GENERAL TIPS FOR DISCUSSION
Reading Group Guides offer lots of unique topics and ideas for title-specific discussions. But what if the book your group has chosen doesn't have a guide? There are many ways to begin a great discussion. One surefire way is to focus on the main aspects of the book--settings, themes, characterization, etc. You'll find that with a bit of direction, the conversation will flow naturally:
- Begin by thinking about what in particular you liked about the book. Was it the characters? The way they were rendered by the author? Were they well-developed, or did you leave the book wanting to know more about them? What did the other members of your group think?
- What about the way the story was told? How did the voice of the book affect your reading of it? Was it written in the first person (related by a main character in the book) or third person (related by an independent and objective onlooker)? Did the voice draw you in or distance you from the story as you read? Consider choosing a few favorite passages that illustrate your point to get the discussion going.
- What are the main themes? Love? Coming-of-age? Can you draw any thematic comparisons between this book and another that your club has read? (This is always a popular discussion topic!) Do any of the themes relate to topics or events in the news? Were there major conflicts in the book, and were they resolved in a convincing manner?
- What did you think about the author's use of symbolism and imagery? Did these devices add to the overall effect of the book, or were they distracting or forced?
You can also do a bit of research to help your discussion along. Look for reviews and interviews in old newspapers and see if what the author has to say about her work provides additional insights into the book. Does any of it seem autobiographical? Are there any cultural or historical aspects that you can research to supplement the discussion? What about reviews that you find? Do you agree with the reviewer's assessment of the book?
Finally, you can draw make the discussion a little more communal by having everyone bring a favorite passage or question to the meeting and spend some time going around the room and discussing each one. This is bound to jump-start conversation and the meeting may very well lead itself from there.
For more discussion tips, visit the Vintage Books Reading Group Center.
