Love reading? Or maybe regular get-togethers to 'supposedly' discuss the book you’re all 'supposed' to have read over the last month? In my experience, the book gets a bit of a mention – and then we’re off chatting about all and sundry!
Whatever way works for the individual group is fine. There are no hard and fast rules.
Starting your own book club is very easy. The Council of Adult Education (CAE) does most of the work for you. Simply jump onto the
website, download the appropriate brochure depending on where you live – and you’re away!
You need between 8 and 15 people, so spread the word amongst your friends. Or if meeting new people is more your thing, expand your social circle by placing a small advertisement in your local library, bookshop, cafe or at work.
You can, of course, simply organise the Book Club yourself, but then everyone has to buy or borrow the selected book and it can get messy with booklists and so on. With the CAE, they deliver the required number of books to the nominated Secretary of the group. How easy is that!
They also provide booklists and
Reading Group Guides to make it a whole lot easier – so you can get on with your reading and socialising sooner!
There is, however, a fee for their time, trouble and various services.
Costs range from $49 to $161 per year, depending on where you live, your role in the group and your preferred number of books.
If that feels like a bit of a stretch of the budget, it’s not such a huge stretch when you consider that it gives you lots of social get-togethers per year, encourages new friendships, and inspires you to read.
While I think many of us love the joys of curling up with a book on a cold winter’s night, some of us simply don’t make the time. If you’ve been inspired and want to explore some titles right away,
Oprah’s Book Club has a great selection – and, no, it’s not just for women.
Your Book Club location can vary from one person’s house (as long as everyone pitches in with refreshments and cleaning up), or rotating from house to house, or perhaps a cafe, the library or wherever suits.
Come to think of it, the library might not work due to a ‘No Food or Drink’ policy.
While I do love literary pursuits, I love them even more with a cuppa or glass of wine.
You also have to be very quiet. Where's the fun in that?
