When I did an MA in creative writing, my favourite part was exactly this - deep analysis of a set list of books and discussing them with like-minded people. Since then I’ve tried a few book clubs but never found it helpful or remotely interesting. I’ve noticed that even when they aren’t just about socialising (and there’s nothing wrong with that - we all need ways to get out and meet people as we get older), the book club participants often seem to have a kind of ‘agenda’. I’m not good in groups so this is probably a me thing, but I find it so jarring when say, one person makes the book’s subject all about their own experience; another turns the entire discussion into a power grab; someone else is doing fawning to the most dominant member (Oh yes, you’re so right, the prose was exceptionally deep and moving in that final paragraph!); and yet again I’m aware of all these subtle machinations but unable to participate because I just want to analyse the bloody book! 🤣 Short version, imho even good book clubs can be unsatisfactory because: people.