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How to survive book club

By Ragan Robinson | Hickory Daily Record

Published: August 11, 2008

Hickory - You always wanted to try it, right? We tell you everything you need to know about starting a book club.

1. Find a core group of people. Book club works best if there are three to four
people who will always show up. If it's small at first, it won't matter. You can all invite friends along the way. Even if the group gets big, keep inviting. People will always skip meetings and some will invariably stop coming.

2. Let everyone suggest a book and encourage members with different tastes to join. Part of the fun of book club is reading something you'd never open if it weren't for a member's recommendation. You're not going to grow as a reader if you're never challenged. And let people know they can come even if they didn't finish.

3. Some book clubs have a member or a different member host each month. That's fine for readers with a lot of time on their hands — they'll invariably feel the need to straighten up and provide food. But most of us would rather spend spare time actually reading. Try finding a coffee shop or a restaurant that has some space you can use. The atmosphere and refreshments are already there.

4. Pick a leader not a dictator. Someone has to come with questions or topics to move the conversation along and keep up with choices, meeting places, times and contact info. Everyone deserves a chance to weigh in, however. Don't let your leader talk over other members or veto suggestions.

5. Set a time and stick to it. If your group gets big, schedules are going to conflict but you can't change from week to week. It's not fair to the members who make time for book club.

Need some advice on how to survive your next sticky situation? E-mail buzz@hickoryrecord.com or call 322-4510, x5403 to make sure we add you to the list.