1. What did you get out of the book and/or what did it mean to you?  Do you have any favorite passages or quotes?
2. Why do you think the author wrote this?
3. What major issues and ideas was the author trying to convey and explore –  love, coming of age, disillusionment , fate, family ties, etc.
4. Is there any moral responsibility shown, abdicated, abused?
5. Are the characters’ actions the result of freedom of choice or destiny/fate?
6. Are there any symbols or imagery in the book that may have cultural, political, or religious significance?
7. What type of vision does the author use with his choice of words? Optimistic, pessimistic, prophetic, cautionary, humorous, satirical, venomous, reminiscent …
8. How did you relate to the characters?  Choose one to elaborate upon.
9. What memories were invoked by the story?
10. Think about the way the story was told.  How did the narrator’s voice affect your reading of it? Did the voice draw you in or distance you from it?
11. Was the plot effective?
12. Were the major conflicts resolved in a satisfactory manner?
13. How would you describe the author’s style? Spare, lyrical, descriptive, objective etc.?
14. Does the author’s writing style and devices add power to the overall effect of the book or are they distracting or forced? (G)ive an example of text
15. Does the book appeal more to you emotions or intellect?  How and why?
16. What in this novel makes you laugh, cry, feel uncomfortable, feel anger?

Other Types of General Questions

1. What is the significance of the title? Did you find it meaningful, why or why not?
2. Would you have given the book a different title? If yes, what would your title be?
3. What were the main themes of the book? How were those themes brought to life?
4. What did you think of the writing style and content structure of the book?
5. How important was the time period or the setting to the story? Did you think it was accurately portrayed?
6. How would the book have played out differently in a different time period or setting?
7. Which location in the book would you most like to visit and why?
8. Were there any quotes (or passages) that stood out to you? Why?
9. What did you like most about the book? What did you like the least?
10. How did the book make you feel? What emotions did it evoke?
11. Are there any books that you would compare this book to?
12. Have you read any other books by this author? How would you compare them to this selection?
13. What do you think the author’s goal was in writing this book? What ideas were they trying to illustrate? What message were they trying to send?
14. What did you learn from this book?
15. Did this book remind you of any other books that you’ve read? Describe the connection.
16. Did your opinion of this book change as you read it? How?
17. Would you recommend the book to a friend? How would you summarize the story if you were to recommend it?
18. Was the book satisfying to read? Why or why not?
19. If you could talk to the author, what burning question would you want to ask?