Present questions regarding character development. Talk about whether or not the characters were believable, what the varying personalities brought to the overall story or if certain figures took the novel into a tangent that was unnecessarily disruptive. Ask club members if they related personally to any of the characters, or if they knew anyone whose traits mimicked those of a character in the book. Other points of discussion regarding characters could involve cultural differences and whether the author did a good job of taking the reader into a world they previously knew nothing about through the character’s experiences.
If the group is discussing a nonfiction work, talk about any new information learned about some of the central figures and if this new knowledge informed a new opinion of this person. Discuss how learning about the central figure's past or her good works helped to create a more sympathetic viewpoint than previously held.
Discuss which themes were present throughout the book or if one centralized concept remained consistent throughout the work. Introduce the idea that tangential themes either supported the central idea or kept it unfocused in a way that either made the novel stronger, or detracted from what the author was attempting to convey.
In a nonfiction format, talk about why the chosen book is or is not relevant to current events or why it’s important that the message of the work stay a topic of discussion. Ask whether similar works on the same theme did a better or worse job of relaying information to the reader.
Ask book members to discuss how they felt upon entering certain scenes within the storyline, and if the author did a good job of setting the stage for his characters. If the novel is set in an 18th century Wisconsin farming community, discuss how close the reader felt to the smells, sounds and culture of that era. Talk about whether the plot took the reader on a unique journey through the lives of his characters or if the story continued along a path trod many times before. Discuss how tight or loose the plot stayed throughout the novel. Talk about whether the author stayed true to all plot points, resolving them in a timely fashion, or whether some stories were left unresolved and how that choice affected the overall feel of the book.