Book clubs are becoming increasingly popular. Many people love reading, and they love having an opportunity to get together with like minded people to chat about their most recent read. There's something enjoyable about having a shared experience such as a book that you have in common. Many people also find that they get more out of a book when they can discuss it with another person. After all, other people will have a different perspective on the book you've just read, and you might come away reflecting on it in new and interesting ways. However, one of the major things that needs to be sorted out in a book club is how to choose your book club books.
There will be a number of factors that affect the selection of book club books. One major factor is the particular type of book that you want to read in your book club. This may vary according to the composition of the book club. For example, a book club that is run by university students who are majoring in literature may wish to stick to the classics, or to literary fiction. On the other hand, fans of science fiction and fantasy may prefer to stick to books within those genres. It's essential to figure out the genre that people in your group like to read. This can at least help guide your reading choices, and you'll be less likely to find people objecting to the books.
When selecting book club books, another thing to think about is subject matter. Like genre, this comes down heavily to personal taste. Book club books can often have quite dark and heavy themes. This is especially true of literary fiction, which tends to explore complex themes in a way that genre fiction may not. Try to ensure that you are not assigning a series of books that touch on similar themes, or themes that may be sensitive for some people. For example, some people may be uncomfortable with books that deal with racism or with very personal topics. Others may dislike books that are about war. Try to determine these preferences before selecting your books, and make sure that you have a balance of themes.
Another thing to think about when choosing book club books is the length and style of the book. If you're meeting monthly, you may be able to get away with reading a thick, densely written book. However, if you meet weekly or every two weeks, this may be a difficult pace for your members to maintain. Dense, literary books may also take more time to read than more simply written books. If your members are full-time employees, or if they have families that they need to attend to, they may prefer to read shorter books that aren't as complex. In contrast, students or writers may be happy to read longer, more difficult books. However, ensure that you don't sacrifice depth when you are trying to find a book that is short and easy to read. You still want to ensure that the book is suitable for discussion and analysis.