What is a book club?
A book club consists of a group of readers who select, read, and discuss book(s) together. Discussions can take part by having face-to-face meetings or by discussions online via mailing lists, blogs, social networks, or other Web 2.0 tools. Book clubs can be library-sponsored, privately hosted (example: neighborhood club, group of friends, etc.), or hosted by other organizations like churches, one's workplace, etc. Book clubs can also be referred to as reading circles, book groups, or book discussion groups.
Why do people join book clubs?
Generally, people join or take part in book clubs in order to "share insights and discover new perspectives" on what they are reading (McArdle, 2009, p.124) Book clubs are also a great way to meet new people or find people with similar reading interests.
Dempsey (2011), author of an article entitled "The Evolving Book Group," provides readers with an excellent quote from Nancy Pearl (2011 Library Journal's 2011 Librarian of the Year) about why people like to talk about books: "The joy and mystery of reading is that each of us reads a different book from everyone else…even when it's the same book....We bring all of our life experiences to the reading of a book, any book, and each person's history is different from everyone else's" (p. 24).
Dempsey also writes about book clubs as a type of therapy. According to Dempsey (2011), "Viewing books through the lens of their own experiences allows readers to explore their lives and choices in a way that can make book discussion groups deeply therapeutic," (p. 26).
Dempsey (2011), author of an article entitled "The Evolving Book Group," provides readers with an excellent quote from Nancy Pearl (2011 Library Journal's 2011 Librarian of the Year) about why people like to talk about books: "The joy and mystery of reading is that each of us reads a different book from everyone else…even when it's the same book....We bring all of our life experiences to the reading of a book, any book, and each person's history is different from everyone else's" (p. 24).
Dempsey also writes about book clubs as a type of therapy. According to Dempsey (2011), "Viewing books through the lens of their own experiences allows readers to explore their lives and choices in a way that can make book discussion groups deeply therapeutic," (p. 26).
References:
Dempsey, B. (2011). The Evolving Book Group. (Cover story). Library Journal, 136(14), 24-26.
McArdle, M. (2009). Book Group Therapy: A Survey Reveals Some Truths about Why Some Book Groups Work and Others May Need Some Time on
the Couch. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 49(2), 122-125.
Dempsey, B. (2011). The Evolving Book Group. (Cover story). Library Journal, 136(14), 24-26.
McArdle, M. (2009). Book Group Therapy: A Survey Reveals Some Truths about Why Some Book Groups Work and Others May Need Some Time on
the Couch. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 49(2), 122-125.