Book Group Guidelines and Questions

 

 

Here is a list of example questions to dip in and out of which will help organise the discussions and get the colleague book group started.

 

  1. Did the cover give you a fair idea of what the book would be like?
  2. What do you think the title means?
  3. Why do you think the author opened the book this way?
  4. Does the book remind you of any other books you’ve read?
  5. Did it hold your interest or did you skip bits?
  6. Do you think the book is well written?
  7. Do you like the use of language?
  8. Did you get a feel for what kind of person the author is?
  9. How autobiographical do you think this book is?
  10. Are the male or female characters more vividly and fully drawn?
  11. Why has the author chosen this particular narrator?
  12. Under what conditions did various members read the book (all in one sitting, short hits each night at bedtime, on the train etc.)?  Was this a good or bad way to read it?
  13. Have you read anything else by this author?
  14. Would you read something else by the same author?Who picked this one and why?

 

 

 

Keeping the book group organised is all part of the fun. Here is a suggestion of guidelines for members:

 

  • Agree to meet regularly at a specified day and time
  • Try to read the books
  • Allow every member an equal opportunity to be heard
  • Decide on how to nominate a group leader to help with organisation. This may be a revolving role or one with a designated period.
  • The group leader should
    • Be the contact for the group
    • Make apologies for those who cannot attend
    • Open the discussion
    • Make sure the discussion keeps going, with the aid of questions supplied in the pack
    • Make no charge for their services