1. Present your overall opinion of this book. Was it interesting to read? Was it believable? Was it enjoyable? Why?
2. Assume that you are a movie producer. Why would you want to make a film of this book? Who would you cast for the leading roles? Write a report to the studio head that makes your arguments.
3. What insights or knowledge have you gained from the experience of reading this book? Have they in any way affected your thinking? If so, how? If not, why not?
4. Pretend that you are a book critic writing for a major newspaper at the time that the story takes place. File your critique, explaining whether or not you like the book and why.
5. Analyze the author's writing style. Is it: enjoyable, interesting, easy to read? Does it add to the flavor of the story, or the persuasiveness of his/her themes? Why or why not? What makes this author's writing style different from others'?
6. Write a summary of the book in a style mimicking the author's own.
7. Identify your favorite book. Then talk about how this book compares to your favorite. What are the differences between them? Why do you prefer one book to the other? Could the assigned book be changed in a way that would put it in competition for being your all-time favorite?
Characters
1. Which of the book's characters was most fascinating to you? Why? What would you do if you had the chance to meet her/him?
2. If you were to cast yourself as one of the characters in this book, who would it be? Why? How do you think your taking the character's place might have changed the story's outcome?
3. Identify two or three important characters from the book and discuss their similarities and differences.
4. Take on the role of a relative or friend of one of the main characters, then compose a letter to them that talks about a key event or dilemma taking place in the story.
5. For each of the book's main characters, state their basic personality and their motivations as they emerge at the beginning of the book. How do you think the two are related? Where do you think each character's motivations come from? Then do the same thing at the end of the book, and talk about how the characters have changed.
6. Identify a character who is a foil. Why do you think he/she is a foil? Which other character is he/she a foil for? What aspects of each other's character and motivations do they bring out? What is the message that the author uses the foil to convey?
7. Assume that you are an expert in a field (such as criminology, law, psychology, religion) and one of the main characters comes to you for advice. What would you say to him or her? Why? How might the book's outcome change if your advice were followed?
8. Draw or paint a portrait of one of the key characters of the book. Then compose a short description of why you picture him/her the way that you do.
Setting
1. Describe the book's setting. Then explain how important it was to the story: How did it affect the characters? How did it affect the outcome? Was it a critical component of the book, or not? Why?
2. Identify the settings for: the book's opening, the initial moment or crisis, the climax, and the conclusion. Which settings are the same, and which are different? How does each setting relate to the events that take place in it? What conclusions can you draw from the author's combination of event and setting?
3. Did the book describe a place or time that captured your imagination? Why would you want to go there (or avoid going there)? What would you do if you found yourself there?
4. Place the book in a different setting: either a different location, or a different point in time (or both). Then discuss how it would be different, talking about both the characters and the story.
5. Draw a picture of a key setting of the book. Then provide a short explanation of why you picture it the way that you do.
Plot
1. Describe the plot of the book, identifying these key points: the initial moment, the crisis/crises, the climax, the resolution. Then state your opinion of this plot: is it believable? did it hold your attention?
2. Assign yourself the job of an on-the-spot reporter who witnesses the climax of the plot. Then file your report.
3. Draw up a detailed timeline of the book. Accompany it with excerpts and analysis that conveys not only the events, but their meaning.
4. Imagine a different ending to the book and write it down. Then argue which ending (yours or the author's) is better, and explain why.
5. Identify one key event early in the book, and imagine it coming out differently. Describe how the rest of the plot would change.
Theme
1. Identify the book's theme or lesson. Then state why you agree or disagree, identify or don't identify with what the author is saying.
2. Think of a popular TV show, movie, or song that shares a similar theme with this book. Discuss their similarities and differences. Which one do you think does a better job? Why?
3. Identify a character, place or object that plays a symbolic role in the book. Why do you think it is a symbol? Of what? Why do you think the author chose it to symbolize his/her theme? What is its meaning?
4. Think of a common, daily event that reflects a theme of this book. Then discuss how reading this book might change your reaction or perspective, and explain why.
5. Does the author use images to reinforce his/her themes? If so, identify the images, and describe how they are used. Then tell whether or not you think the images succeed in conveying the author's point, and explain why.
6. Write a song or poem that illustrates the theme of this book.
