Margi Kingsley is a bookseller from Barnes & Noble in Noblesville, IN. In this interview, Margi talks about the store’s adult reading group as well as the newly formed teen book club, which was inspired by teens’ interest in reading and discussing Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series. She explains how being a bookseller enables her to recognize great reading group titles and offers some advice on how other booksellers can start a book club for its shoppers.

Q: Does your store host any book clubs? If so, are they based on a certain theme or genre (ie, mystery)? How often do the groups meet?

A: Yes, we have a teen reading group that s tarted in June. The group formed to read the Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer, and they are now continuing with other titles. There are seven of us from the bookstore who are also in a group. We have been meeting for three years in September. This group meets once a month at various group members’ houses.

Q: How many members are in each group? How many men, how many women? What ages are most of the members? Are the groups open to accepting new members?

A: There are 12 girls and one boy in the reading group. The members are between the ages of 14 and 18. The group has had the same members since the beginning, but we still advertise it for new members.

Q: Who leads the book discussions? Are reading group discussion guides used?

A: Two of our booksellers host the group. They are very enthusiastic and enjoy the books as much as the kids in the group. This group gets their questions from the B&N site. For the other adult reading group, we use reading group guides for this website. Whoever chooses the book hosts the club and leads the discussion.

Q: How are books selected? Is a new one chosen at each meeting, or are they chosen for a number of meetings ahead of time?

A: The group started in order to get the kids psyched for the release of Breaking Dawn. They read all four books in this series and now they have chosen to read the Inheritance Cycle in order to get ready for the release of Brisingr. After that, they will vote on other titles to read. For the other reading group, we each turn in a title (we alternate fiction/nonfiction). We choose a new one at each meeting.

Q: What were some of the best discussions or favorite books the groups have read?

A: The adult book group has really read a lot of good titles. Some of our favorites have been Confederates in the Attic, The Dogs of Babel, Waiting for Snow in Havana, Will Storr vs. the Supernatural, Nickel and Dimed, The Devil in the White City and Tallgrass.

Q: How are book club meetings kept interesting and fun?

A: We pass out the questions when we reveal the book choice. That way we have better discussions. We encourage the members to bring articles related to the books we are reading. At times, we serve food that is reminiscent of the book. We also had a fun meeting when we read Garlic and Sapphires. We made a food critic sheet for each member and then critiqued the restaurant. That was a fun idea.

Q: What advice would you give to other bookstores that would like to start hosting book clubs, or provide resources for ones in the community?

A: Find a book that there is a lot of hype for that is being released. This really gets the customers pumped up. This is what we did with the release of Breaking Dawn and it worked wonderfully. Talk to customers who are buying the same type of books and try to start up a club based on these people.

Q: What general advice would you give to book club members? Any specific ideas for making reading selections?

A: We love alternating between fiction and nonfiction. That way we don't get bogged down. Printing off the questions to hand out beforehand has really made our discussions livelier. Choose books that challenge your beliefs, or that cover issues you wouldn't normally read. These make for the best discussions. You don't all have to agree on the issues.

Q: How can book clubs better utilize resources at their local bookstores?

A: We let people know that we have reading group guides for books. We also have resources for running a book club. We can order books for book clubs and provide space for them if they do not want to meet in their homes. We have several resources on books that are great reads for book clubs. We have a permanent endcap up with books that we recommend for clubs. These books are shopped quite heavily.

Q: Does your store offer anything special for book clubs?

A: We have an area to meet and knowledgeable booksellers who can suggest books for any genre that will make great book club choices.

Q: Do you have any horror stories, amusing anecdotes, or other tales to tell that you have heard from book clubs?

A: It just so happened that when we went to the restaurant to discuss Garlic and Sapphires, we had really crummy service and some of the members were not satisfied with their entrees. Our critique of this made interesting discussion along with the book.

Q: Are you a member of a book club? If so, what do you enjoy most about the experience from a reader's perspective? Does being in a book club enable you to better suggest both titles and discussion ideas to reading groups?

A: Yes, I am in the group I mentioned about. I love reading books I would not necessarily pick up on my own. It makes my job a lot easier when it comes to suggesting titles to customers. It is nice to have such a broad range to suggest. There truly is something for everyone.

Q: What books currently on your shelves are you interested in sharing with book groups?

A: I’d be interested in sharing We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver (one of my top 10 favorites), Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum (one of my top 10 favorites), 1 Dead in Attic, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, The Cloister Walk, Falling Leaves, The True Story of Hansel and Gretel and The Virgin of Small Plains.

Q: What galleys and advance reader's editions that are in your store right now are you interested in sharing with book groups?

A: There is The 19th Wife, Drinking Problems at the Fountain of Youth and Tomato Girl.