Jake Holmes

Book Club has been one of my favourite parts of this year at UCL. It’s been really refreshing to step away from the readings we do for our degrees and simply enjoy literature with other people who love books.  Through the society I’ve met some wonderful people and had many riveting conversations about the books we’ve read together—two of my favourites being The Metamorphosis and The Stranger.

First and foremost, I’d love to introduce a few more relaxed socials to change the scenery a little. This could include “bring your own book” pub nights where members can share and discuss books they love, as well as reading picnics in the sunshine where we can enjoy literature together outside the usual setting.

I’d also like to make the sessions themselves even more interactive. Occasionally we could invite members to bring along a short passage from one of their favourite books and share why it’s meaningful to them before opening it up for discussion. Once a month we could also gather suggestions and choose a book at random using a fortune wheel, giving everyone a chance to influence what we read. I would also aim to announce each weekly book a few weeks in advance so everyone has plenty of time to read alongside their academic commitments.

Thanks for reading, and I’d love the opportunity to help run Book Club next year! :)