Book clubs have been around for hundreds of years and have seen renewed interest since the late 1990s due, in part, to increased media attention, most notably from Oprah Winfrey’s book club. Oprah’s book club encouraged television viewers to read a diverse array of books and to talk with one another about what they had read.

Book clubs are also referred to as reading clubs or book discussion clubs in the general population and as literature circles in education. In addition, many professionals participate in book or journal clubs as a method of professional development or as a learning strategy. Book clubs have been adapted for a wide variety of audiences and purposes but typically include activities that promote [Page 295]reflective discourse. A common theme among ...