Have you ever read a great book you couldn’t put down? One of those gripping reads that just captivated you? One that once you finished you wanted to yell it from the rooftop? Or tell the whole world? I don’t know about you but I can answer yes to all those questions. And when I come across a book like that I want to recommend it to my book loving friends and book club members. However, not every great read is one I would suggest to my book club. So, in honor of National Book Month, I will address what makes a book an excellent selection specifically for a book club.
My Book Club Resume
But first a little background on me. I am a serious book reader and enjoy attending book discussions. At one point I was juggling 3 simultaneously. Today, I have scaled back to just 1. Many years ago I was hired as a facilitator for a blind book discussion group. One of my responsibilities was to write lessons on how to choose a book for a book club. So, needless to say, I know a thing or two about book clubs. Now that you have my book club resume let’s proceed with the tips.
My Expert Selection Tips
1. Is the book a full meal or just a delicious appetizer/dessert? Not trying to make you hungry but you get my drift. When picking a book for your discussion group it needs to be meaty and substantial for discussion. This is huge because You want thought-provoking situations, plots and characters with depth and topics you can discuss for the duration of the meeting. Yu don’t want your group to only say, “Oh, this was a good red.” You want reads that spark conversation.
2. Is the book readily and broadly available? We are talking about a book club here. So, can your fellow members easily get a copy? Can they get it in the most popular places like the library? If they want to purchase, is it at Amazon or local book sellers? You may LOVE an ancient tome from a century ago that’s probably out of print. Or maybe a novel the library doesn’t have. To achieve book selection success pick Something that is easy to find, not expensive and the library has multiple copies on hand.
3. Do you know the preferences and tastes of your fellow members? Your book club might not be into sexually explicit material or foul language. Maybe your group is strongly opposed to religion, politics or self-help. Maybe your group doesn’t want anything too controversial or currently trending on social media. Or maybe your group loves only murder mysteries, romance and sci-fi. Review your choices and be aware of their likes.
4. Keep your selection spicy. They say variety is the spice of life, right? Review previous book club reads and aim to change and add variety. Who wants to read the same old subject and/or topic over and over again. Avoid boredom by mixing fiction and nonfiction, different genres and years of publication. The goal is to stretch their reading to explore books they wouldn’t have picked up otherwise.
5. War and Peace is probably not a good book club selection. A shorter option is often better. I would dare to say many book club members have busy lives. I know I do. They are not going to read a thousand page book for a monthly discussion.
6. Choose a previous read or one you HEAVILY vetted. Don’t assume popular books on the New York Times Best Seller List or Oprah’s Book List are good picks. Trust me I have found a dud or two on those. When you suggest a book you are already familiar with you will know in advance if it is a book for a book discussion. If not read multiple reviews and not just on Amazon. Watch YouTube videos of the author discussing the book. Search for book club questions because that communicates the book is probably good for a group chat.
7. Be disabled friendly when selecting books. Many book discussions I have attended I was the only blind person there. Is your book available to people with disabilities? This could mean vision, learning and mobility impairments. Be thoughtful and inclusive when suggesting your book. Make sure it is available in multiple alternative formats like audio or large print.
Share Your Tips Too
Following these tips will help ensure your success when picking a great read for your group. The process should be fun and enjoyable not a laborious pain. Let me know if this post speaks to you or if you have other tips too.
Empish J. Thomas 
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