General Discussion Questions For Memoirs
Memoirs can be fun book selections for reading groups to take on and are generally a quick read. We've put together a list of questions that we've used in the past for discussing memoirs, like Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat Pray Love, in our book club discussions. Use the questions to supplement the official reading guides or when you're planning your next book club discussion featuring a memoir.
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 The Author
- Why do you think the author wanted to share his or her life experiences?
- 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?
- Did the author tell his story with a particular purpose in mind, for instance to explain the choices he made or to inspire others to act? How did that affect you as the reader?
- 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?
- Did reading this memoir affect your view of the author in any way? Is he someone you would want to meet?
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?
