Dana Barrett, a bookseller from Coffee Buy The Book in Roswell, GA, has plenty of experience around reading groups --- she is a member of two of the store's four clubs and occasionally participates in the other two. In this interview, Dana explains how to avoid picking duds for reading selections and encourages other members to attend meetings --- whether or not they've completed the books. She also discusses how the community can help new book clubs to grow and take shape, and describes how a little bit of wine can go a long way. 

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

A: We host 4 book clubs:
The main book club meets once a month, and reads a little of everything (fiction, nonfiction, memoirs, etc.). The Sci-fi Book Club meets once a month, and reads both contemporary and classic sci-fi. The Classics Book Club meets once every two months --- all classics all the time. The Chick Lit Book Club is brand new and meets once a month. 

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: The Main Book Club has 7-20 members, who are mostly women; 1-2 men attend from time to time. The Sci-Fi Book Club has 5-7 members, and 50% are men and 50% are women. The Classics Book Club also has 5-7 members, who are mostly women, but 1-2 men come from time to time. The Chick Lit Book Club is brand new, and the first meeting will be in September.

The members' ages range from mid-twenties to early sixties. All groups are open to new members --- we have a drop-in drop-out type format and we introduce ourselves at the beginning of each meeting. We often get people who are new to the community.

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

A: One of our staff members attends and leads each of the meetings, but we are very informal. We don’t usually use reading guides, but sometimes we do refer to them ahead of time to help prepare.

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: We (the staff) chose the starting book for each club. After that, the reading selections were made as a group.

Our main club chooses 3 months in advance. We are trying to get all of the groups to do that, except Classics, which chooses 1 at a time.

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

A: Favorite Books:
Devil in the White City
Ella Minnow Pea
The Sparrow
Cat’s Cradle (Sci-fi Club)
 
Q: How are book club meetings kept interesting and fun?

A: We drink wine! And I used to be a comedienne so I always keep it light!

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: Just do it. We don’t do anything special in terms of preparation --- just read the book and supply the wine and goodies. (Sometimes members do bring things, too.) Initially, we were nervous about starting because none of us had ever been in a book club; but, just make the first selection and get it started, and then the community will help it grow with participation and suggestions. The only other advice I would give is to require that someone in the group has read the book before it is selected, which will help to avoid some duds...and believe me, we have read some duds!

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

A: To members: Show up for meetings, even if you haven't finished the book. Chances are you’re not alone and there is probably a discussion-worthy reason you couldn’t finish the book!

For making selections: Get suggestions of books members have already read. Look for things that will not only be good reads, but will also make for good conversations. Our group did Middlesex, and though we had members on both sides of the fence in terms of liking the book, it was a great book for discussion.

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

A: Ask. We give local book clubs 20% off their book club titles and free use of our meeting space --- all they have to do is ask! We also can help with selections and let them know what other groups are reading.

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

A: Yes --- as described in the question above!

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

A: Not really. I have heard that many neighborhood book clubs fall apart because they end up not talking about the books, or because one person gets too controlling.

Q: Is there anything else unique or noteworthy about book clubs (either ones that meet in your store or ones that you know of) that you would like to share?

A: We don't know each other outside of the book club, so we stay focused on the book or on relevant discussions. It's a good dynamic to have.

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: I am in two of our four book clubs and drop in occasionally on the other two. Being in the clubs “forces” me to read books I might not otherwise read. This is good and bad. It does help me recommend books to other groups, but it also slows down my reading pace when I’m reading something I’m not enjoying.

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

A: Our current selections are:

Classics: The Third Policeman by Flann O’Brien (referenced on TV’s "Lost")
Sci-Fi: Excession by Iain Banks
Main: Single in Suburbia by Wendy Wax
Early Bird by Rodney Rothman
Easter Island by Jennifer Vanderbes
Chick Lit: Flirting with Forty by Jane Porter
 
Some of the book clubs that buy from us are reading:
 
The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards
Being Dead is No Excuse by Gayden Metcalfe and Charlotte Hayes

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

A: I have to admit that I am not up to date on reading the galleys and ARCs at the moment, so there aren’t any I can recommend offhand.