As joseph addison said, reading is to the mind what exercise is to the brain. The great alone book club discussion questions arlenes. A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted at the. Selecting each months book requires walking a fine.
Mar 25, 2015 in mondays book club 101 post, we talked about how a fabulous book club discussion starts with the right bookand it takes more than a great book to make a great book club novel. So whether youre in a book club now, want to be, or just really love reading and talking about books to anyone, i have suggestions on your next pick. Small great things could not be more timely and sparked many an important discussion both in and outside of book clubs. Ive been in a lot of book clubs, and i know its not always easy to get a conversation going on a book. Best book club books guaranteed to get people talking. Mar 23, 2016 the book asks big questions about how women define their place in the world, without forcing solutions on the reader, which is perfect to kick off a book club discussion. Tired of reading the same titles as every other book club in town. Samantha cerff, an editor for fandango latin america and member of the book club sinopsis in lima, peru, recommends organizing all those thoughts prior to the meeting. This is a literary analysis technique called close reading. Junior great books nonfiction inquiry for grades 25 is. The great books foundation provides selections of books both classic and modern works of prose, poetry, and drama from which local discussions and regional institutes draw their materials. Little heathens wont make my top 10 anytime soon, but the authors simple, sometimes harsh, sometimes humorous descriptions provoked deep discussions in our group.
Dec 14, 2017 my current book club group is much more casual, but perhaps too much so. How did i create this list of book club discussion questions. Most of these are nonspecific, designed to work for any book, although, of course, some will work better than others for particular books. Our 23 hour meetings are primarily a social gathering with a mere 10 minute discussion about the book snuck somewhere in the middle. Some of these are the best book club books from my own book clubs over the years and others are ones i wish my book club had read. Keep the mood of the club in mind when selecting the book. With discussionworthy content, stimulating nonfiction and great reads from the last few years, you wont have to debate what new book club books to read next. Sep 19, 2018 i have been a part of one or more book clubs for over 20 years, and i have learned a few things about what makes a book club successful and how to get your book club talking. Simply put, ive assembled a list of the kinds of questions that are likely to get people talking. In you, me, and the sea, young merrow meets amir, a boy who takes away her.
The book asks big questions about how women define their place in the world, without forcing solutions on the reader, which is perfect to kick off a book club discussion. This discussion aid contains a plot synopsis, analyses of characters and themes. If you want to get lost in discussion in your group. Book club discussion questions because great books. Book club discussion questions because great books shouldn. Book club discussion questions october 20, 2015 by sheila 7 comments while its always helpful if you can find reading guides for the precise title your book club is.
Ive found that the best book club discussion questions are ones that are openended and that get people to share their personal opinions. In mondays book club 101 post, we talked about how a fabulous book club discussion starts with the right bookand it takes more than a great book to make a great book club novel to gather this list of 40 book club favorites, i polled you on the mmd facebook page, asked you on twitter, and combed through your suggestions here. This list of book club books has nonfiction, chicklit, young adult and middle grade titles, history books and parenting books. Small great things by jodi picoult book club discussion. Is your book club ready to try something different after another round of literary fiction. It is a good idea to plan on finishing the book a little earlier than you might otherwise so that you have time to think about it and prepare before your book club meets. If you get to pick the book, here are some recommendations for engaging books that are likely to promote discussion. This oneyear book club reading list includes popular fiction and nonfiction that groups will enjoy reading and discussing. Shes the little known bronte sister, compared to her far more famous siblings. Take notes or mark passages that strike youpassages you find significant, funny, or insightful. Rif readers told us these were their favorite books theyd read in book club. The 5 best book club books i read in 2018 off the shelf. Sep 05, 2016 when you choose a popular book club book, you can often find a wealth of book discussion questions already written for you.
