York humanities professor Elaine Newton just might have the longest-running book club in Toronto -- 25 years by last count. Newton -- who acts as a book club consultant -- says that despite the 500-channel universe, there's been a resurgence in groups that get together regularly to discuss what they're reading.

    "Despite what people say about the threat of technology, there's been a growth in reading over the last decade," Newton says.

    Book clubs started to become trendy in the latter '80s and early '90s. Newton has found herself busier than ever as a consultant. So busy, in fact, she's had to cut back to two or three of her favourite groups. "Flying to Naples, Florida, once a month to lecture on books to a club there has just proved to be too much," says Newton.

    For many years, Newton was a book critic for the Globe and Mail. Somewhere along the line she found herself lecturing to private groups about the books she was reading. She says she brings to her lectures (for which she is paid) the same kind of standards she uses in her academic career at York.

    "A skilled lecturer at a book club is going to unpack and decode the book in a way that a person, who hasn't got that background, can't. They should also be a good teacher, so that everyone is encouraged to participate," says Newton. "The important qualities are that you're a good teacher and good critic."

    Newton advises people looking to join a club to consider a few simple points: Do you want something professional? How often do you want to meet? What's the social component?

    "A book group is really about the people who make it happen," she notes. "Today's book club isn't about discussing the plot and passing the cookies."