There are so many book clubs out there, from groups of friends who like to chat about whatever they’ve been reading, to huge, online clubs with online discussions, apps and Twitter hashtags.
Reading may be a solitary activity, but a book club makes it social. Talking about what you have read can bring so much insight into a work. Different readers pick out different moments and quotes that speak to them, and you learn so much about not only the book but others.
Whether you are forming a new group or you are part of a long-standing club, choosing what to read is a huge part of meetings. Picking out a book that leads to a good discussion, as well as being sure that all the members have access to copies, can be difficult.
You can check out sets of books just for book clubs from your library and also access sets from Indiana Humanities Novel Conversations. E-books are available to check out with a library card from our Hoopla service, and there’s no limit to how many people can read the same title at once.
Don’t always pick favorite titles or authors. Some of the best meetings come from the group reading a book or genre that not everyone liked or expected to enjoy. I lead one of the library’s book groups, which are open to everyone if you want to try one out, and it’s so interesting to dig into what people did and didn’t like about a title.
I’ve seen opinions get turned around during discussion, and even had readers who didn’t finish a book they didn’t like give it a second chance. Our group read Neil Gaiman’s “Stardust” and no one liked the 1920s writing style, but after watching a few scenes from the film adaptation, they were charmed and won over.
Try and choose books that have deeper themes or characterizations. Though a thriller may be a great read, there may not be enough going on to talk about. But if it’s set during an important moment in history, or involves a current event, that can provide a launch for conversation.
Fictionalized stories of real people also make great discussions as members can bring in photos and information of the characters’ lives. “The Alice Network” by Kate Quinn and “Girl Waits with Gun” by Amy Stewart are great picks about real women who were spies and detectives.
Don’t shy away from children’s and teen titles. There are so many quality titles being written for younger readers that have important themes that lead to great discussions. “Ghost Boys” by Jewell Rhodes or “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas are wonderful choices that are topical and wonderfully written.
Non-fiction books can be fun to read and talk about. They aren’t all textbooks. The library has a leadership-focused group that reads only non-fiction, but our other groups mix in true stories as well. Biographies such as Hope Jahren’s “Lab Girl,” Noah Stryker’s “Birding Without Borders,” or history like “Boys in the Boat” by Daniel Brown or “Devil in the White City” by Erik Larsen, read like the best fiction tales.
If you are in a book club, starting one or just want to attend a meeting, your library is here with picks, sets of books and a variety of groups to try. Go to PageAfterPage.org/join-a-book-club for more information.
Amy Dalton is adult services librarian at the White River Township branch of the Johnson County Public Library. Library staff members share in writing this bi-monthly column for the Daily Journal. Send comments to [email protected].
