Running a world literature book club requires different discussion techniques than a domestic fiction club. When your group is reading a novel from a culture they don't know, you need questions that open doors rather than close them.
Universal Discussion Questions
On translation: "What might have been lost or gained in translation? Are there moments where the prose feels foreign in ways that are productive?" On context: "What do you need to know about this country's history to fully understand the novel? What did you learn that surprised you?" On universality: "Which aspects of this story felt universal to you, regardless of cultural context? Which felt very specific?" On voice: "Whose perspective do we get? What perspectives are absent?" On place: "How does the setting function as a character in this novel? Could this story only happen here?" On your response: "Did this book change how you think about this country or culture? How?"
Use the Genesis of Literary world map to explore book settings geographically.