Luggage and Literature

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

King Rat Book Club Questions

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King Rat by James Clavell

King Rat 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 based in part on the author’s own experiences as a prisoner of war during World War II. He was held by the Japanese. The book is set in the Japanese-run Changi camp. Do you think that his experiences were essential to being able to tell this story? Or just helpful? Could another author without those same experiences tell the story?

Did you have any previous exposure to prisoner of war camps? During WWII or another war?

Do you have any previous exposure to the German camps in WWII? How does this compare?

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

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

Would you have gone ‘through the wire’ like Marlowe did? Why/why not? Why do you thing that he did it?

At the end, everyone turns their backs on The King? Why did they do so? Were they right to do so? Would you have? Was someone like The King necessary in the camp?

Why do you think that The King was the only one able to talk to the liberating soldiers when they first entered the camp? Why wasn’t anyone else able to do so?

What did you think of the men breeding rats for others to eat? Could you ever eat rat? Could you ever give rat to anyone else to eat?

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?

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

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

The Ash Family Book Club Questions

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The Ash Family by Molly Dektar

The Ash Family 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?

 

Did you find Berie relatable? Why/why not?

What did you think of Berie’s views of herself? Of her mother? Of the world?

Berie’s self-harming behaviors and lack of care for her physical well-being was concerning to me. What did you think about it?

Do you know anyone who self-harms? What do you know about the subject?

 

The rules–which ones struck you as absurd or silly? Why?

Which of the rules struck you as meaningful or important in their group ethos? Why?

Why did the leader insist on the rules? For everyone else but him?

Why did the family follow the rules?

Could you live by the rules? Why/why not?

 

Was the Ash Family a commune or a cult?

Look at the warning sings of a potentially unsafe group/leader at https://culteducation.com/warningsigns.html. Does the Ash Family fit any of these? Which one(s)?

Any other groups that you can think of that also fit them?

Have you read any other books about communes or cults? Which ones? (Helter Skelter, The Girls, etc.)

How did this book compare to the others that you’ve read?

 

The book was a debut novel. Does knowing this change your impressions of it in any way? Why/why not?

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?

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

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

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up Book Club Questions

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The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing

by Marie Kondo


The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up 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?

Did Marie Kondo seem like an unusual child to you? Why/why not?

Do you think there were cultural differences between Japan and the US that would account for things that struck you as odd in the book?

Kondo defines “tidying” in a precise way. Did her meaning of tidying differ from yours?

Did you tidy up your home as a result of reading this book? Which of her ideas did you find most helpful? Why was the book motivating to you? What were your results?

What did you think about Kondo’s ideas that your belongings should “spark joy” for you to keep them?

Can reducing clutter bring you joy? What about keeping clutter? Why/why not?

Were there any tips that you found to be ridiculous? Which ones? Why?

Did you struggle with the idea of simply throwing things away? Or did you read that as ‘donating’ items? Which is preferable to you?

Is reducing/tidying/paring down difficult for you? Why/why not?

Do you have any ‘guilty admissions’ about things that you keep or things that you get rid of?

Why do American’s have so much stuff? Do you think it relates back to people saving things after the Depression, then more money leading to people buying more?

Do you have family mementos? How do you deal with items from your parents/grandparents/great-grandparents? Will your decendants want these items?

Have you dealt with disposing of and going through the items of a loved one who has passed away? What was this experience like for you? How long did it take you to finish it? Did this affect your decision to hold on to or dispose of items at all?

Do you have more or less stuff than your parents? How do you think that your children will deal with your belongings?

Have any of you downsized and moved into a smaller home? Was it difficult? Why/why not? What was difficult? Is your life different now than before? Would you choose to go back to a larger space? Why/why not?

The book has become a world-wide bestseller. Why do you think this is?

Was this book life-changing for you, ultimately?

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