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When I earned my degree and departed the world of academia, I missed very little about college life – sharing small apartments, living on coffee – I was done with the lifestyle. The one thing I found I really missed was the books; not only the reading lists of things I would never venture into on my own, but the opportunity to discuss them with others, to mull them over in a safe and creative environment with people whose frames of reference could complement my own, adding insight I never would had have.

Some friends of mine were feeling similarly, and we formed a book club to fill the intellectual gap in our lives. We picked a book, a date, and an apartment at which to meet. And then….we never met again. Scheduling conflicts, differences in interest, what have you – all led to our demise. Sad to say, this has happened to several book club incarnations. It’s been a long hard road, but I’ve gleaned a thing or two about what makes one club flourish and another founder.

Be Honest

Be clear from the outset what sort of material you’d like to delve into. Challenge yourselves, and let your taste be eclectic, but make sure no one is bored or frustrated or they will surely lose interest. So, be honest about your ambitions. Are you really going to get through James Joyce? I had a book club fall apart over Legacy of Ashes, the history of the CIA. No one could finish it.

Be Democratic

If you are all on a similar literary page, then you can branch out in terms of interests, and allow them to wander. That’s one of the fun things about a group — to explore areas you might not otherwise cover. Let everyone throw out suggestions for type. Hard-boiled detective noir, a biography, a favorite series you read as a teenager, revisited? Let the group decide what genre to try this time, and then take suggestions. The email chain might get long, but it’s easier than you might think to come to a consensus, if everyone is open-minded.

Be Flexible

Mix up the location, so that no one person has to host every time. Also, a rigid schedule, i.e., the second Sunday of every month, can get cumbersome, since book club is not something many people will schedule around in the rest of their lives. Be accommodating to as many people as possible, with the understanding that maybe not everyone can make it every time.

Be Focused (to a point)

Focus, but let the conversation wander. Some books (especially of the ‘Oprah’s Book Club’ variety) have questions printed in the back, and they can be very helpful in getting the conversational ball rolling. Prepare a few points you’d like to discuss, themes or passages, and jot them down somewhere in case they slip your mind. You’ll be amazed how different the points of interests can be for different readers of the same material, so let the conversation flow where it will. Of course, if it gets too far afield, don’t be afraid to lead it back to the main issues.

Be Creative

This may seem obvious, but this should be fun! These are your friends, so make a night of it. Have everyone bring food – the less silverware required, the better. If you’re book lends itself to a food theme, even better! Suggest, but don’t require. Otherwise, people may opt out of showing up if they feel unprepared. Food, wine, couches and floor pillows, whatever you need to settle in and chat. Sit back, relax, and let the conversation flow!

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