There’s something wonderful about a group of people gathered together to discuss a book. A good book club creates stimulating conversation, builds relationships, and feeds the appetite for more books. You only need a few ingredients to make a satisfying book club:
A good book
We are very good at this part. In fact, we have pre-made book club kits that you can check out for a month at a time! So, your group doesn’t need to pay for books, they can check them out and even renew them for up to two more months (as long as another club doesn’t reserve it first). These kits are located behind our front display shelf (to the right as you walk in the library), housed in cheery, green canvas bags. All you need is your library card. We’ve got quite a variety, from J.R. Tolkein’s epic fantasy, The Hobbit, to George Orwell’s chilling dystopian novel, 1984, to the real life story of Hidden Figures, to recent bestsellers like Before We Were Yours, and Killers of the Flower Moon.
Location, location, location
It’s important to have your book club in a setting where people will feel comfortable. That being said, it’s also important to have a central location that’s convenient for everyone (including you). You may love having people over to your home, but if not, you can use our study rooms for free! They accommodate up to six people. If you have more people, or if you want to be able to eat snacks etc. don’t forget about our fabulous downtown coffee shops and eateries, or the beautiful Memorial Park just outside the library doors.
Putting your group at ease
Even though your group is most likely excited about the book they’ve just read, many 
people are shy about sharing in a group setting. Help your group feel comfortable by first making sure everyone knows each other. Sometimes an ice-breaker is helpful. For example, have each person share their name and favorite restaurant downtown. Even if most people know each other, make sure that any new members are introduced and have a chance to meet existing members. You might set the atmosphere with some soft music or a candle (just make sure it’s battery-operated if you’re hosting in the library). Drinks or a simple snack can also go a long way in making people feel at home.
Plan for discussion
Next, you’ll want to talk about the book, of course. You can find book-specific reading questions online. For example, the Galesburg Library in Illinois has this list of free PDF discussion guides for specific books, or, you can google “Book discussion questions for [your book’s title]” and pick a guide that looks interesting to you. There are also some generic questions that work for almost any book. Generic questions might be, “What was your favorite part of the book?” “Was there anything that surprised or offended you?” “How did the ending make you feel?” “What insights (if any) did the book give you into the world you live in every day?” “What did you find easy or hard to relate to (characters, events, places, etc.)?”
Common Challenges
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- The Over-Talker If you find that one person tends to dominate the group, try directing specific questions to specific people: “Dorothy, what did you find surprising about the book?” You might also tell the group that every person gets two minutes to share what answer the question you’re currently discussing. You can even set a timer! This is beneficial for the whole group because it makes space for multiple perspectives.
- The Over-Talker If you find that one person tends to dominate the group, try directing specific questions to specific people: “Dorothy, what did you find surprising about the book?” You might also tell the group that every person gets two minutes to share what answer the question you’re currently discussing. You can even set a timer! This is beneficial for the whole group because it makes space for multiple perspectives.
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- Conflicting, strong opinions If you are discussing a controversial book that may cause conflicting opinions, take a moment to set a group expectation of listening respectfully to each person’s opinion without interrupting. Acknowledge that there may be disagreement, but that each person can look to learn from each of the others, even if they have different opinions. It may be especially useful to employ a timer in a situation like this. Remind your group that the point of a group discussion is not to merely air your opinions or “vent,” it is to create a constructive exchange in which each member shares and also listens carefully to everyone else. This can be challenging, but the rewards are worth the effort.
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- Awkward silences Awkward silences may actually be less of a problem than you feel they are. Oftentimes, your group members are very engaged, they just need some time to think or refresh their memories. Silence can be your friend. Be brave and wait it out. If you’re dealing with chronic awkward silence, try sharing some background about the book or the author, or go back to your trusty strategy of asking the question to a specific person.
Maybe you’d like to join a book club before you start your own. This is the perfect time to
join one of our library book clubs, because the groups are making their final reading list for the coming year. That means you can weigh in with what you want to read. Right now we have two book clubs for adults: One on the second Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. (currently reading Land More Kind than Home by Wiley Cash), and the other one on the second Tuesday morning of each month at 11:00 a.m. (currently reading Ghost by Jason Reynolds).
Remember, you don’t need to be a literary expert to host a stellar book club (or be a stellar book club member!). A good book, a comfortable location, and a few conversation strategies are all you need. Let us know how we can help you get started!
Till next time,
Kendra
It’s beach season. While I don’t plan on going to the actual sand-and-surf beach this year, a good beach read can be enjoyed anywhere! When I think of a beach read, I think of those books that don’t take too much concentration but capture your imagination. They invite you on an adventure, but they also promise that nothing too bad will happen (at least not by the time the story is done). It’s a book that fits in with the lighthearted fun of summer. But ultimately, a beach read is whatever you want to read while the waves roll in the background. To give you some ideas for your next pick, I’ve asked several of our staff what they would read on the beach. Here’s what they recommend:
beach, Jacklyn finds the book hilarious and loves the irony in the story. Recounting the story, she cracks up at some of the nonsensical decisions characters make.
Lowcountry Boil by Susan M Boyer
It’s easy to have a romanticized view of the perfect place to curl up with a book. For me, it’s probably some combination of a window seat overlooking acres of gorgeous woodland and a plush chair pulled up to a fire with snow falling outside. Unfortunately, I don’t happen to live on acres of gorgeous woodland, and, if you’ve lived in Siloam Springs for long, you know snowy windows are in short supply. What’s your ideal reading nook?
Next, what do you want to hear? Some of us have the luxury of a quiet home, but others of us may need to get creative with a sound machine or instrumental music. You can find all kinds of background music and sounds online. Then, what would you like to smell? A scented candle, diffuser, or potpourri can do the trick here. You might also think about the temperature of your space. Will you want an extra blanket? A personal fan? 
important to have a private space just for you, but maybe you need a second space where your kids or grandkids can snuggle up with you. A guest day bed filled with throw pillows may be the perfect place. Maybe it’s as easy as adding a basket of books to the side of your living room couch. Maybe there is a special “reading snack” that you keep in the drawer of an end table just for reading time. Think of how to make reading time special for the people who are special to you.
I was inspired by one of our patrons who is finding space to read on the Appalachian Trail this summer! Below, see Laurel Granderson’s reading nook by the trail. She’s enjoying her Library Kindle account as she reads Red Rising by Pierce Brown. Laurel’s mom reported at the time of the photo: “We are in Pennsylvania at the New Tripoli campsite, mile 1,247 of the Appalachian Trail. Our family started the trail back in 2017. This is our third summer on the AT, and we are more than halfway.” Thanks for the inspiration Granderson Family! 
Siloam Springs Public Library 