Story by Mary Aho

J.K Rowling once said, “I do believe something very magical can happen when you read a good book.” In today’s world it can be hard to find the time to sit down and enjoy a “good book.” When you have others to share it with, it can make it a little easier. Book clubs have been around for centuries, starting as a women’s rights movement in the 1800s when women were prohibited from attending college and intellectual gatherings. In the past, they would secretly meet and read together and expand their knowledge. Today, book clubs are anything but a secret. They are worldwide and an estimated five million people in the United States belong to a book club.

If starting a book club seems like a daunting task to you, think again! To start, all you need is a group of friends (or new friends) and a shared love of reading. From there, it’s completely up to you how you would like to make it your own. When starting a book club for the first time, it’s best to keep it small, around 10 members is a good size group. Next, you need to decide on what kind of structure you’re going to have. For example, some book clubs have themes such as mystery, romance, or non fiction. However, most book clubs are open to anything that grabs your attention. Another thing to consider is when each member will host. It can be based on volunteers, you could draw spots, or you could randomly assign. It also can be arranged based on what works best for each member.

Now that your book club is established, it’s time to talk hosting. You could host at your home, a restaurant, or even your local library. Hosting at your home is the most popular. If you’re serving hors d’oeuvres make sure you keep them bite sized. Conversation will be flowing and you don’t want your guests to be caught with a mouthful when its their turn to talk. It’s fun to match your snacks to the book you’re reading. If your book takes place in Paris, consider serving charcuterie and macaroons. There is so much room for creativity. Wine is a very popular libation among book clubs- and if you plan on serving wine, it’s nice to have a red and a white option.

The possibilities are endless when it comes to book clubs. You can do all males, all females, co-ed, or even a certain age group. Coming together as a group and making it your own is all part of the fun. At the end of the day, the food, topic, or place doesn’t really matter. A book club is all about coming together and sharing your love of literature with friends.

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