September 2010: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Once again- make sure there are no spoilers of the sequels for those of us reading them for the first time!!

Panem

How does Katniss feel about the country of panem? Why does she need to make her face "an indifferent mask" and be careful what she says in public?

relationships

Describe the relationships of Katniss with Gale, with Prim, with her mother. How do those relationships define her personality? Why does she say about Peeta, "I feel like I owe him something, and I hate owing people."

Stylists

Why are the tributes given stylists and dressed so elaborately for the opening ceremony? Does this ceremony remind you of events in our world, either past or present?

Peeta

Before the Games start, Peeta tells Katniss, "... I want to die as myself... I don't want them to change me in there. Turn me into some kind of monster that I'm not." What does this tell you about Peeta? What does he fear more than death? Is he able to stay true to himself during the Games?

Katniss

Why does Katniss ignore Haymitch's advice to head directly away from the Cornucopia? Did she do the right thing to fight for equipment? What are the most important skills she has for staying alive- her knowledge of nature? her skill with bow and arrow? her tapping ability? What qualities of her personality keep her going? her capacity for love? her intelligence? her self control?

Groups

Why does Peeta join with the Career Tributes in the beginning of the Games? What does he hope to gain? Why do they accept him when they start hunting as a group? Why do groups form in the beginning when they know only one of them will be able to survive?

Partners

What makes Katniss and Rue trust each other to become partners? What does Katniss gain from this friendship besides companionship? Is Katniss and Rue's partnership formed for different reasons than the other group's?

Gamemakers

Discuss the ways in which the Gamemakers control the environment and "entertainment" value of the Games. How does it affect the tributes to know they are being manipulated to make the Games more exciting for the gamblers and viewers? Does knowing she is on live TV make Katniss behave differently than she would have otherwise?

Love

When does Katniss first realize that Peeta does care for her and is trying to keep her alive? When does she realize her own feelings for him? Did Haymitch think all along that he could keep them both alive by stressing the love story? Are they actually in love?

Cruelty

What do you think is the cruelest part of the Hunger Games? What kind of people would devise this spectacle for the entertainment of their populace? Can you see parallels between these Games and the society that condones them, and other related events and cultures in the history of the world?

class struggles

In 1848, Karl Marx wrote in The Communist Manifesto, "The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles." Discuss this statement as it applies to the society and government of Panem. Do you believe there is any chance to eradicate class struggles in the future?

Reality tv

Reality TV has been a part of the entertainment world since the early days of television (Candid Camera, Miss America pageant) but in the 21st century three has been a tremendous growth of competitive shows and survival shows. Discuss this phenomenon with respect to The Hunger Games. What other aspects of our popular culture do you see reflected in this story?

August 2010: Eragon by Christopher Paolini

NO Spoilers!! Since this is a book from a series, if you have read the sequels please do not leave comments with spoilers for those who are reading them for the first time. Thanks.

The egg

What was Eragon's life like before he found the dragon's egg? How did his discovery of the egg change his life? Do you think Eragon found the egg or the egg was deliberately sent to him?

The Spine

Why was Eragon comfortable exploring the Spine when everyone else in his village was afraid of the place? What does the Spine represent to the other inhabitants of Carvahall?

Home

Do you think Eragon will ever be able to return to the Palancar Valley and Carvahall? He longs for his home in the midst of his adventures, but will he return to the farm when his adventures are over?

Responsibility

What does Saphira mean when she says, "It is our destiny to attempt the impossible, to accomplish great deeds regardless of fear. It is our responsibility to the future"? Is this true for everyone?

Angela

Angela the fortuneteller says, "To know one's fate can be a terrible thing." Would you want to know your future if someone could tell you? Why does Eragon decide to hear her predictions?
What does she mean when she says, "That freedom to choose your fate is a gift, but i is also a responsibility more binding than chains."?

Dragon Rider

How does Eragon feel about his fate as a Dragon Rider? What are the benefits of his new life? What are the dangers? Would you choose to take on the responsibilities Eragon has - caring for Saphira, rescuing Arya, helping the Varden, fighting the Empire?

Brom

Why does Brom want to travel with Eragon when he is forced to leave his home? How does Eragon know that he can trust Brom?

Ra'zac

Who are the Ra'zac and what do they represent to Eragon?

