28 thoughts on “Book Clubs”

1. I live in the boonies, so I’m not a member of an in-person book club, but I am a member of two online book clubs. We meet via Groups or via Zoom. I’d recommend The Seven-Day Resurrection by Chevron Ross. It’s a good book club book because there are so many things about motives for human actions and family secrets and sibling relations to discuss.

   • Good morning, Priscilla.

     Online book clubs are very popular, and I can understand why. Not only are they convenient for people who live far apart from each other, they make good sense in terms of time management.

     Thanks for the recommendation of The Seven-Day Resurrection. I’ve added it to my reading list.

     Have a great week.

2. I’ve never done a book club and would be unlikely to mainly due to lack of time for the commitment. Also, though I’m not certain, I assume an assigned book of the month could be any genre–I’m not a multiple genres sort of reader so that would not appeal either.

   • Good morning, Brenda.

     I can understand your reluctance to read books in multiple genres if you’re not interested. I’ve found reading other genres to be helpful, but I’m certain there must be clubs that read only certain genres.

     I enjoyed looking through the reading lists of different clubs. There was some crossover, but not a lot.

3. Have I read any of the books on your lists? Nope.
   Have I ever been invited to speak about my books at a book club. I’ll be doing that via Zoom next week.
   My neighborhood book club is called “Wine, Women, and Words.”
   We meet once a month. Host chooses several titles and the group votes on them for the next month’s read. Then, that next month the person who picked the choices leads the discussion.
   Discussions usually drift from the questions and members often relate the overall topic of the questions to their own lives.
   I’m the outlier when it comes to genre preferences, but I’ve found some books I’d never have picked up on my own … Lessons in Chemistry, The Rose Code, Remarkably Bright Creatures.
   But it’s about the wine. And sometimes a cocktail.

   • Good morning, Terry.

     Your book club operates similar to mine, although we don’t vote on books. The host has the option to choose whatever book she wants.

     Good luck in your upcoming meeting. Our club hosted JSB via Zoom a few years ago. We reviewed one of his Romeo books. It was one of our best meetings.

     • Thanks, Kay. It was fun for me, too!

4. I’m in a retired men’s fiction book discussion group. We meet for lunch at an art gallery. Here are 2024-25 titles: Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane; The Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway; Man of the Year by Caroline Louise Walker; The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane; The Last Flight by Julie Clark; March Violets by Philip Kerr; Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy; Danny and the Boys by John D. Voelker; First Lie Wins by Ashley Ellston; The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride.
   We select books like Terry Odell’s group. We always have a classic book or two. We’re finishing our educations ….without the exams!

   • Good morning, Hedley.

     I like the book list your club came up with and the idea of mixing in a couple of classics with more contemporary fiction.

     “We’re finishing our educations ….without the exams!” Love it.

     Have a great week.

5. Good morning, Kay. I don’t belong to a book club but have been invited to speak to a number of them. It’s one of my favorite author activities. I always learn from readers and find their observations and opinions fascinating. Most times, my feedback comes from other writers like critique groups or beta readers, making comments from people who are strictly readers invaluable.

   At one club, the group discussed Until Proven Guilty. Twenty members divided into two factions: one side of the room vehemently argued the protagonist shouldn’t have reacted as she did, the other side said she was absolutely justified. I just sat quiet and listened, soaking up valuable insights.

   • Debbie, I think that’s one of the best reasons I have for being in my book club. It’s fascinating to see how “non-writers” read. They don’t have internal editors.

   • Morning, Debbie.

     Yes! Feedback from readers who aren’t writers is invaluable. The response to your Until Proven Guilty is a good lesson for us all.

     Have a great week.

6. Great article. Recently, I started selling my four standalone novels in my FBI Affairs Series at vendor shows. That face-to-face contact with the readers ended up with invitations to speak at their local book clubs. I’ve done two so far and have another one scheduled in June. It’s amazing now how often a reader asks me if I would speak at theirs. So, I started mentioning it in social media posts. If you are the author, it is gratifying to hear what they thought about your book and answer the different questions they ask you. Some of them are surprising and really makes you think.

