Reading Groups

Reading Groups

A reading group is a great way for people who enjoy reading to get together in a relaxed setting to talk about books. At group meetings you can exchange views and opinions on the book your group are reading, you will have an opportunity to try out new authors that you might not otherwise have considered, and generally share a love of reading with like-minded people.

Check out our Reading Groups Digital Display for information about our range of titles, hints and tips, and how Live Life Aberdeenshire Libraries support book groups.

Reading Group Digital Display

Reading Group Collections

The Library Service supports 103 book groups across Aberdeenshire, so whether you are part of an independent group or one of the many groups who meet in our libraries we have a vast selection of titles for you to choose from.  Fill out the request form below if you are part of a reading group and wish to request your next title to read. 

LLA Reading Group Request Form

Sets of books for reading groups are available to be collected from our libraries across Aberdeenshire. Below is a link to the list of titles with number of copies and then a separate list with a synopsis and number of pages for each title available.

Full list of reading group titles with number of copies

Full Synopsis of each reading group title

Once you've been notified that your books are ready you can collect from your local library.

We are always looking for feedback about our reading group collections or suggestions for other books to buy.

Reading Groups Feedback Form

For any other enquiries please email librarieshq@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

Reading Group Map

This Map shows the spread of book groups across Aberdeenshire.

The map markers are the number of groups in each location, these can be private or library run, if you are interested in joining a local Reading Group please get in contact with your local library.

Click here for more hints and tips!

Starting a reading group – hints and tips

• How to get started - to attract people try putting up a poster in your library, community centre, local hall or somewhere similar
• Group size – this can vary from 6 up to 12 members but bear in mind that things can become unmanageable with larger groups and it becomes more difficult to supply enough copies
• Where to meet – Encourage the group to meet in your library, but if that’s not possible then in members’ houses, cafés, pubs, community spaces
• Frequency – Decide when and how often the group will meet eg every month, every 6-8 weeks, every 3 months?
• Refreshments – It can be nice to have tea/coffee or even a glass of wine and it can help to keep the atmosphere informal and relaxed and can also be an icebreaker

And finally –

Remember that reading groups are not academic style literary discussions

They are not about the right and wrong interpretation of a book.

Only you know how you feel about a book, no one else can be an expert about your reading experience.

It is possible to have a poor experience with a “great” book and vice versa and it’s ok to give up and say you didn’t enjoy it.

It’s all about reading for pleasure and enjoyment and not what you think you should be reading!

Reading Groups can also try these handy Icebreaker Questions put together by The Reading Agency to help guide their book group discussions.

Icebreaker Questions