Do you wish it had been told from a different perspective? Book Club in a Bag Discussion Questions “Son of a Trickster” by Eden Robinson 1. If you're not squeamish about writing in the margins, try taking notes and underlining passages as you go along. Were you amused, upset, bored, angry, intrigued? She’s found herself in a modern-day polygamist relationship with her husband and 2 other wives. Did you like the "heat" level of the book? Book Club Discussion Questions for 'An American Marriage' by Tayari Jones Tayari Jones’ An American Marriage is a beautifully written, heart-wrenching tale that, though fiction, speaks to some of the realities and consequences of the prison-industrial complex. Did you agree with the author’s point of view? Was the reality created in the book believable? Let’s do a little recap of the book, shall we? Some of the best book club reads are nonfiction titles. I decided to come up with a generic list of book club questions to compel us to dig deeper than “Did you like the book?” and “Why or why not?” without tying us down to traditional book club books or classic literature. Bring these with you to your next meeting, and you will be hailed a book club hero. Where did you deviate? Oprah Magazine participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. What was your biggest takeaway from the book? Did this book melt your heart? Of course, your first discussion should always be, "Did you like the book? Are they fully developed as complex human beings—or were they one-dimensional? Our 2-3 hour meetings are primarily a social gathering with a mere 10 minute discussion about the book snuck somewhere in the middle. Required fields are marked *. This story explores the many relationships of its characters, both in and outside of the open … What is the turning point of this book? So here's a list of book club questions that will work for any book your book club chooses — see the end of the article for a printable version. If you could ask the author anything, what would it be? Thursday is okay with t… What is the most important point the author makes in this book? Book Club Discussion Questions Our 3,500 Reading Guides include Discussion Questions, Book Reviews, Author Bios, and Plot Summaries. Or did you feel manipulated by the storyline? Was the couple's connection believable? Author interviews, book reviews and lively book commentary are found here. Did you end up doing extra research on anything presented in the book? Which is why we're providing you with this list of top book club questions that will generate general discussion whether you're focused on nonfiction, a self-help book, a juicy historical romance novel, or one of Reese's, Jenna Bush Hager's or, of course, Oprah's favorites. The book club questions below can guide your group through a meaningful discussion about almost any book. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. I like the idea of generic questions that can be used with all books and seem to get the conversation going. How did this … Use a prompt (prop) related to the story. When we discuss fiction with our friends, we not only immerse ourselves deeper in the story, we learn a lot about our friends. If yes, how so? Did the book intrigue, amuse, disturb, alienate, irritate, or frighten you? Discussion Questions: 1. Son of a Trickster has been described as ‘violent’ and ‘nightmarish’. What were the main points you think the author was trying to make? So, you've started your book club, you've bought enough wine to satisfy even your thirstiest pals, plus plenty of cheesy snacks. Use the SEARCH box (title or author) If you don't find a specific guide for a book, take a look at our Discussion Tips & Ideas. Each member (or team of 2 or 3) takes a card and answers the question. Which character was most like someone you already know? Book Club Discussion Questions . I hope eventually to post discussion questions for all of the books we've covered since I took over a couple of years ago and beyond, all the way to the beginning over a decade and a half ago. They are very generic and will work for most if not all books. Are there any areas you wished the author had elaborated upon further? Did you race to the end, or was it more of a slow burn? Are there lingering questions from the book you're still thinking about? 5. Does the story seem to fit with what you know of the author? Having finished reading our book club discussion questions for the girl on the train and the other discussion questions, you must now have an idea of how to lead a book club discussion. Did you agree with the characters' decisions? What did you think of the writing? Did you find the author's story compelling? If so, what did you find? Book questions and reading guides/discussion guides for book clubs - more than 500 printable reading guides for exceptional books. The circumstance that sets the book in motion is called the inciting moment. Every book page contains useful information for your book group including book club questions. Your email address will not be published. Are there any characters you'd like to deliver a lecture to? 3. What do you think about the author’s writing style? What do you think happens to the characters after the book's official ending? Did the quality of the writing match the story? How do you picture the characters’ lives after the end of the story? Which event in the book was most similar to something you’ve personally experienced. Before Diving In. Hearing other’s perspectives on facts and how data is presented can help us absorb material in a much deeper way. Did it put you off? Before you dive into the heavy plot points, character development, themes, … Great Psychological Thrillers for Book Clubs. Did you find the book easy to read, or a slog? These are good questions. I would love to have a printable copy. If not, what surprised you? Welcome to Brightly’s Book Club for Kids, where we encourage young readers to discover great books, share new stories, explore important topics, and have some bookish fun! How did that affect your perception of the character? What did you think of the romance's pacing? Are there any people in the book whose