A Younger self

At one point, Beth and Matthew discuss what would happen if they ran into his parents, or his ten-year-old self, in Capri. Would you want to see yourself as a child if you could? What, if anything, would you say?

Matthew

To Beth, Matthew seems like the perfect guy—an angel sent to save Beth from a life of loneliness. . Beth writes in her diary, “I have wondered if those who say ‘it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all’ have ever lost their loved.” (p. 286) How do you feel about this observation? Do you think Beth would ultimately agree or disagree that it’s better to have loved and lost? What does Matthew do for Beth besides give her another lost love to grieve?

The ending

The author leads Matthew—and us—to believe that Matthew will return to 2008 only to lose Charlotte. We don’t even know if he’ll remember his extraordinary journey to the past. How did you feel about the ending? Were you satisfied? Why or why not?

November 2011: The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan

Share your thoughts

What were your thoughts as you read the book?

What did you know before?

A classic is something everyone thinks they should read, but no one has. Mark Twain. What, if anything, did you know about John Bunyan’s classic, The Pilgrim’s Progress before reading it?

Leaving family behind

How did you feel when Christian left his family?

Off the path

Christian and Hopeful accidentally leave the narrow path and enter By-path Meadow. They hardly knew they had done it until they find themselves in danger. Have you ever been surprised to find yourself walking a different path than the one God put you on?

Ignorance

Why do you think Bunyan chose to end the first part of his book with the damnation of Ignorance, a relatively minor character, rather than the arrival of Christian in the Celestial City?

Caricatures

Bunyan's characters are universal. They are types or caricatures which can be found in all times and places. Can you think of people you know who could step into the shoes of characters like Talkative and Ignorance? Did other characters remind you of people in your real life?

An encouragement to believers?

The Pilgrim’s Progress is not intended as a gospel tract. Most of the story is about Christian’s journey. Bunyan intended for the story of Christian and Christiana’s journey to be an encouragement to believers and to stir the apathetic to take action and to grow in their Christian journey. Do you think he succeeded?

October 2011: The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Thoughts

What are your thoughts on this book? Was there anything you wanted to talk about that wasn't mentioned in the other questions?

Favorite

Who was your favorite character? Why?

Hilly

What do you think motivated Hilly? On one hand she is terribly cruel to Aibileen and her own help, as well as to Skeeter once she realizes that she can't control her. Yet she's a wonderful mother. Do you think that one can be a good mother and, at the same time, a deeply flawed person?

Skeeters mom

Skeeter's mother is a prime example of someone deeply flawed yet somewhat sympathetic. She seems to care for Skeeter- and she also seems to have very real feelings for Constantine. Yet the ultimatum she gives Constantine is untenable, and most of her interaction with Skeeter is critical. Do you think Skeeter's mother is a sympathetic or an unsympathetic character? Why?

the times

How much of a person's character would you say is shaped by the times in which he or she lives?

Stuart

Did it bother you that Skeeter was willing to overlook so many of Stuart's faults so that she could get married, and that it wasn't until he literally got up and walked away that the engagement fell apart?

Minny

Do you believe that Minny was justified in her distrust of white people?

Mae

Do you think that had Aibileen stayed working for Miss Elizabeth, Mae Mobley would have grown up to be racist like her mother? Do you think racism is inherent or taught?

Aibileen

The author manages to paint Aibileen with a quiet grace and an aura of wisdom about her. How do you think she does this?

Minny's pie

What did you think about Minny's pie for Miss Hilly? Would you have gone as far as Minny did for revenge?

September 2011: What are you reading?

If you have chosen to skip Water for Elephants this month what are you reading instead? Tell us what you have read this month and what you thought of it!

September 2011: Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

As you all know from the email I sent around I will not have discussion questions up for this book. If you have read it or read part of it feel free to discuss in the comments.

August 2011: A Wrinkle in time by Madeleine L' Engle

Overall thoughts and reactions

What were your thoughts as you were reading this book?

