starting a local book club

[KaraBoo]

Is this the right forum for this question?

I want to start a book club here in ABQ. I am compiling a list of books that might be suitable.

Anyone ever do this? Any tips?

I think I'll start with a few fictional novels about the area we live. Does that sound like a good idea? I'm also aware that not everyone has the time to read a truly LONG novel so I'm varying the lengths of books...like one month have a long book and the next a slim novel.

[Traci mom23boys]

I am hoping for great responses. I started a book club years ago with some like-minded women and it was great, until I moved.

I live in a semi-rural area where each house about 3-5 acres and I would love to start a book club to try and connect with some of my neighbors. I don't really know how to begin.

~Traci

[Teensy]

I've been in a book club for about nine years. We've altered our process for meeting and choosing books over the years, but have enjoyed being a part of the club a great deal. We started meeting in a coffeeshop once a month; now we take turns "hosting" which means the host either invites everyone to her house or picks a restaurant, coffeshop, or other location to meet at (we once meet on someone's sailboat - that was fun).

Our group tends to read a variety of books - fiction, biographies, non-fiction, classics, and new books. The only requirement is that the library have enough copies or it is available in paperback.

Our January book was "Loving Frank" and for February we are reading "John Adams."

There are books we all enjoyed such as "The Namesake" and "A Long Way Gone" (we all loved that one). "The Man in the Box" was not a great book, but it made for a very interesting discussion. "Nickeled and Dimed" lead to good discussions, as did "In Cold Blood" (another one we all thought was great).

"These is My Words" and "The Devil in the White City" would be good choices also, IMHO.

Have fun forming your club!

[KaraBoo]

Thanks! I'm really looking forward to it. I'd like to finish all the planning and start the club in mid Feb.