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Food and Competitive Hosting at Book Club Meetings

Food is so closely tied with social gatherings, it's no wonder that it's often present at book club meetings. In fact, according to our research report, The Inner Lives of Book Clubs, 91% of private book clubs have food at their meetings, ranging from a snack (41%) to a full hostess-cooked meal (13%) or potluck (13%). Among public book clubs (i.e. groups that are open to anyone to join, many of which meet in libraries), 61% have some sort of food but the great majority keep it very simple.

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Competition should have no place in book clubs, reading is for pleasure. Why in heaven's name would people get competititve over the snacks served? That has nothing to do with the pleasures of reading--or eating, for that matter.
# Posted By Audrey Trauner | 1/14/20 7:17 AM
I think the subject of competitive hosting is great food, pardon the pun, for thought, but each club ultimately has to find its own way. My group is small (5) and we meet for breakfast in members’ homes. All are good cooks and if there IS competition (and there probably is a bit—I would be reluctant, for instance, to set out cereal boxes), it’s very healthy, friendly, and not a problem for us.
# Posted By Pat Noonan | 1/22/20 12:35 PM
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