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If you were finally able to bite the bullet and start your book club, you want to make sure conversations are as lively as possible and everyone gets the chance to air their views.
A natural consequence of a group of people, strangers and friends alike, congregating to discuss something they all share is that there’s a possibility of momentary lapses of silence, which is something you want to avoid as much as possible.
To avoid that period of awkwardness, it’s always good to have very important book club questions at hand that will help steer the conversation in whatever direction you’d like to go.
Depending on the nature of your book club, you could choose to send the questions to your members before you get started or, better still, surprise them while you guys talk, and remember that you need to give everyone an opportunity.
Now, I’m not claiming to have read every single book in existence because that is literally not possible, but these are very generic questions you can use to build on the themes in the books you are reading with your book club.
At the end, I’ve provided a link to a Google Docs file with all the questions, so click on it and save a copy to your drive or your phone or whatever external storage disk you use, and make sure you use them with your buddies.
1. Was there a character whose actions or decisions you found frustrating or unrealistic? How did this affect your overall perception of the story?
2. Did you find yourself discussing the book with others while you were reading it? If so, what were some of the points of discussion?
3. How did your personal experiences or background influence your interpretation of certain aspects of the book?
4. Were there any parts of the book that you found difficult to read, either because of their content or writing style? How did you navigate through those sections?
5. Did you have any disagreements with other members of your book club regarding certain aspects of the book? How did you resolve them?
6. Did the book prompt you to do any additional research or exploration into related topics? If so, what did you discover?
7. Were there any moments in the book that made you laugh out loud, cry, or feel intense emotions? What were they, and why did they affect you that way?
8. How did the book compare to others you’ve read within the same genre or by the same author? Did it stand out in any particular way?
9. Did the book inspire you to make any changes in your own life or worldview? If so, what were they?
10. If you had the opportunity to meet the author, what questions would you ask them about the book?
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11. Did any parts of the book remind you of real-life events or experiences? If so, how did that impact your reading experience?
12. Were there any aspects of the book that you found particularly thought-provoking or challenging? How did you grapple with them?
13. Did you find yourself drawn to certain themes or motifs in the book? If so, what were they, and why do you think they resonated with you?
14. How did the book’s structure, such as its use of flashbacks or alternating perspectives, enhance or detract from the storytelling?
15. Did you find the dialogue between characters authentic and believable? Why or why not?
16. How did the book’s cultural or historical context influence your understanding and interpretation of the story
17. Were there any moments in the book where you found yourself predicting what would happen next? Were your predictions accurate?
18. Did the book challenge any stereotypes or assumptions you had about certain characters or situations? If so, how did it reshape your perspective?
19. How did the pacing of the book affect your reading experience? Were there any parts that you wished were slower or faster?
20. Did you feel satisfied with the resolutions of the character arcs and storylines by the end of the book? If not, what would you have liked to see differently?
21. Did any particular passages or quotes stand out to you? Why did they resonate with you?
22. How did the book address themes of identity, belonging, or self-discovery? Did you find these themes relatable?
23. Were there any instances where you found yourself disagreeing with the choices made by the characters? How did this affect your empathy towards them?
24. Did the author effectively create a sense of atmosphere or mood throughout the book? How did this contribute to your overall reading experience?
25. Did you notice any parallels between the events or characters in the book and contemporary issues or events? If so, what were they?
26. How did the book explore the complexities of human relationships, such as family dynamics or friendships?
27. Were there any unresolved questions or ambiguities in the book that left you thinking long after you finished reading?
28. Did the book offer any unexpected insights or perspectives on familiar topics or themes?
29. How did the author’s use of language and imagery contribute to the vividness of the story? Did you find any passages particularly beautifully written?
30. How did your emotional response to the book evolve as you progressed through the story? Were there any moments that elicited strong emotions?
31. Did the book challenge or reinforce your beliefs or assumptions about certain topics or issues?
32. Were there any moments in the book that made you reflect on your own life experiences or choices?
33. How did the author handle difficult or sensitive topics within the book? Did you feel they were handled with care and sensitivity?
34. Were there any secondary characters whose stories you found particularly intriguing? Did you wish there was more focus on them?
35. How did the book’s pacing affect your engagement with the story? Were there any parts where you felt the pace lagged or rushed?
36. Did you find yourself drawn more to the plot or the characters in the book? Why?
37. How did the book explore the concept of morality or ethical dilemmas? Were there any instances where you found yourself questioning the characters’ choices?
38. Did the book prompt any discussions about its cultural or societal implications among your book club members?
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39. How did the book’s ending leave you feeling? Were you satisfied, disappointed, or left wanting more closure?
40. If the book were to be adapted into a movie or TV series, what elements do you think would translate well to the screen, and what might be challenging to portray?
