Thought-Provoking & Fun Questions to Ask During a Book Club Meeting

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Lead a lively discussion about any book with these insightful questions

Co-authored by Dev Murphy, MA Reviewed by Gerald Posner

Last Updated: December 13, 2024 Fact Checked

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General Book Club Questions

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Fiction

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Nonfiction

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Poetry

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For Kids

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Banned Books

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Leading a Good Discussion

Whether you’re leading your next book club sesh or starting your own club, you might want some thought-provoking questions in your back pocket to get the discussion going. That’s where we come in! We’ve assembled some of the most thought-provoking, fun, unexpected, and open-ended book club discussion questions to invigorate your next meet-up, whether you’re reading a classic novel, poetry collection, memoir, thriller, or any other genre—plus, learn how to talk about banned books in your club and our tips for leading a great book club discussion. Tip: Feel free to print this page out so you can have it on hand at your next meeting!

Best Book Club Discussion Questions

Would you recommend this book to someone else? Why or why not?
What surprised you most about the book? Why?
Did you highlight or mark any favorite passages in the book? Which ones and why?
Who was your favorite character? Which character did you identify with the most?
Did you enjoy or appreciate the author’s writing style? Was it easy or hard to get into?
What, if anything, frustrated you about this book, its plot, or its characters?
Did anything in the book make you feel any particular emotions? Explain.

Section 1 of 7:

General Book Club Questions

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Some questions are perfect for any book, no matter the genre. Get things rolling with general questions that allow each member of the club to share their personal feelings on and experience with the book. Try these icebreaker questions to kick things off at your first meeting:
- Questions about the book:
  - Would you recommend this book to someone? Why or why not—or what caveat would you give when recommending the book?
  - Who do you think this book is “for”? Why?
  - What did you know about this book or its author before reading? Did anything surprise you as you read?
  - How did the book make you feel? Did you enjoy it? Why or why not?
  - What classic reading tropes did you see at play in this book (e.g., “enemies to lovers” or “reluctant hero”)? Would you say they were employed in a clever or fresh way, or were they unoriginal?^{[1]
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  - Did you relate to this book or its characters? How or how not?
  - Did you mark or highlight any quotes or passages from the book? Did you like a particular quote or quotes? Which ones and why?
  - Did anything frustrate or upset you about the book, its author, its plot, or any characters?
  - Was there anything you were left confused by and wanted to talk about as a group?
  - What were some of your favorite parts from the book? Why did they impact you?
  - How would you rate this book on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being “Incredible!” and 1 being “Not so good”? Why?
    - Consider asking this question at the beginning of the discussion and then again at the end of the discussion, to see if anyone’s mind was changed after hearing the other group members’ thoughts.
- Questions about the author:
  - Who is the book’s author and what is their background? How does their history and the context in which the book was written relate to the book?
  - What do you think the author’s intention was in writing this book?
  - How much do you believe the author’s personal perspectives and values influenced the book? How do you feel about that?
  - Have you read anything else by this author? If so, how did this book compare? How was it different? If not, would you like to read more by this author? Why or why not?
  - If you could ask this author one question, what would it be?
- Questions about the writing style:
  - What did you think of the author’s writing style? What do you look for in a writing style?
  - Was it easy or difficult to follow? Did you find it simple or dense? How long did it take you to get into the book?
  - Does difficulty following or getting into a book’s writing have an effect on your enjoyment of the book? Why or why not?
  - How did the author employ writing tools like tone, structure, language, or dialogue to tell their story? Was it effective? Why or why not?
  - Did the author make use of literary devices to enhance their storytelling? Was it effective?
  - How did the author use symbols, imagery, or metaphor to enhance their narrative? Was it effective? Why or why not?
  - What did you appreciate or dislike about the author’s writing style? Why?
  - How did the author’s style of writing improve upon or detract from the story?
  - Do you feel that the author’s writing style suited the book? Why or why not? What, if anything, would you change?
- Questions about themes:
  - What, in your opinion, were the central themes of the book? Can you offer examples from the text to support your opinion? How well did the author go about exploring the themes?
  - What was the most difficult or challenging part about reading this book? Why? Did you ever want to stop reading this book?
  - Did you find the book thought-provoking? Did it change your mind about anything?
  - How relevant is this book or its central themes to your own life, or to the world around you?

