What to expect from a book club

If you love to read, then book clubs are a great way to mingle with like-minded people and maximise your bookish enjoyment. If you're a bit nervous about showing up because you're unsure what to expect, then this blog is here to help you prepare and step confidently into book club life!

Do you have questions about book clubs?

Cost, commitment, preparation, time, focus, structure. What if I don't finish reading the book? Will I have to cook and entertain? Will the conversations be too intellectual? Will I have to lead a discussion? Am I allowed to talk about book club?!...

If these are some of the questions you have floating around in your head, let me try to alleviate some of your concerns and give you an idea of what goes down in these wee book-loving possies.

First up, I need to point out the obvious. Book clubs can come in many different forms, so I'm going to take you through the most common ways they operare. You may find a book club that meets in a local park, wearing main character costumes and speaking only in Klingon. I'd suggest that you ask a member a question or two before you choose to commit to that one. Rest assured, most book clubs are pretty laid back, so for all the regular folks who attend non-Kingon-speaking book clubs, here's the info you need:

WHERE?

In home: Laid back vibes, food, and books!

Most commonly, a book club is held at either a library (public) or in a home (private). There are pros and cons to both.

Library/Public Group

• Same place, same time, usually once a month

• Usually paper-based books that can be borrowed for free through the library as a set

• Can only choose books that the library has sets of. You may be able to ask that the library order a set of books if they are not on the list, but probably only if it is a reasonably popular book.

• Cannot control group members. Anyone can show up. It's an open group, the members may come and go, and the group size may shrink and grow.

• Low-key. Casual clothes. Bring the book you have finished to swap for the new one.

• Books are usually selected in advance so that the set can be reserved for the group. Depending on the popularity of the book, your group's request may go on a wait list.

• The group is held in a public space. Depending on the library, people who are walking by can see the group, and the group cannot get too loud or rowdy.

• You can bring children, but they will need to be kept quiet and orderly.

• Often, each member of the group will take turns choosing the book for the next month

• You get to read broadly, often things that you may not choose for yourself. This means that you may end up with books that do not interest you more frequently than you wish, depending on the interests of the other group members.

• Sometimes the library will provide a list of discussion topics and questions about the book. If not, you may be able to find questions online.

• Occasionally, a library will provide a discussion leader and you won't need to think about questions at all. If not, then sometimes the person who chose the book will lead the discussion and come up with their own questions or discussion topics, or there may be no leader at all, it's just a case of whoever wants to talk and ask questions does so.

• No preparation (unless you are the group leader and you want to).

• Some groups may welcome a plate or packet of nibbles to share, but some libraries may not allow food or drinks at all. You will not be expected or required to bring anything.

• No dogs allowed (unless you tie them up outside, which is not encouraged)

• Library book clubs usually stay on-topic and are less likely to drift off into social chit-chat.

This group uses the TV to help facilitate discussion. (note the Kindle in the foreground)

Home/Private Group

• Usually, once a month.

• Sometimes, a single person hosts the group each month, but more commonly, group members take turns to host the group in their home.

• Often a cost is involved for the books. Can be paper-based books or ebooks; it is up to group members' individual preferences. My sister is in a group that chooses books in Kindle Unlimited, so they pay the annual subscription fee rather than pay for a book each month.

• Book selections are only limited by group preferences. Theoretically, a private book club could choose ANY book.

• Group is invitation only. Not anyone can show up. This often means that group members are already friendly or share a common interest.

• Private groups vary a lot, as each can create their own rules. One group may only read Fantasy, while another only reads Australian authors or Historical Fiction. One group may be low-key and meet in trakkies over a cuppa and a packet of no-name cream biscuits, while another group decorates, has themed games, food, and a playlist, and makes each meeting a real event. Most commonly, they are informal, laid-back, and stress-free.

• The group is held in a private space, can make as much noise as they like, and take as long as they like.

• You can usually bring children. They can probably watch the TV in another room or play outside with the family dog or something. That being said, just be aware that some groups may have late meeting times, discuss books with *cough* adult themes or, um, consume alcohol to excess. Each group is different.

• Like a library group, usually each member will take turns choosing books

• The host &/or person who selected that month's book will usually come up with the discussion questions. Otherwise, the group may have a generic list of questions that they go through for each book, each week.

• A private group is more likely to end up as a social gathering with less book discussion and more unfocused chit-chat.

OTHER STUFF

• As you are not the person always choosing the books, being a book club member means that you get to read broadly, and books that you may not choose for yourself. Sometimes, you may end up with books that do not interest you or that you didn't enjoy, but often, you'll be grateful that you read it.

• It doesn't matter a scrap if you do not finish reading a book within the allotted time frame. This is a regular thing and nobody will care. Even if you are the one leading the discussion about the book, you can say, "I thought I'd love it but didn't, and here's why...." No problems.

• Book club is a safe space. People attend because they love to talk about books. You all have a common interest. If everyone hated the month's selection or didn't read it, then you'll probably just end up talking about the new Sally Hepworth book that just came out, Joe's Stephen King collection, or the newest J.K. Rowling controversy. There is no pressure.

• You do not need to be a literary genius. All you need is a love of books and, ideally, the ability to generate your own thoughts. Discussion will be encouraged, but if you'd prefer to listen or didn't really have much of an opinion (or didn't finish reading the book), that is fine. As other people talk and discussion unfolds, you may find that you have thoughts or ideas that you wish to share, which may be relevant, and not necessarily about the book. You may not. All good.

• Differences of opinion are expected and encouraged. This is part of any club. One person's favourite book may be loathed by someone else because they hate something that the author said in an interview twenty years ago. All discussion is valid, as long as the conversation remains respectful.

• If a group tries to meet less frequently, members are likely to lose interest or forget what they read. If they try to meet more frequently, then members are less likely to have finished reading the book. Once a month is usually the sweet spot.

How to come up with questions

Oh no, it's your turn to lead the group discussion. Eeek!

Stop. No need to stress. Honestly, you can easily find resources online to help you. You can literally Google 'Book Club Questions' and will be presented with pages of generic book club questions. You may be able to Google 'Book club questions for *insert book name and author here*', or you could use AI to generate questions for you. Some authors provide their own book club questions, especially for non-fiction books, so check out the author's website. Oh, and I love Goodreads. This is a site where other people rate and review books. You could also head there and see what other people are saying about the book, then ask the group for their opinions on what has been said.

Often, book clubs will have a list of general book club questions that work for any book, so you may not need to come up with questions, you may just be the one reading questions from a provided sheet and be the first one to answer. If you don't know, say "I haven't thought about that. What do you think?" and come back to you.

Honestly, book clubs are nothing to be scared of. They are warm, welcoming, enjoyable little groups of book-loving humans who are often thinking introverts who may take a few weeks to come out of their shells. They are very rewarding. Try it for yourself.

Happy reading!

Much love,

Marley

P.S. If your book club is looking for a fresh read or you don't know where to start, check out my books, The Silver Sheep and Other Than Mother, which are both available as eBooks, paperbacks, and on Kindle Unlimited.

P.P.S. Does your book club do something different or unique? Let me know in the comments!

P.P.P.S. A big thank you to my sister's book club for the photos used in this post. You guys rock!