She's joking but her group do stay focused on the book under discussion most recent book: Charlotte Gray by Sebastian Faulks. But we discourage that - it's important we respect whoever is speaking to the whole group.
Even if they are blathering on, as we all do sometimes. Marilyn's group - an all-female mix of teachers, secretaries, full-time mothers, a librarian, a banker and a fitness instructor - put aside fifteen minutes at the start of each meeting "to catch up on gossip".
Then they focus on the book under discussion. Usually, members of a reading group take it in turn to nominate a book. The person who has nominated this month's book might then introduce it by saying why she chose it. If she can get the information from Saturday and Sunday newspaper book sections perhaps she might talk a little about the author.
That same person might lead the discussion, perhaps by having prepared five or six points to raise see below What Do We Talk About? I persuaded everybody to 'go back in time' and read Lawrence Durrell's Alexandria Quartet, which I loved when I read it as a student and which has a special place in my heart.
A couple of people really tore into it, especially the first book Justine, for being pretentious. I was really upset! What Do We Talk About? Start with your reaction to the book - did you love it, loathe it or remain indifferent to it?
Then think about what the book is really about - its themes. Are the characters real for you? Who do you sympathise with? Is there a particularly memorable piece of writing or scene in the book?
Does the book have a message? What does it tell you about the author? Does it remind you of anything else? Do you want to read more by the same author? If it's a prizewinner, did it deserve to be? Discussion can often be even more stimulating if you disliked a book though careful how you express it - see above. Did you lose interest in it? The characters? The story itself? Too confusing - or too obvious? Too much or not enough description? Non-specialist reading groups tend to go for contemporary fiction with a smattering of modern and not-so-modern classics thrown in.
Unless your library is one of those that has multiple copies of books for reading groups stick to paperbacks for reasons of economy. If you want to recommend a classic make sure it's still in print. Get ideas for books from the various reading lists available in libraries and bookshops, from book reviews, prize lists, bestseller lists or simply by browsing in your local bookshop.
You want something with a bit of meat on it - there's not much to be said about much run of the mill romances or crime novels or the latest bonkbusters, entertaining as they might be. And even the most pleasurable and successful comic novels don't bear the weight of much analysis.
Anne Durran, community literacy co-ordinator at Lincolnshire County Council, who has been advising The Britannia Arms about its reading group says: "Our reading lists are all modern paperbacks that have been recently made into films so they are easily recognisable.
For Example? When you begin searching for your inaugural book club members, Gorga recommends that you look in the places in your life that feel most natural to you. To start, reach out to your existing friends you know love to read, or the co-workers you actually wouldn't mind spending time with outside of the office. Then, maybe it's posting a notice on the bulletin board of your local library or book store or even chatting up an acquaintance during yoga class.
Gorga also points out that if you're looking to "get a range of perspectives" from your club, you may want to consider looking for a diverse array of ages, genders, and ethnicities who can bring their varied world views to discussions. Word-of-mouth helps as well! If you're open to a more digital-friendly approach, Thomasch says you should always keep social media in mind. Put the word out about your new club with a tweet, Facebook status, or Instagram story.
In order to make sure your new group is all on the same page, take the time to discuss what you want to get out of regular club gatherings before your first official meeting. Will your time together be spent largely focusing on the novel at hand, or will camaraderie and refreshments ultimately be the most important?
Thomasch echoes this sentiment, saying that while enjoying stimulating non-book conversation over a couple bottles of wine is in no-way ill-advised, not everyone who signs up for a book club may be willing to ditch their novel for a glass. This may seem like the trickiest part, but in order to take the stress away, Lobash suggests looking out for a few key factors.
The pacing is solid. There's great character development and the language doesn't get in the way of the story. She explains that you can never go wrong with candid memoirs to get the ball rolling, and buzzy book roundups, or trusted sources like the New York Times bestseller list , includes novels that will appeal to an array of people.
And when in doubt, you choose a theme to help you narrow things down. Focus on a genre like romance, mystery, or fantasy.
Picking a specific author can work, too. Size: Cap the group participants to a number you can reasonably host. Also, be aware that too many participants can result in cross-talking and a breakdown in the discussion. Spread the responsibility. Divide hosting, food, and wine duties among the group each time you meet.
Break outside your circle. Consider adding new acquaintances or friends of friends to the group. First rule of book club? Only book club members allowed. Avoid over meeting. Err on the side of caution when organizing a meeting schedule. Anything more than once a month, may be overly-ambitious. Also hours seems to be the sweet spot.
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