Section 2 of 7:

Fiction Book Club Questions

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Bring the novel to life with these fiction-inspired discussion questions. Whether you’re immersed in a spooky thriller or an enchanting fantasy, asking the right questions can help you and your fellow book club members get the most out of your latest read. Try these thought-provoking and fun questions to get your next meeting rolling:
- General fiction questions:
  - What was the primary conflict in the story? How was it resolved?
  - How did the author create tension and conflict in the novel? Was it effective?
  - What point of view is the story told from? Is it one of the character's perspectives? How does the book's point of view impact the narrative?
  - Were you invested in the characters and the story? Why or why not?
  - What was the most shocking or unforgettable part of the book?
  - What was your favorite scene in the book?
  - Were you satisfied with the ending of the book? Why or why not? If not, how would you have ended it?
  - If you could change one aspect of this book, what would it be and why? How would it alter the story?
  - Is there a movie adaptation of this book? If yes, have you seen it? What did you think of it? How did it compare to the book?
- Questions about characters:
  - Who are the book's main characters? How would you describe them?
  - How do you think the characters see themselves? How do you see them?
  - Why do the characters believe what they believe? Who or what informs their beliefs?
  - What types of challenges do the characters have to deal with in the book? How do they deal with them? How would you have dealt with them?
  - How is the world in which the characters live similar to or different from the world in which you live?
  - Did you ever find yourself judging any of the characters for the choices they made? Where and why? What choices would you have made instead?
  - Do you have any advice for any of the characters?
  - Who was your favorite character in this book? How come?
  - Which character did you find the most interesting or complex? Why?
  - How did the characters grow or evolve throughout the story?
  - Was the characters’ growth believable? Did their endings feel “earned”?
  - How did the secondary characters impact the journey of the main character(s)?
  - Which character did you find most relatable? Why?
  - Which character did you find most dislikable? Why?
  - Which character would be your ideal dinner guest? Why? (Bonus question: What would you serve them?)
  - What do you think motivated a character to do what they did?
  - Would you say you trusted the characters? Why or why not?
  - Were the characters based on real people? If yes, how did that change your perception of them?
  - What do you think happens to the characters after the novel ends? Why?
  - If you were to make your own movie adaptation of this book, who would you cast to play the characters? Why?
- Mystery questions:
  - Did you guess which character committed the crime? If yes, how soon did you figure it out and how did you guess? If no, were you surprised? Who else, if anyone, did you suspect? Why?
  - Were you invested in the mystery? Why or why not?
  - How did the writer create suspense throughout the book? How did they keep you engaged and curious about the answer to the mystery?
  - Did you follow the clues throughout the book? Did they make sense and fit together? Are any questions left unanswered?
  - Did you like the main character(s)? Did you find them believable or interesting?
  - Were you satisfied by the solution to the puzzle?
  - What common mystery themes—like justice, truth, morality, deception, and trust—were explored in this book? Did the author explore them effectively?
- Thriller or horror questions:
  - How did the book’s setting and atmosphere contribute to the mood and tone? Did it add to an air of dread, mystery, uncertainty, or disquiet?
  - How did the writer create suspense and mystery throughout the book? Were you drawn in? How long did it take you to get into the story? How did the author keep you hooked?
  - Were you surprised by any twists or turns the story took? Did you see any twists coming?
  - How did you feel about the protagonist(s)? Did you want to offer them any advice about how to face the horrors that they encountered? What would you have said to them?