41. If you could change the ending of the book, what alternative ending would you propose, and how do you think it would impact the story’s overall message?
42. Which character in the book would you choose to have a one-on-one conversation with, and what would you ask them?
43. If the events of the book were to take place in a different time period or setting, how do you think the story would unfold differently?
44. Were there any passages or scenes that you found particularly challenging to interpret? How did you navigate through them?
45. If you had the opportunity to rewrite a specific chapter or scene in the book from the perspective of a different character, whose viewpoint would you choose and why?
46. How did the book’s cover art or design influence your expectations or interpretation of the story before you began reading?
47. Were there any instances where you found yourself sympathizing with the antagonist or villain of the story? What factors contributed to this empathy?
48. If you were to recommend a soundtrack or playlist to accompany the book, what songs or music genres would you include, and why? And, what mood or emotions would you aim to evoke with your song choices?
49. How did the book’s narrative style, such as first-person narration or unreliable narrators, shape your understanding of the story and its characters?
50. If you could step into the world of the book for a day, what would you do and who would you want to meet?
51. If you could assign a theme song to each main character in the book, what songs would you choose and why?
52. Were there any moments in the book where you found yourself predicting the outcome, only to be pleasantly surprised by a different turn of events?
53. How did the book’s use of symbolism or metaphor enhance your interpretation of its themes and messages?
54. If you were to create a recipe inspired by the book, what ingredients and flavors would you incorporate, and why?
55. Were there any cultural or historical references in the book that you found particularly intriguing or enlightening?
56. If the book were to be adapted into a stage play or musical, what scenes or elements would you highlight to capture the essence of the story?
57. Did the book prompt you to reconsider any previously held beliefs or opinions? If so, how did your perspective shift?
58. How would you describe the book’s tone or atmosphere in three words, and why did you choose those words?
59. Were there any instances where you found yourself comparing the events or characters in the book to those in other works of literature or media? If so, what comparisons did you draw?
60. If you were to write a letter to one of the characters in the book, what would you say to them?
61. If you could invite the author and one character from the book to a dinner party, who would you invite and why?
62. How did the book challenge traditional narrative structures or storytelling conventions?
63. If you were to create a themed book club event based on this book, what activities or discussions would you include?
64. How did the book explore the concept of identity or self-discovery through its characters or plot?
65. Were there any moments in the book where you felt the author’s voice or perspective shine through?
66. If you could step into the shoes of one character from the book for a day, whose perspective would you choose to experience, and why?
67. Were there any instances where you found yourself questioning the reliability of the narrator or the truthfulness of certain events?
68. How did the book’s title resonate with you after finishing the story? Did it take on new meaning or significance?
69. If the book were to be turned into a board game or video game, what mechanics or gameplay elements would you include to capture the essence of the story?
70. Were there any moments in the book where you found yourself emotionally invested in a subplot or secondary character more than the main storyline?
71. Were there any instances where the setting of the book served as a character in its own right, shaping the actions and decisions of the protagonists?
72. How did the book explore the theme of forgiveness or redemption, if at all? Were there any characters who underwent significant personal growth in this regard?
73. If you were to recommend this book to someone who typically doesn’t enjoy reading, how would you pitch it to them to pique their interest?
74. Were there any elements of the book’s world-building or mythology that you found particularly fascinating or well-developed?
75. How did the book’s pacing and structure contribute to its overall readability and engagement factor? Were there any sections that you found particularly difficult to put down?
76. If you could choose one character from the book to cross-over with a character from another book, who would you pair them with and why?
77. How did the book challenge traditional notions of heroism or villainy, and did it present any morally gray characters or situations?
78. Were there any particular scenes in the book that you would love to see reimagined as works of art or illustrations?
79. How did the book explore the theme of memory or nostalgia, and how did this impact your emotional connection to the story?
80. If you could rewrite the book from the perspective of a different character, whose viewpoint would you choose and how do you think it would change the narrative?
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81. How did the book address themes of mental health or psychological well-being, if at all?
82. Were there any themes or motifs in the book that you felt were left unresolved or underexplored, and how do you think they could have been developed further?
So, as I said earlier, all these questions will not apply to your book. You want to make sure you go through them and then find the ones that address what happens in the book you’re reading.
Just as I promised, here is a link to the Google Doc file with these 80 plus questions. You can download it or share it with your book club members. One thing I know for sure is that you guys are going to have a lot of things to talk about.
And if you’d like to see more posts about having a book club, from how to start one to the best platforms to host, and other book club-related posts, make sure you check out the blog.
The related posts down below have so many other fantastic posts about life as a reader that I know anyone who loves books will absolutely enjoy. And don’t forget to keep the conversation going in the comment section—I’ll be on the lookout for your messages.