We believe that serious discussions are rewarding and enlightening endeavors. The perfect book club is made up of three key things. Not all book club books have to be serious literary works. At classy, several of our departments participate in quarterly book clubs in order to. If youre looking for a fiction title for your book club that will provide plenty of material for discussion, here are 72 possibilities. The best part of reading in a group is getting to dissect the book with other smart people after youre done reading. Great books dinner and discussion series msoe is proud to present a unique literary experience designed for every book lover. This may seem obvious, but it is the most important step, so it is worth stating.
A great read for the book club doesnt necessarily mean i will like it on a personal level. So, youve started your book club, youve bought enough wine to satisfy even your thirstiest pals, plus plenty of cheesy snacks. The books on our list were screened with these criteria in mind. The first two things are easy to accomplish just read anything by. If your book club loves books by elin hilderbrand, theyll fall head over heels for this new novel by meg donohue. These great reads are perfect for sparking discussion, spirited debate, and lively conversation over wine, obviously. Here are my top 20 favorite book club books for 2020. The glass castle by jeanette walls one of the best book club books that makes your own childhood look really really easy, this is a memoir about growing up in a completely dysfunctional family, where the family keeps moving in the middle of the night and the children eventually realize that the parents are never going to pull themselves together.
Use specific passages from the book as evidence for your ideas. Jan 29, 2009 a great read for the book club doesnt necessarily mean i will like it on a personal level. The best mystery and suspense for your reading group bookpage. Grab some friends, choose a book, and get started on your book club today. Read it forward readers told us theyre stories that have some real meat to itones that deal with issues ripe for discussion and that can be interpreted in multiple ways. The tenant of wildfell hall by anne bronte is a great one for book clubs. Discover unique and diverse book club books with discussion questions that will stimulate the conversation. Comparing her work to that of her sisters brought about quite a discussion in our group. We discuss these works to enlarge our understanding of the ideas that shape our culture and gain a deeper appreciation for what it means to be human. Is the group on a roll and ready to tackle that long thick book youve been talking about for months. The great books foundation inspiring ideas, dialogue. Roger, a seemingly bland divorced middleaged guy, and bethany, a cynical goth girl in her early 20s, are. When you choose a popular book club book, you can often find a wealth of book discussion questions already written for you.
And even if frankies struggles with the good ol boys at her elite prep school arent directly applicable for all readers, the idea of finding oneself transcends the. Did you enjoy the book and who would you pass this book onto. From the author of me before you comes her latest novel that will charm you. This book club recommendations list contains books that have wide appeal and would provide compelling discussions for your book club. If youre ready to start a book club, heres 40 of the best book club questions, for fiction. John dalton great books summer institute at colby college p.
The best book club questions for every kind of discussion. Issues, characters andor moral dilemmas worthy of group discussion. The heart of a great book club is great discussion books, but a great book isnt necessarily the same thing as a great book club book more on this later. Oct 20, 2015 book club discussion questions october 20, 2015 by sheila 7 comments while its always helpful if you can find reading guides for the precise title your book club is reading, sometimes theyre not available. Now that youve had some time to recover from all those champagne wishes and caviar dreams, its time to get down to business. The topics of race and privilege get people thinking and. Oct 01, 2019 so whether youre in a book club now, want to be, or just really love reading and talking about books to anyone, i have suggestions on your next pick. Now comes the difficult partshaping your friendly chatter into an elevated, incisive conversation about the book you all agreed to read. A book club can be a great way for your staff to push themselves to continue to learn. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. You want to pick a discussionworthy book club book. It is a great read that also can open discussion about a lesserknown conflict.
Whether in person or online, theyre the perfect place to read great books with great book nerds, and dive deep dive into stories that really make you think. Complaints about a lack of excitement in the books any particular book group chooses are common. If not, you can visit the publisher or authors website and find online reading guides. Houston great books is a nonprofit organization that supports and promotes discussion groups and book clubs in and around houston. Which is why were providing you with this list of top book club questions that will generate general. Use this site to find groups that fit your needs, whether that be location or interest in the books themselves.
