Book Clubs... Your Experience, Please!

[Heidi Hess Saxton]

Have you ever belonged to a book club -- a group that all reads the same book, then discusses it? Have you ever led such a group?

What are some of the key elements of a good club, in your opinion/experience? How often should you meet -- what what makes one book especially well suited for this purpose? Fiction or nonfiction? Optimal length? Set questions, answered ahead of time, or just have a few ready in case the conversation lags?

What are some books you've studied in groups?

[Sarah Reinhard]

Oh yes, I dearly love a good book club! I belonged to one at the library for many years, and was exposed to books and authors I would have never "met" otherwise. Then, after grad school, a group of us stayed together and read some books together.

I think it depends what you're after. I always enjoy good discussion, so it helps having someone in charge who will ask questions and lead discussion. I am also a big lover of fiction, so in the book clubs I've been a part of, I enjoy having fiction as part of it. And depending on who's involved, I think it's good to have a time length of about an hour and also have the next book ready ahead of time (so that when you meet, everyone knows (a) when the next meet-up is and (b) what the next book is).

Hope that helps! Good luck! (Wish I lived closer!)

[Susan C.]

I am currently leading a group on a book called Praying Scripture for a Change: An Introduction to Lectio Divina by Dr. Tim Grey. I saw it advertised on Catholic exchange for women and then heard about it on the podcast Catholic Spotlight. It has been a really good experience. I think I fictional book would be wonderful too. This book came with a study guide, so it was easier to follow and I didn't have to make anything up on my own.