This month the St. James Place Blog is featuring our favorite tips and tricks to help you start your own book club, along with a few book recommendations. Start your own book group this August and read on to learn more. We hope that you have a great month here in Milwaukee, WI!
Book Recommendation
The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel
“In 1986, a shy and intelligent twenty-year-old named Christopher Knight left his home in Massachusetts, drove to Maine, and disappeared into the forest. He would not have a conversation with another human being until nearly three decades later, when he was arrested for stealing food. Living in a tent even through brutal winters, he had survived by his wits and courage, developing ingenious ways to store edibles and water, and to avoid freezing to death. He broke into nearby cottages for food, clothing, reading material, and other provisions, taking only what he needed but terrifying a community never able to solve the mysterious burglaries...It is a gripping story of survival that asks fundamental questions about solitude, community, and what makes a good life, and a deeply moving portrait of a man who was determined to live his own way, and succeeded.”
Tips
Limit the Length
Remember to limit the length of both your book club books and your meetings. No one wants to spend two hours discussing a read (even a very interesting read), and five minutes probably isn’t long enough to have a meaningful discussion. Try to limit your book club discussions to about thirty minutes. Have one group member lead the discussion to keep everyone on track. Once your finished discussing your book, feel free to play games, have dessert, or just catch up!
Also, remember to pick books long enough to spur a meaningful discussion, but short enough to read in a month. We recommend picking books that are one hundred to about two hundred and fifty pages long.
Eat
One of our favorite things about having our own book club? The treats! Make a dessert or two before your book club meetings. Make a signup sheet for your group members. They can sign up to bring both savory and sweet treats to your next book club discussion. These mini oreo cheesecakes from Live Well Bake Often are amazing. If you want something a little more savory, try these 5 ingredient hummus bites from Simply Whisked.
Head to Your Local Library
Sometimes the best place to get a book recommendation is your local library! Head to the Milwaukee Public Library for recommendations. They actually have a whole page of recommendations and reads. You can find it here.
Do you have any book recommendations for us? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading our post!