  - If there was a villain in this book, how did you feel about them? Did you find them effectively scary? Did you feel like you understood where they were coming from? Do you wish the author had portrayed them differently?
  - How was the novel’s action balanced out by the characters’ emotional or psychological journeys?
  - What themes did you see throughout this novel? Did the author explore them well?
  - If the novel was supernatural at all, do you believe the supernatural elements served a purpose? Were they done well?
  - Did you see any metaphors at play in the horror elements of the novel? If yes, what did you notice?
  - Were you satisfied with the end of the book? Why or why not? Were any questions left unanswered? How would you have ended things?
- Historical fiction questions:
  - How did the writer blend historical fact and fiction to write this book? Do you believe the book was accurate and authentic?
  - How much did you know about the history that inspired this book before you read it? Did you learn anything new while reading? What, if anything, surprised you?
  - Did the author cite any historical sources for this book? Did you find them credible? Did you do any outside research of your own?
  - Did this book challenge your opinions of the historical events that inspired the book or the people involved in the events? How or how not?
  - Did you find this book, its events, or its characters relatable to your own life? Do you see the themes of the book reflected in society today?
  - If you could travel back to the time period in which this book takes place, would you? What would you do there?
- Romance questions:
  - Did you find the romance believable? Why or why not?
  - Did you feel the main couple had enough chemistry? Were you hoping they would end up together or not?
  - How did the book’s setting and time period contribute to the romance plot? Did the book’s setting seem relevant to the plot? Did it add to the atmosphere or contribute to the challenges the characters dealt with?
  - How did you feel about the primary obstacle the couple faced? Was it believable, or did it feel forced?
  - What did you think of the secondary characters? Did they contribute to the couple’s romance or the general plot?
  - Who was your favorite and least favorite character? Why?
  - What do you think happens to the characters after the novel ends?
  - What themes—like love, sexuality, family, trust, communication, or identity—did you see explored in the novel?
  - How “spicy” did you find this novel? Do you wish it was a little spicier, or a little more G-rated? Why?
- Fantasy questions:
  - What worldbuilding techniques did the author employ to create their fantasy world? Did they provide any maps, appendices, or glossaries to help you understand it better? Was the world believable and three-dimensional?
  - What fantasy elements did the author employ in the book? Did the author do an effective job at explaining how magic functions in this world? Did the magic of the book have a logic that made sense and fit the narrative?
  - How, if at all, did the author portray other races or creatures and their history or culture in the book?
  - Is the world in which this book takes place the sort of world you’d like to visit or live in? Why or why not?
  - If you could be any of the characters in this book, who would you be and why?
  - What themes (like heroism, friendship, destiny, or loyalty) did you see explored in this book?
- Science fiction questions:
  - How did the author create or describe the sci-fi world or scenario in this book? Was it effectively explained or described? Was it believable?
  - Did the author employ technological or scientific concepts or ideas to enhance their narrative? Was the narrative plausible? Why or why not?
  - How does the world in the book compare to and contrast with our own world? Does the world in the book seem achievable/inevitable? Would you want to live in this world? Why or why not?
  - What, if anything, does the book seem to say about our own world and society today? Is the book optimistic or pessimistic about our future? Would you call the book dystopian?
  - What did you think of the characters in the book? Were they fleshed out and believable? How do they respond to the situation they’re in? How do you think you would respond if you were them?
  - If you could be any of the characters in this book, who would you most want to be? Who would you least want to be? Why?
  - Were you satisfied with the book’s ending? Why or why not?

