Post-pandemic, we saw a surge in their popularity but more recently there has been another leap. Book Clubs are having their moment in our frenetic, ever more digital age.
And, it turns out, their increased relevance is about far more than reading. People are desperate to find activities that get them out from behind their screens... and into meaningful human connections. Chatting over books has therefore become a vital distraction - and inspiration - for millions around the globe.
Some Clubs have even gone further by encouraging activities such as taking a walk or fast-learning a craft before/after the get-together.
I have also been charting the rise of the Silent Book Club movement. This is where members gather to read quietly for an hour, say, and then all join in a discussion about what they've read, and perhaps swap books that they have finished. Many folk say that this is the only way they get to settle down and read during their busy lives. There are now 1600 Silent Book Club chapters in 54 countries around the world.
I think the Book Club concept is a valuable tool for the younger generation as well. Can we encourage Clubs at primary schools or in neighbourhoods? Over weekends? With the involvement of a parent or two to keep order (!) and also help with reading difficulties. A good way to coax youngsters off their screens, too...
It has been my particular pleasure to have been invited to many Book Clubs over the years, to answer questions and hear feedback about my books, plus share research snippets that perhaps never made it into the final manuscript! But the most important lesson I have learnt is, indeed, the power of engagement... where reading becomes a vital bridge between people and communities...
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