Title: How to Organise and Enjoy a Book Club in Midlife and Beyond?
Speaker: Ms Lee Li Li, Clinical Psychologist
Date: 24.06.2025 (Tuesday)

In previous session, we have discussed many benefits of reading, how to read effectively and how to choose books that suit you. Today, let’s delve into how book clubs for midlife and beyond differs from those for younger generation or workplace groups, and how such book club can be organised. After all, joy shared is joy multiplied -- so when it comes to reading, why should we read together?


A. Reasons to join a Book Club: 4 Major Benefits

1. Improve Cognitive Ability:
   Enhances memory and concentration


2. Social Interaction:
   Meet like-minded people and foster interpersonal connections and find your sense of belonging.


3. Emotional Healing:
   The emotional release while reading can relieve stress, alongside encouragements from books and club members, we can get a deeper healing of our soul.


4. Find Meaning in Life:
   Each book contains wisdom of life. Reading at different stages of life brings different insights, helping us find value and direction in our lives.

As a book club grows, members will be from diverse background and ability. At this stage, it’s important to get members’ feedback and adjust the club’s structure and content accordingly. Responding to members’ needs can ensure club’s sustainability in influencing their cognitive growth, social interaction, emotional healing and life meaning positively.

For instance, some members may prefer wide reading and value the number and variety of books, while others may emphasis deep understanding towards one book. In such cases, the book club can shift from a focus on “quantity” that reads more and faster to one that values “quality” for more in-depth reading and sharing, accommodating different members’ paces and needs. Through this, every members can continue growing within the club and find their reason to stay.


B. Book Club Variations: Adding Interaction and Enjoyment

To enhance interaction and engagement in book club, it’s helpful to occasionally introduce different activity in the session. These creative variations help enrich the reading experience and makes it more lively:

• Musical Read-Along:
  Pair reading with background music or explore song lyrics related to book’s themes to spark emotional resonance.


• Video Pairing:
  Play short video clips connected to the book’s subject to inspire deeper reflection and assist discussion.


• From Book to Food:
  Bring books to kitchen by trying cookbook recipes like cooking or baking, exchanging food and nutritious insights.


• Role Playing:
  Reenact scenes from the book to better understand characters’ emotions, motivation and relationships.


• Creative Drawing:
  Use art to express the moments that best moved you, tapping into your imagination and personal interpretation.


• Field Trips and Nature Reading:
  Organise a reading session outdoor. Read in nature, visit places tied to book’s setting or culture, and turn reading into a fuller sensory experience.

C. Setting a Purpose: Making Book Clubs more Meaningful

Having a clear purpose helps guide the direction of a book club and adds greater meaning to the reading experience. Some clubs focus on a core theme for long-term, focusing in-depth exploration within the set theme; while others adjust their focus over time based on members’ interest and needs.

Through open communication and shared understanding among members, book club can more intentionally select topics and books that truly resonate with the group -- making the reading session more relevant and interesting.

Here are a few common book club themes, along with suggested books:

• Reflection:
  《A Long Gaze: Lung Ying-tai》《Vivere Slow (Living Slow)》


• Healing & Growth:
  《The Courage to be Disliked》《The Power of Now》


• Culture:
  《菜根谭（The Caigentan）》《论语（Analects of Confucius）》《庄子（Zhuangzi）》


• Parent-Child:
  《Something from Nothing》《No, David!》

D. Tips for Organising a Book Club For Midlife and Beyond

• Reading aloud:
  While comparing to silent reading, reading aloud helps members better follow the material, deepens comprehension and improves focus and engagement - especially helpful for midlife and beyond readers.


• Keeping the group small (3-12 people):
  A group size under 12 ensures everyone has a chance to share their thoughts without turning the discussion into too long or overwhelming. Each sessions should be around 60 to 75 minutes to maintain energy and attention.


• Match your theme to the group:
  When setting a theme, consider who’s attending. For example, if the goal is inter-generational bonding, you might try a “grandparent-grandchildren reading session”, where seniors read together with their grandchildren.

E. A Sample Book Club Flow for Midlife and Beyond

1. Welcoming and Opening (5 minutes)
   The host greets everyone and briefly introduces the book and the day’s theme.
   Example: “Today’s book we are covering will be《The Power of Now》 by Eckhart Tolle...”


2. Selected Reading (10 minutes)
   The host reads aloud selected passages. Soft background music can be used to create a calm, immersive atmosphere.


3. Personal Reflections (20 minutes)
   Each participant shares a line that touched them or a feeling they had while reading. This builds emotional resonance and connection.


4. Guided Discussion (15 minutes)
   Lead a group discussion around a key theme, character, or idea in the book. This deepens understanding and invites diverse perspectives.


5. Interactive Activity (10 minutes)
   Include something fun and stimulating, like memory cards, mini quizzes, sketching a scene, or role-playing a moment from the book.


6. Reflection and Copying (10 minutes)
   Ask participants to copy down a favorite quote or write a short personal reflection. Optionally, they can also record a voice memo, so bringing a notebook or recording device will help.


7. Group Photo & Preview (5 minutes)
   Take a photo to mark the moment, then introduce the book for the next session to allow time for preview reading and preparation.

