Starter Questions for Book Discussion Groups

Regardless of the quality of the book, the discussion can be GREAT. Mistakenly, I believed you had to ENJOY the book. But the test is whether you can say 'That took me into another world'.
After chauffeuring a friend (who temporarily couldn't drive) to the book discussion group, I became an enthusiastic participant.
Useful starters:

1. What is the significance of the title?
2. A theme is an idea thread within a story. Several threads, but which dominates for you?
3. Any memorable characters? Why?
4. Conflict? Within? Between? With society or physical world?
5. Setting: Realistic? Which scenes remain with you? Why?
6. Tone is the writer’s attitude towards their subject.
Style is the way the story is told. Tragedy and humour can be close.
7. Plot is ‘the happens next? ’.
8 A significant work?
• Credible characters with strengths and weaknesses.
• Reader is taken into another world for the length of that story and beyond.
• Compassion and humour juxtaposed with tragedy
• Well chosen words to evoke emotions, situations or characters.
• Unusual viewpoint, setting or style.
• Operates at several layers.
• as a story.
• parallels a real historical event
• explores universal issues like good V evil.

Would you recommend this book?

Of course the most dangerous book discussion group for an author is if they wish to discuss your work, candidly.