I've started a Classic Book Club?

Question

I started a Classic Book Club at my high school and we haven't done much in terms of great discussions and readings. I was wondering,...

-When would be ideal for us to meet?Weekly or Monthly?
-What kind of books should we read? (It has to be classics but I'm also adding some contemporaries after 5 reads of classics or something like that. Name some classics to read. )
-What kind of activities/fun events sould be included in the club?
-What kind of funraising methods are appropiate?
-Sugggest other ideas

Thank you =D

Answer 1

Weekly seems too often, monthly too long. How about twice a month?

Classics: Ernest Hemmingway, John Steinbeck. William Shakesphere, Mark Twain, F.Scott Fitzgerald, William Faulkner, John Cheever, W.Somerset Maugham, Joseph Conrad, Nathanial West, Rudyard Kipling, Jack London

As to more contemporary work, it might be interesting to read from authors who have had their work translated into film. Some authors and books that come to mind: John Irving, "Cider House Rules" and "Hotel New Hampshire." Stephen King, "The Shining," "Firestarter," "Misery," "The Green Mile," Anne Tyler, "The Accidental Tourist," Elmore Leonard, "Get Shorty," "Out of Sight," John Grisham, "Pelican Brief," "The Client"

Also you could listen as a group to books on tape read by the authors.

Have fun!

Answer 2

Firstly, well done! I hope you find this really rewarding.
Secondly, have you enlisted the help of your Head of English? It would be useful to include some works on the required reading list (but only some - keep this as wide open as you can). They may also be able to point you in the right direction for some funding support.
Thirdly, your frequency of meetings will need to be dictated by the speed at which your members read. Start off every two weeks and adjust according to the majority.

Fun events could include fancy dress - in the style of the current book, visits to areas where books are set (only if they are reasonably local, obviously), visits to museums, places of interest with relevance to the book, trips to see the film of the book - in order to generate discussion about film versus book versions, etc.

Try to get hold of a copy of the books on the BBC's Big Read, and use that as your basis for books to include on your list, or get a few ideas from your local book store - staff will be only too pleased to help and advise you.

Good luck, and most of all - ENJOY!!