Expand your Mind and your Network: How to Start a Bookclub

By Jane Comben

You don't have to be Oprah to start a bookclub. If you want an excuse to read more, talk more and meet new friends, then a bookclub is for you.


Why start a bookclub?

• Meet new friends or get to know the people you already know on a different level.
• Usually monthly, they're a regular time outside of home or work to have interesting conversations and time to relax.
• Stretch yourself. Experience lots of different books, viewpoints and opinions.
• Have a good reason to find time to read.
• Have fun.

How do I start?

Choose a model
There are a few options to consider:

• Bring a book (different books circulate around the group over time).
• All borrow or buy the same book from various sources.
• Join a scheme. We use the wonderful Book Discussion Scheme based in Christchurch. Once members, your group will choose a list of 30 ish books from the catalogue. Once a month, BDS will make a selection from your master list and courier a set of books and accompanying notes to a nominated person. Depending on the options you choose, it costs each member about $60 a year.

Find members
My bookclub started with three core members (we all worked in the same office) and we each invited one or two friends. Over the years people have joined and left but four of the original members remain. Everyone has been interesting, in one way or another, and each with different outlooks on life.

How often?
We started the first wednesday of every month and then moved to bi-monthly. Whatever suits your members really.

How many?
Enough to have a decent discussion but not too many to fit in your lounge. Probably somewhere around the 6-12 mark.

Where?
We take it in turns to host bookclub in our home, but you could meet in a cafe or bar.
We've also tried alternating book nights with a movie night but that wasn't very successful, so we dropped it. In our club, the host is responsible for providing wine and some nibbles. I've heard of some clubs having themed evenings, but we keep it pretty low-key.

What sort of bookclub do you want?
Bookclubs can range along a spectrum from serious academic critique to the purely social. Our group has hit a good balance for us. We tend to chat and catch up then talk about the book and discuss some of the questions in the notes. That said, if we all thought the book was rubbish then we'll move onto other matters (like more wine, shoes and handbags!).

Not everyone will have the same values or like the same books. If you use a scheme like ours it can be a bit of a surprise with which books you end up with.

The ground rules
Avoid conflict and decide at the start about when and where you'll have your bookclub and how you'll choose books. Also, how you'll communicate (email, phone, text) and if members are busy on the designated date, if you'll move it. The nature of your club may well change over time as members priorities and lives change.

Book reviewing: will I be brainy enough?
It takes all sorts and bookclubs are about trying something new.
Over time our bookclub has hosted:

• The Well-read – been there, seen it, read it. Hard to find books she hasn't read but a great information source.
• The Easy-reader – prefers a good page turner to a Booker prize
• The Last-page-brigade – got to know the end before the beginning.
• The Mouse – doesn't say much but is still having a great time. 
• The Stink-selector – That's me! I've chosen so many of the suspect books on the master list that I'm no longer allowed to choose. But that's ok because I'm also....
• The Questionnaire – always asking the questions.

Open books, open minds.