Anonymous wrote:Invite people over and offer them no food or beverages, just straight-back chairs set up in a circle. Run the meeting with Robert’s Rules of Order. If they go off-topic or laugh or greet each other, simply poke them with a cattle prod and use your best Professor Umbridge to say,“Heh-HEM!”

Or, invite some fun gals over! Just have them it's discussion group about the latest Kristin Hannah, you can't remember the title - maybe "The Ladies"? Something about the Vietnam War or Iraq or something. Have everyone bring a bottle of either buttery Chard or a crisp Sauvie B. Provide lots of naughty snacks and sit around in overstuffed chairs eating, drinking, and discussing the PTA moms you collectively hate. Completely forget you're there to discuss a book you haven't even read.

Anonymous wrote:Did you try asking in the dcum book club forum?

Isn't THIS this dcum book club forum?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in a multi-generational book group. The older women in the group are amazing -- they always read the book and come with specific and interesting questions about it. Plus, they have great stories to tell about their lives and are very funny. Since we're not all the same age, we don't have the same boring conversations about our kids, menopause, our spouses, etc.

How did you find them?

Alum group. And I should add that I love having GenZ members in the group too. They bring interesting perspectives.

So this might be hard to find in McLean but my neighborhood is full of teachers and finding those English or reading teachers to join really ups the discussions.

But I also think having a curious, intelligent group helps too. Most of us are reading novels outside of the book club selection too, so that always leads to interesting side topics on other books too.

Bards Alley in Vienna has multiple book clubs: https://www.bardsalley.com/book-clubs.html

Anonymous wrote:Alumni associations
Local libraries
Bookstores

I think it helps if the people starting it are kind and friendly but not already close friends with lots to talk about other than the book.

This is true of my book club which is an offshoot of an alumni group. There is a base level in which everyone has something in common - all part of larger alumni group. But, most come into the group individually so there is no side clique for socializing to the point of derailing the book discussion. There is also some built in chat time at the beginning and during breaks (to get dinner for example) that helps.

Also seek out women’s clubs that have side groups that you could join (assuming female).

Alumni associations
Local libraries
Bookstores

I think it helps if the people starting it are kind and friendly but not already close friends with lots to talk about other than the book.

OP. Do you belong to any organizations like alumni groups, church, clubs where you can start a book club of members making clear the focus is books not social?

Anonymous wrote:I'm in a multi-generational book group. The older women in the group are amazing -- they always read the book and come with specific and interesting questions about it. Plus, they have great stories to tell about their lives and are very funny. Since we're not all the same age, we don't have the same boring conversations about our kids, menopause, our spouses, etc.

How did you find them?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:oh dear I wonder if you're talking about our book club

same here. I can't keep up anymore now that it's not pandemic times.

Then why are you still attending the meetings?

I'm in a multi-generational book group. The older women in the group are amazing -- they always read the book and come with specific and interesting questions about it. Plus, they have great stories to tell about their lives and are very funny. Since we're not all the same age, we don't have the same boring conversations about our kids, menopause, our spouses, etc.

I'm in the bookclub where we had to read a book a member had written. It was SOO awkward.

Omg. My bookclub has someone who always picks WW2 romance/“mysteries” and I want to scream every time. Fortunately, others don’t and we have read some good picks. But I feel your pain.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can I join? While my bookclub(s) actually read the book, I've found some of the selections sub par. I don't want to waste my time on that.
We just read The Christmas Bookshop for our December one and it's awful, unless you like Hallmark movies.

Is there some kind of forced participation in your club? When the selection isn’t to my liking, I simply don’t read it, don’t go, and pick up on the next one.

No but I really like these women and don't want to miss out on social interaction as I just retired.
Plus, I'm leaving for 3 months to snowbird so will miss 25% of them already

Anonymous wrote:Can I join? While my bookclub(s) actually read the book, I've found some of the selections sub par. I don't want to waste my time on that.
We just read The Christmas Bookshop for our December one and it's awful, unless you like Hallmark movies.

Is there some kind of forced participation in your club? When the selection isn’t to my liking, I simply don’t read it, don’t go, and pick up on the next one.