It’s 2:37 a.m. and you reluctantly close the cover on your latest treasure. A grin stretches across your face, mostly because the book you just devoured was so deeply captivating, engrossing and connecting that you simply can’t help yourself. Partly because you found it at book fair, snapping it up for pennies on the dollar.

The story wasn’t just satisfying. It was so thought-provoking, and resonated so strongly with you, that it makes you feel seen… right there in the dark and quiet of the wee hours… alone in your favorite cubby. The only problem now (if you can even consider problems after having been so completely absorbed and transported) is this: you wish you had someone to share it with.

If this sounds like you, it’s probably high time you started a book club.

WHERE TO START?

Before you start calling folks, take a moment to think about what you want out of a book group. If you’re interested in reading books deeply, or want to focus on a particular genre (such as Theology and Spiritual works from the Saints), be upfront with your recruits so they don’t expect tackling “fun” books, with lots of silly chatter spurred on by wine and snacks by the crate.

When, where, and how? Monthly meetings are the norm, with members taking turns to host your book club at their homes. A cafe or similar community space will also work, with a meeting duration of 2- 2 1/2 hours.

Who, if anyone, will lead? Do you need a discussion leader? Some groups take turns in this role, while others don’t have a discussion leader. At a minimum, you’ll need someone to handle the basics communications consistently, such as email invites.

How many people? An ideal book club has 5-8 members. Too many members on a regular basis makes inclusive discussions harder, while a club with too little members becomes overly reliant on committed attendance.

What does a group leader do? Some groups get along just fine without a leader, some rotate leadership, while others find it works best to have specific people assigned to specific duties. If your group rotates discussion leadership, hosting, and choosing titles, make sure that no one is ever assigned to more than one duty per month. Discussion Leaders are usually tasked with opening the discussion and using prepared questions to keep the discussion on track. They diplomatically intervene when a discussion deteriorates, being firm but respectful when necessary.

Here are some good Leader practices that need to be reviewed with the group at least once a year:

• Read the entire book.
• Gather information to help enhance the discussion.
• Be prepared to offer counter opinions – even if they differ from your own.
• Be prepared to begin new lines of discussion when necessary.
• Do not let one person monopolize the discussion.
• Be willing and prepared to take control of the group, firmly but respectfully.

How should we pick books? Most readers enjoy a mixture of spirituality, theology, biography, fiction and Scripture. There are tons of books in print and easily obtained online or directly from the publisher. The majority (particularly those books published more recently) are also available
from major bookstores. Try choosing books of reasonable length (no more than 200 pages or so). If they are longer (e.g. – The Seven Storey Mountain), break them up into two sessions.

When people are busy around Christmas, think about assigning a Gospel. Not only does the length fit more easily into a hectic time of the year, it’s also a great devotional tool for the season. Don’t be surprised if some people confess that it’s the first time they have ever read a gospel all the way through.

Some groups select titles in advance for an entire year. This lets members plan ahead, but it doesn’t necessarily allow for timely choices (like a new book that just hit the best seller list). Other groups choose their next book at the end of each meeting. Or, maybe you want to take the middle ground, picking titles three months ahead. Whatever works best (simple usually works bes)t, always keep what’s in the best interest of your members in mind.

How about discussions? Whether you have a discussion leader in charge of providing questions or each member is tasked with bringing a few questions, here are some things to consider:

• Instead of “Did you like it,” try asking stuff like “What did you learn and why”.
• Support your views with examples including passages from the text.
• Who suggested the book, and why did they recommend it?
• If only one person provides questions, consider sending the list of questions out to members before the meeting.
• Be sure to bring your copy of the book! The difference in how different people can interpret the exact same thing can be profound. Having the text to refer back to helps clarify things.
• Some groups like to start (or end) with an around-the-table quick assessment (1-4 star ratings or a one word/phrase summing up their experience of the boo (e.g., enlightening, disturbing, compelling, etc.).
• Some groups go beyond the book to the greater context of the author and his/her era, culture, genre, etc.

Some final thoughts. There are really only three basic requirements for club members that will ensure your book club is a hit:

• Read the book.
• Respect everyone’s opinions.
• Don’t hog the discussions.

Book clubs can be very enriching with very little work for the organizer. What could be easier than firing off an email or text invitation, ordering up some pizza delivery, and choosing some worthy books? It’s a great way to build community, do a little catechesis, and encourage faith sharing in a friendly way.