Morzan's son

How does Eragon feel when he learns about Murtagh's parentage? Does the fact that Murtagh's father was Morzan affect Eragon's trust of him? Does it affect your feelings about his character?

The Twins

When Eragon finds the stronghold of the Varden, he is confronted by the Twins. Why does Ajihad trust the Twins? Why do they treat Eragon with suspicion?

Shade of Fear

The story begins with the Shade and his ruthless ambush of the elf Arya. How did this Prologue affect your anticipation of the story to come? Why is the Prologue titled "Shade of Fear"?

life experiences

Are there characters who represent pure good and pure evil? Discuss the ways in which an author shows us a character's true nature. How does a character's life experience shape his or her actions?

evildoers

How did Galbatorix establish his rule of Alagaesia? What experiences turned him into a cruel and feared ruler? What do we learn of the Shade's past when he is killed?

hesitency

The Urgals seem to be completely ruthless, yet Eragon is hesitant to kill them with his magic in chapter 30. Why does he only use his magic to stun them? Why is he so upset when Murtagh kills Torkenbrand, the slave trader?

Destiny

Do you feel that some people have a destiny to fulfill or a special reason for living? Name people in history who had a strong responsibility to a cause for good and evil.

Garrow

Could Eragon have prevented his uncle's death?

Eragon's family

Eragon's family is very important to him, although he never knew his parents. Who do you think Eragon's parents were? Why is his father's identity a mystery, and why did his mother bring him to her brother to raise and then disappear?

NO SPOILERS FROM ANYONE WHO HAS READ THE SEQUELS!!

Update

I have no idea why there is a little photobucket thing behind the posts. I fixed the background of the blog because it was all wonky for some reason as well. I will try to figure out this new development .. but for now just ignore it.
Thanks.

July 2010: Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

Choices

Dashti had a choice to go into the tower with Lady Saren. Why did she make that choice? Would you?

One book

If you were going to be locked in a tower for seven years and could take just one book, what would it be?

My Lord the Cat

How did you feel when Dashti sang to My Lord to get him to be loyal to Lady Saren instead?

Dashti

At the beginning of the book, Dashti describes herself simply as "a mucker and a lady's maid", but by the end of the story she has become so much more. When Lady Saren orders her to stay, Dashti muses to herself, "Strangely, her words held no sway over me. Maybe it's wrong, but I don't think I have to do what she says just because I'm a mucker and she's an honored lady" (p. 274). What do you think has brought about these changes in her? What words would you use to describe Dashti?

Lady Saren

Did your feelings about Lady Saren change over the course of the book? Did you like her more or less after they escaped the tower? After they started working in the kitchen? When Saren orders Dashti to stay with her? What do you think brought about her changes?

Dashti and Saren

Describe teh two young women in this story, Lady Saren and Dashti. In what ways are they different from one another? How does each cope with the deprivations of the tower? Why is it left to Dashti to communicate with the visitors who come to the tower?

Dashti's voice

Do you like the way in which this story is told: with Dashti narrating through her journal? How would you describe Dashti's voice- boastful, self effacing, bright, uncertain, strong..?
Does her voice change throughout the story?

Background

How did Dashti's background prepare her to endure the isolation of the tower and the hardships of the Mongolian landscape?

Relationships

Dashti had to weigh her growing feelings for Kahn Tegus vs. her loyalty to Saren. How did you feel about the budding relationship between Dashti and Tegus?

Healing songs

How would you describe Dashti's healing songs- are they poetry, folk lore, magic? What is their purpose: why does Dashti use them , and why would Hale include them as part of the story?

Breath of the soul

"Things worn closest to the skin, to the heart, carry the scent of a person, and of course, scent is the breath of the soul." What might Dashti mean by the last 5 words?

Changing it up

Hale based this book on a Brothers Grimm folk tale, "Maid Maleen", in which the imprisoned lady is the heroine, not her servant. Why might Shannon Hale have changed the heroine in her reworking of the original?

Overview

Does the book deliver in terms of engaging you all the way through? Are characters compelling, is the plot suspenseful, and are you satisfied with how the story ends?

June 2010: Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell

Cranford

What were your overall impressions and thoughts on Cranford?

Matty

Why did Miss Matty say no to Mr. Holbrook?

Lady

Why should the ladies of Cranford be so stirred up by the visit of Lady Glenmire?