In order to create the best possible book club experience, there are several things I feel are an important part of my job as a facilitator.
Firstly, I have done a great deal of research in the past before selecting books. Now that the group is selecting the books I hope that we all will do a little investigating as well. I ask myself the following questions:
Is this book written by someone who is respected in the community of literature? Is this the kind of book where the writing is so luscious it would make a good writer jealous? Are there many themes to be investigated? Will we run out of topics within an hour and a half? Will the average reader of literary fiction find this book enjoyable? Is this the kind of book that lends itself to unpredictable turns of discussion?
I turn to several sources when I do this research:
Reading Group Guides, Lit Lovers, Enotes, Reading Group Choices and Good Reads
I also look at reviews on bn.com, amazon.com and occasionally I'll glance at web sites such as AdLit.org, ALA and BookExpoAmerica.com. There are many, many sites out there if you are interested in investigating literature, publishing trends and the like.
Secondly, I invite people who I come into contact with at the bookstore especially at the cash registers when I am checking them out. Based on what they are purchasing, I know whether or not they might enjoy joining our discussion. I try my best to invite people who I feel appreciate literary fiction, who are sharp and who are friendly and courteous. However, the club is open to the general public.
I take my job as a facilitator seriously. I am there in large part to ensure that we are staying on track with the discussion, that we don't go too far over the time alotted for our meetings, and that everyone who participates feels they have had the opportunity to join in during the discussion.
It is also my job to keep a degree of order during the discussions. This can be a challenge. I ask that we, as a group, be as mindful as possible of the fact that no one can hear another person's point if others are talking at the same time.
At times we will choose books whose themes are explosive and/or controversial. During these discussions I monitor more closely. If I cut you off politely, it may be because I feel you are stumbling too closely into a place that will be offensive to a member or to the group at large. Please don't get insulted or raise your voice over me when I do so. My job is to ensure that the discussions be comfortable and rewarding for all involved.
Also, it is important that we provide enough time and space for everyone to participate. If you notice that there are what I term "spaces" or "silences," where no one is speaking, this is a rich time of productivity when new trains of thought are being developed. If you are the type of person who is not comfortable with these occasional silences, this type of group discussion format may not be right for you. The point isn't to prove how much you know, it's to be a part of a team of people who encourage each other and enhance their reading experience by thinking out loud together.
Keeping on track with relevant topics is also important. We really need to stick to only those ideas that have been brought up in the book. While I appreciate all that we know individually, it is my job to make sure that no one's eyes glaze over as someone begins a diatribe.
As a guideline, the cap for this group is fifteen people per discussion not including me.
Also, you don't have to show up every month to be considered a member. In fact we have many members who appear when they can/have the time, when the book that has been selected is of interest to them or when they have already read a book and would like to revisit with others the excitement of that read.
Please come to me with questions or concerns. I am here to make this a fun and interesting experience.
