FUTURE TENSE; THE COMING WORLD
ORDER
BY Gwynne Dyer
1. What do you think about the rankings below ac?
- First magnitude disaster: three billion people die, global nuclear war, Black
Death.
- Second magnitude disaster: hundreds of millions of people die, Third World
War, AIDS epidemic.
- Third magnitude disaster: ten to fifty million people die, first/second world
ward, Spanish influenza.
- Fourth magnitude disaster: two or three million people die, Korea
War/Vietnam/Sudan, nuclear melt down densely populated area, megaton-range bomb.
- Fifth magnitude disaster: quarter million range, Lisbon earthquake, Krakatoa
explosion, bombing of Hiroshima, Yugoslavia war.
- Sixth magnitude disaster: 20,000 to 50,000 people die, war in Iraq, earthquake
in Iran, Arab-Israel Ward of 1967.
- Seventh magnitude disaster: three thousand deaths, IRA war in Northern
Ireland, Israel/Palestine War, 9/11 attacks – as many Americans die each month
from gunshot wounds monthly.
2. What will happen when the US loses its status and power?
3. Were you surprised at the affect the USSR had on the world when its structure
collapsed?
4. What is the Islamist Project? p. 75
5. Why did the US attack Iraq and did the response of their allies surprise
them?
6. What are the stakes discussed in this book? p. 47
7. What is the current system of power balance? p. 201
8. What is the Neo-Conservative Project? p. 114, p, 124, p. 125.
9. Do you believe that the foundations of World War III are being laid today?
10. Is the war in Iraq a sideshow and the terrorist threat a red herring?
BROTHER & SISTER
By Joanna Trollope
1. Sasha is a catalyst in this
story. Why does she encourage Nathalie and David to find their birth parents? Do
you actually think she is interested only in research?
2. Nathalie and David have a strong sibling bond. Is this natural? How does this
bond change through out the course of the story?
3. “The myth is … that adoptive parents get what they want… The reality is no
pregnancy, no preparation and a lifetime of fears and pretence and
expectations.” P. 173-174 Lynne and Ralph are the adoptive parents in the story.
Do they reflect the above observation by Sasha?
4. Joanna Trollop’s characters are very vivid and realistic. How does she
achieve this? Which character did you like the best?
5. “The theory that all adoptees are interested in where they come from. Lack of
interest is merely a defense.” Why was Nathalie so interested in where she came
from even though her previous attitude was disdain? Did she achieve her
objectives?
6. David was not interested in finding his birth parents. Why did he have no
interest?
7. Why are birth mothers usually searched for and found, and there is not as
much interest in birth fathers? They both contribute the same amount of DNA.
8. Chess is a symbol in this story. What part does it play in David’s life?
9. “I’m afraid” Elaine said, “that your adoptive mother, has to stay out of
this. This isn’t her journey.” P. 112-1113. Do you agree with this? How do you
think adoptive mothers feel about their children looking for their birth
parents?
10. The Canadian connection through Marnie, David’s wife, is very refreshing.
However, does this character perpetuate the Canadian myth of identity?
Reading Lolita in
Tehran
by Azar Nafisi
1. Why is “Lolita” used as a control motif for this book? Did you read “Lolita” by Vladimir Nabokov? Do you plan to read it again?
2. Has this book changed your
opinion of the revolution in Iran and the Islamic religion?
3. Do you think revolutions are a positive way of changing the existing power
structures? Are revolutions like forest fires? How do books in this memoir
affect the women involved in the book club? Do the books in our book club have
the same affect?
4. Does peer pressure and sociological forces affect you? In what way does the
group influence you? How does the group in this memoir influence each other?
5. The “Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald provides sustenance for the reading
group. How do you feel it does this?
6. Does the character of Jay Gatsby and his relationship with Daisy make a
difference in this group? Jay and Daisy Fay are American icons. Why would they
be of interest?
7. “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austin is examined in a completely different
light with the metaphor of a dance. What do you think of this explanation? How
does this novel fit into the lives of this group of women in Iran?
8. Have you read any of Henry James’ work? Is Daisy Miller a familiar heroine to
you? Does she provide a good role model for these women?
