Sharing Your Love for Literature with the Community

Photo courtesy of Canva

Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018

While working at Camden Waterford Lakes I noticed that Nicole, my team member and fellow blogger, loved reading as much as I did.

What happens when you put two avid readers in one office? You start a book club. We figured there had to be others that shared this same joy. We sent out a poll through our MyCamden resident portal and waited…Within 24 hours we already had 10 people signed up! We knew that our spacious resident lounge would be perfect for hosting everyone.

Picture by Kathryn Mayer

Our next question was, what book do we pick? Here are some tips to consider when selecting your books:

Let Everyone be heard. Give every member a chance to recommend a potential book. Take a group vote saving any runner ups for upcoming months.

Get input from your group. Certain topics may touch on sensitive issues. Avoid books that could be uncomfortable or offensive.

Diversity is key! Exploring books outside our comfort zone will help gain new perspectives on other cultures. Switching up themes and genres keeps everyone interested.

The paperback rule: Book clubs should be affordable. Purchasing a $30 hardback every month can get pricey. Make sure your choice is available in affordable formats, so everyone can take part.

What is everyone else reading? If a book is popular there is usually a reason why. When considering books, check to see if it has won any awards or if it’s on a Bestsellers list. For example, for our first book club, we decided on Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine: A Novel by Gail Honeyman. This novel had over 3,000 reviews on Amazon, was #1 New York Times Bestseller, and a Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick.

Picture by Kensley Lorvinsky

We’re already planning our next meeting for December 5th. Join us in celebrating the Icelandic holiday tradition of Jólabókaflóð, with a book exchange! Feel free to reach out to me for more details, we’d love to have you!