How to Get the Most out of Book Club | Chapters & Chai Book Club
How to Get the Most out of Book Club
Joined a book club but not quite sure how to make the most of it? These tips should hopefully help you with that!
To get the most out of book club, I think it's first important to understand what it is you want to get out of it. Are you there for in-depth discussions about the book - from analysing themes and digging for underlying meanings to finding the wider context of the book and really getting to the bottom of what made the book great or not so great? Are you there to broaden your reading horizons and get yourself out of your comfort zone? Or are you there to expand your connections and make new friends in your local community? Or something else entirely.
If you're there for the books...
- Actively Engage with the Books
Make sure you're engaging with and fully taking in the books you read for book club. It sounds obvious, but it's so easy to get lost in a book or read purely for pleasure or escapism that you may not take the time to think about what you're reading.
Take notes as you read, highlight passages, annotate in the margins, and talk about the book as you read with friends, family, or your fellow book club members. All of these things help the themes and events of the book stick in your mind, so you'll be able to recall them at book club!
- Read Through your Notes
Before book club, read through your notes and annotations to refresh your memory. This will help when it comes to discussing the book, and when paired with the discussion prompts you should be able to remember all the notable parts of each read!
- Come with Questions or Talking Points
Discussion prompts are always provided, but you're more than welcome to bring your own thoughts to the table; that's really what book club is about! Jot down any questions or thoughts you think would make for interesting discussion, and don't be shy when it comes to voicing them to your book club friends.
- Listen to other Book Club Members
Oftentimes listening to other people share their thoughts or interpretations of the books will deepen your own understanding or even change the way you thought about particular aspects of the book! It is so rewarding to hear other people's ideas and experiences, and will help you connect more with not only the book but your fellow members.
- Chat to the Booksellers
If you loved or even didn't like the monthly book club read, get chatting to the booksellers and find out their recommendations for books they think you'll enjoy. Their insight is so valuable and I lean on them a lot for suggestions and recommendations, and they always have some great hidden gems - so feel free to do the same!
If you're there to broaden your horizons or get out of your comfort zone...
- Sit with new people!
It's easy to look for familiar faces at each meet up, but once you've seen the same people a couple of times, try switching it up and joining another table! And keep an eye out for new members, why not encourage them to sit with you and help them feel more comfortable?
- Vote outside of your comfort zone
When it comes to the monthly book vote it may feel easier to choose the book that closest aligns to your reading preferences, but why not change tactic some months and opt for the book that seems further away from your usual?
- Join the Chapters & Chai Reading Challenge
The reading challenge intentionally prompts you to read across a range of genres, and find books written by authors across a range of backgrounds! Completing the challenge will guarantee you expand your reading horizons by the end of the year - and who knows what new favourites you'll find! Find out more about it via the blog post.
If you're there for the community...
- Engage in the Group Chat
Keep the connection going outside of book club and engage in conversations in our Whatsapp group chat! This will help you connect with people you maybe didn't get a chance to talk to at book club, and will help you stay in touch with those you did.
- Attend the Socials
We host occasional social meets throughout the year - from casual coffee catch-ups and trips to the pottery cafe, to days out in the local area such as local markets and the pumpkin patch! Come along to the socials to form deeper connections with our members.
- Join the discussions
Make use of the discussion prompts at book club to join in the conversation about the books. Feel free to go off on a tangent if that's what your table are up for - you'll likely learn more about everyone as you do.
And that's it! That's my beginners' guide to making the most out of book club. I hope you found this helpful, and I hope it gives you a new or renewed approach to Chapters & Chai - or any other book club you may be a part of!
Thank you for reading, and I hope to see you at book club.
Kee