These 29 titles are the best book club books ranging from nonfiction to chicklit. See the landscapes in the visual tour of alaska in this national geographic book. Book group favorites for the best book club discussion reading. May 11, 2020 promoting the open exchange of ideas through discussion of literature and art. Aug 21, 2017 how did i create this list of book club discussion questions. To gather this list of 40 book club favorites, i polled you on the mmd facebook page, asked you on twitter, and combed through your suggestions here. A novel by nickolas butler paperback, dec 26, 2017. I have two cardinal rules in selecting the best book club books. The best mystery and suspense for your reading group. We are taking our mission beyond classrooms with a vision to build stronger, more innovative working and thinking communities, and activate influential leaders to foster positive change. But it can be overwhelming to find great book club ideas. I decided to come up with a generic list of book club questions to compel us to dig deeper than did you like the book. I have been a part of one or more book clubs for over 20 years, and i have learned a few things about what makes a book club successful and how to get your book club talking.
Volunteering with your book club starting a fatherson book club hints and tips for your book club discussion 12 great books for motherdaughter book clubs take a field trip to liven up your book club how and why to start a business book club tips for setting up a home library for your kids invite an expert to your motherdaughter book club. Feb 28, 2020 ideally, everyone would come to the book club bursting with feelings, impressions, and ideas that the book had sparked. Best book club books guaranteed to get people talking readers. Or, is the team struggling with the last few books youve read. Many books have reading guides at the end of the book that are perfect to use for your book club.
Best for book clubs best books to read for a great book club discussion. Small great things jodi picoult, 2016 random house 480 pp. Find discussion books, contests, and reading lists. Sep 11, 2019 the perfect book club is made up of three key things. Branch out with one of these mystery and suspense picks for your next book club meeting. In mondays book club 101 post, we talked about how a fabulous book club discussion starts with the right book and it takes more than a great book to make a great book club novel to gather this list of 40 book club favorites, i polled you on the mmd facebook page, asked you on twitter, and combed through your suggestions here. Litcourse 3 has a good discussion of close reading. Over wine, of course the girl on the train by paula hawkins. Reading group choices is your resource for book recommendations, book club discussion topics, and reading group guides. Oct 09, 2017 the best 14 books for book clubs in 2018. A list of classic and current book club favorite reads. Whether you belong to a book club or not, this is a great list of book recommendations and books that are fun to discuss.
These contemporary stories are a fantastic place to start. The best part of reading in a group is getting to dissect. Im a bookworm, and book club is one of the highlights of my. Suggest books that your group has read that led to a lively discussion, whether people loved or hated them. This is often supplemented by local choices from significant works of fiction and nonfiction, philosophy, political science, poetry, and drama. Promoting the open exchange of ideas through discussion of literature and art. Feb 16, 2015 book club books that are perfect for discussion, dissection, and some spirited debate. Finding the right book club book is easy when you follow these helpful tips. Set during the great depression, englishwoman alice wright marries a handsome american and finds herself transplanted to rural kentucky. If you enjoy meeting new people, exchanging ideas, expanding your literary knowledge, and sampling gourmet cuisine, msoes great books dinner and discussion series is an adventure you must experience. The best book club books that will encourage discussion in your book cluband. Poetry, short stories, plays, novels, history, philosophy, science, classics that are worthy of discussion, current and past, western and nonwestern these are the works we discuss. Sep 04, 2018 while the conversation would have been great among existing friends, hearing new stories and perspectives on the various kinds of relationships between women made this book club especially unique. Oct 09, 2015 the heart of a great book club is great discussion books, but a great book isnt necessarily the same thing as a great book club book more on this later.
1452 1547 919 1108 453 1516 25 228 171 90 1519 1229 790 861 595 225 1534 763 1122 1322 607 456 890 737 866 474 1363 1334 575 1048 585 1148 660 841 1489 587 471 612 1411 100 66 76