   • Good morning, Suzanne.

     Congratulations on your four novels and on the contacts you’ve made that result in book club visits.

     It’s apparent that the face-to-face feedback from readers is invaluable. The great thing about constructive criticism is that it’s constructive. What could be better?

     Good luck on all your future writing.

7. I belong to a book club, and I agree, it’s a great way to expose myself to literature I might not ordinarily pick up. A few of those titles are on our list, but many I’ve never heard of.
   As an author, I love to visit book clubs. I wish there were a directory somewhere so authors could connect with book clubs looking for new reads.

   • Good morning, Sharon.

     You bring up a good point about how an author can identify book clubs to approach. I did a quick Google search and found some web pages. here’s one entitled An Author’s Guide to Connecting with Book Clubs:
     https://greenleafbookgroup.com/learning-center/book-marketing/an-authors-guide-to-connecting-with-book-clubs

     Have a great writing week.

8. I belong to two book clubs, an online one–the ACFW Bookclub–and an in-person one at my church. I’ve definitely read genres I normally don’t read, and it’s broadened my tastes. This month we’re reading Kelly Irvin’s The Year of Goodbyes and Hellos. Definitely one of the best books I’ve read this year!

   • Good morning, Patricia.

     I also like reading books I may not have chosen. And it’s interesting to listen to the discussion and learn what things readers connect with.

     Thanks for mentioning The Year of Goodbyes and Hellos. I’ve added it to my reading list.

     Have a great week!

9. Great topic, Kay. I’m a mood reader, so joining a book club wouldn’t work for me. I have been invited to speak at several, though. Book club readers ask the most interesting questions. Love it.

   • Hi Sue.

     Having a conversation between author and reader is ideal. I’ve had the opportunity to talk at several book club meetings and also do a few presentations. I love having the live feedback!

     Have a great week.

10. Wonderful post, Kay. Like Sue, I’m a mood reader but loved seeing book clubs in action at the library. I helped support several by handing out books, informing prospective members, etc. I also facilitated one of our Read the Classics book groups, and represented the library for the Tuesday night Pageturners one time they had to meet away from the library (conference room unavailable) and met at a local senior center. Wonderful vibe in all of them.

    • I had to look up what a mood reader is, Dale. I can’t recall having heard that term before.

      You must have loved working with reading groups at the library. What a great service to provide.

      Have a good week.

11. I loved reading the comments both pro and con for book clubs. I’m delighted to be in Kay’s bookclub and we are actually doing HER latest book for an upcoming month. Love hearing her back story and her take on the characters. But the MOST interesting part to me is how different interesting, intelligent, thoughtful women have the same or different views during the discussions. I love seeing things through others eyes.

    • Hello Vicki, and thank you for stopping by and commenting.

      For those who don’t know, Vicki is the leader of our book club, and she keeps us organized and on target. We’re fortunate to have someone with her talents at the helm.

      Looking forward to our next meeting!

12. Good morning, Kay. Sorry I’m late to the party.

    Thanks for the lists of books from the various book clubs, Kay. Some interesting books there to put on my TBR list.

    I don’t belong to any book clubs and haven’t spoken about my books at any. I need to get out of my shell. Too many projects over the last few years. I keep hoping that things will settle down.

    Have a great week!

    • Hello Steve! You would be a fabulous guest speaker at a book club. Not only because of the books you write, but all the other things you’re accomplished at.

      I also got some ideas from the book lists. When I was researching the Book of the Month Club, I discovered they had selected By the Rivers of Babylon by Nelson DeMille in 1978. I had never read that book, but I just downloaded a library copy and i’m reading it now.

13. Years ago, I was in the Book of the Month Club. I had so many books! It wasn’t u til I’d moved them twice that I could be are to start thinning them out.
    I’m not in a book club now, but I am in a club of reviewers of Indie books. So I have read many different genres in the support of my fellow Indies.

    • Hi Julie,

      Being in a club of reviewer of Indie books is a great service. As an Indie writer, I’m grateful to you and your colleagues.

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