We All Like Literature

When we were younger, we never would have dreamed of being in a book club. They seemed like something for little old ladies or middle-aged women to gab about the latest romance. But what’s wrong with that? Slowly but surely, people have come to respect the power of a book club, looking for ways to start one of their own! Well, we have a few tips on how to get started.  

Christin Hume on Unsplash

1. Choose Your Theme

First and foremost, you’ll need a theme. Will you only cover romance novels? Are you planning to read the classics? Will you only focus on one author? The sooner you know your path, the faster people can join it! 

Helena Lopes on Pexels

2. Make Books Accessible

Whether you’re thinking of a theme or a single book, they need to be accessible. Unless your patrons know upfront that you’re covering guys like Thomas Pynchon or David Foster Wallace, the difficulty can make it more polarizing. 

Julia Kicova on Unsplash

3. Have a Schedule

It’s all well and good to have a theme in mind, but you need a schedule, too! The best way to keep everyone involved is to have online polls. People can vote on when they’re free or which days work best for them, which helps you plan ahead. 

Pixabay on Pexels

4. Provide Snacks

It doesn’t matter if you’re meeting at someone’s house or a library study room—provide snacks for people! They’ll appreciate the gesture, and that cozy atmosphere is exactly what entices people to come back for more.

Meri Verbina on Pexels

5. Figure Out the Logistics

Book clubs are exciting, but like all good things, they require a bit of planning. They have just as many logistics as a D&D session! Where will you meet? How often will you meet? What are your topics of discussion? How long will club meetings last? These are all things to keep an eye on.

Centre for Ageing Better on Unsplash