Reading Group Discussion Questions

Many readers love to become involved with book discussion groups.  It's a way to connect with friends and family, as well as to meet new people. I think that both authors and readers would benefit if authors included these at the end of their eBooks and print books.  After all, reading not only entertains but stimulates the thinking process.  As we all age, this can not be a bad thing. 

Here are the questions that are included at the end of my own novel, "Take the Silk Road Home." 

1. What are some of the book's themes? How important were they? 

2. Did you learn any interesting facts from the book? What were they? 

3.  How realistic was the characterization? Would you want to meet any of the characters? Did you like them? Hate them? 

4. Did the actions of the characters seem plausible? Why? Why not? 

5. How do the setting and locations figure into the book? Is the setting a character? Does it come to life? Did you feel you were experiencing the time and place in which the book was set? 

6. Gianni and Vinnie made choices that had moral implications. Would you have made the same decisions? Why? Why not? 

7. The brothers enjoyed their mother’s and grandmother’s cooking as well as some meals in China and Viet Nam. What are some of the favorite meals that your mother, father or grandparents made for you? What are your favorite Asian dishes? 

8. In what ways were Gianni and Vinnie different? In what ways were
they similar?  Do you recognize aspects of your own brothers or sisters? Do you recognize aspects of yourself? 

9. Which “life lessons” described in “Take the Silk Road Home” do you value most? How have the relationships in your life affected your thinking on the direction of your life? 

10. Do you believe that success in life is random or are there other factors involved? What are they? 

11. Gianni was very interested in uncovering his past. Do you have a family custodian? Do you feel that Americans do not care about the past and their family ancestry? Why or Why not? 

12. How does the history described in the book interlace with the development and relationship between the brothers? 

13. What concepts of religion and philosophy could you identify with in the book? 

14. What was your favorite humorous comment or anecdote? 

15. How are the book's images symbolically significant? Do the images help to develop the plot, and/or help to define characters? 

16. Did the book end the way you expected? 

17. Would you recommend this book to other readers? To your close friend?