perspective you wanted. Book club questions and discussion for A Promised Land by Barack Obama provides an in-depth look at each important aspect of this memoir. Are you always struggling to come up with book club questions to help guide your group discussion? What would you say? I’m hosting this Wed and will use severa l! Learn how your comment data is processed. I like your questions. If so, at what point did they click for you? If it's part of a series, did this book book compel you to read the next one? Do you think you'll remember it in a few months or years? You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. My passion is helping busy moms have happy, healthy homes and feel great about themselves. Thank you, I am wondering how to print these book discussion questions too…. What are some passages that you underlined, or that particularly affected you? If you could give the book a new title, what would it be? And remember to check out our other book resources: Samantha Cerff, an editor for Fandango Latin America and member of the book club Sinopsis in Lima, Peru, recommends organizing all those thoughts prior to the meeting. Which character would you most like to meet? How did the memoir make you reflect on your own life? We may earn commission from the links on this page. How did your opinion of the book change as you read it? Did the story unfold the way you expected? Volunteering with Your Book Club Starting a Father/Son Book Club Hints and Tips for Your Book Club Discussion 12 Great Books for Mother-Daughter Book Clubs Take a Field Trip to Liven Up Your Book Club How and Why to Start a Business Book Club Tips for Setting up a Home Library for Your Kids Invite an Expert to Your Mother-Daughter Book Club Meeting What do you think motivated the author to share his or her story? What did you learn from hearing this person's story? If not, what do you wish had been explained more? How come? 2. A post shared by Oprah’s Book Club (@oprahsbookclub). Are there any quotes, passages, or scenes you found particularly compelling? Are there any standout sentences? What did you think about the spiritual path of the book? Is anything left unresolved or ambiguous? Seth travels within the Pacific Northwest to stay with each of his 3 wives throughout different days of the week. 3. How does the main character interact with others? How does the book's setting contribute to the book? 6. Book Club Questions for Any Book Finding Great Book Discussion Questions. If so, in what way? Zara tells her psychologist, “your generation don’t want to study a subject, they want to study … How does the book's title work in relation to the book's contents? How would you describe his or her personality? Did this book remind you of any other books? Did you feel like you got the 'true' … What Changes/Decisions Would You Hope For If The Book Were Turned Into A Movie? I'm a work at home mom of five children. If not, which aspects were hard to believe? Try some of the following: 1. Discussion Questions: 1.The book starts off with the brutal killing of 16 members of Lydia’s family at her mother’s house for her niece’s quinceanera party. Using Generic Book Club Questions. 50 Great Book Club Questions for a Meaningful Discussion. Which did you like least? Do you agree or disagree with this? Use our LitLovers Resources below to help you with specific questions. In some ways, by Graeme Simsion is a light, fun read for book clubs that need a break from heavy books. Make you believe in love again? Would you ever consider re-reading it? If the story could be told by one of the other character’s, which character’s perspective would you prefer to hear? What moments in the novel have made you decide you like or dislike it so far? Would you want to read another book by this author? I hope the book club questions above help you get more out of your book club discussions. What did you Google while reading the book? What did you think of the author's voice and style? Every book club member has a few great book discussions that stand out in their mind - what's yours? Did you find it too much? Here are some questions to guide your group through a discussion about a nonfiction book. Join the Book Club Chat Newsletter Leave this field empty if you're human: A Promised Land is the first presidential memoir that I’ve read. Do you have a new perspective as a result of reading this book? Would you want to read more books set in that world? Discover New Book Club Books--Browse our Discussion Guides which incude Book Reviews, Discussion Questions, Summaries, Talking Points and Author Websites Who’s your favorite character and why? Did reading the book impact your mood? In one of my past book clubs, we literally ONLY read books that included discussion questions at the end of the book because we wanted to be certain we’d have a meaningful discussion. Do you prefer the book or the movie? 6 Groups That May Convince You to Join a Book Club. Here are some good book club questions to consider: 1. If you had to trade places with one character, who would it be? Do you find the characters convincing? It’s a huge book with so many rich details. Were you surprised that Albert, Odie and Mose […] Luckily, there's no shortage of thought-provoking book club questions. Questions to consider (Fiction): How did you experience the book? these questions were very helpful in me answering my book review essays thanks. "I put sticky notes on pages that really move me or get me thinking so we can revisit and discuss during book club," Rickard says. 'Queenie' Author On 16 Best Books by Black Women. Book Club Questions for American Dirt. Depending on our backgrounds, values, and belief systems, each of us is drawn to different aspects of those worlds. "Always get your questions ready beforehand and keep in mind some quotes you'd like to discuss," Cerff tells OprahMag.com. Home » 50 Great Book Club Questions for a Meaningful Discussion. Read synopsis here. Why do you think there was such a huge push to proclaim this as the next great literary novel? Here are some other resources to make your book club meetings more meaningful. 2. If the book is already a movie, are you happy with the representation? 