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HOW TO DISCUSS A BOOK

Leading a Book Discussion 

STEP #1: Read the book

1.  But first…do some research

• About the book – read summary, reviews, etc.

• About the author

• Discussion questions – If they already exist, read them before you read the book

2.  Read critically

• Pay attention to details

• Identify discussion points

• Take notes

3.  Take your time

• Stop and review discussion questions as you read

• Think about it

STEP #2: Prepare discussion questions

1. If they already exist

• ...review and revise

2. Write your own – make the questions fit the book

• The five Ws and the H (See the Discussion Questions Template)

3. Things to remember      

• Avoid yes or no questions

• Ask for opinions, not facts

• Use examples and be specific

• Address broad themes and concepts

4.  If we’re not all friends here     

• Sharing personal experiences and feelings optional

STEP #3: Talk about the book

1.  Your job—facilitate

• Make eye contact – discussion leader sits at the end of the table

• Ask an icebreaker question to get started

• Let others talk first

• Don’t teach, don’t preach

• Everyone gets to talk, no one has to

• Be flexible

• Summarize, clarify, redirect, make connections

2.  Make it interesting

• We don’t have to agree

• Don’t avoid controversial subjects

• Play devil’s advocate

3.  Also your job—mediate

• No one’s right, no one’s wrong

• Keep it about the book

• Everyone gets to talk, no one gets to talk all the time

• Dealing with difficult people

4.  Wrap it up

• Bring the discussion to a conclusion when time is up

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Leading a Discussion   |   Customize Your Questions   |  Questions Online

Customize Your Own Questions
Use the following questions as guidelines to customize your own questions
that pertain to the specific characters, plot, setting, etc. of the book.

1.  Who – The Characters

• Were the characters believable? Why or why not?

• Were the characters sympathetic? Why or why not?   

• What motivates the characters? Why do they do what they do?

• Consider gender, age, race, economic status, nationality, cultural background, personality flaws, past experiences, etc. How do these influence the character’s actions, attitudes or motivations?

• Compare/contrast two or more characters

• Discuss secondary characters

• Do the characters change or grow? How? Why?

2.  What – The Plot

• Does the story have a clear beginning, middle and end? If not, how

• does the absence thereof affect your reading of the book?

• What are the main themes in the book?

• Does the plot drive the characters or do the characters drive the plot?

• Did you “figure it out” before the end? How? Did that affect your

• reading of the rest of the book?

• What subplots are present? Why are they there? Are they important to

• the story or distracting?

• Is the ending satisfactory? What happened next?

3. When – Historical Context

• How is the period in which the book is set important?

• Is the historical period adequately identified and explained?

• How would the story be different if set in a different time?

• When was the book published? Is this relevant in any way?

4. Where – The Setting

• What is unique or noteworthy about the setting?

• Is the particular setting necessary to the story, or could the book have been set anywhere?

• How does the book’s setting affect the story? the characters?

• Does the author’s writing make you feel like you are there? How?

• Are nature and the environment important? How?

5. Why – The Book as a Whole

• Why did the author write this book? Is s/he trying to satisfy an agenda or make a point with the book? What is it? Did s/he succeed?

• Who is narrating the story? Why is this person telling this story? Is the narrator reliable?

• What does the book’s title mean?

• Why did this book win an award? get made into a movie? etc.

6.  How – The Author

• How does the author’s writing style and/or use of language affect your reading of the book?

• How does the author use literary techniques such as symbolism, imagery, irony, etc.?

• How effective (or not) are any literary devices used, i.e. multiple narrators, flashbacks, concurrent storylines, telling the story through letters and diaries, etc.?

• What does the book reveal about the author’s world view?

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Leading a Discussion   |   Customize Your Questions   |  Questions Online

Discussion Questions Online
Resource sites where discussion questions for various books may be found.

*Publisher web site

About.com

http://bestsellers.about.com/od/bookclubquestions 

Book Browse

http://www.bookbrowse.com/reading_guides

Bookletters

www.booksite.com/texis/scripts/bookletter/showfab.html?sid=5166&qlname=ALLBD

The Books*

www.twbookmark.com/books/reading_guides.html

Harcourt*

www.harcourtbooks.com/BookSearch/readingGuides.asp

HarperCollins*

www.harpercollins.com/Readers/readingGroups.aspx

Houghton Mifflin*

www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/readers_guides

Hyperion*

www.hyperionbooks.com/readinggroups/index.htm#Reading_Group_Guides

Penguin Group*

http://us.penguingroup.com/static/html/readingguides/index.html

Reading Group Choices

www.readinggroupchoices.com

Reading Group Essentials*

www.holtzbrincklibrary.com/index.php?a=groups

Reading Group Guides

www.readinggroupguides.com

Simon Says*

www.simonsays.com/content/index.cfm?sid=519

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Leading a Discussion   |   Customize Your Questions   |  Questions Online