Book clubs are supposed to be fun, right? Well if you've started to feel the pressure to race through your reads, there are ways to bring back the pleasure in page-turning.
Less pressure, more fun
Book clubs are a brilliant way to expand your reading horizons, deepen your understanding of literature, and share a love of books with like-minded friends – or even make some new pals. But reading an entire novel to a tight deadline can be difficult. When you’re busy with homework, classes, sports, and social events, extra reading can start to feel like a chore. But before you give up on the idea of a book club altogether, you might like to try a few compromises that could make it more manageable. Read on…
Pitch it, then pitch in
If devouring a whole book between meetings is becoming a problem for everyone, take it in turns to bring along something you’ve each enjoyed previously and present it to the group instead. It could be a recent discovery, an old favourite, or a children’s title that friends can then recommend to younger family members. The person presenting could explain what they liked and disliked about their selection, share reviews, and encourage members of the group to ask questions. This way, no one is required to find time to read the whole thing straight away – some members might never get round to it. Yet the entire group will still benefit from one person’s reading experience.
Pace yourselves
Reading isn’t a race. There’s nothing to say you’ve got to get through a set number of books in a lifetime. Sometimes it’s nice to savour the experience and go slowly. Chapters are handy, bite-sized chunks of a book – a bit like episodes of a TV series. So, instead of cramming in binge-reading, you could all agree to get through just a chapter or two at a time. Then discuss the characters and themes when you get together, as usual.
You could even read a chapter at the meeting itself, either sitting in companionable silence or taking it in turns to read aloud. The group could then share theories about what might happen next and move on to the following chapters at a future meeting.
Keep it short but sweet
If you’re not a fan of cliffhangers and are eager to find out how it ends before the next session, suggest that the group chooses a book full of short stories to work through. At the end of each get-together, members could vote on which story to tackle next. Then decide whether to read it alone, ahead of time, or communally in the next meeting – whatever works best with everyone’s other plans. Some popular authors pen their own short-story collections but you’ll also find many compilations put together by theme or genre.
Think poetry in motion
Books aren’t the only format – there are many other ways to communicate stories, so perhaps explore some of those together. Poems and song lyrics can tell a tale, or capture a moment, just as effectively as full-length fiction – but far more immediately in a concise style.
These art forms are deliberately compact but meaningful, so can be great fun to dissect as a group. Discuss what you think the writer or lyricist meant and how they might have been feeling when they penned their piece. If you feel comfortable doing so, perhaps talk about the emotions that the work stirred in you.
Look beyond fiction
For fans of non-fiction, magazines offer a wealth of interesting factual articles that are succinct, speedy to read, and less daunting than the average textbook. Pick a feature that’s informative and interesting, then use that to prompt discussion at the next meet-up.
You could talk about the author’s intentions, any bias there might be, and what it is about the topic you find intriguing. Try to bear in mind that good-natured debate is productive, while remembering to be respectful, especially around any sensitive or controversial topics.
Read between the lines
Above all, if you want to create a truly rewarding book club, be open to new ideas. The beauty of these clubs is that there are no rules and every group is as unique as each of its members.
The point is to share an enjoyment of words, exchange ideas, and encourage further reading, rather than put anyone under extra pressure. So make sure arrangements stay fluid, and adapt the club to suit the needs of all members. By keeping things fun and flexible, any book group can flourish and thrive through even the busiest of times.
Which books would you love to share at your book club?
Looking for your next read? Check out Teen Breathe’s latest recommendations
This story was originally published in Teen Breathe Issue 34 (page 28) with the title: Once upon a good time
