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This is the third of four posts on Starting Your Own Book Club. If you missed the first two, click here for the 1st and here for the 2nd to get caught up.

How to Select the Books

There are probably more theories about this than anything else. Here's what works for us.

In order to garner the advantage of being able to select the monthly selection, a member must first host a meeting at her home. Then, the month following will be her month's book selection. This serves several purposes:

• It keeps members from never stepping up to host at all.
• It takes the burden off of the hostess, so she can focus on her guests rather than on leading a discussion.
• It takes the burden of hosting off of the discussion leader. (Sometimes, it's hard enough just to finish the book, let alone host and lead a discussion!)

Our club is probably somewhat different than some others in that we don't often read the newest bestsellers. If you can't get it at the library, we usually don't choose it. It can get pretty expensive to purchase a new book every month, and there's always the chance that you may not even like it. We operate on the principle that there are so many books out there that we haven't read that we can certainly choose one that is at least in paperback and preferably readily available at the local library.

When to Get the Discussion Started

This may vary over time, as it has with our group. As you get to know your group more and more over the years, you may find that you have quite the social hour prior to getting down to the nuts and bolts of your discussion! You'll just have to do what feels right for your group. Our discussion usually starts anywhere from 40 to 50 minutes into the evening, after everyone has had a chance to eat and get a glass of wine. (Did I mention we like our wine?!)

How to Lead the Discussion

Again, many available theories here...

We usually start off by going around the room to see what everyone's general opinion of the book was. We do this with the thumbs up or down (or somewhere in between, as can often be the case...).

Next, the leader usually gives a little author background. This can come directly from the book, from the library or from the Internet, but it's usually something that people don't yet know, which is nice.

The actual discussion questions that are used will vary depending on the leader. Some of us are more creative than others when coming up with questions to pose to the group. As most of you are aware, many books now come with built-in Reading Guides right in the back of the book, some of which are better than others. Many of us use these along with some questions developed from our own critical thinking. (Don't we sound terribly intelligent?!)

Recognize that your members have lives outside of the book club and that these lives may sometimes get in the way of reading the book.

Obviously, if no one ever reads the book, this would create a huge problem. Our group has found, however, that understanding in this area has been crucial to many a member sticking it out. I will offer, too, that I hear of numerous other clubs where this is specifically frowned upon, and that if you haven't read the monthly selection, you'd best not be coming to the meeting. Thankfully, our group is not that way. I do my best to read the book each month, but no one is going to throw rocks at me if I haven't. A friendly gibe or two, yes. But happily no true adversity.

Tune in for one last post on this subject. I will have some final tips for success on getting your own club off the ground!

Go back:
Part One - Why Start a Book Club, Book Recommendations

Part Two - Members, Scheduling and Menu

Next:

Part Four - Extra Tips for Your Club