Starting or joining a book club might be the most personally rewarding step you've taken all year and the start of an exciting new chapter in your life. A book club can be the ideal way to indulge in fantastic literature whilst taking time out to learn, share and socialise.

Spare time is precious and rare so joining an existing book club is often the speediest way to get involved, as long as you can find a book club with similar interests or goals to your own. Good libraries and book shops will often host reading groups or alternatively the staff can point you in the right direction.

If you've decided to start your own group, there are a number of decisions to be made to get your book club up and running:

• What type of book club it will be? Light and sociable, highly intellectual or the kind where good food is as (or more!) important as the books.
• How many people will be involved? Often your venue will determine this aspect, if you're hosting the group in your living room, you're probably looking at no more than six to eight people seated comfortably.
• Who would you like to participate? If your aim is to socialise with people with similar interests, you might want your book club to be made up of a group of old friends or colleagues. If you're after a challenge, need encouragement to try reading different material or are keen to meet new people, you could post an ad on a library or book shop noticeboard. Whoever you choose to be involved, a good fit is essential to your book club's success.
• Where will you meet? Home, restaurant or café, book shop, library or park - there are several choices and although variety might appeal, it can be logistically time-consuming if you frequently change venues. - How often will you meet? This will vary according to work and family commitments, and the reading patterns of the members of your group. - How will the books be selected, read and discussed?
• The easiest and most democratic process for book selection is to take turns. This will ensure the responsibility is shared, and that the book club caters to the various tastes of its members.
• Alternatively, each member can review a different piece of literature at each meeting, which they will share with the group. Members can then trade books as desired.
• Read reviews in newspapers and magazines and combine these reviews with recommendations made by your local book retailer or library staff to ease book selection. 
• Prior to your book club meeting, jot down key questions or discussion starters. Remember, the best method is to keep the process from selection to review, simple, fun and interesting for all members.
• How can you keep your book club going strong? Vary your book selection, your reviewing methods and introduce themed or special-interest events through titles, content, meeting times and tasty nibbles.