Section 3 of 7:

Nonfiction Book Club Questions

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Better understand a memoir, bio, or self-help book with these questions. Dive into your next nonfiction book club read with questions about the book’s purpose, accuracy, readability, and other factors. Try these discussion questions at your next meet-up:
- General nonfiction questions:
  - Describe this book in a single sentence. What would you say is the book’s primary purpose or main point?
  - What questions, if any, do you have about the book or its subject? Do you feel the book thoroughly covers its subject?
  - What did you know about this subject before reading about it? Do you feel the author did this subject justice? Why or why not?
  - Do you believe the author did accurate and thorough research in order to write this book? Why or why not?
  - Did the author address any gaps in their knowledge? Were their arguments convincing?
  - What stood out to you the most while reading this book? How did this book make you feel?
  - Did the author bring any of their own biases to this book? How do you think the way they approached this subject reflects their own life, background, opinions, or agenda?
  - Did this book challenge you to change your perspective or behavior or take action of some sort? Why or why not?
  - How did the author’s writing style engage or persuade you as a reader?
  - What did you think of the author’s choices regarding the structure and organization of the book? Were they effective?
- Memoir questions:
  - Was the book structured chronologically, thematically, or episodically? How did the author’s choice of structure enhance or detract from their narrative?
  - How would you describe the author’s voice and writing style? How did their writing showcase their personality? Would you describe the author as humorous, empathetic, thoughtful, or honest?
  - Did you like the author? If you could befriend them in real life, would you want to? Why or why not?
  - Were you interested in the narrative the writer was discussing? Why or why not? How did the writer engage you and make you curious about their life?
  - What were the main events that shaped the author’s life and the story they wrote about? Did you know anything about this writer or the events they describe before reading this book? Did anything surprise you while reading?
  - How did the writer describe the other people in their life in this book? Were they portrayed convincingly? How did the other people in the author’s life influence their own journey?
  - What themes do you see explored in this book? For instance, identity, gender, family, religion, career, relationships, sexuality, etc.?
  - How did the book end? Were you satisfied with how and where the book concluded? If not, how did you want it to end?
  - Did you relate to the experiences described in this book at all? Do you see any connection between the events in the book and society today?
  - Did you find the author a reliable narrator or not? Why or why not?
  - What do you think the author’s purpose was in sharing this story?
- Biography questions:
  - Who was the subject of this biography? Do you feel the author did a good job of exploring their life and background?
  - Did you feel the writer was an authority on the book’s subject? Do you think they did thorough, accurate research in order to write this book?
  - What types of sources did the author employ to write this book? Did they use interviews, letters, diaries, photos, documents, first-hand accounts, etc.? Did you find these trustworthy sources?
  - What makes the central subject worthy of a biography? Were you invested in their story? Were you invested in the subject before picking up the book, or did the author engage you along the way?
  - What were the primary challenges and events that shaped the subject’s life?
  - What did you know about the subject before reading this book? Did anything surprise you as you read?
  - How did the author explore the subject’s setting and time period in which they lived to enhance the narrative? Do you feel the author created a convincing sense of time, place, and culture?
  - Were you satisfied with the author’s approach to this subject? Why or why not?
- Self-help questions:
  - What was the primary message of the book? Was it motivating, encouraging, or inspiring? Why or why not?
  - What was your favorite section or passage from this book? How come?
  - How did you relate this book to your own life and experiences?
  - Did this book challenge your way of thinking or inspire you to change your behavior or beliefs in any way?
  - How reliable and authoritative do you believe this book and its author(s) are? Do you think the authors have a lot of knowledge of and experience with this subject?
  - What questions, if any, do you still have after reading this book?
  - Was there any advice or guidance this book offered that you disagreed with or didn’t understand? What was it?

Section 4 of 7:

Poetry Book Club Questions

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Celebrate poetry with these perfect book club questions and activities! Whether you’re discussing an entire collection or one poem at a time, asking the right questions can help you explore the work in more depth. Consider these questions related to your club’s personal feelings about the assigned poem(s) and their level of understanding about what they've read:
- How would you describe the poet’s voice in this poem or collection? Poets’ voices are frequently described as impressionistic, narrative, confessional, lyrical, or intimate. Do any of these descriptors seem accurate?
- What do you believe the poet’s purpose was in writing these poems? Were they effective?
- How do you believe the poet’s own life relates to the poems they write?
- Who is this poem’s or collection’s intended audience? Why do you think this?
- Who do you believe is the speaker of the poems? Is it the poet? Is the speaker the same in all the poems?
- What was your favorite poem in the collection? Why?
  - Consider inviting members to read passages from their favorite poems to really bring the words to life. After all, poetry is meant to be read aloud!^{[2]
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- Were there any poems in this collection you disliked or found ineffective? If so, why?
- What would you say are the central themes of the poems in this collection? Do you believe the poet explored them all effectively?
- Did you see yourself or your life represented in any of these poems? Did you particularly relate to any of the poems or the poet? How or how not?
- Do you see any connections between these poems and society today? Can you elaborate?
- Which poem in the collection was the most challenging for you and why?
- Which poem did you find easiest to understand or relate to and why?

Section 5 of 7:

Kids' Book Club Questions

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Tailor your discussion to a younger audience with these questions. Book clubs are for people of all ages! If you're reading a book with elementary-school children, asking them open-ended questions about what they think and feel about the book can help them engage more deeply with what they're reading and have a lot of fun with it at the same time.
- What do you think about the cover for this book? What about the title?
- What is the setting for this book?
- If you wanted to persuade somebody else to read this book without spoiling the ending, what would you tell them?^{[3]
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- What are you picturing in your mind as you're reading this book?^{[4]
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- What do you think is going to happen next?
- Is there something you're curious to learn more about as you're reading?
- Would you like to be a part of this story? Why or why not?
- If you could be friends with any character from this book, who would you choose and why?
- Which character in this book is most like you? Why do you say that?
- Which character is least like you? Why do you say that?
- What is one thing you learned from this book?
- Is there anything in this book you want to learn more about? Why?
- What is something you really didn't like about this book? Why?
- Did this book remind you of any other book you've read? Which ones? Why?
- What do you think the author of this book is trying to tell the reader with this story?
- What was the most exciting part of this book? Why?
- If you had to describe what you're reading in 5 words, what would they be?
- Did this book change your mind about something? If yes, what?
- If you were a character in this story, would you make the same choices as they did?

