Books & reading — speaking questions

24 everyday questions about books & reading, each with a natural answer and the key phrases to use.

A22

What's a book you read recently? Tell me a little about it. When and where do you usually do most of your reading?

B17

Have you ever started a book and just given up on it? What happened? How do you feel about lending your books to people, or borrowing theirs? Do you enjoy being read to, or reading aloud to someone? Tell me about it. Describe the place where you most like to read. What makes it cosy? Do you prefer paper books or reading on a screen? Why? What are your top three kinds of books or stories, and which would you put first? Tell me about a book or story you loved as a child.

B29

Is there a book you've read more than once? What makes you go back to it? How much does a book's cover or title affect whether you pick it up? Describe a bookshop or library you love spending time in. What's it like? Bookshops, libraries, online, second-hand, borrowing from friends. Rank how you usually get your books. How do you organise your books at home, or do you not bother? Is there a book that has really stayed with you over the years? What about it stuck? Describe a character from a book you really loved. What made them memorable? A friend says they want to read more but never manage to. What advice would you give them? When a book becomes a film, which do you usually prefer, and why?

C14

Has a book ever changed your mind about something, or made you see things differently? What do you make of audiobooks? Does listening to a book count as reading it? Imagine a whole day with nothing to do but read. How would you spend it? Imagine a library where any book could come true for one day. Which book would you step into?

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