Loving books sometimes just isn't enough. With the advent and proliferation of the book group, reading in a vacuum is no longer the only option for bibliophiles. Wherever you turn these days -friends, libraries, Richard and Judy, Newsnight Review - you're bound to see a set of people discussing the latest read.

Setting up a book group may seem like a daunting task but it's really very simple and there are a number of ways to do it. Two of the easiest are approaching friends and your local library.

Talk to some of your friends (as few or as many as you like, and even those that you think may not be interested) and suggest that you get together once a month, to read and discuss a book, taking it in turns to have it at someone's house. This is also a great way to keep in contact with friends - make it a social engagement and bring reading out of the closet.

The other way to join a book group is your local public library. It will either already have one you can join and, if not, it's a great avenue to introduce one - there's a captive audience of people reading books. And the staff at your local library will do all they can to help.

Choosing a book: whichever route you take, the book will be the focal point and how you go about choosing one for each meeting is the fun part. If you're meeting at friends' houses it's easiest if the host of the next group chooses. If held at a library, just take it in turns to choose, or nominate a 'chair' for each meeting who will choose the book and direct the discussion.

The book itself can be the difficult task. It's easiest in the first instance to choose what you would really like to read without being proscriptive and thinking you should read something - there's nothing wrong with best-sellers and, equally, 'high brow' choices or an old favourite that you want to re-read or a classic you've never read but have always wanted to. There are books pages in all the newspapers and on the radio, prizies (the Man Booker, the Costa) and these are fine ways to get ideas.

For the discussion, keep it simple, jot down a few notes when reading (characters, themes, your response to the book, strengths/weaknesses, dialogue, descriptions). You'd be surprised at how far a few notes will take you into a lively discussion about the book du jour.

Above all, enjoy. Books are to be read, enjoyed, discussed, and part of life. Make them so!

Book groups are held at public libraries in Edinburgh and there is also general information available on the world of bookgroups.  We are working to make a list of private book groups available - in the meantime, head to the library, or why not join a writers' group?

Poetry Reading Groups - the Scottish Poetry Library runs regular monthly groups, looking at selections of poems, or sometimes just one single poem.

Script Reading Group - The Traverse Theatre runs a monthly PlayGroup, to read scripts together. Visit www.traversetheatre.tumblr.com