Hints and Tips For Reading Groups
Reading Group Home | Books Home| Choosing and Discussing Books
Some groups find themselves stuck in a book rut, not knowing what to read next, and choosing the same type of books that all members read anyway. Below are a few ways that you could try to choose something different, and maybe challenge your group a bit more!
The
Reading Group Collection
Multiple copies of a selection of specially chosen fiction titles available only to Reading Groups. Try them out - they are bound to get the discussion going!
Find out more about the Reading Group Collection here
What would you never, ever read?
This is always a good place to start. Are you put off by certain authors because they write a certain type of book? It's worth trying something you would never pick up, as you might be pleasantly surprised! Then again, if you hate it, at least you can discuss why you hated it.
Try a different genre
Now that most libraries have genre sections, it's easy to decide on what genre type you are after and have a look over the shelves to see what is there. This is also how you can choose from authors that you have avoided in the past. Try standing in front of the Science Fiction section and agreeing that the group has to read the first book that grabs your eye! You might all hate, and be put off that genre for ever, but at least you'll have a reason why.
Read titles by the same author
Try choosing some different titles by the same author, then compare and contrast the books. This makes discussion very interesting when you consider things like where the author was at the time they wrote the book, what was happening in their life, or whether it was their first or one of their last novels.
Try some non-fiction
There are a lot of excellent non-fiction titles, and it's always interesting to read a Biography. Again you could all choose a different biography, and then swap around after discussion if you like the sound of someone else's! Perhaps you could all read the Biography of someone that you have a mutual loathing for, and then find that they are your new hero!
Two books per meeting
You could choose two books which have a similar theme, by different authors, even from completely different eras. For example The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time has some similar themes to The Catcher in the Rye, even though they are from completely different authors, times, and set in different countries. Once discussion starts the similarities (and the differences!) make interesting discussion, as you consider why such themes are relevant then and now.
Children's books
Read a book that you really enjoyed in your youth, or something you read at school. What does it mean to you now? Do you look at the themes differently? Is it still a favourite? There are some amazing new children's books around at the moment, so here's the perfect excuse to try some of them.
Sequels
There are a lot of sequels to classic titles that have been written by a different author to the original. These books create a lot of interesting discussion. Did they do the original author justice? Was the style and theme the same? Did you want to know what happened after the original, or even before it? You can find hundreds of sequels in the Adult Sequels book, available at most libraries.
The Virtual Library
Make sure you explore all the book lists and suggestions in the Books section, and remember to have a look at the Books and Reading websites on The Gateway.
Use the resources available in the library
Remember you can always ask to see the following reference books and magazines in the library -
- Who Else Write Like?
- Adult Sequels
- New Books Magazine
- Bookseller
Or you could try using some of the guides that have been written especially for reading groups or people that just enjoy books, available to borrow or request in the library. Click here to see some recommendations.
Plus, there is The Reading Group Toolbox which is available through your local Library.
Page last updated: 29th August 2008
