Luggage and Literature

The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. - St. Augustine

Dragonflight Book Club Questions

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Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey

 Book Club Questions

Did you read all of the book? Part of it? Or none of it?

What is your initial impression of the book? Did you like it or dislike it? Why?

What do you think about how the author handled the male and female characters and treatment of gender roles?

What did you think about F’Lar and Lessa as individual protagonists? Did you relate more to one or the other? Did you like or dislike their interactions? Did your opinions change over the course of the book?

Discuss the author’s treatment of male/female characters and gender roles.

Lessa’s character turns the idea of a damsel in distress on its head. Do you think that she is a likeable character? Does it matter if she is likeable or not?

Compare the styles of leadership demonstrated in the book (i.e. F’Lar, Fax, etc.). What are the key features? Which are more effective? What personality traits make for effective leaders? What is the measure of success as a leader?

How did you feel about the world of Pern? What were your thoughts on the author’s world-building?

Discuss Pern’s dragons. What is their origin story? How do Pern’s dragons differ from dragons in other fantasy works? How are they similar?

What did you think of the length of the book? If too short, what would you add? If too long, what would you cut?

Some readers on Goodreads have indicated their belief that Dragonflight pales in comparison to modern sci-fi/fantasy. What do you think?

What does the book say about the future or evolution of science and technology?

Do you think the book is an optimistic or pessimistic view of the future?

Do you think that this book is/should be considered a classic? Does it deserve to be? Has it aged well?

Have you ready any other books in the series? If yes, what did you think? If not, do you plan to ready any more?

Finding Dorothy Book Club Questions

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Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts

Book Club Questions

Did you read all of the book? Part of it? Or none of it?

What is your initial impression of the book? Did you like it or dislike it? Why?

Which character(s) did you find most relatable? Why?

Which character(s) did you find the least relatable? Why?

The book begins with Maud as an old lady, but the book then jumps to her as a teenager and follows along with her life. Did you like her? Did she do what you expected her to do as time went along?

Do you think it was hard for elderly Maud to make her voice heard, because she was an older woman? Do you think that women are overlooked or marginalized when they get older? Do you think this has changed from Maud’s time to the present age?

Judy Garland was abused by the studio executives, and suffered from addiction until her death at age 47. Do you think that things have changed for child actors since her time? Do you think that fame makes it more difficult for children to have a normal or happy childhood?

Maud’s mother was a strong-minded and strong-willed woman. Do you think that this made Maud’s life easier or harder? Why?

Were you surprised when Maud left college? What did you think of her decision? How do you think Matilda, Maud’s mother, viewed the decision?

Have you been in a position to choose between love and education/career? What did you choose? Do you think that you made the right decision?

Frank and Maud were opposites in many ways (he was a dreamer, she was pragmatic and sensible). Can you relate to their relationship? How/why? What is it like to be married to someone so different? If their relationship were in the present day, do you think it would be different? Why/why not?

If you could hear the story from another character’s perspective, who would you choose? Why?

Maud’s sister Julia refused to give up her daughter to Frank and Maud, even though they were offering her a better life? If you were in Julia’s shoes, what would you have done? Do you think she made the right decision? What about Frank and Maud–do you think they made the right decision in leaving her there? Should a mother keep her child, even when her circumstances are not good, if a better home is available?

Have you read The Wizard of Oz books by L. Frank Baum? Which one(s)? Which is your favorite? Did you like it/them? Why/why not?

Before reading this fictional novel, how much did you know about L. Frank Baum’s life?

The book reveals the origins of L. Frank Baum’s ideas for The Wizard of Oz. What surprised you about those origin stories? Were there any that you particularly liked or disliked?

Frank and Maud had sons, but not a daughter. Do you think that is why the main character in The Wizard of Oz was made a girl? Who do you think inspired Dorothy?

If you were making a movie of this book, who would you cast?

Have you seen The Wizard of Oz or any of the other Oz related movies? Which is your favorite? Do you like it/them? Why/why not?

Do you have special memories of watching The Wizard of Oz? Did you watch it on TV or in a theatre? Did you first see it as a child or an adult? If as a child, were there scenes that scared you?

Did reading this book make you want to watch the movie again?

Have you read other books by this author? Which ones?

Would you read other books by this author? Why/why not?

What did you think of the length of the book? If too short, what would you add? If too long, what would you cut?

Have you ever had a family member or a friend write a book that included you? If so, what was that experience like for you? If not, how do you think that you would feel about it?

 

Beneath A Scarlet Sky Book Club Questions

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Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan

Book Club Questions

Did you read all of the book? Part of it? Or none of it?

What is your initial impression of the book? Did you like it or dislike it? Why?

The book is set during World War II. Is historical fiction a genre you typically read? Why/why not?

Although the book is set during World War II, it is set in Italy, which is different from much other historical fiction. Did that make the book more or less interesting to you? Can you think of other books set in Italy during WWII?

Are there other books that this struck you as similar to? (i.e. All the Light We Cannot See, The Nightingale, etc.) How does this book stack up in comparison to them?

Which character(s) did you find most relatable? Why?

Which character(s) did you find the least relatable? Why?

Pino helps escort a pregnant Jewish woman over the mountain pass. She nearly dies along the way. If you were in her position, would you have made the journey? Could you have? How would you have acted if you were in Pino’s position?

Colonel Rauff helps corral oxen into a pen. He enjoys himself and seems pleasant. Why do you think the author included this passage in the book? Do you think he was evil or good?

Pino is called to Milan by his father and instructed to enlist in the military, rather than waiting to be drafted. If you were in Pino’s position, would you have enlisted with the Germans? Why/why not? Did Pino really have a true choice?

Pino ends up working as a driver for a high-ranking German officer. He has the chance to spy on the officer, but is risking his life to do so. Did he make the right choice? If you were in his position, would you have taken the chance? Knowing that it wouldn’t be a danger only to you, but also to your family, does that change your decision?

Pino’s best friend accuses him of being a traitor, after he finds out that Pino has enlisted. Pino cannot tell him the truth about his spying. Would you be able to stay quiet?

Pino tells Anna the truth about his mission after she catches him searching through Leyers’ belongings, and then they kiss. What was your initial reaction to the scene? Was it believable to you? Did you expect it to go this way? Did you trust Anna? Why/why not?

After Pino and Leyers are nearly killed by a British plane, Leyers opens up to Pino. Did this change how you perceived Leyers? Do you believe he was good or evil?

Leyers tells Pino about how doing favors helps a person become stronger and more supported. Do you agree with his advice? Why? Are favors about owing someone else or helping?

At the end, Pino has the opportunity to execute Leyers, but does not. Why do you think he didn’t? Would you have?

Have you read other books by this author? Which ones?

Would you read other books by this author? Why/why not?

The book included many scenes of violence (bombings, executions, etc.). Do you think it was excessive or necessary to telling the story? Why?

At the beginning, bombs are dropped on Milan. Mr. Beltramini’s grocery is not hit. He makes a statement about how you cannot worry about bombs, and that you just need to enjoy your life. Do you agree with his advice? Why? How is this advice applicable to us in the current time?

When the Germans surrender, the Italian people turn on each other. We see this in other books about the French people as well. Are their actions justified? Or is their violence just as despicable/condemnable? Even if you don’t agree with it, can you understand it?

What did you think of the length of the book? If too short, what would you add? If too long, what would you cut?

If you were making a movie of this book, who would you cast? The movie rights have been purchased, and Tom Holland is set to play the lead role. Do you like this casting decision?

If you could hear the story from another character’s perspective, who would you choose? Why?

 

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