Tips for Meetings

The most important part of a reading group is, of course, the books. But no matter how good the book, it’s sometimes hard to get a great discussion started. Whether you’re a first-time group leader looking for general tips on what to talk about or an established group looking for ways to liven up your discussions, we’ve compiled a set of tried and true ideas—culled from our newsletters and suggestions from actual reading group members—to help.

• Do research: Look for materials that will supplement your reading. For example, try looking for interviews in newspapers, magazines, and Websites to see if what the author has to say about his or her work provides additional insights into the book. Does any of it seem autobiographical? Are there any cultural or historical aspects that you can research to supplement the discussion? If you find them, bring both positive and negative book reviews to the meeting so that you and the other members can discuss whether you agree or disagree with reviewers’ assessments of the book.
• Attend a reading: One of the easiest–and most rewarding–things you can do with your group is to read a book and then attend a reading by the author at your local bookstore. Many stores will even arrange for the author to meet personally with groups registered with the store who have read the book in advance of the appearance. Ask your local bookstore for a schedule of authors who will be in town in the coming months. You’d be amazed at how enriching the experience can be!
• Take a trip: At first, this may seem like an impossible idea, but in fact, many reading groups enjoy combining their reading with travel—from day trips to local museums or historical sites to extended vacations to foreign countries! It’s up to you to set your limits—and to be creative. Are you reading a book that’s set in the Renaissance? You could take a trip to your local art museum to view its collection of Renaissance art, or you could organize a trip to Florence to get a more multifaceted, firsthand experience.
• Read authors in-depth: Consider focusing on a specific author’s books—either for one meeting or a series of meetings, tracing his or her progression as an author, the changing themes in the various works, and the effects of biographical events on the writing. You may want to include a biography as part of your list to provide your group with a better understanding of the author’s life and times.
• Focus on a theme: Choosing titles on a specific theme, such as love and war, or a subject, such as current events or history, is a great way to compare and contrast books with each other.
• Explore a different culture: One of the most rewarding aspects of reading is the opportunity it provides to expose you and your group to new cultures and civilizations. Think about our current selection. 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 novel set in Japan such as Memoirs of a Geisha, consider including the tea ceremony in your meeting. Find a book with instructions for the ceremony—or a particularly descriptive passage in the novel—and give it a try.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, or sample a restaurant that specializes in the cuisine of your chosen culture.
• Consider movies and theatrical tie-ins: Reading a book and then going to see the movie is a popular idea for reading groups because it provides instant comparisons—and often, lively debate. Reading a play and then going to see the live performance is another great way of comparing the ways a story is treated in two artistic mediums. Check your local listings for events in your area—on-screen or onstage—that you can pair with a book your group can read.