Book clubs have been around for decades, if not centuries. People love to get together and discuss the things they read. But what makes book clubs so satisfying?
A book club is a great way to socialize with other book lovers and analyze what you read. Book clubs push you into better understanding of the text you absorb, as well as the world around you as a whole.
The rest of this article will tell you all you need to know about book clubs, why they’re great, and how you can start your own. Read on to learn more.
What Is a Book Club?
A book club is a group of two or more people who get together on a regular basis to discuss a certain piece of literature.
There are many different varieties of book clubs, and no two groups will look the same. Here are some examples of the most common types of book clubs:
- In person book clubs
- Phone or video call book clubs
- Book clubs over text or email
Let’s expand upon each of these different types.
In Person Book Clubs
In person book clubs involve two or more people meeting together in real life to discuss their chosen text. These can take place at school, work, home, coffee shops, libraries, and any other environment that can promote socialization and deep thinking.
Phone or Video Call Book Clubs
While many people love to meet in person, it’s not always possible, especially if book club members are long distance. Phone and video calls make it convenient for people to meet up and discuss books without worrying about gathering in person.
Book Clubs Over Text or Email
For those of us who are not capable of having a book club in person or over a call, text messages and emails are a great way to have discussions. When discussing things through written text as opposed to voice, you often have more freedom when writing your questions and answers because you can give yourself a little more time to think about your responses.
Benefits of Starting a Book Club
Now that we’ve established what a book club is, let’s take a look into the positive effects of having one. Here are some benefits:
- Socializing
- Interacting with people who share a similar interest
- Bonding with people in an affordable and fun way
- Discussing your favorite books
- Gaining new perspectives
- Strengthening your understanding
- Practicing note taking
- Practicing literary analysis
- Strengthening reading retention
- Discover new reads
- Explore new authors and genres
- Motivate yourself to read more
How To Start Your Own Book Club
While starting a book club might seem like a daunting task, it’s actually simpler than you would think.
You don’t need a lot of people to have a successful book club. In fact, you can have a book club with just two members, if that’s what you want.
Take a moment to think about the people in your life who enjoy reading. Don’t feel afraid to reach out and invite them to the club. They will appreciate the invitation, even if their schedule doesn’t have room for it.
And remember, your book club doesn’t have to be formal— it doesn’t have to look a certain way. It can be as casual as you would like it to be.
Maybe your book club looks like reading a book with a friend and talking about it a month later over the phone, or maybe your book club looks like having formal discussions with a big group of people. It really depends on your personal needs, preferences, and vision.
Tips for Maintaining Your Book Club
While it can be relatively easy to start a book club, maintaining one isn’t as simple. More often than not, people lose interest or motivation in their book clubs. How can you ensure this doesn’t happen to yours?
Here are some tips for maintaining your book club:
- Have an effective way to communicate with your book club members. Communication is key for any group of people, especially a book club. Without effective communication, it can be tricky to plan out meetings that work with everyone’s schedule. It makes it easy to ensure that everyone is on the same page, which is important.
- Check in on your club members. Checking in on your club members is vital because it allows you to get a sense of where everyone is at in terms of progress and attitude. Check-ins are a great opportunity for discovering whether or not you should continue with your current selection or choose a new read.
- Have a consistent meeting schedule. You don’t have to meet once a week, or even once a month. The frequency of your meetings is completely up to you and your group, but it helps to ensure that the meetings are consistent, no matter how spread apart they are.
- Send out reminders for meeting dates. Sending out reminders up until your next meeting is a great way to make sure everyone finishes the read on time. These are important because we’re all busy, and it can be tricky to remember to read for book club without reminders.
- Commit and others will follow. If you’re as committed to your club as you possibly can be, then others might draw motivation from this commitment and stick with it for the long run.
- Be as kind as possible. Kindness is always key in any situation, but this is especially true for a book club. If you want your book club to last, it’s important to create a positive environment that feels welcoming for everyone.
Final Thoughts
Book clubs are a great way to socialize with fellow book lovers and strengthen important reading skills.
Some of the most common book clubs include in-person conversation, meeting over phone or video calls, or discussing books over text messages and emails.
By practicing good communication and consistency, you can enjoy a book club with valuable discussions for many meetings to come.