Today’s post is contributed by Kathy Schultenover, book clubs manager for Parnassus Books.
I can’t tell you the number of people who have told me, “Book club saved my life.” They’ve cited reasons such as being shut in at home with a baby or infirm spouse, feeling loneliness or depression, moving to a new city and knowing no one, or needing somewhere to turn for intellectual stimulation. I truly believe book clubs provide a vital sense of community, and I love helping clubs get started and stay active with fun, interesting reads.
Could this be the year of nonfiction for your club?
It can feel like a real novelty to have a month without a common book, in which everyone brings two recent reads to talk about and briefly share.
If you usually have a designated discussion leader, try going leader-less and ask each member to bring two thought-provoking questions or topics to stimulate conversation. This can bring out quieter members and get the whole group back into the mix.
5. Try a session designated to this very topic — fresh starts. Ask each member to bring one suggestion for a change she thinks might improve the club. Nothing personal (this is not the time to tell Janet no one likes her spinach dip)… just objective, positive ideas that could be fun to try or produce long-lasting improvements.
Join us here in the store for these upcoming book club discussions. Anyone is welcome, and reservations are not required. All you have to do is show up!
Thursday, February 14 at 10 a.m.
Thursday, March 21 at 10 a.m.
Monday, March 25 at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Have a book club of your own? Remember to register your club with Parnassus, so your members can get their reads at a 10% discount. And if your company or organization would like help getting started with group reading, let us know! Email parnassus@parnassusbooks.net and put “book club” in the subject line.