The Best of Book Clubs

The word connection came up in each conversation and I think that’s what it all comes down to. Good book clubs often seem to have space for a little bit of socialising as well as analysis. A respectful and relaxed space for people to give opinions on a topic they love can make local book clubs a positive community affair.

You also need open minded members who are willing to read books they wouldn’t have chosen themselves – that’s the beauty of being in a book club. But whilst encouraging you out of your comfort zone is one thing, it’s not about showboating – if Finnegan’s Wake is light fiction to you, that’s great, but read it on your own time. You won’t make a great book club by being too highbrow.

Read on for my first interview.

Jemina Talja

I started with the lovely lady behind my own local book club, my friend Jemina, about what she thinks has made it endure through the past few years, despite covid’s best efforts to scupper it. Jemina started the book club at the school gate, soon after her eldest started school. With members taking it in turns to host and cook, it’s a group of mum friends with similar aged kids and it’s been going strong for 3 years.

Why did you start your book club and had you been in one before?

I had been in one in Finland for ex-pats. Although I’m Finnish myself, I’d just returned home from living in the UK for years and was missing being abroad. Joining an ex-pat book club was my connection to all that. I was keen to start one here and school was an easy way to find likeminded people.

Your book club is loved by its members, how did you stumble across the winning formula with regards to the details?

Errr by accident really. I initially messaged about 20 people I’d met locally, thinking there wouldn’t be much take up and people would be too busy. When everyone started accepting, I was a bit nervous because I wanted to keep it low key in terms of entertaining. I think we’ve ended up at 13 and that really works. It’s still quite a lot of people to cook for but it’s just about manageable. And it means that even if a couple drop out on any evening, there’s still a big enough crowd for it to feel really fun. Anyone can suggest a book and we choose by vote and meet every 6 weeks.

And with a big number of friends how do you stop it descending into a party and forgetting the reason you’re there?

I don’t really! I often wonder if I should keep it more on topic but ultimately it just seems to work itself out. Not everyone manages to read every book, but there’s always a majority who have, and at some point, someone will remember to bring it up for discussion. Some evenings we’ve talked about books for most of the night, others not so much!

So what would you say to people who accuse you of being a wine club dressed up as a book club?

I would say we carry that title with pride! Our club is for busy women and mums, and it’s about socialising as much as it is about finding the time to read and love books again. And food as much as wine! We’re not serious and I think that’s largely why it works.

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