If you would like to participate in a book group or are interested in starting your own, the following
suggestions will be helpful.
Guidelines for both leaders and participantsBe an active reader - As you read make notes on your reactions to the book and the questions it raises for you. Writing down notes, including page numbers, will
help you find the passages that were important to you while you are having your discussion.
Ask questions as you read. These might include "What is the significance of this" and "Why did the author include that in the book." Also, try to ask questions of yourself. Note your reactions to the book. Make a note of the issues the book raises and how it might relate to your experiences in life.
Get to know the characters. Note how you react to characters - what thoughts, and feelings they bring up for you. Don't be afraid to form judgments about them. Think about what you like and what you dislike about each character. Try to understand what motivates them.
Notice the structure of the book. The structure of a book is a part of the artistic creation. How is the book structured? Is a particular character narrating the book or is the book told from an omnicient perspective? Is the story structured in a chronological way? Are there flashbacks? Think about what
meaning the structure might have.
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Guidelines for leaders
Find out about the author and read reviews of the book. The library is a wonderful source for this information. You will be able to find some of this information on this website by going to the "About the Book" page and the "About the Author" page.
Come prepared with 10 - 15 open ended questions. These questions should be designed to stimulate discussion. Therefore you want to avoid questions that have a yes or no answer.
While the questions are designed to guide the discussion, don't feel like you have to control it. Let the discussion follow it own course.
Remember and remind participants that there are no right and wrong comments.
Don't be afraid to criticize the book, but try to get beyond "I didn't like it."
Try to balance the discussion between personal revelation, reactions, and response to the book.
Suggestions for participants
Speak up. Don't wait to be called on. The discussion is your chance to say what you think. Try to engage in a spontaneous exchange of ideas and opinions.
Listen. Try to understand the other participants' points of view. Don't be afraid to disagree with another person's perspective but keep the disagreements friendly.
Be Brief. share the discussion with others. Try to speak for only a few mnutres at a tiem. A good book discussion keeps everyone in the conversation.
Come with your own questions. Make a note of the points on which you would like to hear what others think.
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Contact: B. Brassel
bedford@minlib.net
Last Modified:
03/11/2008
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