Every book group has a personality of its own. Just like an office workgroup, a committee of volunteers or a soccer team, simply bringing people together for the same purpose does not guarantee success. Let’s quickly address common ways book groups are created: 
- Neighborhood – a call goes out via listserv, Starbucks bulletin board or word of mouth for anyone interested in starting a group to meet either in a community space or someone’s home. Time of day may affect who shows up, as would the demographics of the area. Small groups of friends, as well as individuals, may check it out.
- Friends – an effort to get a group of friends together on a regularly scheduled basis to discuss a book. Usually requires an ongoing commitment. Dinner, brunch, wine and/or dessert may be a regular feature.
- Bookstore or library – professional booksellers or librarians organize groups utilizing the institution’s resources. Groups may be genre-driven (fiction, history, science fiction) or thematic (Shakespeare, 19th-century French fiction, theatrical biographies). They may be facilitated by staff and open to the public with participants attending at will.
- Organizational – brings together work colleagues or members of affinity groups (PTA, church/synagogue, membership organization). While the core group may be current members, these groups may be used as a way to recruit participants or develop future leaders. Book choices may have a specific focus (management strategies, parenting challenges, religious philosophy).
So, what kind of group are you interested in?
Before committing to a group, ask yourself what it is you want.
- Is the group willing to have you try it out for a few visits or is there an ongoing commitment? What happens when “life happens”?
- Does the schedule – day, time and frequency – work with the rest of your life?
- Are group members asked to lead the discussion? If it meets in member homes, do you have the space to host the group? Must you read the book to participate?
- Is the group’s book list of interest? Are the titles readily available? Is the pace of reading manageable for you?
- Is the balance between book discussion and chit-chat okay for you? Are you looking for a new group of friends or people interested in talking about a book you have all read?
Where can I find a group?
- Ask people you know who read. Don’t be offended if they say they are in a group that is closed to new members. Group size and dynamics matter.
- Ask at the local library or community center. If they do not organize groups, they may know of others locally.
- Independent bookstores often list book groups on the website. Two examples: in Brooklyn bookcourt.com/lit-groups; and in Washington, DC www.politics-prose.com/book-groups
- Explore sites such as www.meetup.com which are designed to bring together people with like interests. Within 5 miles of my home, there are 15 potential book groups listed. Many of the groups meet at local restaurants or coffee houses and are very transparent about the planning and the number of people expected to attend. As with anything else on the web, use care in revealing personal information and attending any event.
- Alumni organizations, synagogues, churches, residential communities, membership organizations and more have groups.
- Start your own! You can do it. I’ll provide hints in future posts.
Bottom line, here are some of the criteria that help me make my decision:
- The balance between what you put into the group and what you get out must meet your needs.
- Those in the group must treat the others with respect. Limited side conversations, no bullying, and the group must belong to everyone and not just one or two people.
- Developing friendships in the group is nice, but the purpose is to talk about the books.
- Unanimous opinions about every book mean the group isn’t pushing itself enough. Some of the best discussions occur when the book has mixed reviews or is in other ways challenging to the reader.
