General Discussion Questions For Fiction

The most successful reading book discussions happen when members talk about their interpretations of the book they have just read and express their own opinions. This is much more enjoyable than simply answering precise questions about things that happened in the book, like the name of the restaurant in Chapter 3 where the characters first meet.

You can further encourage the discussion by asking members to be prepared to back up their responses with examples from the book or by challenging an expressed opinion and evoking a spirited debate on the topic at hand.

Discussion Questions About Structure and Writing Style

• What themes did the author emphasize throughout the novel. What do you think he was trying to get across to the reader?


• How was the book structured? Did the author use structured or narrative techniques, like multiple voices or flashbacks to tell the story? How did this affect your reading and enjoyment of the book?


• From who's point of view was the story told from? How would it have been different if told from another character's viewpoint?


• What is the author's writing style? What did you like/not like about it? How did it affect the story? Was there a particular quality that was unique in this author's writing style?


• Have each member read one of their favorite selections out loud and explain why it resonated with them.


• How did the story make you feel? Inspired, touched, sad, happy, disturbed? Do you think this was the author’s intent?


• What is the author's descriptive style? Does he describe every detail or does he prefer to be more abstract? How did this affect your reading of the book?


• Did the author give you enough background information to give context to the story? Was this information given all at once or was it woven into the story?

Discussion Questions About Characters And Setting

• Were the characters and their issues believable? If not, why? What character/s could you relate to and why?


• Talk about the secondary characters; were they important to the story? Did any stand out for you?


• Discuss how the author uses dialogue in the story. Does it vary depending on the character? Is it realistic? How does it contribute to the story or character development?


• What was the location in the book? Was it important to the story? How did the author's description of the setting affect your reading?


• Is the time period the story is set in crucial to the telling of the story? How did the author convey to the reader the era the story was set in? Was he successful?

Discussion Questions About Plot

• What was more important in the book - the characters or the plot?
  
• Did the characters' actions move the plot forward or were the characters driven by the plot?


• Were the events that moved the plot forward believable? What events in the story were memorable for you? Which events didn't work and took you out of the story?


• Did the author allude to events or outcomes at the beginning of the book? How did this affect your reading enjoyment?

General Discussion Questions

• For the person who selected the book: What made you want to read this book? Did it live up to your expectations? How do you think the book club received it?


• Compare this book to others we have read. How is it similar or dissimilar? Did you like it more or less?


• Rate this book on a scale of 1 - 5. Would you recommend it to friends? Did it make you want to read more books by this author?


• Is this a book you would go back and read again and again? What is your lasting impression of the book? What will be your strongest recollection of the book when someone asks you about a year from now?