Is this New Zealand's oldest book club?
Book clubs are as much about socialising as they are about a love of literature. One woman, who has been a member of the same club for 50 years, says the key to success is loyalty and respect for other’s views.
Annette Hill can vividly remember the first meeting of her book group in 1975. She was 35, a primary school teacher with three young children, living just outside Christchurch.
The title of the first book discussed has been lost in the mists of time. But she remembers the joy of sitting with a small group of like-minded women – some friends, some strangers – to share a love of literature.
“There were ten of us, all women with busy lives. We came from all walks of life. The thing we had in common was a love of books.”
Annette Hill,85, enjoys reading in her garden. She has been a member of her group for half a century.
Supplied
Half a century later, the book club endures. It is the oldest surviving book club in Christchurch and probably New Zealand. Now 85, Hill is the only foundation member still alive.
“Membership has obviously changed over the years. Some members have died or moved away. We don’t live close to each other now. But we’re all retired and have more time. The format is largely unchanged. We used to meet in the evenings when we were working. Now we meet in the afternoons.”
The first meeting of the year is held over lunch with a glass of wine.
Hill’s group – named CHCH 001 – is part of the Book Discussion Scheme (BDS), based in Christchurch, which celebrated its half-century last year.
The scheme, which distributes books to member groups, was established in New Zealand in 1973 by the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) – an international charity providing adult education. Its original aim was to bring together rural and provincial communities, but it quickly expanded into urban areas. Today, it distributes books to more than 1300 groups throughout New Zealand and has 13,000 members.
Annette Hill was invited to join the inaugural group by a friend and fellow teacher, Isobel Lawrence, the daughter of then WEA secretary Jack Ryley. She had no idea what it would involve. “But, because Isobel was a friend and I loved books, I said ‘yes’.” She has never looked back.
A member of Annette Hill's book group crafted book bags for members that are given to them when they join.
Supplied
She says the key to success is loyalty and respect for others’ views. “We check in on each other’s family and well-being, but we don’t discuss politics or issues of the day. Our discussions focus solely on the book for that month.”
Members of CHCH001 are all women. “We did have one man, but he left after the first meeting. We were discussing Watership Down (by Richard Adams), and there was lively debate. I think he may have been mortified by what was said. We are robust in our discussion, but what’s said in the group, stays in the group..”
She says opinions are often divided. Soil, a book by Australian writer and chef Matthew Evans, was loved by only one member.“We don’t have to agree, but everyone needs to be heard.”
BDS manager Liz Robson says Hill is typical of many of the scheme’s members – “enthusiastic, informed and committed.” Among BDS staff, she is known as the “OG” (Original member).
Robson joined BDS nine years ago. The organisation, which began in a garage, now operates from a large central city office on Colombo St. Ten staff process and distribute 6000 books a week from a collection of more than 1200 titles.
The scheme is subscription-based. Members pay an annual fee of less than $10 a book, which includes outward postage. Groups submit their top 25 choices for the year, and BDS allocates 10 books from that list according to demand and availability. Books are distributed throughout the country, including to clubs on Stewart Island and the Chathams. The groups meet in person, books are distributed at the monthly meeting and returned the following meeting when a new book is distributed.
There have been challenges over the years. When the Christchurch earthquake hit in 2011, thousands of books were dislodged from shelves, and many were lost through liquefaction seeping through the building. During the pandemic, some groups continued discussions online. Where possible, sanitised books were delivered locally to individual letterboxes. When Cyclone Gabrielle struck in 2023, safe delivery sites had to be found in flooded areas.
BDS staff member Aimee Bloy wraps books.
Supplied
Robson, who is also part of a book group and particularly enjoys biographies, believes the BDS scheme is unique. “Many of the groups of the groups have been together for decades and have experienced friendships as young parents through to grandparents.”
There are 550 male members, but only 20 men’s groups. “We’re working on ways to increase that.”
The most popular books last year were The Axeman’s Carnival by Catherine Chidgey, Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, Call Your Daughter Home by Deborah Spera and The Bookseller at the End of the World by Ruth Shaw.
Annette Hill says she will continue to attend meetings, “as long as I am able.” She took a break when her professional workload peaked. (She was a member of the Government’s Literary Taskforce established in 1998). “I only had time to read academic papers.” But the group held a place for her. She rejoined in 2005.
She now has more time to read – “at least two books a week” alongside garden club, tai chi and helping her husband on their lifestyle block. She remains an enthusiastic advocate for literacy in schools.
Currently, beside her bed are three books: The Coast by Australian author Eleanor Limprecht, Small Wars Permitting by Christina Lamb and Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann.
She says book group choices have changed over five decades. “In the early days, (British writer and Noel prize winner) Doris Lessing was our golden girl. Today, many people haven’t heard of her.”
Books ready to be distributed to groups throughout the country.
Supplied
How to start a book club
Book clubs are reportedly growing in popularity worldwide since the pandemic. An event listing site in the UK showed an increase of 350 per cent from 2019-2023. But while traditional book clubs were usually held in people’s homes with a glass or wine or two, clubs now meet in a range of venues and often have specific themes.
Eventfinda lists a range of clubs, including a Silent Book Club in which members gather to read silently while enjoying food and company, romance readers’ book clubs for those who like that genre, cookbook clubs in which members choose a favourite recipe and share it with members, and even a smut book club in which steamy novels are dissected.
Book clubs can be groups of friends and colleagues or just those with a shared interest in books. They can be held in private homes, libraries, cafes, pubs or online. Numbers are generally kept small (up to 10) to allow everyone to have a say.
Publishing house Penguin has some good tips for setting up and maintaining a club. Publishers often offer book club notes to get the discussion going.
Members need to decide whether they all want to read and discuss a single book or books read by individual members. Some publishers offer discounts to book clubs through bulk buying, or books can be borrowed from public libraries.
Book Distribution Scheme (BDS), based in Christchurch, which has 1,300 member clubs, publishes a list of clubs seeking members. The organisation buys and distributes titles to member groups based on a list of their preferences.
Celebrity book clubs (think Oprah and Reese Witherspoon) list recommended books, which can then be discussed on the website Goodreads or on other social media sites. These virtual reading groups attract millions of participants. According to Nielsen Bookdata, Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, published in 2022, sold nearly 1 million copies in the UK alone, due to the Witherspoon effect. Today, Witherspoon’s club has 3 million subscribers.
BDS manager Liz Robson.
Supplied
