Choosing Books and Organizing Great Meetings
Once you’ve assembled a group or joined an existing one, you’re ready to begin. There are three simple elements to focus on:
- CHOOSING THE BOOKS: The books are the most important part of the meeting. One of the best things about reading groups is that they can introduce you to titles, authors, and genres that you haven’t tried before—you may discover a new favorite!
- Making a Selection: Not sure how to choose your first book? There are many ways to go about it. You can have each member of your group bring a “wish list” to your first meeting and vote on the suggestions—the title with the most votes wins. Some groups prefer to take turns choosing what to read. This way everyone gets to read a favorite. Or, you can leave it up to the discussion leader to choose. See our “What to Read” section for some great starter selections.
- Focus: You may find it useful to focus your group around a specific type of book, such as fiction or memoir, or a subject, such as current events or history. Themed discussions not only help you to choose your titles, but they provide natural points of comparison and discussion. Consider focusing on a specific author’s books—either for one meeting or a series of meetings. (Have each group member read a different title and compare notes.) Or focus on a specific subject or historical figure. You may find, for instance, that two biographies on the same person reveal very different aspects of that person’s life. Most important, remember that the choices that touch on thought-provoking, even controversial themes and issues make for the liveliest discussions. We hope the list of suggestions on this site will provide you with new ideas for shaping your discussions and inspire you to be creative in forming your own lists of books.
- Out of Ideas? If you’re having trouble making your selection, there are plenty of places to turn. Ask your local librarian or bookseller for his or her suggestions. Read The New York Times Book Review or one of the other book review sections found in Sunday papers across the country. Subscribe to a bookstore’s newsletter or to one of the publications geared specifically to reading groups listed in the Resources section. Check out the selection of Reading Group Guides available from Vintage Books and many other publishers. Or just ask around. What books have your friends or family read recently that they enjoyed?
- Timing: Titles should be chosen well in advance, to allow all members to read the book and come up with questions for discussion. Some groups plan out their titles a year in advance; others simply plan a few weeks or months ahead. If it’s your turn to lead the group, you may want to consider distributing some questions before the meeting as well, to allow members time to formulate their thoughts and opinions.
- SETTING UP THE MEETING: You’ve chosen your first selection, so now what? Here are a few simple things that will help your discussion run more smoothly:
- Choose a discussion leader: While a leader is not necessary, many groups find that having one provides focus to the discussion and helps to make transitions from one member’s comment to another’s. Often the person who suggested the book becomes the discussion leader, but your group can also rotate leaders, appoint a permanent group leader, or invite guest speakers—local teachers, librarians, booksellers, etc.—to lead discussions. There are even professional book group leaders for hire. Call the Association of Book Group Readers and Leaders (ABGRL) for more information (see the Cheat Sheet).
- Set a meeting time: Most groups meet every 4 to 6 weeks, and discussion tends to last 2 to 3 hours. You may find it helpful to designate a certain amount of time for socializing—either at the beginning or the end of the meeting—so that your discussion of the book can proceed uninterrupted. Of course, finding a day and time that works for everyone may be difficult—you may want to consider setting regular meeting days and times to allow members to plan ahead.
- Pick a place: The most popular meeting place for most reading groups is a member’s house. Often members take turns hosting the meeting to alleviate the pressure on one person. But there are plenty of other options as well. Your local bookstore or library may have a space that you can reserve free of charge for your meeting, as may your church, synagogue, community center, or place of employment. If you are meeting with people you do not know, it may be best to choose one of these informal, public spaces—or a restaurant or pub—for your meetings until you feel more comfortable.
- STARTING THE DISCUSSION: Once you’ve taken care of the details, it’s time to focus on the discussion itself. Here are some suggestions for a lively, stimulating meeting:
- Come prepared: Many groups ask each member to bring at least one question to the meeting to help generate discussion. It can also help to ask members to mark up their books as they read—making notes of favorite passages, key scenes, and questions that arise. Background information can be equally important to have at hand during your discussion—author biographies, interviews, reviews, historical background, cultural information, etc. It is usually the group leader’s responsibility to provide these materials, as well as a list of potential discussion questions. The Reading Group Guides and Reading Group Support Kits provided by Vintage Books include everything you need to get started. Your local library and the Internet are also good resources for this kind of information (see the Cheat Sheet).
- Set the tone: The atmosphere of your group meeting is entirely up to you. The more creative you are, the livelier the discussion will be, and the more enjoyment you’ll get out of the experience. Does your group prefer to meet for a social hour before discussion starts? Would you like to meet more casually over dinner? Can you bring some of the cultural aspects of the book to your meeting? Consider the music, food, and customs described in the book and try to re-create some of that for your group. If you are reading a historical novel set in England, try meeting for high tea. If your book is full of references to a certain artist or composer, bring a sample of that person’s work and share it with your group. Experiment with new kinds of foods, sample a new restaurant, or take a field trip to a place that has some relation to the book you just read. Better yet, ask your local bookstore for a schedule of authors who will be in town in the coming months and plan to read one of their new books before their arrival. Then attend the event with your group. You’d be amazed at how enriching the experience can be! Most importantly, relax and enjoy the discussion.