Lexicon

These book club questions are from the Galesburg Public Library.

Book club questions for Lexicon by Max Barry

Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.

In what ways are words used as weapons, in the novel and in real life?

Did this book teach you anything about language, or make you think differently about language?

What did you think of the characters’ adoption of famous poets' names? Which poet name would you choose for yourself?

If you could use words to unlock and control a person's mind, would you? If you would, what would you have them do?

Who do you like better — Wil or Emily? Why?

What were the most disorienting aspects of this book?

How did the book's physical violence compare to the havoc words wreaked?

In your opinion, what are the most powerful words in the English language? Can words be intrinsically good or evil?

Did the plot take turns you did not expect, or did you find it predictable?

Were there any passages or scenes that you remember well or particularly liked? Were you surprised by anything?

How do you feel about the way the book ends?

Would Lexicon make a good movie?

Would you recommend this book to a friend?

Click here for a printable PDF of the Lexicon discussion questions