2. What do you think about the author’s storytelling ability? If you want the printable list, you need to fill in the sign-up form and then the printable file should open immediately. All these questions are suitable book club discussion questions for educated circles. Did you guess the ending? Were there parts of the book you thought were incredibly unique, out of place, thought-provoking, or disturbing? Did the book spook you, or get under your skin, in any way? Did you reread any passages? For those of you with a library book, author Elise Williams Rikard shared a trick with OprahMag.com. This content is imported from Instagram. Why or why not?" My current book club group is much more casual, but perhaps too much so. Did you detect any bias in the way the information was presented? Then, all it takes is one or two prompts to get everyone sharing their takes. Which character did you relate to, or empathize with, the most? The main character of the book – Thursday, tries to be the perfect wife in an unconventional relationship to her husband Seth. Toss one question at a time out to the group. If yes, did it impact the story for you in any way? What do you think happens to the leads after the ending? Ideally, everyone would come to the book club bursting with feelings, impressions, and ideas that the book had sparked. Did the plot proceed in a way that felt natural? Do you believe the topic was covered adequately in the book? For those of you that haven't or couldn't attend book club lately, we'll be publishing the previous months' discussion questions here. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. What was your reaction to that pivotal mo… This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 2. What were your impressions on the author's style? Book Club Discussion Questions - This page gives you a full list of all the books featured on this site, split between fiction and non fiction. How did the book compare to other memoirs you've read? Were you immediately drawn into the story—or did it take a while? 4. Did you think the horrific scene would set the tone for the book? How does the main character change throughout the book? Did you learn something you didn’t know before? What do you think it adds to the story that it is told in first person from the point of view of an … For more ways to live your best life plus all things Oprah, sign up for our newsletter! Would you read another book by the same author? Besides the below book club questions, remember, the easiest way to be a participant at the book club is to be an active reader. Which characters did you like best? What are some possible themes or lessons of this book? You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, The Definitive List of Best Movie Musicals, 50 Times Meghan Markle Broke Royal Protocol, What Your Favorite Child Stars Look Like Now, Famous Women You Didn’t Know Changed Their Names, 50 Celebrities Who Passed on Major Movie Roles, 50 Movies You Forgot You Watched in the ’90s. What are your thoughts on the book's structure? Did it jump around too much or hold you in suspense? Why? 3. Do you feel that the novel is truly representative of the culture and way of life of the main characters and to First Nations in general? This Tender Land is a coming of age book that has spirituality as one of its main theme. Tell us about the book you read and the memorable discussion it provoked. 2. Did you doubt the author's advice at some points? What motivated the main character to act the way they did? If you have any suggestions for questions other book club members can use in their discussions, share those, too! Who would you cast to play the main characters? Fiction transplants us into a new world. If so, who? Are there plot points the book didn't address? Here are some questions to help facilitate that experience. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. Were you satisfied or disappointed with how the story ended? Is the book different in any way from the books you usually read? "How credible/believable did you find the narrator to be? What Was Your Best Book Club Discussion? Did you like it more or less than other books in the same genre? Some people think the first sentence of a novel is the most important. Your email address will not be published. Were you aware of the controversy surrounding American Dirt prior to reading it? If so, at what point? Did you approve of their decisions and behavior? Has this book affected the way you go about your life? Our editors handpick the products that we feature. 4. Did it serve the story well? If you are starting a Book Club and need some book club discussion questions that will help get your discussions started, below you'll find some printable questions that can pass out to your book club members: This book is positioned as the Grapes of Wrath as our time. How did the setting impact the story? Which place in the book would you most like to visit? Thanks so much for sharing these thoughtful and relatable questions. 3. Why or why not? https://www.oprahmag.com/entertainment/a31047508/book-club-questions Does the book remind you of any other writers or novels you’ve read? Now comes the difficult part—shaping your friendly chatter into an elevated, incisive conversation about the book you all agreed to read. That can be a challenge. Did this book make you want to explore the subject matter more? Are they believable? Structure. Do you think the author succeeded in what they set out to do? Of all the information presented in the book, what has stayed you the most? If so, which ones? Simsion does, however, give groups plenty to discuss about Asperger syndrome, love, and relationships.Hopefully, these questions will help you have fun discussing the book. Did you have to force yourself to get through it or were you unable to put it down? Select a number of questions, write each on an index card, and pass them out. Did you agree with the author's conclusions? From book-themed activities to printable discussion questions to interviews with the authors, you’ll find plenty of inspiration for a great conversation. 1. How did it impact you?