A Guide to Hosting a Luxury Book Club

First, recruit your book club members. While book clubs are most often organized by and for women, there are plenty of literary-loving men out there, so don’t be afraid to break the norm and assemble a co-ed group. From there it’s about the books. Decide on a genre you can collectively enjoy or agree to rotate between several specified categories, switching between mystery novels, biographies and science fiction, for example. Or, maybe the group decides to select a book each month from what’s trending on popular bestseller lists such as the iconic New York Times bestseller list, USA Today’s best-selling book list or Amazon best sellers book list.

Another way to build community among members who may have very different tastes is for the first meeting ask everyone to bring one book they think the group should read and each person gets 2 minutes to pitch it before members vote on the books that will make up the year's reading list.

Some cliches are cliche for a reason … and it’s true, it’s all about location, location, location. Rotate between club member houses, meet at Bomb Brew Coffee House just outside the gates of Superstition or take advantage of being a member of a luxury private country club and gather at the club. Pro tip: choose the patio during nice weather and enjoy a glass of wine or cocktail with your literary discussions. 

Refreshments are partially dictated by the location of choice. If you’re heading out to the coffee house, it’s pretty self-explanatory. But, if you are using a member’s home for the festivities, you can make the experience as simple or sophisticated as you’d like.

Coffee, fresh fruit and pastries are always welcome during morning meetings and everyone loves wine and charcuterie for later affairs. For an especially memorable gathering, let the book inspire the menu, music and even the dress code.

A few examples:

• French novel: Champagne + French dinner + French music
• Historical fiction: Period-inspired menu and cocktails
• Murder mystery: Candlelit dinner and everyone dresses in their most dramatic apparel
• Travel memoir: Food and wine from the destination
• American classic: Old-fashioned cocktails and a traditional steakhouse-style dinner
• Southern novel: Elegant Southern supper and bourbon cocktails
• Beach or coastal novel: Seafood appetizers with chilled white wine or tropical cocktails
• Western novel: Barbecue and beer or bourbon cocktails

It certainly can be, but a book club isn’t about gathering to drink and gossip. It’s about the book and creating a space for lively conversation and thoughtful discussion. Perhaps ask everyone to come prepared with one question or specific item for discussion from what you read leading up to the session so everyone is ready to actively participate.

As the host, rather than asking, Did everyone like it? Or what did you like most? Have 3–5 really good questions prepared. A few examples include:

• The big question: What was the author ultimately trying to say?
• The controversial question: What did the author get wrong?
• The character question: Who did you understand differently by the end?
• The personal question: Did anything in this book change how you see something?
• The literary question: What made this book memorable—or forgettable?

Once you have a solid foundation for your book club, take it to the next level with these bonus ideas.

The Book Club Journal
Have the host keep a beautiful hardcover journal documenting each book, meeting location, menu, favorite quote and memorable moments from the discussion.

The Book Club Award
At the end of the year the group can vote on best book overall, biggest plot twist, best character, best location/dinner/theme, etc.

Book then TV/Movie
Have the group select a book that has been made into a movie or TV show. Read the book first then host a watch party and discuss what you did or didn’t like about the big screen adaptation. Spoiler alert: The book is always better.

The Book Club Field Trip
Once a book, every quarter or annually, let the book take you somewhere. Physically, not just on a mental and emotional journey. Like creating a themed dinner, match the outing to the book: 

• Historical novel –  visit a historic Arizona site
• Art-related book – take a private museum/gallery tour
• Wine-related book – go wine tasting 
• Southwestern novel –  take a hike in the Superstition Mountains 

Book + Speaker
Similar to a book club field trip, bring in a special guest who can add context or is somehow related to the main themes or setting of the book. An artist or art curator for a book about the art world, tap the club’s sommelier if the book is about wine or set on a vineyard, a local historian can shed light on historical novels. The book gives members something to discuss and the speaker gives them something new to learn.

Book + Golf
And because we are home to two award-winning Nicklaus Designed golf courses, pair your book with golf. Meet at the clubhouse for a discussion, then perhaps a 9-hole “book club scramble” or putting competition. You could even have a rotating trophy for the winning book club member.

A few of our favorite golf-themed titles offer different perspectives on golf and range from fiction to memoirs and sports journalism.

• The Legend of Bagger Vance by Steven Pressfield -  bonus points here because it’s also a movie
• The Greatest Game Ever Played by Mark Frost
• The Caddy by John Coyne
• A Good Walk Spoiled by John Feinstein

Ultimately, the best book clubs become about more than the books. They create an opportunity to discover something new, enjoy great conversation and build friendships along the way. Whether your group gathers over coffee, explores a new destination, welcomes a guest speaker or pairs a great read with a round of golf, the possibilities are as varied as the stories on your bookshelf. And at Superstition Mountain, you already have the perfect setting to turn a good book into a great experience.