F. The Four-Stage Question Framework for Book Club Discussion

1. Informational Stage - understanding the content :
   Focus: Questions that can be answered directly from the text
   Purpose: Help members enter the text and ensure a shared basic understanding
   Example: “What is this passage mainly about?”
   


2. Interpretation Stage - exploring deeper meaning
   Focus: Discovering underlying themes, author’s intent, or symbolic meaning.
   Purpose: Encourages members to share personal insights and perspectives.
   Example: “What do you think the author means by ‘the present moment’?”
   


3. Connection Stage - relating to life experiences
   Focus: Connecting the book’s ideas to members’ real-life experiences.
   Purpose: Create resonance between reading and personal stories
   Example: “Have you ever been caught up in memories of the past or worries about the future?”
   
4. 
   Transformation Stage - Inspiring Inner Growth
   Focus: Encouraging reflection and practical application of insights.
   Purpose: Support personal transformation and emotional healing.
   Example: “If you could write a letter to your younger self, what would you say?”
   

G. Music-Themed Book Club Sample Flow

1. Musical Welcome (5 minutes)
   Greet members with calming background music - such as guzheng, piano or nature sounds - to create a peaceful, reflective mood and prepare everyone to enter a reading state.


2. Reading Along Music (10 minutes)
   The host or member reads selected book passages aloud with soft instrumental music accompanied. The blend of music and words stirs emotional reflection.


3. Deep Listening (5 minutes)
   Invite members to close their eyes and listen silently to a piece of music (e.g., “Once Upon a Time in Luoyang”) to fully delve into the atmosphere of reading.


4. Music & Emotion Sharing (15 minutes)
   Introduce the background or story behind the music, then guide a discussion using the Four-Stage Question Framework:
   • Informational:
     What story does this song tell?
   
   
   • Interpretation:
     What do you think “Luoyang” symbolizes in this piece?
   
   
   • Connection:
     Do you have a personal place full of memory or meaning?
   
   
   • Transformation:
     If you wrote a song called “Once Upon a Time in ____”, which place would you choose, and why?


5. Reflective Writing & Poetry (15 minutes)
   Invite members to copy down a meaningful line from the reading or music, or create a short original poem that captures a memory, feeling, or inspiration.


6. Group Photo & Closing Reflections (5 minutes)
   Take a group photo to mark the moment, and invite each member to share: “What moved me most today?”

H. Oven Book Club Sample Flow

For a more sensory-rich experience, combine reading with taste sensory. This ”oven” session blends storytelling with the warmth of food, stirring memory, emotional and a sensory connection.

1. Warm Welcome (5 minutes)
   Play soft baking-themed music while the scent from the oven fills the room. Members arrive, relax, and enjoy casual conversation.


2. Reading and Sharing (10 minutes)
   Read cultural or emotionally themed book, accompanied by the background of the food being served - its culture or health-related context.


3. Guided Questions (15 minutes)
   Use layered questions to deepen the discussion:
   1. Informational:
      “What did you notice in the text?”
      e.g., “She placed the bread in the oven, and the whole room smelled like sunshine.”
   2. Interpretation:
      “Why do you think the author used food to express emotion?”
      e.g., ”Is bread comfort, memory, or a symbol of love?”


4. Food Memory Sharing (10 minutes)
   Invite members to share personal stories of meaningful foods:
   “What’s the warmest food memory you have? Who made it for you?”
   e.g., “Whenever I smell roasted sweet potatoes, I remember my grandmother’s old kitchen.”


5. Creative Activity (10 minutes)
   Encourage imagination and personal expression through art or writing:
   • Draw or describe “The Taste of Home” or “A Dessert that Speaks”
   • Transformation Stage: “If you were to make a dessert for someone you love, what would it be—and why?”. This will turn emotion into creation and link taste with inner expression


6. Group Photo and Closing Words (5 minutes)
   Capture the moment with a photo, then ask each participant to share: “What flavour or phrase touched me most today?”

I. How to Attract Midlife and Beyond Adults to Join a Book Club

• Choose Relaxed, Relatable Themes:
  select topics that are related to daily lives and easily resonate. Themes like “childhood memories” or “travelling” can easily sparks interest and desire to join.


• Add Simple Heartwarming Interactive Elements:
  Incorporate light and engaging activities such as group photos, memory card, or a chill read-aloud contest. These small touches make the experience more fun and participatory.


• Offer Tea and Healthy Snacks:
  Serve warm drinks and light, nutritious refreshments. A cosy, comfortable setting helps participants feel more relaxed and better engaged.


• Integrate with Festivals:
  Create special sessions around holidays, like “Mid-Autumn Poetry” or “New Year Wishlist Book” theme. This adds cultural meaning and festive spirit to the gatherings.


• Encourage a Referral Model:
  Invite members to bring a family member or a friend. Offer a small token of appreciation for successful referrals to boost community morale.


• Create Beautiful Invitations:
  Use well-designed visual invites, either with photos and graphics or handwritten-style notes. A thoughtful invitation shows care and helps the recipient feel valued.


• Invite Guest Speakers for Added Value:
  Bring in professionals like therapists, authors or healthcare practitioners to share insights related to book’s theme. This adds depth and a sense of professionalism.


• Promote through Multiple Channels:
  Share book club info via community chat groups (e.g. WhatsApp), senior center bulletin boards, local newspaper or family groups. Repetition and accessibility help reach a broader audience.