One of the most rewarding ways of taking part in City Reads is in a book group. To help you make the most of your City Reads experience, we’ve come up with a few handy hints on book group participation:

• If you are already member of a book group, choose this years City Reads book as your monthly book during March, April or May.

• Set up your own special City Reads book group - in your house, your bookshop, your library or down your local. For useful advice on starting out visit:

www.bookgroup.info
www.readinggroupchoices.com
www.readinggroupguides.com
www.whichbook.net

• Join an established book group - there are numerous throughout Brighton & Hove. Brighton & Hove Libraries run book groups in many of their libraries across the city.

To join, e-mail: [email protected].
For details of groups in a community library near you, visit www.citylibraries.info/information/reading_groups.asp.
For other book groups in your area visit www.bookgroup.info

Book Group Tips

When? - meet once a month. This should give you plenty of time to read your chosen book and not too long for interest to flag.

Where? - book groups at home can be cosy and intimate, but may end up more chit-chat than book-talk. Public places like libraries or bookshops may be a little more formal but can help focus readers’ minds. Pubs/bars can create a great atmosphere, and a little lubrication loosens tongues, but watch out when book-talk becomes booze-talk!

What? - good areas for discussion include: characterisation, storyline, themes, setting, time, style, language, suspense. Don’t be afraid to open up the debate: if the book triggers wider themes, from current affairs to popular culture, run with it…

How? - try getting one person to summarise the book in a few choice words to get the ball rolling. Nominate someone to ask questions and prompt discussion if conversation lulls. Make sure everyone gets a chance to speak: it’s all about debate and discussion, not monologue. Don’t be afraid to get serious, but remember, it’s supposed to be fun too!