My home church started a book club a few years ago, and I love attending. Book people are my people! I’m in my element talking about Christian fiction, yet I’ve learned the hard way that I still need to prepare in order to have or lead a productive discussion.
For example, I’ve been known to forget to check whether the book we’re discussing has questions listed in the back. I’ve gotten to book club, thinking myself prepared because I finished reading and have a list of books for members to vote on for our next read, only to realize the current book doesn’t have questions to guide our discussion. Oops!
Also, we’ve had the pleasure of a couple of authors virtually joining our discussions. Did you know many authors are happy to do so? We love book clubs! One of my favorite author moments was meeting a reader at a book club who had been especially touched by my debut novel. That was three or four years ago, but the interaction still serves as an encouraging reminder about why I write.
So, I love book clubs, and as an author, I have ideas of questions to ask other authors. However, as the queen of awkward silence (Oh, you thought that was you? Ha, well, trust me, there are more than enough crowns to go around!), I’ve found it’s best to go into those with a few pre-planned questions too.
While I think the best discussions will include specifically tailored questions, here is a cheat sheet of general questions to get you going.
Discussion questions for book club members:
- What did you think of the book overall?
- Which character did you relate to most? Why?
- Did your opinions of the main characters change over the course of the novel?
- If you could sit down with one of the characters, who would you choose, and what would you talk about?
- What was your favorite part of the book?
- What themes or takeaways stood out to you?
- Is there an element of the story that you’ve continued thinking about after you finished reading?
- How did the setting impact the story? Why do you think the author chose that setting?
- Did you learn anything new by reading this?
- Have you dealt with a similar situation? What advice would you have given the characters?
Questions for authors:
- What inspired this story?
- How long did it take you to write?
- What did your publishing journey look like for this book?
- What was your favorite part of writing this book?
- What did you learn while writing the book?
- If readers only took one thing away from this story, what would you want that to be?
- Did anything about the story, characters, or writing process surprise you?
- What are you working on now?
- What can we do to support you in your writing?
- How can we connect with you online?
And, if you’re in the market for a few other tips and tricks, here are some things I’ve learned along the line:
- Encourage attendees right in the invite to read the book before the discussion. This leads to richer discussions, and no one has to worry about spilling a spoiler!
- For variety, try using different categories to pick your books (choose from a different genre or type of book each time) or allow a different member to choose your next read.
- Check the author’s website for bonus content like related short stories, downloads, discussion questions, etc.
Hopefully that’s enough to get you going! Although, I’d be remiss if I didn’t say again how much I love book clubs. If your group is looking for a contemporary romance with lots to discuss and an author willing to join the discussion (barring a schedule conflict, of course), I would love for you to consider one of the Rhythms of Redemption Romances! If you choose one of them, reach out to me at emilyconrad (at) sbcglobal (dot) net and I’ll be sure to send some book swag for your group.
Okay, shameless plug over. ;)
Are you in a book club? What suggestions for a great meeting would you add to this list?
Emily Conrad writes contemporary Christian romance that explores life’s relevant questions. Though she likes to think some of her characters are pretty great, the ultimate hero of her stories (including the one she’s living) is Jesus. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband and their energetic coonhound rescue. Learn more about her and her books at emilyconradauthor.com.
No, I am not in a book club. Nothing else comes to mind.
Good Morning Emily from Michigan. This avid reader and retiree has been part of two local book clubs sponsored by community libraries. Your questions are spot on. My favorite was a Foodies Book Club sponsored by the local library and School of Cooking by local grocery chain. SW Michigan is headquarters of a major appliance company. We read books with a foodie theme – cozy mysteries, memoirs, biographies, and books with international settings. Many books included recipes. Now I belong to the Lake Bluff Book Club. Every fall participants suggest books, which are voted on and the library puts a list together. Books the library is able to get with inter library loans. In this club we primarily state why we liked or disliked the book. Best wishes.
I’m not in a book club. I have to be honest, I don’t really like discussing books, though I love to read them!! I think it goes back to my classes in high school where we had to read and dissect so many books, and I don’t think that’s why they were written!