Section 6 of 7:

Banned Book Discussion Questions

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Ask these questions to delve deeper into controversial reads. While many book clubs are shaped around a specific theme or author, more and more clubs are taking a stand against censorship by reading banned books. Ask these questions the next time your club discusses a controversial book:
- Why was this book banned, or why do you think it was banned? Is it banned where you are? Is it banned currently, or was it banned in the past?
- Do you believe the book was banned for valid or understandable reasons? If yes, what are they? If no, why not?
- What is the difference between censoring a book and banning it?^{[5]
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- How do you think censorship and book banning impacts intellectual freedom?
- What ideas or perspectives put forth by this book or its author do you think could be considered controversial and why? Under what contexts are they controversial?
- What bias(es) do you think might have gone into banning this book?
- How would you approach a discussion with someone who thinks this book should be banned or censored? How would you convince them otherwise?
- What other books have been banned for similar reasons as this one?
- Do you think any books should be banned or censored? Why or why not? Are there valid reasons to ban or censor books?

Section 7 of 7:

Leading a Good Discussion

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1
Read the book carefully. Seems obvious, but if you're going to lead a book club...you'll need to read the book! Reading the book as closely as you can will help you be more knowledgeable and able to host a discussion. Pay attention to particular themes or ideas that come up in the book, and note anything interesting about the plot or characters or writing. Highlight your favorite passages and take notes on topics you want to bring up at the meeting.
- Consider doing some background research on the book and its author in order to be able to better contextualize what you've read.
- Don't feel like you need to be a total expert. After all, you're not just hosting the club, you're also a member, just like everyone else.
Having questions ready to go will help keep the conversation flowing. You may not need all of them, and you don't need to feel compelled to stick to the planned questions if any topics pop up organically, but they can be a helpful way to ensure the discussion stays lively should the conversation wane.
3
Ensure everyone knows the rules of the discussion. A book club discussion isn't like a regular conversation. Book club discussions are intended to be deeper and more thoughtful, and as such, you may want to ask the other members to prioritize the following:^{[6]
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- Open-mindedness: Listen to and respect everyone's perspective.
- Acceptance: Suspend judgment towards other perspectives.
- Curiosity: Seek to understand rather than to persuade.
- Discovery: Question your assumptions and looking for new insights.
- Sincerity: Speak from the heart and from personal experience.
- Brevity: Be mindful of how long you're talking, and give everyone a chance to speak.
4
Start by talking about everyone's initial reactions to what they've read. Having everyone share what they thought and how they felt about the book is a good way to warm up and get everyone in the right headspace. Having an understanding of how the group feels about the book will also give you, the facilitator, an idea of what direction to take the discussion in.
- Consider going round-robin to make sure everyone has a chance to share.
5
Follow up with your first discussion question. Maybe you've got a specific discussion question you'd like to begin with, or maybe after hearing everyone's impressions of the book, you'd rather ask a different question. Once you've asked the first question, pace yourself before asking anymore: instead, dwell on the same topic as long as you can so that the group can thoroughly explore each idea.
- Jumping from one question to the next may make the discussion move too quickly and feel unnatural.
There's no way to plan out an entire book club meeting, and even if you could, it would make for a rather dull discussion! Don't be afraid to use what other group members say to guide the discussion, even if it feels like you're going against the questions you had planned. As long as the discussion is on-topic, you can let it flow organically and authentically. This will make for a more lively and memorable discussion.
As you close out the meeting, consider recapping what you covered in the discussion: any key themes you explored or ideas you want the group to walk away with. You may also ask if anyone's opinion of the book changed from the beginning of the meeting to the end, and how the discussion might have influenced it.