A thoughtful guide to forming and enjoying a stimulating book discussion group, ellen slezak says in the foreword, in book groups, likeminded souls gather. Ive been in a lot of book clubs, and i know its not always easy to get a conversation going on a book. These are some of the questions that we have answered by calling on the shared wisdom of many book club members. But far from just being a mindless thriller, gone girl is a literary pageturner that is smart and witty. A place where all goodreads members can work together to improve the goodreads book catalog. Here are some tips and insights about what has worked well for me. As a leader, you will get the best of both worldsthe opportunity to. Adult programs will be starting up again soon, and this year will be my third year leading our small but dedicated book discussion group. You will also need to decide how you will manage the discussion. What gender differences exist regarding aspirations to top positions. You dont have to be in an english class to analyze books as a group. In general, we recommend having a moderator and rotating the role. These book club discussion questions will help your reading group explore the plot, themes, and ideas raised in the novel. Starting a book club is more complicated than you might think.
Hold a quick organizational meeting to determine the number of chapters the group wants to read each week and to pass out the books. How to lead a successful discussiondriven bible study. Rotate discussion leaders each monthmaybe its the person who selects the book or the one who hosts the meeting. Once you are able to get your core group together, the next step would be for them to encourage their relatives. You can help your organization become a learning organization in which people continuously grow and develop. You must have a profile to create a group or help manage one. The leadership ambition gap gender and aspirations for leadership. Preparing for, opening, and continuing a great discussion is a skill you can learn. It is also an evidencebased way to help students retain information,garside, colleen. There is never any one way to experience or interpret a book.
Use our general fiction questions when you cant find specific discussion questions. Name your book club, write a description, make the rules, and complete the rest of your book club settings. With that goal in mind, ask questions that tap into the building blocks of stories, like characters, plot, settings, and symbolism. Why do you think more men than women say they want to get to the top.
Jan 25, 2017 under more groups, choose create group. How to manage difficult meetings in your book discussion group. Or use a search including reading guide to find information on the various book group sites. Use our litlovers resources below to help you with specific questions. Preparing for discussion before leading the say it out loud youth discussion group, here are things you can do to prepare and to help ensure that it is a success. Have you seen these gender differences in your own life. Having discussion questions before your book club meets will help facilitate a good discussion of your book. The book discussion group meets in the meeting roomgallery at the pacific beachtaylor library on the first wednesday of each month, at 6. May 09, 2017 7 tips for leading a lively book discussion group. Mar 05, 20 oprahs book club do you remember the first book she picked. Choose one question at a time and toss it out to the group. Some groups might have a consistent moderator for example if your group is run by the local library, a librarian will probably lead the meetings.
Classroom discussion is a timehonored way to learn. How to lead a book group discussion 7 great discussion tips, july 14, 2009. The pacific beach library book discussion group is designed for all adult readers who want to talk about books, and provides an informal forum for the discussion of one selected book each month. Also, this workbook was developed for use by teams 3 or more and individuals working. The first smallgroup discussion i led took approximately 15 minutes. Our ideas can help you lead a discussion, find helpful resources, and be a smart participant. How to pick books for a book club10 tips for choosing. How did you feel reading itamused, sad, disturbed, confused, bored describe the main characters personality traits, motivations, and. You can also create a group on meet up or put up fliers at local coffee shops and libraries. The best book club discussion rises above each group members likes and dislikes, instead seeking to understand the book on a deeper level than each person could have on their own. You will find more in the book club section of our blog when you cant borrow print books from the library during covid19.
Use our ideas to help you organize your book club activities, hold good discussions, and settle tough issues. For possible questions to start discussion on specific books, check the back of the book, particularly if the title is a popular book club choice, or the publishers website. The role of a moderator will vary from group to group. Ive only had experience with mine, so ill share how ours is organized and why i believe weve had such endurance. These steps advise you on every aspect of leading a good discussion, from keeping everyone. Home book discussion groups libguides at american library. Not everyone can finish every book, but nonreaders may still have valuable insights. Check out my online book club and other awesome learning opportunities for you at. This workbook is a companion to the book the book has the teachings and the workbook has the exercises.
One of the key functions of leadership is the ability to effectively manage group discussions. There are a lot of different social media platforms out there, but facebook is among. Most of the articles below are drawn from our inner lives of book clubs report for which we surveyed 5,000 book clubbers. Part of being a good leader is being comfortable with silence. Keep in mind that, just like the chairman of the board, the role of the moderatorgroup leader is not to make all the decisions but to ensure that. The first two things are easy to accomplish just read anything by. But as a leader of your book club, you need to take things in stride. You can create a group for anything your family reunion, your afterwork sports team, your book club and customize the groups privacy settings depending on who you want to be able to join and see the group. Whether you are an outgoing extrovert or the shy one in the group, you can lead your book club in an engaging discussion by following these. It may sound strange but one of the best whatsapp groups i am in schedules specific times to discuss topics similar to twitter chats or ama on reddit. How to begin and lead a book discussion group iowa center. By letting others in the book club answer first, you will promote conversation and help everyone feel like their opinions matter. No one had explained to me how to get a discussion. Discussion facilitator s guide dayton metro library.
