How to set up a book club

Welcome to the Methodist Recorder Book Club.

This is new feature in the Methodist Recorder will provide you with all you need to know and do to set up a local book club yourself.

Book clubs offer a great opportunity to meet socially with friends (and possibly the odd stranger too!) By discussing themes in a book, it is also possible to talk about the deep themes of life: love, loss, hope, despair, joy, pain... not to mention the smouldering beauty of Gothic heroes and heroines! Not only will you be able to enjoy book together, you may be surprised by what other people have made of the characters and the plot.

The Methodist Recorder Book Club is designed for use in a new group (there are ideas, hints and tips on the website), or for use in your housegroup, complimenting your programme.

We would love to hear some of your comments, so please feel free to drop me a letter or an email to mrbookclub@methodistchurch.org.uk We will feature some of your responses in each Book Club article, so please do get in contact with us about your group and your opinions on each book.

Getting started
A book club is quite easy to run, especially as the questions will be provided here. All you really need is a quiet space (a cafe, library, bookshop or home is ideal), a few friends and a pot of tea!

The Book Club is not just about reading a book together, although that can be fun in itself. A Book Club is a chance to meet new people, talk about the important things in life, and share hospitality.

There are obviously a few things that you might want to think about before you get started:

1. Who are you going to invite?
It is a good idea to see if any of your friends or family would like to join you in your book club. It is not a huge time commitment – just a promise to read the book and to join in the discussion when you meet. If you have a few people who are interested, then you will be able to grow by inviting others, or even by advertising at a later date.

Don’t forget to keep inviting people!

2. Where are you going to meet?
It may be that your book club works best by meeting in someone’s home – in which case you can share the hosting and the provision of refreshments around the group. It may be that there is a local venue that works just as well, in which case make sure that the owner is happy for you to meet and enjoy their hospitality.

It is important to remember that you are looking to create an environment where everyone is able to contribute. Think about the room layout andtemperature, the number of seats you think you might need, and any background noise which might make conversation more difficult for people to engage with.

Some people find it fun to theme refreshments around the themes of the book. For example, a book set in America may provide the opportunity to bake some American-style cookies. A book about Italy might inspire Mediterranean nibbles. One group we’ve read about even asked people to dress as their favourite character! Don’t feel obliged – a pot of PG Tips’ finest is just as good! But there are lots of creative ways to engage with the text.

3. What time works for everyone?
You know your friends best – when are they available, and willing to meet? A regular time means that people can plan and look forward to meeting with you. It may be that during the day is good, so that people are not travelling in the dark. If your friends work, it may be that an evening or weekend is the best time.

Don’t forget that if anyone cannot get to the book club for any reason, there is always the online community too. If you need help to get online, then ask at your local library for more details of locally available training and help.

4. How will you get hold of the book, so that everyone can read it?
Every two months, there will be a different book for your group to read. Some of these will be new titles, and some of them classic texts.

5. What is the best size of group for a discussion?
An ideal size for a book club is between 8 and 11 people. But that’s just a guideline. If the Book Club is too big, then it can be hard for everyone to contribute. If it is too small, the risk is that conversation doesn’t flow very easily at times.

In all small groups it can be useful to agree a few house rules or guidelines. These are there to help people know what is expected of them. You can create these yourselves, and they could include the expectation that everyone who attends has at least tried to read the book; that a different person each meeting will provide refreshments; that a different person each meeting will lead the discussion; that discussion and debate will always be civil, and that everyone should be given the opportunity to share their thoughts and ideas.

The great thing about fiction is that differences of opinion are OK! Expect there to be disagreement, but let these be interesting and stimulating to debate, rather than a danger to relationships!

6. What will be provided by the Methodist Recorder Book Club
Every two months, a new Book Club feature will be printed. This will include:
· Feedback from the previous feature.
· A short synopsis of the next book – this may include ‘spoilers’ or information that pertains to the overall plot of the book. These will be clearly marked, in case you don’t want to know what happens before you’ve read it!
· Questions for discussion in your own book club.

7. Who will lead the discussion each time?
At the end of each meeting, agree who will be leading the next discussion. This person should then let everyone know which book they should read, how they might be able to get hold of it, and where the next meeting will be held (if you are going to change venue each time).

Leading the discussion is not too onerous – the questions for discussion and a short synopsis of the book will be printed here. You should not need any more preparation other than to have read the book, perhaps thought about the questions in case people get a little stuck, and be able to let people share their thoughts and contributions in the group.

You may need to reign in tangential conversation (although some of these might be quite interesting, so it will be your decision as to whether to let these continue or not), or invite quiet people to contribute. It will also be your job to keep everyone to time, and to wrap up the conversation. Don’t feel you have to answer all the questions – the most important thing is that people are able to talk about the content of the book and the ways in which it has affected them (or not!).

8. After the event
Post your cook club comment on the Methodist Recorder Book Club blog, email us mrbookclub@methodistchurch.org.uk or write to us. We would love to hear your feedback on the book, and the highlights of your discussions.

Happy Reading!