One of the benefits of literature is the chance to explore alternatives in a way that we can’t in life.  In books, we get to try the road not taken.  One way for readers, classes, and book clubs to approach a book is to look at the choices made by characters, and to ask:

How did the character’s action and personality set up the choice?

Did you expect the character to make that choice?

Did the consequences unfold as you foresaw?

What regrets do you think the character will have over this choice?

What would’ve happened if the character had made a different choice?

How would other characters in the book handle that choice?

And my favorite:

What would you do if confronted with the same choice?