The Mrs.'

Discuss what Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which might represent?

The Conflicts

What are the conflicts in A Wrinkle in Time? What types of conflict (physical, moral, intellectual, or emotional)?

Symbols

What are some symbols in A Wrinkle in Time? How do they relate to the plot and characters?

Characters

Do you find the characters likable? Are the characters persons you would want to meet?

The ending

Does the story end the way you expected? How? Why?

Purpose

What is the central/primary purpose of the story? Is the purpose important or meaningful?

Controversial

Why is the novel often considered controversial? Would you ban (or censor) this book?

July 2011: Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

No name

Du Maurier admitted that her heroine has no name because she could never think of an appropriate one—which in itself is a telling comment. What effect does it have on the novel that the new Mrs. de Winters has no first name?

The heroine

What kind of character is our heroine—as she presents herself at the beginning of her flashback? Describe her and her companion, Mrs. Hopper.

Maxim de Winter

What kind of character is Maxim de Winter, and why does a man of his stature fall in love with the young heroine? What draws him to her?

Max description

The heroine describes Maxim thus: "His face...was arresting, sensitive, medieval in some strange inexplicable way...rob him of his English tweeds, and put him in black, with lace at his throat and wrists, he would stare down at us in our new world from a long distant past—a past where men walked cloaked at night, and stood in the shadow of old doorways, a past of narrow stairways and dim dungeons, a past of whispers in the dark, of shimmering rapier blades, of silent, exquisite courtesy." Why is this an apt description? In other words, how does it set the tone and foretell the events of the novel?

relationship changes

In what way does the relationship between the young heroine and Maxim change during the months after their arrival to Manderley?

Mrs. Danvers

What role does Mrs. Danvers play in this story—in her relationships to the characters (dead and alive) and also in relation to the suspense within the novel?

Rebecca

What is the heroine led to believe about Rebecca? In what way does the dead woman exert power over Manderley? At this point, what are your feelings about the new Ms. de Winter? Are you sympathetic toward her plight...or impatient with her lack of assertion? Or are you confused and frightened along with her?

Beatrice and Giles

What is the heroine's relationship with Maxim's sister Beatrice and her husband Giles? What about the advice Beatrice offers the heroine?

very different from Rebecca

Both Beatrice and Frank Crawley talk to the heroine about Rebecca. Beatrice tells the heroine, "you are so very different from Rebecca." Frank Crawley says that "kindliness, and sincerity, and...modesty...are worth far more to a man, to a husband, than all the wit and beatufy in the world." What are both characters trying to convey to the heroine...and how does she interpret their words?

True nature

What are some of the other clues about Rebecca's true nature that the author carefully plants along the way?

Costume ball

How might the costume ball—and the heroine's appearance in Rebecca's gown—stand as a symbol for young Mrs. de Winter's situation at Manderley?

Surprise

Were you surprised by the twist the plot takes when Rebecca's body is found...and when Maxim finally tells the truth about his and Rebecca's marriage? Did the strange details of plot fall into place for you?

Maxim's revelations

How, if at all, do Maxim's revelations change your attitude toward him? Did you feel relief upon first reading his confessions? Can you sympathsize with his predicament, or do you censure his actions? What do you think of the heroine's reaction? In her place, how might you have reacted?How does this new knowledge alter the heroine's behavior and her sense of herself?

Blackmail

After Favell threatens to blackmail him, Maxim calls on Colonel Julyan. Why? Why does Maxim act in a way that seems opposed to his own best interests?

Rebecca's death

In the end, what really happened to Rebecca? What is the full story of her death? Is it right that Maxim is absolved of any crime? Was he caught in an untenable position? Was Rebecca simply too evil—did she end up getting what she deserved?

The destruction of Manderley

How do you view the destruction of Manderley? Is it horrific...or freeing...or justified vengeance on Rebecca's part? Would the de Winters have had a fulfilling life at Manderley had it not burned?