Contact the Book Groups Subject Adviser, Richard

Advice for u3a Book Groups

Thank you for visiting this Book Groups advice page, which aims to provide information and advice to anyone who is running or thinking of running a u3a book group.

Most u3as in the UK run book groups of one sort or another. In most cases members read a variety of fiction, including novels and short stories, and some specialise in classic novels and crime fiction. There also groups that read non-fiction.

Most groups run face-to-face meetings in members’ homes or in public venues such as libraries and community centres. The usual custom is for members of the group to pay £1 when they attend a group meeting as a contribution towards refreshments and running costs.

Some u3a book groups meet online, using Zoom, Skype or other conferencing systems. Many of these were set up during the Covid pandemic. They have the advantage of being accessible by people who live in remote places and/or have mobility problems. There may also be some ‘hybrid’ groups that include an online presence in their face-to-face meetings. 

If you are thinking of setting up a new group I suggest you consider the following:

• Define the purpose and scope of your book group;
• Agree on book types to be read, as well as minimum and maximum book length, availability and price;
• Agree meeting frequency and venue(s);
• Set guidelines for members to nominate books to read;
• Structure discussion of books and ensure full participation by group members as far as possible;
• Enable members with disabilities to take part, e.g. with large print, audio books etc.
• As far as possible, use venues with good lighting and arrange seating to work best for those with hearing or vision difficulties.

Book groups are welcome to share their views about books they have read, which I will include on this page. Please give a brief account (e.g. up to three or four lines) stating what members liked or disliked about a book.

You can of course find recommendations in newspapers, magazines and radio programmes, usually for recently published works. However, many of these will still be in hardback and therefore more expensive than paperback versions, so it is best to wait till the latter are available.

You may want to avoid reading some best-selling books, as members may have read them already. Consider reading books by people that be unfamiliar to members, including those by foreign authors.

Some book groups read books provided in sets by public libraries, so it may be worth checking with your local library to see what is available.

If you and your book group members are buying books, you may well wish to use local independent bookshops – especially in the current situation where many small businesses are under threat. They may be willing to offer a discount if you buy multiple copies.

If keeping the cost down is the main priority you can buy second-hand copies of many books through online booksellers such as Abe Books and the Book Depository, as well as on eBay and Facebook Marketplace. You might also consider classic novels, for example, which you may find in second-hand bookshops, charity shops and market stalls.

If you have an e-reader such as a Kindle or Kobo you can often download classic books for free. Contemporary books are usually cheaper too. One disadvantage of e-readers is that they have different page numbering from printed books, which can make it more difficult to refer to particular pages during discussions.

Perhaps the most important advice for book groups should be to encourage everyone to have a say in which books are chosen and to take part in discussions if they wish, though some members may prefer to stay silent and listen to other members’ views.

Richard Peoples

Subject Adviser, Book Groups