Making the Most of our Group

[Chris]

Having set up this group to encourage reading and discussion I'm pondering what the best way is to get people involved and have a bit of fun along the way. I don't want this to end up as one of those good ideas that stagnates.

Here's some thoughts/ideas. I'd appreciate any feedback and also other suggestions:

a) Set a group challenge for the community. Maybe 500 books to read in a year. Does that sound too ambitious?

b) Use it as a forum for people to suggest books we should buy for our bookclub support program.

c) Use it for feedback on our Big Book Night (already happening)

d) Use it as a forum for bookclubs to share titles they really enjoyed

b), c) and d), whilst being useful, aren't really that inventive. Would something like pairing recipes with a novel (I know this sounds a bit strange but it could be fun). Or, for the next month we're looking for your best suggestion to pair a meal with a specific novel.

Anyway, I'm rambling now. What do you reckon?

[Elaine]

Hi Chris, I'm a member of the Hookers' Book Club ("the book is the hook") at Coomba Park. We are a group of 13, women and men, who meet on the first Sunday evening of the month. We don't discuss a particular book, rather what we've been reading and what we'd recommend to others. Each year we have a feast - the first few years were based on a book but we've tended to abandon it slightly now. Our first feast was Babette's Feast (of course!) and we watched a part of the movie after each course, There had to be slight modifications (a fabulous fish soup replaced the turtle) but the whole evening was wonderful. We've had Italian using Brunetti's Cookbook from the Donna Leon series and Mexican influence based on Like Water for Chocolate (the chapter using sulphur to make matches was a real challenge!) There must be - and are - lots of other dinner inspiring books around.
Love the idea of this forum. Another great example of your innovative and inclusive way of thinking.

[Lesley]

Sounds great Chris. I also was very cautious, and only challenged myself to read 11 books. I'm looking forward to our group evolving.

[Chris]

Hi Elaine,
I love the idea of a literary themed feast. Books and food seem to be the perfect companion.
And I'm sure there are limitless possibilities (and yours sounded great - I'm definitely curious about the matches).
For good ideas it made me think about maybe organising one larger book-food theme possibly annually. There maybe a bit of work to that it still worth considering.
And I think it's also a perfect discussion thread - recipes to pair with books. Might start that one soon.
And finally, thanks for the feedback. Very much appreciated.
Cheers Chris

[Chris]

Cautious is such a versatile word Leslie. You maybe cautious about being overly ambitious and that's totally understandable. I regularly set myself two goals - one I know I should be able to achieve and a secret goal of a bit (sometimes a fair bit) more. I wonder if you have a secret goal.
And then there's the other sort of cautious which involves being very careful before even making a commitment .... And yet here you are as one of our earliest members so I don't think that can apply to you.
Cheers
Chris