A book discussion club is a group of people who meet to discuss a book or books that they have read and express their opinions, likes, dislikes, etc. It is more often called simply a book club, a term that is also used to describe a book sales club, which can cause confusion. Other frequently used terms to describe a book discussion club include reading group, book group, and book discussion group. Book discussion clubs may meet in private homes, libraries, bookstores, online forums, pubs, and in cafés or restaurants over meals or drinks.
A practice also associated with book discussion, common reading program or common read, involves institutions encouraging their members to discuss select books in group settings; common reading programs are largely associated with educational institutions encouraging their students to hold book discussion meetings.
History
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Though women had formed Bible study groups since the 1600s, it wasn't until the late 1700s that secular reading circles emerged in both America and Europe.[1] Reading circles were not limited to particular races or classes, with one of the first reading groups for Black women being formed in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1827.[1] Throughout the 1800s, women’s reading circles expanded, with some becoming outspoken on social issues such as abolition—foreshadowing the club movement of the end of that century.[1] Well into the 1900s, book clubs continued to serve as both an intellectual outlet and a radical political tool.[1]
In the first half of the 20th century, women continued to be barred from many top universities.[1] This time period was the heyday of the Book of the Month Club and the Great Books movement, both of which encouraged average Americans to take on hefty literary novels.[1]
Women’s chief role in founding the modern book club—a consequence of being marginalized from other intellectual spaces—has gone on to influence the book industry, with women accounting for 80 percent of fiction sales.[1] Author Toni Morrison called the 1996 launch of the Oprah's Book Club the beginning of a "reading revolution"; in its first three years, books Oprah chose averaged sales of 1.4 million copies each.[1]
Sociologist Christy Craig said that women have turned to book clubs to construct social networks and important partnerships, especially in times of upheaval.[1]
A 2018 BookBrowse survey found that 88% of private book clubs are all-women groups, but almost half of public groups—such as those hosted by libraries—include men.[2] The survey found that 70% of book clubs primarily read fiction, though 93% read nonfiction at least occasionally.[2]
Single-title clubs
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A single-title club is one in which people discuss a particular title that every person in the group has read at the same time, often with each member buying a personal copy. Clearly, the club must somehow decide ahead of time what that title will be. Some groups may decide to choose new release titles, whilst others may choose older ones, or a mixture of the two. If it is a book discussion club that meets at a library, then each member may borrow a copy of the book from the library over a given timeframe in order for a later discussion.
There may be a few problems with these clubs. Some members may regard them as opportunities to meet people for social contact and general conversation, partially veering off onto a wide variety of non-literary topics, while others wish to engage in serious literary analysis focused on the book in question and related works, with little non-literary interaction. Additionally, some members may suggest a book not because they are interested in it from a literary point-of-view but because they think it will offer them an opportunity to make points of personal interest to them or fit an external agenda. Also, different expectations and education/skill levels may lead to conflicts and disappointments in clubs of this kind.
Multi-title clubs
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The characteristics of a multi-title club are such that each member may be reading different titles from each other at any given time, and they may share a reading list for a period of time. What distinguishes this from any group of unrelated people reading different things from each other is that each title is expected to be read by the next member in a serial fashion.
Open loans
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Open loans suggest that the books in question are free to be loaned among the population with the expectation of getting them back eventually. Instead of one member deciding what everyone will read, with all the cost implications of acquiring that title, these clubs usually involve circulating books they already own. Each book is introduced with a short precis. This offers members the advantage of previewing a work before committing to read. It has the effect of narrowing the focus of the dialogue so that book and reader are more quickly and more accurately matched up. The sequential nature of the process implies that within a short time, three to five people may have read the same title, which is the perfect amount for a worthy conversation.
Catch and release
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Catch and release imply that actual ownership of the book transfers each iteration with no expectation of the book returning to the original owner. The mechanism of transfer may include a personal face to face hand off, sending the items through the mail, or most remarkably, leaving the book in a public place with the expectation that unknown future readers will find it there. All three methods are utilized with BookCrossing. Participants use a website and a system of unique identification numbers to track released items as they migrate through a worldwide community. The interaction is largely web-centric, but it does not exclude face-to-face gatherings, each of which can take on the traits of other book discussion clubs.
Library book clubs
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Many public libraries lead book clubs as a library program on a regular basis. A librarian usually leads a discussion after participants read the book. Copies of the book are available to either be checked out or signed out for the group meeting. Secondary school libraries and also Tertiary institutions also form a book club for their users. In Secondary institutions the Librarians are the ones to form a group to the pupils,this also takes place in Primary and Nursery Sections. The book club assist the children in reading and also it enhance their vocabulary.If leading a book discussion group outside of the facility, often libraries offer book discussion kits where several titles of a book are able to be loaned out of the library to a single patron. Also, the lending period is typically longer than for the average book. The kits also contains a suggested reading guide with discussion questions. This is a convenience as everyone in the group is not forced to buy a copy of the book.[3]
Librarians also aid in the procurement of items needed for private book club meetings. They are able to withhold multiple copies of a publication and extend loan periods. They are also able to facilitate club meetings digitally, through discussion boards or video meetings. Many librarians note the positive influence of Google+ hangouts and Skype to host meetings for long distance club members and for times in which all members could not attend the club. Librarians have helped non-traditional book clubs find footing within their community.[4]
Online clubs
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Online book clubs exist in the shape of Internet forums, Yahoo Groups, e-mail mailing lists, dedicated websites, and even telephone conference calls. Also, in the category of social networks, these online clubs are made up of members of a variety of reading interests and often approach book discussion in different ways, e.g. academic discussion, pleasure-reading discussion, personal connection, and reaction to books members read.
