April 2009: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Secret Garden

Which narrative features were employed by the author to make The Secret Garden speak to children? Why do you think this novel appeals to an adult audience as well? What makes it a classic?

Mr. Craven

In your opinion, does Mr. Craven, after subjecting his son to years of neglect, deserve redemption?

Dickon

Upon Mary's first encounter with Dickon, Burnett describes the boy in this way: "His speech was so quick and easy. It sounded as if he liked her and was not the least afraid she would not like him, though he was a common moor boy, in patched clothes and with a funny face and a rough, rusty-red head. As she came closer to him she noticed that there was a clean fresh scent of heather and grass and leaves about him, almost as if he were made of them." What is significant about this passage? Are there any particular motifs that seem to be connected specifically to Dickon?

Martha

Why does Mary respond so well to Martha? What characteristics of Martha's are responsible for awakening the gentleness in Mary? compare Martha's treatment of Mary to Mary's treatment of Colin. Did it have the same effect?

Disliking oneself

Early in the novel, when the servant girl Martha asks Mary if she likes herself, Mary answers , no, she doesn't. Do you think Mary still dislikes herself by the end of the novel? Why or why not?

The Magic

Colin is convinced that something he calls "the magic" explains the wonders of the world. What do you think he means by the "magic"? Can you think of other ways to express the same idea?

Nature

Discuss the powerful influence that nature plays in the lives of the main characters. How does it heal them? How does it inspire them? Do you think modern-day people have enough hands on experience with nature? do you?

Mrs. Sowerby

Of all the adult characters in the novel only Mrs. Sowerby, the mother of Dickon and Martha, seems to know what Mary and Colin really need. Why? what experience does Mrs. Sowerby have that other grown-ups in the story lack?

Mary and colin

Within a few moments of meeting Colin, Mary realizes they have much in common. What are the negative qualities they share? What are the positive ones?

Neglect

Both Mary and her cousin Colin grew up surrounded by adults who catered to their every whim. Yet both of them could also be described as neglected. Why?

The garden

The robin leads Mary to the secret garden but what compels her to visit it again and again? Why does she feel so comfortable there so quickly? why do you think it is important for Mary , at first, to keep the garden a secret?

Mary and her childhood

Although Mary spent her early childhood in the same home as her parents, she barely knew them. Why were they virtual strangers? Why can't Mary mourn them after they die? When does Mary start understanding and caring about the feelings of others?

March 2009: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Pulitzer

Do you believe that Harper Lee deserved to win a Pulitzer Prize?

Good

In the last few lines of To Kill A Mockingbird Scout says, "he was real nice..." and Atticus replies, "most people are Scout, when you finally see them." Do you agree that most people in this novel are nice once you see them? how is Atticus able to see the good side of people despite all that he has experienced? Can you?

Killing the Mockingbird

At the end of the book, Scout says that telling people Boo Radley committed the murder would have been "sort of like shootin' a mockingbird." What does that mean? Do you agree that Boo is like a mockingbird?

Favorite character

Who is your favorite character and why?

Kinds of folks

At one point Jem describes four kinds of 'folks' in Maycomb County: "our kind of folks don't like the Cunninghams, the Cunninghams don't like the Ewells, and the Ewells hate and despise the colored folks". What does To Kill A Mockingbird teach us about how people cope with issues of race and class? Do you classify people in your world as different "folks"? Do you see those sort of distinctions today?

Changes

How does the trial and everything surrounding it change the town? Change Jem and Scout? Did it change you?

Racism

Discuss race issues in this book. Why does Calpurnia speak differently around other black people? Why does Mr. Raymond pretend he is drunk to help people cope with his mixed marriage?

Single parent

How do you think Atticus managed his role as a single parent?

Aunt Alexandra

What do you think of Aunt Alexandra? Did your opinion of her change during the book? Can you understand why she was concerned with Atticus' parenting?

Mrunas'

Do you think the missionary society was walking in the Mrunas' shoes? What do these ladies show you about life in the town? Can you walk in their shoes and understand where they are coming from?

