I would never have gone to otherwise. Despite being mostly women from the same community with kids about the same ages (younger than mine), we have a great variety of perspectives as a few were not born in the US or lived outside the US for many years and those Americans were born and raised in different parts of the country. We do spend time catching up on our and our children’s lives.
The church book group is a more static group of people. The pastor runs it as community outreach (it is not a church I attend). It meets less frequently (maybe 8-9 times in a year) and they do occasionally pick historic novels with some religion (geraldine brooks the secret chord comes to mind). Again it is a lovely group of women who live in my community who I would otherwise not socialize with.
I have to say all three groups (even the public ones) have been almost exclusively women. Both the library and church have had an occasional man who attended, but not in years.