We often assume that reading is a solitary pastime - something that we do on our own. But reading a book is like going to see a film or a play. Sometimes, we want to talk about it afterwards with friends. That"s why reading groups are so popular. All over the country like-minded people are getting together to discuss their latest book club choice.
New members wanted
We know of two local reading groups with space for new members:
Il Sorriso book group meet at 7pm on the last Tuesday of each month at the Il Sorriso Cafe, Ashby High Street, beginning 25 March 2008
The Monday Club meets once every four weeks at Riddings Library, Scunthorpe between 2pm - 3.30pm
For further details please contact the Central Library on 01724 860161 or email: library.enquiries@northlincs.gov.uk.
How the library can help you with your reading group
- The ‘Readers Collection’. North Lincolnshire Library Service holds a special collection of multiple copy book sets especially for reading groups to use, which are usually made up of at least 10 copies each. There are usually around 200 sets of books in the collection at any one time. We try and update the collection at least once a year by adding new titles and removing older ones. The current list is below:
Note: The above document is in Portable Document Format (PDF). You will need a suitable reader to view it. A reader can be downloaded free from the Adobe website (full instructions for downloading the reader are provided on the site).
· Free, extended loan of books. All local book groups are entitled to a special library card to use for their group’s loans. This card offers them an extended loan period, and attracts no fees or fines.
· Delivery of books to any North Lincolnshire library. We can arrange to send sets of books to any static library in North Lincolnshire, for you to collect for your group. We need a bit of notice for this, to allow for our branch delivery schedule and the opening hours of some libraries.
· Regular communication with librarians to arrange loans. You can request books for your group via library.enquiries@northlincs.gov.uk, or by phone via 01724 860161.
- Support and advice from librarians. You can ask us for advice about your group, or about your next choice of book, via library.enquiries@northlincs.gov.uk, or by phone via 01724 860161. We can sometimes also offer support materials such as the ‘Reading toolkit’ or books about reading groups. We have also annotated our list of books in the ‘Readers Collection’ to give help you choose your next title.
- Information about regional events via e mail and post. If we know of any forthcoming literary events in the region, or anything else we think might interest your group, we will e mail the details to you. If you are unable to access e mail, we will send you the information through the post.
For further details please contact the Central Library on 01724 860161 or email: library.enquiries@northlincs.gov.uk.
Some local groups already set up in this area include:
- The Pollinators (based in the Brigg area)
- Winterton readers group (based in the Winterton area)
- New Isle readers group (based in the Epworth area)
- North Lindsey Readers (based in Scunthorpe)
- The Golden Girls (based in Scunthorpe)
For more information, please contact the library as above.
Setting up and running your own reading group
Many people are setting up their own groups, so that they can meet and talk about books at a time and place which is best for them.
We have picked up a lot of tips over the years, and have found the following are useful questions to ask.
Who will be in your group?
- Ask people you already know – friends, neighbours, work colleagues and acquaintances might be secretly keen to join a reading group and never told you!
- You could be brave and advertise the fact that you would like to start a group, for example in the local press or on a discussion web site, or on your college, workplace, community centre or library notice board (if they have one). If you decide to do this and meet new people as a result, be sure to meet them in a neutral, public place before you know them well.
- Decide how many members you would like in the group – between five and 10 is a good number. Many more, and discussions can become more difficult to manage (and hear) if all members attend regularly. Any less, and if a couple of people don’t turn up, you aren’t left with much of a group.
- Once your group has taken off, decide whether you would like to promote it and ‘recruit’ new members. If you meet in each other’s homes, you might prefer not to do so. However, if you meet in a public place and want to maintain numbers when members leave, you could ask your local library service to actively promote your group to others. As above, be aware of the possible pitfalls, and be certain that you do want to recruit potential strangers to your group.
Where will you meet?
- Public places such as cafes and local pubs might be relaxing for members, and can be an ‘ice-breaker’ environment. You may need to check with the owner or publican – but they probably won’t mind if you are buying food or drink! Some pubs may have a separate space or room which you can use during less busy periods.
- Some public buildings such as colleges and community centres may have rooms available – but remember that you might have to pay or commit to a regular booking. If you have enough committed members, they might be prepared to pay a ‘sub’ each – after all, other organisations do this when hiring facilities.
- If you are happy to (and have the space), you might want to meet in members’ houses. Some groups take it in turn to do so – but you would need consensus among members that they are happy with this.
When will you meet?
· It can be difficult to find a regular time and day to suit all members, so consultation – and sometimes compromise - is important.
· Depending on other commitments, you might want to meet once a month – perhaps more, or less. Agree this amongst your members – it is likely everyone will have differing commitments.
What will you read?
- Some people might only want to read books that are within their ‘comfort zone’, and might be reluctant to try something new. The group is meant to be enjoyable – but it is also a chance to try something new, which you might otherwise not have chosen. Try and persuade everyone to give books a try – even if they hate them, it makes for good discussion. A fair way to deal with this can be to allow a different group member to choose the book each time.
- North Lincolnshire Library Service's 'Readers Collection' is a list of multiple copy titles to choose from (see above). You might also gain inspiration from bookshops, radio and TV, newspaper reviews and book prize shortlists. Don’t forget classics – a lot of people haven’t read them. It doesn’t hurt to include the occasional ‘narrative’ non-fiction such as a biography.
