Category: 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” →

Here’s a video of author Mary Kubica talking about her latest book Every Last Lie, her writing process, and the inspiration for it .

Discussion Questions:

1. After Clara finds out about Nick death it takes Clara a really long time to tell her daughter Maisie. Why do you think it took her so long to tell her daughter? What were her motives?

2. What is the significance the title of the book, Every Last Lie ? How does it tie into the book? Continue reading “Every Last Lie Book Club Discussion Questions” →

Author Jessica Knoll of Luckiest Girl Alive reveals a surprising truth behind her best-seller.

Discussion Questions:

1. What did you find most surprising in Luckiest Girl Alive?

2. Ani filmed the documentary introducing herself as Ani Harrison but then had to tape the introduction the second time where she introduces herself as TifAni FaNelli. Through out the book, her name varies from Tif, Finny,  Ani to TifAni. What’s the importance of the changes in her name and how does it impact her self image and identity? Continue reading “Luckiest Girl Alive Book Club Discussion Questions” →

Here’s a video of Paula McLain, up close and personal on a conversation about her book Circling The Sun. Also included is a reading of the book and Q & A with the author.

Discover books by Paula McLain!

Discussion Questions

1. Circling The Sun is based on the life of a real person. Do you enjoy reading a novelist’s interpretation of the person’s life in story form or do you prefer a biographical format?

2. Did you think Beryl’s father made the right decisions for her as she was growing up?

3. Did you feel Beryl’s father sort of forced her decision to marry Jock at such a young age leaving her to think “Do I really have a choice at this point?” Continue reading “Circling The Sun Book Club Discussion Questions” →

Here’s Ann Patchett talking about her writing process in Commonwealth.

Discussion Questions:

1. The kiss at the beginning of the book is pivotal in setting in motion the fate and lives of the families involve. Do you believe that it was fate, like Bert Cousins, or choice?

2. How are the children affected by the divorce (of Fix and Beverly Keating, and Bert and Teresa Cousins) and re-marriage of Bert and Beverly?

3. What does the title of the book mean? And what does the title of the book suggest you about Patchett’s concept of family? Continue reading “Commonwealth Book Club Discussion Questions” →