Others Shoes

Atticus tells the children several times that they need to walk in someone else's shoes before judging the person. Describe times when Atticus, Scout, or Jem walk in someone else's shoes. How does this change how they view the situations? What rold does this advice play in sympathy and compassion?

Boo

How does Jem and Scout's views of Boo Radley change during the book? Why does Jem cry when the hole in the tree is filled with cement?

February 2009: Mount Vernon Love Story by Mary Higgins Clark

Homecomings

They seemed very happy to be going home to Mount Vernon. What is the most wonderful thing about coming home after a long journey?

Slavery

What do you think about the fact that George and Patsy owned slaves? Do you think Clark romanticized the relationship between the Washingtons and their slaves?

George and Patsy

What do you think about the relationship between George and Patsy? Is it what you expected? If not, how is it different?

Children

Why do you think George and Patsy never had children of their own?

Love

Do you think George loved Sally more than Patsy? Why or why not? If given the chance do you think he would have left her for Sally?

Relationships

Compare the relationship that George had with his mother to the relationship he had with his stepchildren.

Romance

How does this book rate as a romance novel?

Fact or fiction?

How much of this novel do you think is based on fact?

Similarities

What are some similarities between this book and her mystery novels?

Comparisons

Compare this book with Mary Higgins Clark's more recent popular mysteries. How does this measure up?

January 2009: Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

Primogeniture

The social system was based on the concept of primogeniture (yes I looked that up), the right of the first born son to inherit the entire estate. How does Austen treat this class system in Mansfield Park?

Just wanted to let you know I am going to start reading this book tonight! Then I can answer the questions
-Bookworm

I know. I need to get on here and answer all of them too.
-Annegirl

The Crawfords esteem

The Crawfords seem to among the tiny handful of people who see the value of Fanny Price. Are they ever unkind to her? Why is Fanny so little moved by their interest and esteem? In your opinion, is any of this esteem genuine?

Exactly!

I think this is a really good point. Mary Crawford seems to recognize Fanny as a threat right from the start, so she keeps her enemies close, so to speak. She knew she'd have to be kind to Fanny in order to keep the wool pulled over Edmund's eyes. I think she was unkind to Fanny by acting like a friend in order to further her own purposes with Edmund, and her brother's plans with Fanny. I think she would've willingly kept Fanny in the dark about Henry's behavior if it wouldn't have come out. I think she does have some admiration for her moral character though.

It seems that Henry genuinely admired Fanny. I almost think that he mistook genuine admiration for love because he'd never had true regard for any of the women he got involved with before Fanny. He would flirt with women to expose their moral weakness, really. But he couldn't do it with Fanny and it stunned him into awed admiration ;) He was definitely unkind in the way he set out to "undo" her. But then once he felt like he was in love with her, I think in a way it was still unkind to seek her hand when she was so clearly superior in moral character. He must've known he couldn't deserve her without a "true conversion" to goodness. Obviously he didn't make it there :(

That's why Fanny is a great h e r o i n e (Can I just say that I h a t e the name Fanny? I hope that's no one's middle name!). With all the attention from the Crawfords that anybody else would be thrilled to have, she didn't bank on it. She was always kind to them, but never counted on their kindness to her in the way that most people would. She didn't let it go to her head. We all are eager to be loved, but Fanny was very careful about who influenced her. And this concludes my book report on "Mansfield Park". Thank you. ;)

-Sanya the Duck

I agree on all your points. I never really thought Mary did much that wouldn't suit her in the end. I also agree with what you said about Henry. He wasn't used to having someone not fall for him and I think that did make him sit up to notice what she was really about. If she had married him I'm sure that he would have immediately slipped back into his ways and not admired her as much anymore.
I am not a fan of the name fanny either.
Love your last sentence by the way... funny!
-Annegirl

Waiting

Fanny Price spends a great deal of the book sitting and waiting. We see this in particular in the chapter where they visit Mr. Rushworth's Sotherton estate. Discuss the significance of Fanny's waiting in this chapter and her waiting throughout the novel as a whole.