Using a facebook group allows participants to designate privacy settings, invite members to join, discuss all month long in the feed, and use voting to pick dates and titles for the groups next read. There are lots of book clubs out there now, and theres more than one way to run a successful one. You will find more in the book club section of our blog. The first small group discussion i led took approximately 15 minutes. Dont forget to add tags so that other likeminded readers can find you. The first article in this series explained how to plan a group discussion in this article, we describe best practices when leading a group discussion theres much more involved than simply getting people in a room, waving a magic wand, and declaring discuss now. Friends of the pacific beach library book discussion group. Select a volunteer to lead the relevance discussion, too. Gone girl by gillian flynn was one of the big suspense novels of 2012. Make your partner a real partner division of household responsibilities. Select a number of questions, write each on an index card, and distribute. If your group decides not to use a paid leader, you have several options. You might have one member usually the one who chose the book prepare some questions that will launch your discussion.
In fact, differing opinions make the best discussions. Apr 09, 2020 or, if you prefer, email works just fine as well. Make a designated facebook group for all members to join. Nonlibrarians are welcome to join the group as well. A guide for beginning a book discussion group the first meeting at your regular meetings you may not need one person to lead the group. How to begin and lead a book discussion group iowa. Techniques for leading group discussions main section. Professionals can help you pick books that your group will enjoy and will lead your discussion of the book based on questions they prepare.
This is a network of bookgroups from across the uk, with information on setting up and running a group. We made dare to lead as tactical and actionable as possible, and this readalong workbook will help you put language, skills, and tools into practice. One of the best pairings with our wine is a good book club. It allows you to invite members using your goodreads and facebook friends. We have 7 tips to help you lead a great book club discussioneverything from book discussion questions. If you have about six people who read regularly you have the basis for forming a book club. Keep in mind that, just like the chairman of the board, the role of the moderator group leader is not to make all the decisions but to ensure that. Discussion when under stress, are you more likely to resort to silence or aggression. Apr 02, 2020 classroom discussion is a timehonored way to learn. Groups are a place to communicate about shared interests with certain people. If youre ready to start a book club, heres 40 of the best book club questions, for fiction. Each member or team of 2 or 3 takes a card and answers.
As joseph addison said, reading is to the mind what exercise is to the brain. Book group howtos from the seattle public library guide to leading, coming up with good discussion questions, drawing conclusions and more. They participate in timely discussions, develop relationships with peers and mentors, stay abreast of industry news and research, and they read. When you are ready to lead your first discussion, heed the following tips to get the most rewarding experience out of your club meeting. Ive found that the best book club discussion questions are ones that are openended and that get people to share their personal opinions. We try to keep our membership costs affordable for. Groups receive enough copies of their selected title to allow everyone in the group to read the same book at the same time. These individuals will form the core group of your book club. Its important to note that sometimes people may need to think before they answer.
How to lead a book club discussion book club questions. Gather a group of friends, choose a book and start reading. As you read each novel, jot down page numbers and passages that moved you and where you found answers to the discussion questions. A book club can be a great way for your staff to push themselves to continue to learn. Each member or a team of 23 takes a card and answers the question. I raced through the questions as if i were a greyhound near the finish line. At my library we have a parentchild book discussion group, but the guidelines found in this article can apply to any group with children as participants. New formats mean more engagement, library journal, september 1, 2011. Oprahs book club do you remember the first book she picked. Tips for students leading a journal club discussion. Divide hosting, food, and wine duties among the group each time you meet. Its your turn to moderate lead your book club s discussion.
It is a good idea to plan on finishing the book a little earlier than you might otherwise so that you have time to think about it and prepare before your book club meets. However, at this first meeting you need to take the lead. If you are in a book club and have some ideas to share, id love to hear from. Tips for running a successful, sustainable book club. How to lead a good discussion christian bible studies. However, if youre a discussion leader, you may be nervous. How to lead a successful book club discussion bookbrowse. How to start a book club that doesnt suck book riot. When they react poorly, consider how you are behaving that might be prompting those responses. The book club gives employees the opportunity to step up and practice leadership roles such as leading a group discussion or presenting to provide an overview of a chapter. How to manage 8 tough personas in a group discussion. How to lead a book club discussion pen and the pad.
Home table of contents leadership and management chapter 16. It is also an evidencebased way to help students retain information, pay attention, and gain real insight. Facilitators to get prepared for your discussion group and then come back to this guide for the next steps. Select a number of questions, write each on an index card, and pass them out.
This may seem obvious, but it is the most important step, so it is worth stating. Because of that, leading a small group bible study is one of the most rewarding places of service within the church. Holding the discussion also see how to discuss a book with a leader. When you open the discussion up to include others, you always risk going off subject and ending up in.
Leading a good discussion is not as easy as it looks. Through those relationships and the studying of gods word, lives are affirmed, sustained, and changed. But it can be overwhelming to find great book club ideas. When you open the discussion up to include others, you. Were you engaged immediately, or did it take you a while to. Create and manage a page facebook help center facebook. Lean in discussion guide for all audiences, march 20. Aug 18, 2014 one of the key functions of leadership is the ability to effectively manage group discussions. Its your turn to moderatelead your book clubs discussion. It requires quite a bit of planning and an understanding of group dynamics.