Author led clubs
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In 2012, a new book club format referred to as author-led book clubs was introduced by Business Book Club "12 Books." Author led book clubs include the author of the current book as part of the discussion; it often concludes the discussion with a live conference call or webinar.
Broadcast clubs
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A broadcast club is one in which a television, radio, or podcast show features a regular segment that presents a discussion of a book. The segment is announced in advance so that viewers or listeners may read the book prior to the broadcast discussion. Some notable broadcast book discussion clubs include:
Book reading clubs
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Given the busy lifestyles of today, another variation on the traditional 'book club' is the book reading club. In such a club, the group agrees on a specific book, and each week (or whatever frequency), one person in the group reads the book out loud while the rest of the group listens. The group can either allow interruptions for comments and questions from the members at any time, or agree to allow such input at chapter or section endings. Such a club makes reading a shared experience and frees the busy members from the "homework" of having read the book before coming to the club. It also creates a lively environment for commenting on the specifics of the books as it is read and can lead to very enriching exchanges. A given book may continue for several sittings, depending on the pace of reading, frequency of meetings, and the extent of comments and discussion. Members can take turns reading to share the reading responsibility. Another variation on the concept could be jointly listening to an audio-book with pauses for comments. Once a book is completed, members recommend their choices of the new books and vote on which book to proceed with next.
Book discussion clubs in fiction
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Literature
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Films
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Television
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Video games
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Theater
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See also
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Notes
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References
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Last Updated on February 27, 2024 by BiblioLifestyle
Are you a reader looking for your next big read? Look no further than Oprah’s Book Club! Throughout the years, Oprah has picked and recommended excellent books to for readers to add to their ever-growing TBR list. From fiction to nonfiction, there are so many great reads that are perfect for any book enthusiast. So in this article, I will be sharing Oprah’s book club list in order, sharing my favorites in my best of Oprah’s book club list, the current Oprah’s book club pick, and answering some popular questions about Oprah’s book club. So it might just introduce you to your new favorite title!
Oprah Winfrey is a household name around the world. From her early days as a TV personality to her hugely successful talk show, she has captivated audiences for decades. But to us readers, she is best known for the Oprah’s Book Club.
With an eye for powerful stories and a talent for connecting with people, Oprah has curated a highly respected list of books that continues to help shape the literary world. Her book club has become a cultural phenomenon, encouraging millions to discover new authors and deepen their love of reading. Oprah Winfrey has proven to be an unstoppable force in entertainment, literature, and beyond.
Over two decades ago, Oprah Winfrey launched her famous book club, taking the literary world by storm. However, many people wonder if the Oprah Book Club is still running. The answer is a resounding yes! Unlike other celebrity book clubs that select a new book every calendar month, Oprah’s Book Club does things differently. But rest assured, when Oprah makes a selection, you can trust it’s a book worth reading.
Few cultural phenomena have had as much of an impact on the book world as Oprah’s book club. Since its inception in 1996, Oprah Winfrey’s literary selection has been a coveted title. But just how does the Oprah book club work? Essentially, Oprah chooses a book every few months (either fiction or nonfiction,) which is a personal endorsement that brings attention to the author and the book itself. The chosen book then becomes a part of Oprah’s book club list, which usually leads to increased sales and a boost in public recognition. So it’s easy to see why being chosen by Oprah is a tremendous honor in the literary world!
Oprah’s 100th book club pick is Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano! Hello Beautiful is a homage to Louisa May Alcott’s timeless classic, Little Women. Hello Beautiful is a profoundly moving portrait of what is possible when we choose to love someone not in spite of who they are but because of it.
Oprah’s latest book club pick and the first selection of 2024 is “The Many Lives of Mama Love,” a memoir by Lara Love Hardin! In “The Many Lives of Mama Love” we meet soccer mom and perfect cul-de-sac housewife Lara Love Hardin. No one expects the police to knock on the door of her million-dollar two-story home, but Lara has been hiding a shady secret: she is funding her heroin addiction by stealing her neighbors’ credit cards. In “The Many Lives of Mama Love,” Lara shares her tumultuous journey to redemption. From her time in jail as inmate S32179 to her transformation into a successful ghostwriter. We see Lara navigate through shame, forgiveness, and life as a felon on probation. This memoir beautifully captures her path from darkness to self-acceptance, highlighting the challenges of overcoming past mistakes in a system that often hinders redemption.
You can get a copy of The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin on Amazon or Bookshop.
P.S. Lara Love Hardin coauthored The Sun Does Shine with Anthony Ray Hinton which was a 2018 Oprah’s Book Club pick.
My Favorites of Oprah’s Book Club List
Oprah’s Book Club List
Oprah’s Book Club List in Order
Have you read any books from the Oprah’s Book Club? Are any of these books on your TBR? What Oprah’s Book Club pick is your favorite? Let us talk about it in the comments below.
Join the BiblioLifestyle Community & the Bring Your Own Book (BYOB) Club for a fun, online book club experience! Come and share books you’ve read, get inspiration for what to read next, make friends, and encourage each other along the way. Learn more and join the community: bibliolifestyle.com/community.
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