Questions about Discussion Questions?
These days, it seems you can’t open the back of a book without finding discussion questions. It’s no doubt book groups are a big trend, and us authors are often asked to create discussion questions along with our manuscripts. I had to whip up a batch just today (gosh, they sound like brownies when I put it like that, don’t they??)
I have mixed feelings about these questions. I have been in great conversations launched by discussion questions. I have been in arguments...ahem...heated discussions sparked by discussion questions. I have books where I never even glance at them.
Now, some of this variation may stem from the fact that it takes very little to get me started talking about books. I discuss books by nature; I don’t need a nudging list of inquiries. Just this morning a friend and I had a long conversation about books that touched us. But I spend a lot of time thinking about books. Probably more than your average person. Maybe not.
What about you? Do you utilize discussion questions? What do you think of such “added features”--especially in fiction works?
Oh, now, look at me--I just asked a “discussion question,” didn’t I?
Posts
I've always thought we should include a day here on the Craftie site where we take one of the LI books and do the discussion questions with the author.
ReplyDeleteBut, it's a lot of work LOL
I have a hard time making the questions fresh but I try to remember the main theme of the book and go from there. My worst fear is that one of my books will be read by a Book Club and someone will say "This was a book about nothing." Like Seinfeld!!!
ReplyDeleteGood question, Allie!!
I have to admit that I never looked at the reader questions in any Love Inspired books until I started writing for LI and had to come up with questions for my books.
ReplyDeleteI often have wondered if the discussion questions at the back of books get utilized. The only book club I've ever been in was a mother daughter one. We had a great time discussing The Princess Academy even without discussion questions. Though now that I think about it, the woman leading the club may have had questions prepared to spark the discussion. Which I guess is the purpose of the questions at the back of the book. LOL
ReplyDeleteI actually rarely look at the discussion questions. Maybe to see what may happen in the book but not very often.
ReplyDeleteBut then I am not in many book clubs only a few online and lately haven't read the books for them either. (So behind in reading its not funny.)
Its a worry when you see you are 50% through a book go to the back to see how much filler is there only to find its less than 5% so I still have 45% of the book to go. I like the book but I want it finished. (been on it 5 weeks now)