We are loving hearing from all of our Book Clubs, people coming together over a mutual love of books. We want to make the most of our Book Club serial, which means offering book clubs (who usually meet once a month and whose members and organisers have jobs and life commitments to attend to too!) a little more time to get back to us. This means we'll get a more in-depth insight into their book communities.

Don't worry we haven't stopped looking for Book Clubs, and if you would love to get involved with this feature then get in touch at Liz@lovereading.co.uk.

This time we spoke to Natalie Parish from Odiham Book Club, about the community that has been created to celebrate a love of books.

When did your book club launch and how did that come about?

I'd wanted to be in a book club for a long time, and moving to a new area I wanted to finally make it happen. Kelly opened the Facebook group in November 2017 and it quickly attracted 20 interested members.

Talk to me about how it’s developed over the years

It hasn't been an awfully long time but we do have a good routine going of how the meetings go, we find questions to discuss about the book of the month and then also just get to know a little more about each other as we all live in the same area, it's a nice little community we have going.

Describe your book club in three words

Welcoming, adaptable, cosy

How do you choose your books?

We've all recommended something or a few at some point or another, all suggestions go in a bag. Whoever hosts the meeting will pick one of the "books" out the bag which we will read that month.

How often do you meet?

We try to do once a month but sometimes it's a little while longer just due to busy schedules, children and husband's being away and so on.

Where do you meet?

One member will host, so far we've had a different host per meeting since starting.

What is the format of your meetings?

The host will try to find questions on the book for discussion. If it's an obscure book then we talk about what we liked about it and go from there. 

There's always off-topic discussions but that's what we love about this. It's very laid back.

What are you reading right now?

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula LeGuin

Do you have a favourite format of book? (hardback, paperback, ebook, audiobook)

Varies among members but I think the majority love a proper book to hold. 

We have a few "cannot bend the spine"ers.

What is your favourite book of 2018 so far?

Personally, I loved reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, which was at the start of the year. But other members loved different books.

Do you collectively have a favourite author?

No, a wide range from Stephen King, Nicholas Sparks and Anne McCaffrey

Do you collectively have a favourite genre?

Again, no, a huge range of favourites.

Has there been a highlight of your time together?

Meeting other people in the community and getting to know them. Making new friends, and they're all so lovely

If you were to give anyone out there some advice on setting up a Book Club what would it be?

Just do it, if you want to be in one, see if there's one you can join or make your own one, create a Facebook group as social media is a brilliant way to attract people as it reaches so much of your local community. 

It's a good way to socialise and also expand your reading library to things you may not necessarily read so always a good idea :) 

If you enjoyed this article why not check out our other Book Club Features?