Learning out Loud - Part 3: Carefully choose a kick off question
You have to start somewhere
A great book leaves entrances everywhere,
Each detail is a doorway in. - Some old professor/tutor of mine
Keeping in mind as I read that I will have an in depth conversation about what I'm reading has a huge impact on the quality of my reading. The next greatest impact is keeping in mind I'm going to have to kick off the conversation with a question. <Add reader come home quote here about intentional reading>. The fact is I want to not just have read it. I often do want to digest it. Really get it. Learn and grow from this food for my future thought.
I haven't been in many book clubs. Many people I talk to about their book clubs often point out that they don't really talk about the book. In these settings I picture the kick off being something like, let's go around and say what we liked about the book. I assume as people go around they admit they didn't read much of the book but say they liked one of the characters a lot.
Nothing against bookclubs like this but this kind of situation likely doesn't result in a deep dive, a deeper understanding of why the book exists and what its message is. Though the book has provided a pretense for making friends and building bonds. So like I said, nothing against this vibe.
Crafting a kickoff question is an art form.
What makes a kick off question great?
It provides a doorway in. It's open ended. It assumes the author has something they're trying to accomplish, to communicate. It's not too high level. It's not too detailed. It gets you thinking. But maybe not for a minute. Maybe nothing comes to mind immediately. But it does soon become a stepping stone to begin from. And then you're off the the races. Can't get a word on edgewise because it's spawned loud of thoughts and half insights.
But, how do you craft one?
Better yet, how do you build the muscle, how do you practice getting increasingly better? Note down questions that come to you as you read. Pay attention to choices you notice the author make. Why this location? Why this gender? Why this subplot? Then throw in some of the surroundings details. And throw in why you're asking? Why do you care? What was going on when it occurred to you? Your kick off question should matter to you. If it doesn't matter to you it's not going to matter to whoever you're in dialogue with.
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Reach out to me just for fun! - tommy@extragrad.com