Getting together to discuss books with a group of people has become increasingly
popular in recent years, with many libraries, bookshops and workplaces hosting book group
meetings. Some of the groups are very formal and structured, whilst others are based around a group
of existing friends who get together to discuss the latest best seller over a
bottle of wine.
Brighton & Hove libraries run book groups in several of the city's libraries,
and most are open to new members at all times.
If you are already in a book group, there are many ways in which the library
service can support your reading, through providing sets of books for loan, help in choosing new titles, providing reading guides
and advice on setting up your own new group. Please contact the Reading and Leisure Manager for more details, or to request a Book Group
Guide and Booklist, outlining over 50 sets of books we have available. Book group sets can be booked up to a year in advance.
News about new book groups
Science fiction fan?
Join a sci-fi book group, starting at Jubilee Library from January 2009 – interested? The group will meet on the second Thursday of each month at 6.30pm
Please contact the Reading and Leisure Manager for further information.
Classics Book Group
Love reading classic novels? A Classics book group meets at Jubilee Library on the first Thursday of the month. This is group is currently full. However, a new group will begin soon. If you would like to be added to the waiting list, please contact the Reading and Leisure Manager.
Other Library Book Groups
Jubilee Library
Jubilee Street, Brighton
There are currently three book groups at Jubilee library, including a Saturday one. All three are currently full, but if you would like to be added to the waiting list for a place, please contact the Reader Development Librarian
on (01273) 294073 or by email
Wheelchair accessible, including accessible toilet.
Hove Library
Church Road, Hove
(01273) 296934
There are currently four book groups at Hove library, including the LGBT one. All are currently open to new members, so if you are interested in joining please contact the Reader Development Librarian
on (01273) 294073 or by email . All meet on Tuesday evenings throughout the month.
Wheelchair accessible, including accessible toilet.
Portslade Library
Old Shoreham Road
(01273) 296914
Meets on Saturday mornings at 10.30am-12pm. Telephone for details of dates.
Wheelchair accessible, including accessible toilet.
Rottingdean Library
The Grange
(01273) 296918
Meets on the first Thursday of each month at 11am.
Wheelchair accessible, no accessible toilet.
Woodingdean Library
Warren Road
(01273) 296928
Meets on the third Thursday of the month at 2.45pm. Ring for dates and book details.
Limited wheelchair access, no accessible toilet.
Patcham Library
Ladies Mile Road
(01273) 296912
Meets on the first Friday of each month at 11am.
Wheelchair accessible, including accessible toilet.
Lesbian & Gay Book Group
at Hove Library
Meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 6.45pm. The group reads books with a gay or lesbian theme. New members are
welcome.
For more information please contact the Reader Development Librarian
on (01273) 294073 or by email
For younger readers, please see:
Chatterbooks -
Children's book group
If you love reading, please visit the Love Reading pages, where you will find genre booklists, information about reading promotions in Brighton & Hove libraries and links to lots of book-related websites
For general information about Brighton & Hove
City Libraries book groups, please contact the Reader Development Librarian
on (01273) 294073 or by email
Some useful websites for readers and book groups
Click on the blue link to open the website.
National Year of Reading
2008 is the National Year of Reading, a year-long celebration of reading in all its forms.
Bookgroup.info
This site contains a huge amount of information for reading groups. There are forums, a monthly newsletter, competitions, a book of the month, author interviews and tips for groups. And it’s Brighton based too!
Reading Group Choices
This site contains many profiles for books which have been selected to be particularly ‘discussible’ – there’s summaries, snippets of reviews, conversation-starter questions and links to author sites.
Bookbrowse
US based site with lots of useful information for starting and running reading groups including reading guides, booklists, recommendations etc.
Book Movement
Plenty of resources here for reading groups – book clubs have added reviews of books, lists of suggested books and reading guides for many books. You can even register as a reading group, create a member list and use their planning system online.
Reading Group Guides
Large number of reading guides for popular titles, including quotes about the book, discussion questions, plus hints on running the group and how to choose titles.
Publishers’ sites for reading groups
These are the sites from major publishers which are aimed at reading groups. They typically contain book news, information for reading groups, reading guides for some of their books, and sometimes competitions, book extracts and discounts.
Bloomsbury
http://www.bloomsbury.com/ReadersGroups/
Harper Collins
http://www.harpercollins.com/readers/
http://www.readinggroups.co.uk/
Random House
http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/readersgroup/index.html
Penguin
http://readers.penguin.co.uk/
Social networking sites
These are sites which allow you to create your own online identity, catalogue what you have been reading, share your thoughts about books with your friends, and meet people who have similar tastes in reading.
Good Reads
This is a well-thought-out social networking site focussed on books and reading. It is packed with features but easy to navigate. You can create your own bookshelves, rate what you’ve read, create lists of books you always meant to read, and read other people’s reviews. You can get updates on what your friends are reading and meet virtual friends with the same reading tastes as you.
Librarything
Another site which allows you to create your very own ‘virtual bookshelf’ by cataloguing your book collection. It puts you in touch with people with similar tastes in reading and can even come up with a list of books it thinks you will like based on your existing ratings.
Shelfari
Another ‘virtual bookshelf’ site with particularly attractive graphics. Add your books, tag them, see what your friends are reading or set up an online bookgroup.
Bookcrossing
This is social networking with a difference! Bookcrossing is ‘the practice of leaving a book in a public place to be picked up and read by others, who then do likewise’. Register unwanted books on the site and assign them a ID number, then release them into the wild. You can then track the books to see if anyone has picked them up, added a journal entry for them, and what they thought of them. Alternatively go hunting – check out the list of books that have been released in your area recently.
Revish
This book social networking site is focussed on reviewing books rather than cataloguing them
Booktribes
www.booktribes.com
Connect via books
http://connectviabooks.com/
What Should I Read Next?
This is a book recommending website – type in a book you liked and get a list of recommendations based on what other readers on the site have enjoyed. Add to the system but adding your own lists of books you’ve enjoyed.
Read it Swap it
If you’ve read a book but no longer want it you can register it here on the site and swap it for another one held by someone else. You can also discuss books on the discussion forum.
Book Group Online
Forums for chatting with other book lovers about books and more.
