Women and Book Clubs – A historical perspective

Since Anne Hutchinson’s followers traveled on a Puritan ship destined for Massachusetts in 1634, literary discussions have remained a powerful presence in American culture, culminating in the 1996 launch of Oprah’s Book Club. It is believed that currently over 5 million people in the United States belong to book clubs, with most of these clubs having fewer than 10 members. In this piece, we examine several significant instances in the history of American book clubs.

Since the very start, women have led the way in book clubs. In 1634, while traveling to the Bay Colony, Anne Hutchinson initiated a small religious discussion group to elaborate on sermons. Although she wasn’t the first to form such an association, she was recognized as a critic of Puritan values. The Colony eventually disbanded the group, and Hutchinson was tried and exiled to Rhode Island. Women leaders addressing the complexities of religious authority presented a danger.

The initial woman to earn a livelihood by writing in the U.S. was the historian Hannah Adams, during the late 1760s. She became part of a group to talk about belle lettres, a French phrase meaning “beautiful” writing. Belle lettres were central to numerous women’s conversations during that period, providing an aesthetics-driven substitute to conventional fiction, poetry, and prose. Certain groups even presented their own texts to share.

Until the early 1800s, the most prominent and publicized book clubs were predominantly made up of affluent White women. Educational inequality and the socio-political atmosphere before and during the 1800s hindered African-Americans from assembling to engage in literary discussions as aristocratic Whites did then. During the 1820s and 30s, organized groups aimed at African-American readers gained popularity, including the “Society of Young Ladies” located in Lynn, Massachusetts.

In 1896, Jane Cunningham Croly, an American journalist and women’s rights supporter, along with her associates from the New York Press Association, was denied entry to a banquet because of their gender. Consequently, she created a group for women to talk about discrimination, conduct lectures and book discussions, and provide scholarships to women in college. The group was named Sorosis, after a fruit type that comes from a cluster of flowers. The organization became so popular that several imitator groups continued to exist until 2016 and later.

In 1926, a man named Harry Scherman established the Book-of-the-Month Club, a mail-order service that continues to operate today. The well-known program sought to incorporate women’s perspectives; renowned author and education advocate Dorothy Canfield Fisher served on the inaugural panel of judges who chose remarkable books for the club. The club also backed female writers, boosting the fame of works like Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind. Even with women’s ongoing initiatives to expand book discussion groups, currently, if you search for “Who created book clubs?” Harry Scherman will be mentioned. The emergence of consciousness-raising (CR) groups was a result of second-wave feminism during the 1960s and 70s. These groups aimed at linking individual experiences to political frameworks. CR groups are not merely book clubs; they provide women a space to express their thoughts and exchange experiences.

In September 1996, Oprah Winfrey launched her book club, starting with the book The Deep End of the Ocean by Jacquelyn Mitchard. In 2006, controversy erupted when it was disclosed that her choice of A Million Little Pieces, a memoir by James Frey, was fabricated by the writer. Her endorsement sticker remains on numerous books today, even though the club ended in 2010.

Currently, book clubs may be associated with excessive wine and homemade dip, or possibly a spa day. Luxury is a perceived emphasis of the contemporary book club, mainly consisting of women. However, numerous clubs indicate that the more time they dedicate to discussing a text (approximately 40 minutes), the more satisfied they feel within the club. Intellectual endeavors remain a priority – a survey by BookBrowse found that 97% of book club participants view “stimulating meaningful discussion” as the key criterion in choosing books. 73% search for books that provoke thought, while 55% desire books that spark controversy.

After the protests in June 2020 triggered by George Floyd’s death, anti-racist book clubs experienced significant increases in membership, numerous new groups were established, and existing clubs began looking for anti-racist resources. Some view this as a beneficial change, yet many still wonder if this trend will inspire genuine systemic transformation. Although discussions within these groups can promote an awareness of racial history and White supremacy, social justice advocates worry that White book club participants may feel they have made progress by simply reading and contemplating, without taking further action to confront biases and participate in anti-racism efforts in their own lives and neighborhoods.

The COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2021 has led to a revival of book clubs. With clubs transitioning to online platforms like Zoom, members are able to connect globally. Certain groups are even emerging specifically for this period like #CoReadingVirus and The Quarantine Book Club. Asheville’s cherished bookstore, Malaprop’s, offers a selection of virtual book clubs that you can participate in. Whether you’re a passionate reader, activist, or someone looking for new relationships, there could be a book club available for you.