Book clubs are a perennial pastime and a place to meet new people, exchange ideas, find community and nourish the brain and communication skills.
And they’re on the rise in hybrid, virtual and in-person formats.
“I think there’s a rise of interest in book clubs, and some of that has to do with the celebrity book clubs — like Oprah’s Book Club,” said Lynn Levin, an Upper Southampton-based poet and author of “House Parties” a collection of short stories (Spuyten Duyvil Publishing, 2023.) She teaches literature and creative writing at Drexel University.
Levin learned a lot about local book clubs by visiting and speaking to them as an author guest after her book was published.
“A lot of private groups of people have book clubs in their neighborhoods. Some enterprising person puts it together and some are very long running,” she explained.
Others may be made up of friends who love to read and include regular gathering visits with refreshments or pot luck dinner evenings.
Levin said the benefits of being part of a book club include intellectual and emotional nourishment and being part of a community of people interested in reading — and discussing what they’ve learned or think.
“In book clubs, the level of discourse can be refreshing, deep and enriching,” Levin said. “There are also a lot of lighthearted laughter, diversity and opinions in these books, such as ‘I hate this,’ ‘I loved every page,’ or ‘I couldn’t even finish this book.’ ”
Levin’s joy of reading comes from wanting to explore what others are writing and making sure she “doesn’t miss out.”
Basic formats
Book clubs typically operate in one of three ways:
• Leader lead. The organizer picks the book.
• Democratic vote. Titles are suggested by a leader and club members vote on which to read.
• Host selection. Members take turns hosting or leading the club. The month’s host picks the book.
Levin said clubs may invite a local author to come and read or discuss their work, something she’s been privileged to do since “House Parties” was published last summer.
“They ask questions about the (book) inspiration, or even debate the virtues or guilt of a particular character. I learn things that never occurred to me” during these visits, she said.
For Levin, who taught a course on short story writing in 2005 at the University of Pennsylvania, “House Parties,” a collection of short stories, offers readers a way back into a story form they may not have touched since middle or high school English class.
“With short stories, a reader can polish off one in an evening or a day and have a sense of satisfaction or accomplishment, and I think the thrills come faster…because it’s so compact,” she explained.
“With a short story collection, every story is new and different,” she said.
Find a book club
Ask friends if they are part of a local club, or know of any. Ask if they are taking new members.
“Word of mouth is another way to find a book club…or you can even start your own,” Levin said.
Whether you prefer gathering with friends or other book enthusiasts in person or reading and participating using virtual platforms, there’s an abundance of book clubs available in person and online.
Check the local Bucks County Library branch. For a listing, visit buckslib.org.
Since the coronavirus pandemic, online book clubs have surged in popularity. For a list of online book clubs, BookClubs.com offers a broad selection, as do other online services.
Beyond the Bookends (BeyondtheBookends.com) offers information about joining celebrity book clubs. You may also find celebrity book club selections by searching for them online.
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