9. Why do you think “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain is
included in the books that the book club reads?
10. The relationship between men and women in Iran is very strained. Are there
any comparisons with the situation between men and women in Canada?
The Curious Incident of the
Dog in the Night-time
By Mark Haddon
1. How did Asperger’s Syndrome
affect Christopher John Francis Boone?
2. How did Asperger’s Syndrome affect the style and plot of the book?
3. Did the story keep you interested in reading the book? Did it remind you of
the quest legends?
4. How the did the relationship of Christopher’s parents contribute the plot?
5. Was the relationship of Christopher’s parents usual with children who have
Asperger’s Syndrome?
6. The dog Wellington was killed in the first chapter. This death was a catalyst
in the book. How did it change Christopher’s life?
7. Where you surprised that Christopher was able to make the journey to London
by himself?
8. Did you feel that the school system supported Christopher and his family? Was
it realistic?
9. How does the Ontario school system compare with the British system?
10. If you had to look into the future for Christopher, how do you think he
would make out? What is the prognosis for Christopher
SATURDAY
by Ian McEwan
Why does Henry not wake
Rosaline when he sees the airplane crash just before dawn – 3:30 hours (p.
15)?
What significance does this
airplane crash in the book and does this quote from
Matthew Arnold (1822-1888) highlight and give significance to the event?
Thou waitest for the spark from heaven! and we,
Light half-believers in our casual creeds…
Who hesitate and falter life away,
And lose to-morrow the ground won today…
Ah, do not we, Wanderer, await it too?
The Scholar-Gipsy (18530 l 171
How does the structure of the
book contribute to the mood and the plot?
“It’s a commonplace of
parenting and modern genetics that parents have little or no influence on
the characters of their children” p. 25. Do you agree with this statement?
Does the author prove this point in his book?
“To see a world in a grain of
sand” p. 27 a quote from William Blake (1757-1827) – Auguries of Innocence,
1. To see a World in a Grain of Sand, How does the phrase encompass the book?
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand,
And Eternity in an hour.
“Absorbing variation on an unchanging theme” p. 27. What is
the theme of this book and what variations are played?
How does the anti-war demonstrations in London and around
the world fit into this day? Is Henry for or against this war in Iraq?
How does Rosalind fare in the story? Is she fully
conceptualized?
Both Daisy and Theo are very strong and creative children.
How do they fit into the family and the story line?
What role does Baxter and Nigel play? How did Daisy’s reading of the poem “Dover Beach” by Matthew Arnold cast a spell?
In the Company of Cheerful
Ladies
by
Alexander McCall Smith
The following questions about the book In The Company of Cheerful Ladies by Alexander McCall Smith were discussed at the Book Club meeting held on
Saturday, December 3.
After a good discussion of the book, the annual Christmas cookie exchange was held. Everyone went home with a great variety of cookies.
Many thanks to Sylvia for hosting Book Club and the cookie exchange.ROCKBOUND
by
Frank Parker Day
There are many themes in this
book. One theme is Jason and the Golden Fleece. The Greek tragedy tradition
is very prevalent is this novel. How does David Jung compare to Jason.
Another influence is “The
Tempest” by William Shakespeare. A copy of the play is given to David Jung
by Mary Dauphany, but many of the characters in the book and the plot
reflect the play. What similarities did you notice?
This book deals with life in
Nova Scotia in the twenties. What is the most striking aspect of this time
period for you.
This story depicts a tight
knit social structure on the island with the women taking care of the
children, there own and others. How are women treated in this story: Anapest
Kraus, Fanny the potato girl, Mary Dauphany, Mrs. Uriah Jung, and her
daughters Ruth and Tamar.
The ocean is a strong
character and influence in the story. What limitations does it place on the
people living on the islands?
Uriah Jung is a dominant
character. How does he control the story?
Discuss the issue of women’s
liberation in this book.
Survival, a typical Canadian
theme, is very strong in this book. Who are the survivors?
Gershom Born, an archetype of
Shakespearean standards brings out a rich maritime personality trait. What
do you think of him?
Mary Dauphany is a catalyst
that stirs up feelings in David Jung, Caspar Jung and Gershom Born. How does
this love story affect the plot?