Trading books party

August 03, 2009

Most people have two stacks of books in their home: the ones they keep meaning to read and the couple that have been elevated to the "favorites" shelf.

It's time to take some of those favorites and spread them around among your friends. While book clubs can be fun, they can also at times feel like everyone has homework to do. Instead, forget about reading something new and invite your book-loving friends to discuss some of their favorite literary works from the past.

This takes the work out of reading a new book and instead celebrates someone's favorite book. Better yet, it's also a chance for someone to borrow it and see if they like it for themselves.

In the party invitation, be sure to explain that people will be bringing in books to swap and trade. Remind people to mark their book with their name (or some other way of identifying it).

For decorations, consider turning an area of your home into a makeshift library. Maybe bring a bookcase close to the party area and use candles to cast a quiet and relaxing atmosphere. Also, hanging up colorful bookmarks on the wall can add some spark to the event as well as be party favors at the end.