by Janet Gregor

Created on: October 17, 2007

A successful book club can bring hours of pleasure to a reader's world. It offers the opportunity to share opinions, make connections, and delve deeply into the contents of another world.

A book club is formed by a group of readers who have something in common. Decide on the genre of book you would like to read. I've been a member of several book clubs. My two favorites were mystery and historical fiction. Post an invitation to join the club at the local library, bookstore and your Internet connections. I advise limiting the number to ten. You will seldom have all ten, but usually enough members will show to make it worthwhile. It is very difficult to have a productive discussion if there are more than ten people.

There must be a moderator for the club, and since you've sent the invitation, you are IT. After you receive the initial responses, collect everyone's information and pass it along to the group via email. I suggest offering three titles to the group and voting for the first selection.

You should host the first meeting. This allows you to set the tone for the group. Think about what you expect from the club and guide the members through the meeting. Now, hosting the event. You can make it as simple as wine and cheese, a few simple appetizers, or a full meal. This will depend on the time of day you choose to meet. I've found that Sunday afternoons were the best participated. Week nights don't work very well due to very hectic lifestyles. Meeting once a month on Sundays gives people the most flexibility, especially moms. Plan a menu that is fast and easy. Check with members for allergies and diet restrictions.

Be prepared for the first meeting. Have a blank calendar for the year. Members can sign up for the month in which they would like to host. January and July are usually left open. Everyone needs a break from the holidays and most people plan vacation travel in July. Have the meeting on the same day and same time as much as possible. This increases the rate of participation. Whoever is hosting the next meeting gets to choose the next book. They should be prepared to make the announcement each meeting.

Make sure you have read the book. While reading the book use the little post it notes to identify pages and specific paragraphs. Post on the page that you think revealed the identity of a mysterious character. Post on the description of a beautiful landscape. Post to whatever moves you. It makes book discussions take on more meaning when you can identify specific passages with your responses.

Make sure the members of the group are reading the book. Use your computer and create emails to the group. Post weekly to the group, informing them of where you are in the reading. Ask thought provoking questions to be answered at the meeting. Leave questions such as,"Can you believe he did that in chapter ten?" in your post. If readers aren't there yet, they certainly will be.

It is your job to make sure that everyone is involved in the discussions. You may need to ask certain members about their opinions if you detect a bit of hesitance. In every group there will be one or two members who are overbearing. Reign these overenthusiastic members in.

Sit around, eat a little, drink a little, and enjoy the company of people who love the same thing as you do. Listen to a friend share a story similar to the one in the book. Ponder the questions raised by another. Share your opinion about your favorite character. Be a part of a successful book club.

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