Mistakes You Don't Want To Make When Picking A New Read For Your Book Club

Is the very notion of a book club the closest thing we have to a utopia? Quite possibly. Created as blissful sanctuaries for like-minded bibliophiles to gather, share stories and snacks, sip tea (or something stronger!), and chat freely with friends about the books they love. But nothing can derail this delicate ecosystem quite like a poorly chosen read.

The wrong book can unravel even the most harmonious group. Mistakes might seem trivial on the surface, but they can quickly lead to dwindling enthusiasm, skipped meetings, or worse, the unfortunate dissolution of the club altogether. To avoid collective groans and reluctant RSVPs, you'll want to strike a balance between engaging material, accessibility, and a shared sense of curiosity. Stay away from the following pitfalls to give your book club the best chance as a haven for both great stories and the friendships they nurture.

Great book clubs are those that are inclusive, making sure everyone's opinions have space and feel valued. To foster this encompassing spirit, try to give every member a say in what the group reads by rotating who gets to pick the books. That way, every member has their voice heard and can bring their unique outlook to the table.

There are plenty of other ways to make sure everyone gets a chance to weigh in, too. Perhaps you could create a reading jar, where members anonymously submit suggestions, and one is drawn at random each month. Not only can this be fun in its surprise, it also keeps things fair. Alternatively, if anonymity feels slightly stark, you could use tools like Doodle polls or WhatsApp's group chat poll function to let the group vote on upcoming reads.

And if you want to mix things up even further, you could also incorporate a thematic approach to your selections. Ideas might include 'non-fiction February,' 'celebrity memoir March,' or 'occult October' for a spooky season read. These little experiments could help keep discussions buoyant, and you might just fall in love with author-created horizons you might never have appreciated on your own. After all, isn't that the beauty of reading?

Book clubs should offer respite from the daily chaos of life, not add to it. When a book's length has you scrambling through a late-night reading marathon just to keep up, the joy of the experience can quickly wilt. A hefty tome that cuts into precious time can feel like homework, and no one wants that. For members with packed schedules, shorter books are a gift. A slim novel, a novella, or even a collection of short stories can hold just as much substance and encourage just as many animated conversations as a book twice its size. Leave the brick-sized books on the shelf. If you're desperate to get through the epic sagas, save them for independent reading.

If your book club wants to size up a book before committing to it, tools like StoryGraph let you see just how bulky the word count is. Choosing the right-sized read keeps the focus on fun conversations and shared laughs, not a race against the clock.

Book clubs are all about bringing together a mix of minds and tastes. Different perspectives are part of the magic. Healthy debate can shed light on new angles, and help you understand the book on a deeper level. But when those differences tip into conflict, the harmony of the group can start to fray. A book that stirs strong emotion by touching on sensitive, polarizing topics fuel dialogues, though it can just as easily ignite tension among members.

To steer clear of a full-blown feud, focus on books that can challenge without creating divides. These should aim to broaden our horizons without straining our relationships. The best book club picks will inspire thoughtful discussion, whilst keeping the atmosphere warm and welcoming. You don't want your choice to sour the communal reading experience; it shouldn't be a match to light a fuse.

Reading in the 21st century means there are so many ways to enjoy the best that literature has to offer. Just take the tactile pleasure of paperbacks, the convenience of e-readers, or the immersive, time-saving ease of audiobooks. There really is a format for every kind of reader. But when your book club selects a title that's too niche, out of print, or only available in limited formats, you risk creating unnecessary hurdles for members, which can be frustrating.

Once again, book clubs shouldn't make your life more complicated by adding another chore to your to-do list. Not everybody has the time to scour multiple second-hand shops just to get their hands on one particular book. When a title is overly difficult to find, they might give up the discussion entirely through no fault of their own. To keep your club thriving, choose books that everyone can access easily in their preferred format.