How To Cultivate The Best Questions For Your Book Club Discussion

Joining a book club can be an excellent way to enjoy social time and forge relationships with people with similar interests. But it can also be daunting to know how to get a conversation started and bypass the same old uninspiring questions that lead to awkward silences.

To help you get the most out of your book club experience, we went direct to the experts. Women spoke exclusively to Jennifer Cloer, CEO of Story Changes Culture; Antonayah Ellis, educator, author, and founder of I Want To Read Too; and Julianne Buonocore, book expert and founder of The Literary Lifestyle. 

After picking a new book club read, Buonocore recommended setting out rules early to kick things off the right way. Those rules can be anything from not interrupting when others are speaking, to respecting others' opinions — even if you don't agree with them. "Make it a safe space for all opinions to be allowed," Buonocore said. Of course, cultivating the best questions to make your next book club discussion a real page turner is another challenge entirely.

To kick off a book club meeting, Buonocore suggested starting with a series of quick, closed questions to get everyone involved early on. "Start with some easy icebreakers, such as a poll, to get people comfortable sharing their opinions in a low-stakes way," she said.

But after the group is loosened up and you're ready to get into an in-depth discussion, closed or leading questions won't get the best results. People need to feel like they can share their honest opinions about the literature without being steered or limited. 

As Ellis explained to us, not only will open questions — i.e. questions that warrant more than just a simple yes or no response — lead to more meaningful discussions, they also offer the chance for conversations to flow naturally and for others to get involved.

Questions and answers will flow more naturally if your book club members are truly engaged. That means keeping your meetings as interesting as possible. Ellis suggested trying out themed meetings based on things like music or activities featured in the book. You could also hold a meeting that focuses on the local culture or interests of the characters. As Buonocore put it, "It's easier to talk about themed food than why you hated a character everyone else liked!"

Flexibility is also key for helping people come out of their shells and get involved. Ellis explained that this can be achieved through virtual meetings to fit everyone's schedules, or outdoor gatherings to keep the location diverse and interesting. "This will keep participation easy and enjoyable!" she said.

It can also be beneficial to invite authors or guest speakers to help the group delve deeper into the subject matter. An expert's presence may inspire questions you and your fellow book clubbers haven't contemplated before, keeping things fresh. "Involve authors when you can. We've hosted Zoom events with Q and As with authors and have done written interviews with some authors. This really engages the community," Cloer shared.

It can be tempting to steer away from saying anything negative about the book during meetings — but that's not reality. While it's great to look on the bright side, don't be afraid to speak up about the things you didn't like too. "A good book club question strays from the surface level and digs deep into the nuances of the plot and the characters, including controversial topics like plot holes and character flaws," Buonocore said. "It draws emotion out of the reader so they can form a well-reasoned opinion on the question, not just a binary answer. It may also force the reader to consider literary devices more deeply in order to better understand the book as art."

Ellis shared a similar sentiment, pointing out that the best book club questions should encourage honest and authentic discussions — which aren't always rooted in the positive. You could ask your fellow clubbers to talk about a decision one of the characters made that they wouldn't, and why they thought it was a bad idea, Ellis said. Or inquire which character they think they'd be friends with, which they wouldn't, and why. "Thought-provoking, fun, and relatable questions make for real discussions," Ellis added. 

Deeper, personal conversations may also be inspired by non-fiction books, such as autobiographies. For example, not only are some celebrity memoirs great, well-written books, many famous faces choose to be very open about their highest highs and lowest lows, which can be extremely relatable.

While you always aim to have personal, thought-provoking conversations, it's also important to keep things on topic. After all, book clubs are designed to promote conversation about books, not free-for-all discussions (at least not until after you've spoken about the latest read). 

"In the end, every question is getting at one question: What is it that this book means to say? And how does that relate to meaning in my own world?" Cloer said. To ensure you thoroughly discuss the book and get the most of your meeting, allow everyone to speak freely and openly, but have questions in mind to steer the conversation back on track if it gets too far off topic.

Another way to keep the group on track is to ask specific questions that relate explicitly to the story. That way, you're not repeating the same questions each meet, which can be monotonous and boring. "If you ask readers to share the book's symbols, they may feel like they're back in school. But, if you challenge them to identify each time a specific symbol you name appeared, it may feel more like a fun memory game," Buonocore suggested. "It also takes the pressure of understanding the nuances of the book off of the reader."

Part of being involved in a book club is getting to know one another better, which is why Buonocore encourages asking attendees to share their own experiences. "Place the book in the context of real life and have book club members share stories from their own lives related to the book. Since everyone's experiences differ, the conversation will always feel fresh," she said. 

You may find this easier when your book club reads a modern classic that deals with current issues. As Cloer pointed out, a personal connection to the story may be more important than we think. "We aim to have deep conversations that explore character, tension, stakes and how that relates to us and our own challenges and experiences," she said.

When people are sharing personal stories, it's imperative that you make active listening a priority, as not everyone feels comfortable speaking openly about their own experiences and may need support. "Focus on listening and making sure everyone has a chance to contribute," Ellis suggested. But remember it's equally as important not to force anyone to speak about themselves if they prefer not to.