Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Bookish Wisdom earns from qualifying purchases. This doesn't change our picks or your price.
Quick answer: Good book club questions for Hills Like White Elephants focus on subtext, the couple and craft. Below are 18 questions grouped by theme, with a spoiler-free summary, a characters-and-themes table, meeting ideas and a sample 90-minute plan.
Quick facts
– Book: Hills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway
– First published: 1927
– Setting: A train station in Spain
– Adaptation: Films
– Content note: An abortion (implied)
Hills Like White Elephants is a rewarding choice for a book club because it gives readers plenty to discuss without needing special knowledge. This guide gives you questions you can use as written or adapt for your group, plus ideas for running the meeting, so that a host with little time can still lead a good conversation.
Table of Contents
Spoiler-Free Summary
At a train station in Spain, an American man and a girl called Jig talk over drinks. They never name the “operation” he wants her to have, but the subtext reveals the tension.
Check price of Hills Like White Elephants on Amazon
Main Characters and Themes
| Character or Theme | What to Know |
|---|---|
| The American | The man |
| Jig | The girl |
| The station | The setting |
| The hills | The image |
Discussion Questions (Contains Spoilers)
These questions assume everyone has finished the book, so they discuss the ending. They are grouped by theme so you can move through them in order or jump to the topic your group cares about most. Feel free to rephrase them, add follow-up questions such as “why do you think so?” and skip any that do not suit your members.
Opening Reactions
- What was your first impression of Hills Like White Elephants, and did it change as you read?
- Which scene or passage stayed with you most, and why?
Subtext
- What is unsaid?
- What is the operation?
- What about the dialogue?
- What about the hills?
The Couple
- What does he want?
- What does she want?
- What about power?
- What about the ending?
Craft
- What about the iceberg style?
- What about the setting?
- What about the title?
- Would you recommend it?
Looking Back
- How did the ending of Hills Like White Elephants make you feel, and was it the ending you expected?
- Would you recommend this book to a friend, and what would you tell them first?
- If you could ask Ernest Hemingway one question, what would it be?
Meeting Ideas
Hold a short meeting. Read it aloud as a two-person scene.
A simple way to start is to have each person share a one-sentence rating of the book before discussion begins. It surfaces disagreements early and gives quieter members a chance to speak first. You can also ask each member to bring one question of their own, which often leads to the best conversations of the night.
Ways to Make the Discussion Richer
- Compare formats. If a film, series or stage version of Hills Like White Elephants exists, discuss what changes and why.
- Share a favorite line. Ask each person to read a short passage that stood out and explain what it meant to them.
- Cast the book. Ask the group who they would cast in the main roles, and why.
- Rate the pace. Ask where the book felt fastest or slowest, and whether the structure worked for them.
- Pair it with a snack or drink. Food connected to the story gives guests something to talk about before the formal discussion starts.
Tips for Leading the Discussion
- Prepare, but stay flexible. Pick a handful of questions in advance and let the group's reactions guide you.
- Invite quieter voices. Ask someone who has not spoken to share a favorite line or scene.
- Welcome disagreement. A lively debate about a character is a sign that the book is working.
- Return to the text. Ask members to point to a passage in Hills Like White Elephants that supports their view.
- Watch the clock. Move on when a question has run its course, and save extra questions for another time.
If your group has only an hour, choose one question from each theme and skip the rest.
Is Hills Like White Elephants a Good Book Club Pick?
A very short story. It works well for groups that like to talk through character choices, and the questions above leave room for members to bring their own experiences and favorite scenes to the table.
Books Like This One
- A Clean, Well-Lighted Place by Ernest Hemingway: another story
- The Snows of Kilimanjaro by Ernest Hemingway: a story
How to Structure Your Meeting
A 90-minute meeting works well in four parts:
- Welcome and quick ratings (10 minutes). Settle in and share a one-line reaction.
- Spoiler-free talk (20 minutes). Start with characters, setting and style before the plot.
- Spoiler discussion (45 minutes). Work through three or four of the questions above, letting the conversation wander when it is productive.
- Wrap-up (15 minutes). Share favorite lines, choose the next book and thank the host.
If the conversation is going well, it is fine to let it run long and skip some questions.
After the Meeting
Send a short follow-up message with the next title, the date and a link to any readings or articles that came up. Some groups keep a simple record of books read and ratings, which makes it easier to choose future picks and spot the kinds of books the group loves most.
Related: Hills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway: Summary and Key Takeaways · A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions should we prepare for Hills Like White Elephants?
Five to eight is enough for a 90-minute meeting. This guide gives eighteen, so you can choose the ones that fit your group.
Does Hills Like White Elephants work as a first pick for a new book club?
A very short story.
How long is it?
About 6 pages.
Is it explicit?
No. It is implied.
What if some members have not finished Hills Like White Elephants?
Start with the spoiler-free questions and a short plot recap, then move to the spoiler section only when most people have finished.