Book Club Behind the Scenes: Philippines Edition
Book Club Behind the Scenes: Philippines Edition
Part One of Five: The Beginnings
Welcome to Book Club Behind the Scenes! In this guest post series, we’ll get a glimpse into how others are running their book clubs. I hope these insights inspire you to find what works best for your own space and create a book club experience that feels just right for you. Happy reading!
Restrictions during the COVID pandemic in the Philippines were severe, especially for children and the elderly. For about two years, minors and the elderly were essentially not allowed to leave their homes. So, when all restrictions were finally lifted in 2022, everyone was eager to find a community for their children—especially the homeschool community, whose kids didn’t have a physical campus to return to.
I have four boys, ages 3 to 14, and none of them are stellar readers. One of my boys is dyslexic, and another had a speech delay in his early years. At best, they’re ordinary readers. But I don’t want their personal challenges to affect their attitude toward reading. I’d love to instill in them a love for books. So, after the restrictive lockdown was finally lifted, I decided to start a book club to create a community for my kids and help foster that love for reading.
A key component to starting our book club was realizing that I was the leader. My natural inclination is to blend in with the crowd, stay nameless in class, and contribute to discussions by asking, "What do you think?" This approach often doesn’t bear much fruit and instead leads to paralysis by analysis—where ideas are discussed, even agreed upon, but with minimal results. So when my husband pointed out, “Um, I think you’re the leader of this idea and group,” it gave me the push I needed to take action.
Realizing my role helped others understand their contributions to the group, which in turn allowed me to delegate responsibilities. Clear roles help prevent the chaos of planning by committee, where everyone’s duties tend to get muddled. When each person knows their specific part in the whole, it helps the group achieve its overall purpose.
A clear goal creates boundaries, enabling freedom to execute ideas. Pre-pandemic, I came across the concept of a book party, coined by the Brave Writer curriculum. I was immediately attracted to the idea, even though I never actually purchased or followed their curriculum. From my online research, I was able to piece together the general concept of a book party: pick one book, read it at home, then come together for an event to celebrate that book through a collection of themed activities. Remember, one of my goals is to foster a love for reading, not to fulfill a literature requirement in a homeschooler’s education portfolio. Realizing this distinction gives me creative freedom. I’m no longer bound to the expectations that someone else crafted.
Sharing the circumstances of our scenario should be understood according to context. I live in Manila, Philippines. This context should filter your understanding when I share specific circumstances about our club. I wouldn’t directly duplicate my same setup in the U.S. Remember, you are unique, and one size does not fit all.
Hopefully, sharing my experience will liberate you to start a book club that meets your goals and fits your scenario. Limitations don’t have to be frustrating; instead, let your circumstances shape how you begin. When you have clear roles for those involved, it promotes creativity—all aimed at creating a community that fosters a love for reading.
Up Next in Series: The Books
Book Club Behind the Scenes: Philippines Edition
The Beginnings
The Books
The Mechanics
The Content
The Pairings
 | A guest post by
|