Reading groups offer book lovers a wonderful opportunity to meet new people who share their interests, enjoy stimulating discussion about interesting topics, and best of all, read great books! Whether your group is an intimate one organized with friends or a large one run by professionals, the goal is the same--to meet other readers, share theories and opinions, and develop a more enriched understanding of the book.

Not sure how to get started? Read on for information about how to join a group or how to start one of your own, how to choose the best books, and how to run a successful group meeting with other readers!

GETTING STARTED

Interested in joining a group or organizing one of your own? Not quite sure how to do it? Here are a few tips to get you started:

  1. TRIAL RUNS: Not sure that a book club is for you? The best way to find out is to attend a meeting of an existing group and see what it's like. Most local bookstores and libraries offer open groups that meet on-site on a regular basis and welcome walk-ins and new members. Ask at the front desk about existing groups--their themes, meeting times, and membership policies. Most likely you'll find at least one that interests you, and there will be no pressure to join if you find it's not what you are looking for. Or join a group online! Many online bookstores and book review sites host book discussions, often including live chats with authors.

  2. JOINING A GROUP: Interested in joining a group but don't want to start one on your own? Again, your local bookstore or library is the best place to start. They often sponsor a variety of different groups which are open to the public, providing the location--and often the leaders--for group meetings. Many bookstores even offer discounts on bulk purchases for reading groups that register with their store, while libraries take advantage of the inter-library loan system to ensure that club members have access to book club selections. If neither of these options appeal to you, check their bulletin boards for private groups looking for new members, post a listing online, or contact your local church, synagogue, alumni club, or professional association--even if these organizations don't have groups already, they'll likely be able to put you in contact with other interested readers.

  3. STARTING A GROUP OF YOUR OWN: It's easier than you think! All you really need are a few avid readers and a good book. There are no set rules. Reading groups can be single sex or coed and may vary in size. You may find that smaller groups (4-12 members) tend to provide the liveliest discussion and allow each group member to participate. Quite often groups are formed by friends--try calling a few of yours who enjoy reading and suggesting that you all read the same book. Then meet informally over lunch or dinner to discuss it. If that doesn't work, post a notice at work, in your church, or synagogue; place an ad in the paper; or contact the local branch of your college alumni club or professional organization. We've listed a few good choices on our Cheat Sheet section.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Once you've assembled a group or joined an existing one, you're ready to begin. There are three simple elements to focus on:

  1. CHOOSING THE BOOKS: The books are the most important part of the meeting. One of the best things about reading groups is that they can introduce you to titles, authors, and genres that you haven't tried before--you may discover a new favorite!

    • Making a Selection: Not sure how to choose your first book? There are many ways to go about it. You can have each member of your group bring a "wish list" to your first meeting and vote on the suggestions--the title with the most votes wins. Some groups prefer to take turns choosing what to read. This way everyone gets to read a favorite. Or, you can leave it up to the discussion leader to choose. See our "What to Read" section for some great starter selections.

    • Focus: You may find it useful to focus your group around a specific type of book, such as fiction or memoir, or a subject, such as current events or history. Themed discussions not only help you to choose your titles, but they provide natural points of comparison and discussion. Consider focusing on a specific author's books--either for one meeting or a series of meetings. (Have each group member read a different title and compare notes.) Or focus on a specific subject or historical figure. You may find, for instance, that two biographies on the same person reveal very different aspects of that person's life. Most important, remember that the choices that touch on thought-provoking, even controversial themes and issues make for the liveliest discussions. We hope the list of suggestions on this site will provide you with new ideas for shaping your discussions and inspire you to be creative in forming your own lists of books.

    • Out of Ideas? If you're having trouble making your selection, there are plenty of places to turn. Ask your local librarian or bookseller for his or her suggestions. Read The New York Times Book Review or one of the other book review sections found in Sunday papers across the country. Subscribe to a bookstore's newsletter or to one of the publications geared specifically to reading groups listed in the Resources section. Check out the selection of Reading Group Guides available from Vintage Books and many other publishers. Or just ask around. What books have your friends or family read recently that they enjoyed?

    • Timing: Titles should be chosen well in advance, to allow all members to read the book and come up with questions for discussion. Some groups plan out their titles a year in advance; others simply plan a few weeks or months ahead. If it's your turn to lead the group, you may want to consider distributing some questions before the meeting as well, to allow members time to formulate their thoughts and opinions.

  2. SETTING UP THE MEETING: You've chosen your first selection, so now what? Here are a few simple things that will help your discussion run more smoothly:

    • Choose a discussion leader: While a leader is not necessary, many groups find that having one provides focus to the discussion and helps to make transitions from one member's comment to another's. Often the person who suggested the book becomes the discussion leader, but your group can also rotate leaders, appoint a permanent group leader, or invite guest speakers--local teachers, librarians, booksellers, etc.--to lead discussions. There are even professional book group leaders for hire. Call the Association of Book Group Readers and Leaders (ABGRL) for more information (see the Cheat Sheet).

