Never feel left out with these go-to conversation starters
So, you’ve agreed to join a book club to get back into reading after years of buying books only to store them on the shelves to collect dust. Although book clubs are a great way to socialize, and have a reason to leave the house once a month, sometimes life gets in the way. Either you don’t have time to finish the book, or maybe you’ve finished it, but are bad at coming up with discussion questions.
Although the questions below are useful during book club sessions, remember that the best questions do come from the heart. Maybe you just need inspiration, and can take one of our questions and add some sparkle. There are many ways to read a book, and take notes. Whether you listen to the book on walks and pause to ask Siri to write your ideas; take notes in the margins with sticky notes; or have an e-reader that does all the work for you, taking notes throughout the read, will allow for an active discussion.
25 book club questions that will work for any book
- What did you think of the writing style?
- What were some of the book’s general strengths?
- What were some of the book’s general weaknesses?
- How would you describe the character development throughout the book?
- What characters could you relate to?
- What characters weren’t relatable?
- How would you describe the setting development throughout the book?
- Were there any passages that you reread or highlighted? Why did they stick out to you?
- What do you think the author was trying to convey throughout the story?
- Did you find the ending matched the development of the story? Why or why not?
- Would you buy and read another book from the same author? Why or why not?
- Did you find this book to be an original or unique approach? Why or why not?
- Who would you recommend this book to?
- Did you find this book to be a fast read or a slow read?
- Did your opinion of the book change throughout the reading process?
- What connections could you make with the book?
- Do you think this book is over or underrated?
- Is this a memorable book? Why or why not?
- Are there any lingering thoughts, questions, or plot confusions that still remain after completing the book?
- Were there any plot twists that surprised you?
- Did you notice your emotions change as you read the book? If so, what parts of the book and what emotions did it release?
- Do you agree with the reviews that the book has received thus far?
- What parts of the plot stuck out?
- What parts of the plot were unoriginal?
- After reading the book, did the title match the book’s content? Could there have been a different title?