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Book Clubs Overview

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Based on the sobering discussions of life, love, money and politics, book clubs have blossomed again as a social avenue for college coeds and grads alike. Students want to find time to read something that is not required for class and graduates are looking to spark something intellectual that is getting lost in them as they leave college and head off to work.

Stephanie Fosnight, staff writer for The Pioneer Press (www.pioneerlocal.com) calls book clubs a “Dance Party for the Brain.” That about sums it up, too. Book clubs are born in our desire to read good books and share them with people who may or may not think like we do. Oprah Winfrey, famed talk show host and the one woman show who brought book clubs back into vogue, has said that “a good book improves with talking about it.” Thousands of people, women and men, agree with her. Book clubs are today what cocktail parties were in the 50’s and 60’s.

But aside from the academic and scholarly approach that some book clubs have, there are many more that are based not only on the discussion of the assigned book, but on the social elements of the club. Many clubs include dinner or light snacks, as well as beverages as part of the experience. Being a part of a book club has become almost as fashionable as disco’s and dancing were in the 70’s.

There are thousands of book clubs available, both in your local community library, through churches, college alumni associations, and moms who want more from their playgroup than a day out of the house. Online book clubs abound to the point that you can join a book club that only reads books by your favorite author…well, ok, that’s a little extreme. But if your favorite author is Hemingway or Shakespeare, chances are you can find a book club that fits your needs. If your favorite author isn’t quite as well known as these two greats, you can still find a book club that reads the kinds of books you will enjoy.

Some book clubs are formed to celebrate the works of one or two authors, but most are formed to cater to those who enjoy a particular genre. Book clubs abound for mystery lovers, or those who can’t wait for the next romance novel to come out. Other book clubs focus on self-help books, gardening, or cookbooks. If you like to read historical fiction, there’s a book club out there just waiting for you to join.

Next Page: Oprah's book club - Making reading fashionable again

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