How to Discuss a Book Intelligently (Even If You Didn't Love It) | Chapterly Blog
How to Discuss a Book Intelligently (Even If You Didn't Love It) Finishing a book is one thing. Discussing it intelligently is another. Whether you are in a book club, a college seminar, a work meeting about a shared reading, or just talking with a friend, the ability to articulate your thoughts about a book is a skill worth developing. And here is the uncomfortable truth: you need this skill most for books you did not love. It is easy to gush about a book you adored. It is much harder, and much more valuable, to discuss a book that confused, bored, or frustrated you without simply saying "I didn't like it." Preparing for Discussion Take Notes While Reading The best book discussions start during reading, not after. As you read, mark passages that strike you, whether positively or negatively. Write brief reactions in the margins. Note questions that arise. These notes become your discussion material. Without them, you are relying on memory alone, which fades rapidly. Even five or six marked passages give you enough material for a rich conversation. For a complete note-taking system, see our guide on how to take better book notes. Identify Two or Three...