- Make sure that half of your group haven’t already read the next book!
What will happen at the meetings?
- It is a good idea to designate roles to regular members, so long as they can make the commitment. For example, someone could be ‘chair’ and take on an organisational role, if they would enjoy this. Some groups alternate this ‘facilitator’ role between members.
- You might want a set duration for the meeting; or, you might want to be more flexible, depending on your venue and your members.
- Discussion about the book might just start up naturally – but in case it doesn’t, it is useful for someone (the chair, for example) to have some discussion notes on the book. Web sites often have these for individual texts, and some publishers print them in the back of the book for groups to use.
Some other things to think about:
- Planning ahead – getting the books to everyone in advance of discussion, especially if someone misses a meeting.
- Managing cancelled or postponed meetings – are all of your contact details up to date, and who does the contacting?
- Refreshments. This depends on the venue and what facilities are available.
- Trips out. There are often book-related events on near you, or interesting theatre productions.
- Not getting bogged down with any of the above – enjoy and don’t worry if things aren’t perfect. There’s always the next meeting to look forward to.
Book reviews
Here is what some of our local reading groups thought of selected titles from the collection. Perhaps you or your reading group would like to try them and see if you think any differently - that"s what it"s all about after all.
If you are part of a local group who borrows our collection, or if you are a reader who has read any of the titles below, please feel free to email us at the above address with your comments or reviews. We can then add your comments to the discussion below.
Sleep, pale sister by Joanne Harris
The group enjoyed this book, despite it being a bit weird, and most of the characters being particularly unpleasant. It is an earlier book than "Gentlemen and players", and we did not think it up to that standard.
We all know now how to run a brothel, which will probably come in handy, and could help us eke out our pensions and keep us warm next winter!
The people's act of Love by James Meek
What a fantastic read this was. Despite some of our group not finishing the book - it does take some "getting into" - they each said they would try and obtain a copy from the library on their own tickets and finish the read.
I think of all the books we have read, this was THE most enjoyable one for the majority of the group. The language, the descriptions of the characters made all the horrible turn of events believable and very gripping. We are all going to be very careful who we take our walks with in future!!
The lambs of London by Peter Ackroyd
We had difficulty sorting out fact and fiction with this read - could the book possibly have been titled "The Iredales of London"? I personally did read it a second time as suggested, and found that most beneficial in understanding the story. >
Perhaps a further read into the life of the Lamb family would be interesting. According to the research of one of our members, Mary lived to quite an old age; whereas she had an early death in this book. Another point to illustrate the "fact and fiction" debate. However, we ALL enjoyed the read.
March by Geraldine Brooks
Hard to put into a few words what was thought about the book, as we had such a variety of reactions. One member thought it was a waste of time reading it - a very irritating book, disjointed - and really didn"t like it, but was willing to come to the meeting and tell us his feelings, which was good for the group.
Another member thought it a fine read, and would encourage him to read more about the American Civil War. The ladies in the group all felt they would re-read "Little women" , and on the whole enjoyed the book. A bit too flowery wording, and none of us liked the hero very much; away on cloud nine "doing good", but not a hero by any stretch of the imagination. Sad that he was a broken man by the end of the story.
Cat's Eye by Margaret Attwood
The majority of our group (60 per cent) felt that they did not enjoy this, or found the read difficult either through subject matter, style, content or structure.
Others, by contrast, were very enthusiastic and liked the work and were able to draw a great deal from the thematic content.
This mirrors the reviews on Amazon, which are similarly split between 'love it' (six stars) or 'hate it' (one star), although those are biased towards good rather than bad.
However, with a lively discussion ensuing, some said they would re-read the book to explore themes that they had not recognised in the first reading, while others said they would not do so even under duress!
A great book to polarise and enliven discussion.
Gentlemen and players by Joanne Harris
"Gentlemen and Players" is set in a boys' grammar school in the north of England. There are two narrative voices; one the Latin Master Roy Straitley, and the other a person who seeks revenge for something that happened 13 years before the start of the novel.
It is a very clever book, a brilliant read, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good who-dun-it. I would give it 10 out of 10, but not all of the group were so enthusiastic. Some do not care for this genre, and so the group gave it seven out of 10.
Tatty by Christine Dwyer Hickey
This book came at an opportune time, when in recent newspapers we've been told that we have the unhappiest children in the Western world. Although Tatty would not have called herself unhappy.
Tatty chronicles ten years in the life of Caroline (known to her family as "Tatty") from the age of four in 1964 until the age of 14 in 1974, and her dysfunctional Irish Catholic family.
It is very cleverly written and has humour and pathos in equal parts. It should be compulsory reading for anyone with children or thinking of having a family.
A 'How not to do it' book! We would recommend it to anyone, and gave it seven out of 10.
Little Face by Sophie Hannah
Alice Fancourt leaves her two year old child with her husband David. It is the first time she has left Florence since she was born. When she returns a short while later she finds the door slightly ajar and her husband fast asleep.
She goes to look at Florence, then wakes her husband, demanding to know where her baby is, and whose is the child in the cot.
Is it post-natal depression? Has the baby been kidnapped? Is it connected with the murder of the husband's first wife? The plot twists and turns and keeps one guessing right up to the end.
A very good read. We awarded it eight out of 10.