How to Start a Classic Literature Book Club (Step-by-Step Guide)
From Page to Conversation: Your Blueprint for a Thriving Classic Book Club
✨ Want to turn your love of books into something bigger? This post is a sneak peek from my full guide, From Page to Profit, showing you how to read smarter—and even monetize your passion.
🔖 In this post:
• Tips for choosing the perfect classic 📚
• Fun ideas to keep your club engaged 🎉
Whether you’re starting a local club with friends or launching an online discussion group, this guide will walk you through choosing books, organizing meetings, and keeping members engaged.
Side note: All images in this post are from one of my El Paso, TX book clubs.
1. Why a Classic Book Club?
Unlike modern novels, classics often require deeper engagement. A book club helps readers:
✅ Stay motivated to finish challenging books.
✅ Understand historical and literary context through discussion.
✅ Gain new perspectives—someone else may catch themes you missed.
✅ Make reading classics a social experience.
Example: A book club discussing Les Misérables might explore French history, moral dilemmas, and redemption—topics that might feel overwhelming alone but become richer in conversation.
2. Choosing the Right Classic Books
How to Pick a Book That Works for Your Club
When selecting books, consider:
Accessibility: Will most members be able to read and understand it?
Length: Should the club tackle long books (War and Peace) or shorter ones (The Great Gatsby)?
Discussion Potential: Does the book raise big questions about human nature, society, or ethics?
Beginner-Friendly Classics for Clubs
📖 Pride and Prejudice – Fun, romantic, and full of social commentary.
📖 To Kill a Mockingbird – Timeless lessons on justice and morality.
📖 Frankenstein – Raises deep ethical and philosophical debates.
📖 The Picture of Dorian Gray – A Gothic classic with themes of vanity and corruption.
More Advanced Picks for Clubs
📖 Crime and Punishment – A deep dive into guilt and morality.
📖 Les Misérables – History, philosophy, and redemption all in one.
📖 1984 – Political themes that still feel relevant today.
📖 Anna Karenina – Love, betrayal, and society’s judgment.
✅ Pro Tip: Rotate between different genres (romance, Gothic, philosophy, political satire) to keep things interesting.
3. Setting Up Your Club
Decide on the Format
Your club can be:
📌 In-Person – Meet at a home, café, library, or local bookstore.
📌 Virtual – Use Zoom, Google Meet, or Discord for online discussions.
📌 Hybrid – Some members meet in person, while others join via video.
How Often Should You Meet?
Biweekly (every two weeks): Works well for longer books.
Monthly: Ideal for those with busy schedules.
Weekly: Best for smaller books or deeper analysis.
✅ Pro Tip: If tackling a long book, break it into sections rather than trying to read everything at once.
Example: Instead of reading all of Moby-Dick in one month, discuss one-third of the book per session.
4. Structuring Your Meetings
Meeting Agenda Example (60-90 Minutes)
🕒 Opening (10 minutes) – Catch up, share general impressions.
🕒 Main Discussion (40-60 minutes) – Go through key themes, character changes, and major questions.
🕒 Wrap-Up (10-20 minutes) – Rate the book, discuss favorite moments, and choose the next book.
Discussion Guide: Questions for Any Classic
1️⃣ What themes stood out to you?
2️⃣ Did the characters grow or change?
3️⃣ What would you have done differently than the protagonist?
4️⃣ How does this book reflect the time it was written?
5️⃣ Does the book still feel relevant today?
✅ Pro Tip: Assign a discussion leader for each book to keep the conversation flowing.
5. Keeping Members Engaged
1. Use a Group Chat for Ongoing Discussion
Set up a WhatsApp, Telegram, or Discord group where members can:
📌 Share reading progress
📌 Drop favorite quotes
📌 Ask questions between meetings
2. Add Fun Activities
📌 Themed Meetings – Dress up for Austen Night when reading Pride and Prejudice.
📌 Compare Film Adaptations – Watch different versions of Jane Eyre and discuss which captured the book best.
📌 Guest Speakers – Invite a literature professor or local historian to talk about the book’s context.
3. Offer Different Levels of Participation
Some members will read every word, while others may skim. That’s okay! Provide:
✔ Summaries for those who fall behind.
✔ Optional Deep Dives for those who want extra reading.
✅ Pro Tip: A great book club makes everyone feel included, whether they read one chapter or the whole book.
Want to Go Deeper? This post is part of my full guide:
📚 From Page to Profit: How to Read, Review, and Monetize Classic Books is my full guide to transforming your literary passion into something more.
Inside, you’ll learn how to:
✔️ Build confidence with hard-to-read classics
✔️ Write thoughtful reviews that resonate
✔️ Start a book club or literary blog
✔️ Monetize your love of literature with printables, guides, and paid content
Whether you’re a teacher, a content creator, or just a bookworm with big dreams, this guide will help you read smarter—and get paid doing it.
👉 Get your copy of From Page to Profit now
💡 Your bookshelf could be your side hustle.
