Who makes up the questions for the group to discuss?
Choosing what books to read is one of the most enjoyable, often frustrating, and certainly one of the most important activities the group will undertake. One of the best parts of belonging to a book discussion group is that you will be introduced to authors and books you’re unfamiliar with, and books that fall outside your regular areas of interest. This is good! Remind people that there can be a big difference between “a good read” and “a good book for a discussion.” (See next section.) It’s always a good idea to select your group’s books well in advance (at least three months works well). You don’t want to have to spend time at each meeting deciding what to read next. What makes a particular book a good one for a discussion? Probably the most important criteria are that the book be well written and that it explores basic human truths. Good books for discussion have three-dimensional characters dealing with life issues readers can identify with – characters who are forced to make diff
obably the most important criteria are that the book be well written and that it explores basic human truths. Good books for discussion have three-dimensional characters who are forced to make difficult choices, under difficult situations, whose behavior sometimes makes sense and sometimes doesn’t. Good book discussion books present the author’s view of an important truth and sometimes send a message to the reader. During a book discussion, what you’re really talking about is everything that the author hasn’t said—all those white spaces on the printed page. For this reason, books that are heavily plot driven (most mysteries, westerns, romances, and science fiction/fantasy) don’t lend themselves to book discussions. In genre novels and some mainstream fiction (and often in nonfiction), the author spells out everything for the reader, so that there is little to say except, “I loved the book” or “I hated it” or “Isn’t that interesting.” (Incidentally, this “everything that the author hasn
Related Questions
- If a community group asks an employee to come to a meeting to discuss a ballot proposition, can the employee go? What if the employee is also working on the campaign?
- Does the discussion paper discuss how to determine the composition of a group reporting entity? Should the composition be based on control or on risks and rewards?
- How can I arrange for a speaker to discuss the functions of the Franklin County Auditors Office with my group or organization?