    • Set a meeting time: Most groups meet every 4 to 6 weeks, and discussion tends to last 2 to 3 hours. You may find it helpful to designate a certain amount of time for socializing--either at the beginning or the end of the meeting--so that your discussion of the book can proceed uninterrupted. Of course, finding a day and time that works for everyone may be difficult--you may want to consider setting regular meeting days and times to allow members to plan ahead.

    • Pick a place: The most popular meeting place for most reading groups is a member's house. Often members take turns hosting the meeting to alleviate the pressure on one person. But there are plenty of other options as well. Your local bookstore or library may have a space that you can reserve free of charge for your meeting, as may your church, synagogue, community center, or place of employment. If you are meeting with people you do not know, it may be best to choose one of these informal, public spaces--or a restaurant or pub--for your meetings until you feel more comfortable.

  3. STARTING THE DISCUSSION: Once you've taken care of the details, it's time to focus on the discussion itself. Here are some suggestions for a lively, stimulating meeting:

    • Come prepared: Many groups ask each member to bring at least one question to the meeting to help generate discussion. It can also help to ask members to mark up their books as they read--making notes of favorite passages, key scenes, and questions that arise. Background information can be equally important to have at hand during your discussion--author biographies, interviews, reviews, historical background, cultural information, etc. It is usually the group leader's responsibility to provide these materials, as well as a list of potential discussion questions. The Reading Group Guides and Reading Group Support Kits provided by Vintage Books include everything you need to get started. Your local library and the Internet are also good resources for this kind of information (see the Cheat Sheet).

    • Set the tone: The atmosphere of your group meeting is entirely up to you. The more creative you are, the livelier the discussion will be, and the more enjoyment you'll get out of the experience. Does your group prefer to meet for a social hour before discussion starts? Would you like to meet more casually over dinner? Can you bring some of the cultural aspects of the book to your meeting? Consider the music, food, and customs described in the book and try to re-create some of that for your group. If you are reading a historical novel set in England, try meeting for high tea. If your book is full of references to a certain artist or composer, bring a sample of that person's work and share it with your group. Experiment with new kinds of foods, sample a new restaurant, or take a field trip to a place that has some relation to the book you just read. Better yet, ask your local bookstore for a schedule of authors who will be in town in the coming months and plan to read one of their new books before their arrival. Then attend the event with your group. You'd be amazed at how enriching the experience can be! Most importantly, relax and enjoy the discussion.

      Get more ideas for discussion here.

WHAT TO READ: SUGGESTIONS FOR THEMED DISCUSSIONS

Themed book choices are a way of continually stimulating discussion and further enhancing your reading group experience. Not only do themed books provide better topics for group meetings, but choosing books with common themes will allow your group to refer back to previous titles to enhance the dialogue.

We hope the following suggestions will provide you with new ideas for shaping your discussions as well as inspire you to be creative in forming your own lists of themed books.

Other great themes include Coming-of-Age, Love and War, First Novels, Historical Fiction, Travel Writing, Local Interest books, or Books on Film. Mother/Daughter and Couples groups are also becoming more popular!

Take a look at other recommendations for reading groups.

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  • General Discussion Tips
  • More Discussion Ideas
  • How to Start a Group
  • How to Join a Group


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    Also consider these suggestions from reading group members across the country, and share some of your ideas.

  • From Jodie H. of Salt Lake City, UT:
    "Let everyone in the group get a chance to choose the book. Read something that takes you out of your comfort zone. Pick an old book and then do the rewrite (modern) the next meeting. Be honest in your discussions."

  • From Nancy H. of Champaign, IL:
    "Have members make note of questions and observations on a 3x5 card while they are reading the book."

  • From Lea B. of West Chester, PA:
    "If discussing a book leads to tangents, let them happen. Discussion usually returns to the book, and you learn that much more about the group's members and often gain new insights into the book."

  • From Debi A. of Brighton, MI:
    "We do not focus on whether we like a book or not. It's about whether you got something out of it. We go around the room when we start and have everyone answer a question to get the conversation started. It guarantees that everyone gets an opportunity to speak."

  • From Mary F. of Indianapolis, IN:
    "I think it is a good idea to stress the importance of marking passages and taking notes as you read the book--hopefully with the discussion questions already in mind. It is easy to forget things about the book if you haven't taken notes. Also, it's fun to hear other people's favorite passages--how they responded to them and why."

  • From Susan M. of Dassel, MN:
    "Let everyone choose a book. It really helps the group to get to know each other's interests better."

  • From Jane C. of Collingwood, ON:
    "Handing out the questions prior to reading the book and the discussion is most helpful in promoting more thoughtful, insightful discussion."

  • From Margot B. of Greenwich, CT:
    "We have found that NOT having a leader not only keeps everyone in the group invested and involved, but also keeps everyone on equal footing and equally responsible for keeping things lively and moving. Plus, whenever our schedules allow, we go to author meetings and booksignings--great ideas for discussion come right from the author."

  • From Mary F. of Winchester, KY:
    "I try to make sure that everyone in the group has a chance to tell their opinion of the book. Also to share in answering the discussion questions from the guide. We meet in different restaurants and homes for our discussions."

    More novel ideas

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