Category: Book Club Discussion Questions

Discussion Questions:

1. Leni and her family had a fresh start in Alaska. Given the challenging landscape, do you think that they were going to survive in that harsh climate? Who do you think would be able to handle it, and what survival skills or kind of person do you think would be most adaptable to survive? Is Leni or Cora a survivor?

2. The novel is set in the 1970s America. Why do you think author Hannah chose that period? How do the political and social factors mould the story line?

3. Alaska is written like a character in the novel. How does the landscape help with the story? Do you think if it was set somewhere else that the story would be just as effective? Continue reading “The Great Alone Book Club Discussion Questions” →

Discussion Questions:

1. Did you think Michelle Gable did a good job in creating the three main character’s lives, Laurel, Annie and the Duchess, in I’ll See You In Paris?

2. Did you think Gladys Deacon (The Duchess) ended up being a crazy old lady or was she just shrewd in manipulating her actions with other people?

3. Did you find the number of spaniels in the Grange to be a realistic approach to the living conditions in the Grange and was it believable to you that the people living there would put up with it? Continue reading “I’ll See You In Paris Book Club Discussion Questions” →

Discussion Questions:

1 Before you read Before We Were Yours, did you know the historical side of adoption and that there was a black market for babies back then?

2. Do you think Queenie and Briny were at fault for losing their children? Was it viable for them to have more children?

3. Were you surprised about the living conditions of young children in the orphanage as revealed in Rill’s story? Continue reading “Before We Were Yours Book Club Discussion Questions” →

Here’s a video of co-author Annie Barrows talking about The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society book.

Discussion Questions:

1. The book is an epistolary genre, consisting of a series letters corresponded between the characters to form the story line. Did you enjoy this kind of storytelling? How effective was it in telling the story? What are the pros and cons of writing in this manner?

2. The members of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society were not experienced with literary societies and made their rules as they went along. They took turns in discussing the book that they read, and then it evolved into more of a discussion when another member read the same book. Discuss literary societies in the past and compare them to today’s book clubs. What similarities can be drawn? How are they different? Continue reading “The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society Book Club Discussion Questions” →

Check out this video with Tess Gerritsen on Playing With Fire: a reading and interview.

Discussion Questions:

1. Have you read any or all of Tess Gerritsen’s books before reading Playing with Fire?

2. What did you think of the picture on the cover of the book jacket as it related to the story line and did it draw your attention to being interested in reading this novel?

3. Have you ever visited Venice and if so, did you think Tess Gerritsen did a good job relating Venice to the story? Continue reading “Playing With Fire Book Club Discussion Questions” →

Discussion Questions:

1. In chapter 6, Sharp Is The Knife, And Sudden Is The Stroke, Ada’s grandmother dies and Wentworth estate goes to Lady Annabella Byron. Lady Byron’s annual income increased from five hundred pounds to four thousand five hundred pounds. Ada notes of her mother’s generosity in giving her aunt Augusta game from the estate, then and going forward. Later, Lord Byron dies and Ada’s mother gives the new Lord Byron two thousand pounds per annum.

Why do you think that Ada says? “I have always been proud of my mother for her generosity, even though as I regretted that she had not offered it more frequently to me.”

What does it say about their relationship? What do you think Ada means? Continue reading “Enchantress Of Numbers Book Club Discussion Questions” →

Here’s a video of Colm Tóibín talking about Brooklyn and other issues.

Discussion Questions:

1. What part did Eilis’ sister, Rose Lacey, play in the decision for Eilis to emigrate? Given that Eilis’ three brothers immigrated to Birmingham, England, there was no work in Ireland, and Rose was the surrogate father and breadwinner, was it inevitable that Eilis should emigrate?

2. Before Eilis set off to America from Enniscorthy, she had sensed that people who emigrated there could become rich and lived there happily. What are the reasons behind this preconception? What are Eilis first impressions of America? Continue reading “Brooklyn Book Club Discussion Questions” →

Discover books by Anita Shreve.

Discussion Questions:

1. The epigraph is a quote from Shakespeare’s Hamlet: “Doubt thou the stars are fire; / Doubt thou the sun doth move; / Doubt truth to be a liar; / But never doubt I love.” What does it mean? What does it have to do with the novel it introduces?

2. “Containerize, her own mother once told Grace, as if imparting the secret of sanity. Her mother meant children as well as dry goods.” (pages 9–­10) In what ways does Grace follow this advice? When does she disregard it? Continue reading “The Stars Are Fire Book Club Discussion Questions” →

Here’s a video of author Kristin Hannah talking about True Colors.

Discover books by Kristin Hannah!

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you feel, after reading this book, that most people hide their “True Colors” in order not to hurt the feelings of other people?

2.Do you feel you know the “True Colors” of your own family members and close friends and do you question them in your own mind? Do you ever question your own “True Colors”  and do you want to change your life at times to improve your opinions of other people? Continue reading “True Colors Book Club Discussion Questions” →

Here’s a video of author Lisa See talking about her latest book The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane.

Discover books by Lisa See!

Discussion Questions:

1.The book starts off in 1988 with First Brother’s recounting his dream and A-ma saying “No coincidence, no story”.  What are the main coincidences in The Tea Girl of Humming Bird Lane? Were these coincidences believable?  How did these events shape your expectations of the story?

2. Akha culture is steeped in tradition. Were there any practices described in the book that shocked or surprised you? Did it change the way you felt about the book? What traditions did you like and dislike? Continue reading “The Tea Girl Of Hummingbird Lane Book Club Discussion Questions” →