November Book Announced

We decided at our last meeting to move the November book club to the last Wednesday in November  - which is the 28th.  This change is due to conflicts with Relief Society and Thanksgiving.  So there's a bit more time to get the book read this month.

Emily has decided to have us read and discuss "Alas, Babyon" by Pat Frank.  

From Amazon: "Alas, Babylon." Those fateful words heralded the end. When a nuclear holocaust ravages the United States, a thousand years of civilization are stripped away overnight, and tens of millions of people are killed instantly. But for one small town in Florida, miraculously spared, the struggle is just beginning, as men and women of all backgrounds join together to confront the darkness.

Emily would also like all to read short story of “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. - it takes 5 minutes but worth reading and discussing.  Click on the link above to read this short story.

Here are some questions to consider while reading:
1. How did the book make you feel?
   • Were you amused, upset, bored, angry, intrigued?
   • Did you have to force yourself to get through it or were you unable to put it down?
   • Are you glad you read it?

2. How do you feel about how the story was told?
   • Did it start too slow or end unresolved?
   • Do you wish it had been told from a different perspective?
   • Did it jump around too much or hold you in suspense?

3. What did you think about the main characters?
   • Did you like them? Were they believable?
   • Did you approve of their decisions and behavior?
   • Who did you relate to the most/least?

4. Which parts of the book stood out to you?
   • Are there any quotes, passages, or scenes you found particularly compelling?
   • Were there parts of the book you thought were incredibly unique, out of place, thought-provoking, or disturbing?

5. What themes did you detect in the story?
   • What were the main points you think the author was trying to make?
   • Did you notice any symbolism?

6. What did you think about the ending?
   • Were you satisfied or disappointed with how the story ended?
   • Is anything left unresolved or ambiguous?
   • How do you picture the characters' lives after the end of the story?

7. What is your impression of the author?
   • Does the story seem to fit with what you know of the author?
   • What do you think about the author's writing style?
   • What do you think about the author's storytelling ability?
   • Would you read another book by the same author?

8. What changes/decisions would you hope for if the book were turned into a movie?
   • Which sections would you cut?
   • Who would you cast to play the main characters?
   • If the book is already a movie, are you happy with the representation? Do you prefer the book or the movie?

9. How does this book compare to other books you've read?
   • Did you like it more or less than other books in the same genre?
   • Is the book different in any way from the books you usually read?

10. How did this book change you?
   • Do you have a new perspective as a result of reading this book?
   • Did you learn something you didn't know before?
   • Has your attitude or behavior changed?