She waited the whole book. She waited for Edmund to notice her, for letters from her brother, for visits from her brother, for her horse, etc... I think she was so used to waiting that she wouldn't know what to do with herself if she got something first.

-Annegirl

I think all the waiting was necessary to let Austen shine in her ultra talent - which is observing human nature. We really get to know the characters through Fanny's watchful eyes. I'll reword it: Fanny waits and watches so Austen can show off her knowledge of human nature. And from what we hear about Austen's life, it sounds like she probably spent her whole life waiting as well!
-Sanya the Duck

Good observation!
-Annegirl

Mrs. Norris

Find something good to say about Mrs. Norris.

umm... that she gets what she deserves in the end?! ha ha! I think Mrs. Norris has good intentions. She was the one who came up with the idea of taking Fanny in at the beginning of the story. Even though she wasn't willing to actually help with it, her plan got Fanny to Mansfield Park. She also seems to love her nieces' and have their best interests at heart, although she doesn't seem to have very good judgement there either. And what a meanie she is to Fanny!
-Sanya the Duck

I am impressed! I was wondering if anyone could come up with something and now that I've read your post I realize that maybe I was too hard on her. I guess she may have had good intentions. She just drove me nuts. That's why I wasn't born into a 'class' society I guess - even though sometimes I really think I should have been born in an old fashioned time. I would have been the one that stood up and dumped the drinks over poor old Mrs. Norris' head.
-Annegirl

Nope, I h a t e d her too. But you said to come up with SOMETHING and that was what I found. What a horrible creature she was!
-Sanya the Duck

Favorite Characters

Who are your favorite and least favorite characters?

Fanny and Mr. C.

Of course Fanny was a favorite. I wish she wasn't so timid, but I love her for her outstanding moral character.

Henry Crawford was another favorite, but for completely different reasons! Obviously he isn't the of moral fortitude. But his character brought an excitement to the book. I loved that despite the fact that he was always a total player, he did come to a point of recognizing Fanny's worth and goodness, and it seemed to make a change in him. Unfortunately, he just admired Fanny's goodness and didn't share it!

I liked Edmund for his kindness to Fanny. He is a very human character - basically a good guy, but susceptible to Mary Crawford's charms and influence.

-Sanya the Duck

I agree with your favorites. I felt bad that Fanny didn't stand up for herself and was so timid (she reminded me of Molly from Wives and Daughters in this way) but she was still such a good person.
I found that most of the exciting and most interesting parts of the book were a result of Henry being around.
I like Edmund because he is so kind and so worried about Fanny throughout the book , even before he loved her. He also had high moral character although he did go against his own feelings occasionally. That did make him seem more like a real guy.
I did not like his sister and I think that is partly because she seemed amused by her brother playing with emotions, partly because she seemed to love Edmund but would not have been with him if he followed his chosen profession, and partly because I wasn't certain that her kindness to Fanny wasn't fake.
And my least favorite was of course Mrs. Norris the old babble ax ... (is that how you spell that?)
-Annegirl

Fanny Price

Jane Austen seems to have considered Mansfield Park her best work, but many readers don't take kindly to Fanny Price as the heroine. Why might that be so? Do you feel that way about her, or do you find her an attractive and sympathetic character? Explain.

Difference

How is Mansfield Park different from other Austen novels like Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice? How is it similar?

Sisters

At the heart of its plot, Mansfield Park has three sisters. What kind of family life do you imagine would account for Mrs. Bertram, Mrs. Norris, and Mrs. Price?

A Long Wait

Mansfield Park was written after a silence of more than a decade. During this period, Austen moved several times, saw the deaths of her father and potential suitor, and became the dependent old maid we find so often among her characters. The Napoleonic Wars continued; England embarked on imperialistic adventures. Austen followed both with interest. Do you see evidence of these things in the novel?

Lovers Vows

The production of Lovers' Vows occurs despite the fact that the whole cast knows that Sir Thomas would disaprove. Discuss why he might feel this way , and the consequence of his absence on his family.

Brothers

The Bertram brothers are very different. What makes them so?

Improvements

The word "improvements" is used throughout Mansfield Park. Discuss the social significance of improvements.