If you’re thinking about starting a book club, or you’re leading one where the conversation tends to go off-topic or you need prompts to extend the discussion, here are some sample questions. They are designed for literary fiction but will suit any kind of fiction, including children’s and YA literature, and I’ve added a section of questions suitable for discussions of non-fiction books.
Characters
- Which character did you most relate to, and why?
- Were the characters trustworthy? How did this influence your enjoyment of the book?
- Was the “chemistry” (if any) between the main characters believable?
- If the characters were based on real people, how did that change your perception of them?
- How did the main characters grow and change as the story progressed?
- What do you think motivated the central characters to act as they did?
- Does the author give you a sense of the characters’ voices through the writing?
- How is interior monologue used to reveal a character’s thoughts, feelings, and impressions?
- Which character would you most/least like to meet in real life?
- How might the story have been different if another character were the narrator?
- Are there characters or events in the book that remind you of other books?
Plot
- How was the book structured? Were there subplots, flashbacks, multiple voices, or other features (e.g., quotations from letters, emails or text messages) that advanced the plot?
- If there were plot twists, did you see them coming? How did they influence your reading experience?
- Was the pace satisfying? Did the author effectively build tension and suspense?
- What was your favourite scene, or a scene that stayed with you?
- What social, political, religious or ethical themes or ideas did you notice? How did they contribute to the story?
- If the plot was based on actual events, how did it compare with your prior knowledge of the events?
- Did the story provide any insights into experiences outside your own? If so, what did you learn?
- Was there anything you found confusing or unresolved about the plot?
- What did you think of the ending? If you could rewrite the ending, what would you change?
Setting
- What was distinctive about the time, place, and culture depicted in the book?
- How successfully does the author evoke these?
- How does the setting influence the characters and plot?
- Were there any surprises or insights for you about the setting?
- Is the setting a place you would like to visit one day? Why or why not?
Style
- Did you like the way the author chose to tell the story? Why or why not?
- Who narrated the story? Were they reliable/unreliable narrators?
- What unfamiliar vocabulary did you notice, if any? Why did the author choose these words?
- Was the author doing anything interesting or unusual with language?
- How does the author’s own voice come through in the writing style?
- If you have read other books by this author, how does this one compare?
- Is the book too long or short, or just right? How would you improve it?
Cover
- How does the title of the book relate to the story?
- How does the cover art relate to the content?
- If book club members have different editions, how do the various covers compare?
- Would you buy the book based on the cover and blurb?
Nonfiction
- What is the book about? What justifies its publication?
- In your opinion, does the author present an objective or subjective point of view?
- Did the book challenge your understanding of the topic, and if so, were the arguments and evidence compelling?
- To what degree do you think the author’s conclusions are valid and compelling?
- Was the style accessible? Was there too much jargon and specialist technical language?
- How did the footnotes, bibliography, and/or index (if any) affect your reading experience?
- Did the book inspire you to read more, or read alternative perspectives, on the topic?
- What actions, if any, have the book inspired you to take as a result of reading it?
General
- Describe your overall experience of reading the book. At what point did you know that you liked/disliked it?
- In your opinion, what is the single greatest feature of the book (e.g., word craft, plot/storytelling, well-conceived characters, descriptions of setting/landscape, relates to your experience, inspires deep reflection, offers insight or personal challenge)?
- Share a favourite quotation. Why did you find this inspiring or memorable?
- If the book deals with grief, trauma or social injustice, how did you feel as you read it?
- What do you know about the author’s life, and how might this have influenced their writing?
- If you read or watched reviews, articles, podcasts, an author interview, or historic information relating to the novel, what most impressed you?
- If you could interview the author, what is one question you would ask?
- If the book is considered a “classic,” why do you think it has stood the test of time?
- If the book won a prestigious award, why was it selected? Was the award deserved?
- What else would you like to say that has not been mentioned?
- Would you recommend the book to a friend?
- If there is a screen adaptation, would you recommend the movie/TV series to friends?
- On a scale of 1-5, how would you rate your experience of the book?
Rod Benson is a writer, speaker, and Uniting Church minister living in Sydney, Australia. He is a member of several book clubs, both in-person and online. Thanks to Barb Friend for teaching so much about books and book clubs over the years, and for her advice while compiling these lists.
Image source: Sparking Book Talk
iDigress 