Become a book critic

To get the most out of your book club you have to be an active participant. Don’t just sit back and enjoy the home-baking and cups of tea – share your personal views and opinions and find out what others have to say as well. You may even discover a completely new genre, author or style.

To avoid being someone who says, "I don’t know why I like it, I just do," here are 10 simple questions to reflect on after you’ve finished your book:

1. Subject – What is the book about and why do you think the author chose to explore this subject?
2. Plot – What is the storyline of the book? Is it too simple or overly complicated? Does the plot make sense? Do you feel the storyline was resolved in the end?
3. Characters – Do the characters have depth? Do you like them, loathe them or not care about them?
4. Perspective – Was the story told through one voice or many? How did the voice influence the tone of the story?
5. Setting – Where and when was the story set? Is the setting important to the story?
6. Themes – What are the major themes explored in the book?
7. Style – What is the author’s style of writing? For example, is it descriptive, flowery or poetic? Did this style work for the plot?
8. Author – How does the book compare to others written by the author? And will you read another book by the same author?
9. Enjoyment – In a nutshell, did you find this book enjoyable to read or just plain hard work?
10. Reviews – How has this book been received by other critics? Do you agree or disagree?

Each Book Club will operate differently when it comes to how books are reviewed but by thinking about these 10 points, you will be able to share your point of view and help the rest of your Book Club decide if they too want to read the book. And then you can sit back and enjoy the tea and baking.