Forming a book club requires a good list of questions to spark in-depth conversation. To create them, read the book carefully, outline plot points, characters, events, and symbols. Start with broad questions and then narrow the focus. Questions should delve into aspects not apparent upon first reading and lead to speculation.
One of the most rewarding ways to read a book is to form a book club and discuss all aspects of the story with a group full of wide-ranging opinions. Facilitating such groups requires a good list of book club questions or topics to spark in-depth conversation within the group. While the specific book club questions vary depending on who is in the group and what book you choose to read, some general guidelines can help you build a list of strong questions to get the group thinking and discussing quickly and lively.
First of all, to form book club questions, you need to read the book carefully and outline the important plot points, characters, events and symbols throughout the text. A great question to start with is “Who is your favorite character and why?” This question lends itself to further discussion, such as how that character affects other characters or events. While it’s a broad question, it allows each book club member to have their say, and this can lead to disagreements or subsequent questions among members.
Book club questions often delve into aspects of the story not otherwise apparent upon first reading. For example, consider asking about metaphors throughout the story and if any of those metaphors relate to a recurring motif or theme. Often writers will focus their fiction on a central idea, and identifying that idea will lead to subsequent book club questions such as, “Why do you think the writer chose to tell his story in this way?” or, “What clues do you see that lead you to believe that (void) could be a central theme?
Questions about book clubs also often lead to a lot of speculation. A good book club question might be, “If you were writing history, what would you change?” or “Do you think the ending would have been different if X had changed?” Allowing readers to speculate how the characters might have developed differently – or how the course of the story might have changed – gives the reader a chance to flex their creative muscles as well, forging a bond between the reader and the story. Whatever book club questions you ask, be sure to tailor them specifically to the story you’re reading, and as a general rule, start with broad questions and then narrow your focus. This will allow for a smooth and interesting meeting filled with thoughtful book club questions.
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