No not it a book club. I sometimes read the descusion questions at the end of the book but don’t really like descussing books cause it takes me back to when I was in school and had to descuss books.
Then you’re in the right place, because we get to talk books here! :)
Oh, a food-related book club sounds like so much fun! And there are so very many good books to choose from that fit that description. So interesting to hear how other book clubs operate! Thanks for joining the discussion!
I can see how that would happen. I wasn’t very excited to discuss the books I read in high school, either! Book clubs can be so much more casual and fun BUT there are also many other great ways to connect with other book lovers that work too. Like hanging out here! Glad to have you as part of the community :)
You’re not alone! It’s important to keep reading fun, and if a book club reminded me of school, I wouldn’t do it either. I’m glad there are also other ways to connect with other readers.
Great questions!
Hi, I think you have just about summed it all up , theses are all Great questions., Thank you. Have a great day.
Thanks, Ellie!
I hope they’re useful! Thanks for stopping by!
not in a book club
I’ve never been in a book club. I would like to, I think. It would be fun discussing different books!
Yes, I am in a book club. I cannot think of any other tips off the top of my head. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
I’m not sure if I am a book club member. I would ask the price for friends who aren’t members
I have never been in a book club, there are few people my age (25 years old) who like to read, surely there are millions worldwide but for example in my university section we are 2 and the other girl is not Christian so her readings are far from being of interest to me and mine from her. When it comes to fantasy and romance especially (favorite genres) choosing books with a non-Christian is highly dangerous. Just look at the secular and non clean offer of amazon.
But I have a Christian friend online with whom we discuss movies, books, etc hahaha he’s one of the few who doesn’t get bored reading my “romance analysis” when I start talking about “because this heroine and this hero complement each other perfectly” or ” What were the signs that these two were falling in love in the story?
I hope you’re able to find one that’s a good fit for you! I’ve had a lot of fun in mine :)
Glad the lists covered the bases. Thanks so much for reading!
A book club is (generally) a group of people who get together to discuss a book they decided in advance to all read and talk about. The good news is, usually they’re free! Though some of us buy the books vs. renting them from the library, so there is that potential cost. Good point about how it’s wise to announce that part. I wouldn’t want someone to stay away out of fear of the cost!
I agree that it would get tricky picking titles that worked for both a Christian and a non-Christian, especially in those genres. I love that you’ve found someone to discuss books with online!
I am really late. I tried to start a book club at the church and was basically told by a few people no one in the church really reads books. I pointed to the library we have and said quite a few borrow from it. (This same lady borrows books from the library which had me puzzled by her comment). I didn’t get any takers and was considering seeing if other churches would like to join in but it never got off the ground. I know the Library has a group but its not Christian fiction.
I have been in a few online book chats which have been fun.
It’s wonderful that your church has a library (not all do!), but so sad that there wasn’t enough interest for a book club. You’re right that other churches might have interested members. It surprises me how sometimes even believers don’t know how much of a wealth of Christian fiction there is out there, and a book club is a great way to introduce it! I’m glad you’ve been able to find some online discussions to be part of.
I’ve never been in a book club & most of the ones I know about aren’t for Christian fiction. So I’d not really be interested in joining them.
If there was one near me (real not online), I’d definitely consider joining a CF book club. I think it would be fun to read and discuss books & maybe even discover new-to-me books…..because talking about them is fun for me! It would be even more so with other readers! Instead of, say, talking to my husband about the books I’ve read. Who has no idea what I’m talking about since he reads totally different books than me….LOL! But he’s always gracious when I do talk about my books :-) That’s what love is right? ;-)
This made me chuckle, because I have friends who have told their husbands about my books. One of those guys walked up to me once and said something in the plot was “all about Fitz” or something, and I knew he’d gotten a very thorough summary. Ha! So you (and your husband) are in very good company! It’s a wonder our husbands don’t all band together to create book clubs so we don’t keep subjecting them to our obsessions with imaginary people :) I hope you’re able to find a local CF book club! They really can be fun :)
Not in the book club :(
I’m sorry a book club hasn’t worked out for you to join (yet!). But we’re always happy to talk books with you here, so thanks for joining the conversation :)