Looking for Good Books and Some Fun Friendships in 2023? Why Not Start a Book Club?

By Tana Poncsak

Perhaps after spending time reading a good book, the best thing afterward is finding someone else who has also read it so you can talk about it. For many, half the fun of reading the book is then talking about it, discussing the plot, the characters, the structure of the novel, the writing, and more. But with so many people and so many books, finding the person who has read a particular book and willing to chat about can be difficult. That’s why book clubs were created!

If you’re a reader and are thinking of joining a book club, you can start by asking around at your local bookstore or library about existing book clubs in your area. But if that isn’t an option, then why not consider starting a book club of your own?

Here are a few things to think about if you decide to start a book club. Weigh the options and choose what’s best for you and what you envision. • You may want to consider whether to have a virtual book club that meets online or one that meets locally and in person. Some book club meetings are held in each member’s home on a rotation basis.

Others prefer to meet in a public setting such as a restaurant, a coffee house, a wine bar, a library, or other public venue. • If virtual is the better option, will you use Zoom, Google Hangout,

Teams, Facebook, etc.? • Do you want to stick to one genre or theme? For example, if you enjoy cozy mysteries, then a cozy mystery book club may appeal to you. Some other genres include romance, fantasy, sci fi, women’s literature, historic fiction, and contemporary fiction. • How many participants would you like to have? Some book clubs have started with as little as three readers, while others have started with as many as twenty or more. And speaking of numbers, do you want to have a cap on the number of members to keep a smaller, more intimate group, or are you thinking “the more the merrier”? • How will the books the group reads be selected? You can make all te selections at the beginning, or you can hold a discussion and take a vote by the members, so everyone decides. Or perhaps each member can take a turn and pick the book they want all members to read. • How often will you meet? Not everyone reads at the same speed, so some may need more time than others to finish a book, especially if it’s a longer book.

Once you decide on how you want your book club to run, you can focus on acquiring members. • The first and most obvious way to find book club members is through your sphere of influence – your friends, neighbors, coworkers, and other acquaintances. Don’t be offended if some come for the wine, food, and friendship at first. After a few months and a few good books, they may fall in love with reading. • Your local bookstore, library, or coffee shop may be willing to give your book club information to patrons who inquire about book clubs. • Use social media – Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms – to promote your book club, especially if you’re looking to start a virtual book club. • As with anything else, starting a book club can take time. So give your book club time to grow.

And there you have it – a start to new books and new friends in the new year. Happy reading!