Yesterday, we talked a little bit about book clubs – why you may want to belong to one, how to start one if there isn’t one in your area. Today I’d like to talk about the actual book club meeting and what it ideally entails.
You’ve chosen your date, time and place, hopefully ones that coincide with the schedules of the majority of the members of the club. Now what happens?
It all depends on the type of club you’ve established. The first is the more traditional – the members have each read the book and come prepared to discuss it. The second is becoming a bit more popular now – the members haven’t necessarily read the book, but they are meeting to hear a review of it.
In either case, the meeting place should have plenty of comfortable seating. The members arrive and feel welcomed, and then the time is turned over to the individual who is presenting the book that evening. If the members have read the book, a brief overview of the book will be offered, and then the floor will be opened up to discussion of the book. Sometimes the person in charge will provide or locate discussion questions to kick start the flow of ideas. Often, the members will come ready to talk, and so these discussion questions are unnecessary. At the conclusion of the evening, the next book on the list is announced, or, if the decision has been made for some months prior, the members are reminded of the next month’s reading, and they’ll be told the time and location of the meeting. You can choose at this point whether or not to offer refreshments.
If a review-type club is more to your liking, the presenter will prepare a fifteen-minute (or so) review of the book, and the members will have the chance to ask questions. Again, refreshments are appropriate if wanted, and the reviewer for the next month can be chosen, or reminded.
Of course, depending on your needs, schedules, and personalities, you’ll want to customize your meetings. The most important thing is that your gatherings be fun, informative, and uplifting to all who attend.
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