Looking for a novel challenge? Why not start a book club?
Spring is finally here, and with the prospect of social distancing measures being lifted in the not-too-distant future, it’s time to think about how we’re going of make the most of the time we’ll be able to spend with our friends and family
And as it’s World Book Day this week, why not think about how to share the joy of reading with others?
One of the best things about reading is that it can be so sociable. In fact, it’s become such a part of our lives that we now have a myriad of organisations dedicated to bringing individuals together for shared reading. So, if you’re looking for a novel idea, starting a book club may be one of the best decisions you can make.
Not only does it give you the chance to enjoy books by your favourite authors, as well as stumble across some new ones, it is a great way to create a sense of community. This is something that we are very proud of at Park Home Life and at our Orchard Park site we have a thriving community and some exciting plans for the future – who knows, a book club might be on the list?
Here are some top tips on creating the perfect book club community.
First it is important that you work out how you are going to hold your book club sessions – soon we’ll all be able to meet face to face – perhaps in each others’ homes or at a public venue, for example at a local community hall. For the time being of course, you may have to meet up via Zoom? Once you have decided how you are going to meet you can then move onto when.
Most book clubs will meet on either a fortnightly or monthly basis as you will want to give your members a chance to read the books. Once you have decided when and where you are going to meet you can start advertising your group.
At Park Home Life we are lucky to have a readymade community, so it is possible to share groups like a book club with everyone. You might find that you need to advertise on social media or put an advert in your local shop.
There are an incredible number of book genres and depending on who joins your group you might want to focus on one type of book, or you might want to open it up to all different types so that people can try books they wouldn’t normally pick up. To give everyone the opportunity to read the books you select, you should check that they are available online, in print and in your local library. Some books clubs will approach online stores and purchase enough books for all their members. If you decide to go down this route, you might want to consider charging a membership fee to help cover your costs.
Once all of this is in place you can choose a name for your group and start enjoying a cup of tea or a glass of wine together. A good book might be just the excuse you need.