So you want to have a book club?
Why? That is the first question you have to ask :-D
There are many reasons to have a book club. You might want to meet new people who share your interests (reading). You might want to expand your reading. You might want to use the book club as a reason to keep up reading even when you don't feel like reading at the moment. All these reasons and the others set different expectations you have to think about and try to meet with your book club.
Unique and totally awesome book club theme ideas
Your book club is only as great as its members. You can do everything and the book club will never "fly". You can do nothing and everything will work just fine. It all depends on the members.
If you don't have any friends who like reading AND DISCUSSING books, then start with hoping for the best and inviting total strangers.
2) You should have some sort of theme of what books you read. Fiction? By some reading challenge? Prize winning books? Classics? The 100 books you should read before you die?
3) Meet once a month, come sun come rain. Create a meeting form.
Like "every Saturday, at 18.00, at the home of the club members; every member hosts a meeting; you have a potluck where you pick from the hat which member brings which course etc."
The hostess presents the book, reminds everyone to read it (or at least find something to say about the book by reading reviews or so). Then everyone says what they thought about the book, and then the discussion is free.
Or how ever you want to have it. But there should be some sort of protocol in place.
You could also find a booktube video about the book and watch that to have some fodder for discussion.
4) Decide the place. Cafés are fine. Homes are fine. Just mind a couple of things: everyone should fit comfortable and have a seat. It has to be possible to have free discussions without interruptions or disturbance - and you should be disturbing anyone else either. It has to be easily accessible for all members. If someone needs to travel for hours to get there, it's highly likely they won't come.
It's OK to host the meeting online. Especially now, on Corona times... and with internet video chatting being relatively easy.
The food and drinks:
Many authors have their favorite food or signature drinks or something like that, that makes the club meeting "more". Google it.
Also, there might have been something specific edibles and drinkables mentioned in the books. For example, I would love an Enid Blyton picnic or Halloween party à l'Harry Potter with pumpkin juice and pies :-D
Literary Drinks
You might want to have some party favors for your book club meetings.
I think bookmarks are always great, but I read paperbooks and several at the same time, so I use bookmarks :-D
A couple of teabags or a pouch of good coffee is also a good idea, as a lot of people like to drink hot beverage as they read.
A lot of people like to munch something when they read as well, so perhaps some candy, chocolate, snacks? Choose edibles that don't leave fingers greasy or stained... ;-)
Apart from that... thing... pretending to be a thistle, I like this idea as a party favor.
Some ideas:
How to Start a Book Club That Doesn't Suck
This is not a book club, but nothing stops one from stealing some ideas for the book club meeting. Frankly, I like the idea of dressing up as librarians for the book club meeting, to make it a little more exciting :-D
I also like the idea of reading each others' favorite books, and not just popular new books.
Vintage Librarian Book Swap Party from Little Yellow Couch
aka Your Favorite Books Party
The invitation says: "Pick used copies of 5 of your favorite reads. Fill out one of the bookmarks for each book.
(Title:
Author:
Recommended by:
Genre:
Read this when you are in the mood for:)
Bring your books and bookmarks to the party and you will go home with 5 new selections to add to your reading lists."
And dress code: "channel your inner vintage librarian" :-D
