The Spring selection of the Morris Alumni Association Book Club is And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie. Be looking for discussion questions in one month. Peter Bremer, Briggs Library, has provided us with resources to increase our reading pleasure. He also states:
"Note: The novel was previously published as "Ten Little Indians" and "Ten Little Niggers". It is the most popular mystery novel of all time. According to Google Books it has sold 100 million copies. It has been adapted for screen and stage."
Queen of Crime: Biography [agathachristie.com]
http://www.agathachristie.com/about-christie/the-queen-of-crime/biography/
Agatha Christie Interviews [BBC]
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/audiointerviews/profilepages/christiea1.shtml
Study Finds Possible Dementia [Ottawa Citizen]
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/Study+finds+possible+dementia+Agatha+Christie/1470424/story.html
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Friday, April 8, 2011
April Selection
It’s time for another book club discussion with Morris alumni. Hope you all are enjoying the springtime weather and may be inclined for a good book and discussion with Morris alumni and friends.
The April book selection will be “bestseller” titles. A google search led me to a list of all-time best-selling book titles. These titles are listed below for suggestions or please submit your own ideas. Please vote by replying to this email by April 8, 2011. Discussion will follow online by May 9, 2011.
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien
The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien
The April book selection will be “bestseller” titles. A google search led me to a list of all-time best-selling book titles. These titles are listed below for suggestions or please submit your own ideas. Please vote by replying to this email by April 8, 2011. Discussion will follow online by May 9, 2011.
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien
The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien
Monday, February 21, 2011
Water For Elephants - Discussion Questions
Discussion questions for the winter book club reading, Water For Elephants are found below. Respond to one or all of them, depending on what appeals to you the most. Also, with the upcoming release of the movie, please discuss what you are hoping will be highlighted.
1. Water for Elephants moves between a story about a circus and a story about an old man in a nursing home. How do the chapters about the older Jacob enrich the story about Jacob’s adventure with the circus? How would the novel be different if Gruen had only written about the younger Jacob, keeping the story linear and never describing Jacob’s life as an old man?
2. How does the novel's epigraph, the quote from Dr. Seuss's Horton Hatches the Egg, apply to the novel? What are the roles and importance of faithfulness and loyalty in Water for Elephants? In what ways does Gruen contrast the antagonisms and cruelties of circus life with the equally impressive loyalties and instances of caring?
3. Who did you, upon reading the prologue, think murdered August? What effect did that opening scene of chaos and murder have on your reception of the story that follows?
4. In the Author’s Note, Gruen writes that many of the details in the story are factual or come from circus workers’ anecdotes. These true stories include the hippo pickled in formaldehyde, the deceased fat lady being paraded through town and an elephant who repeatedly pulled out her stake and stole lemonade. Gruen did extensive research before writing Water for Elephants. Was her story believable?
5. In what ways is Water for Elephants a survival story? A love story? An adventure?
6. Are you satisfied with the end?
1. Water for Elephants moves between a story about a circus and a story about an old man in a nursing home. How do the chapters about the older Jacob enrich the story about Jacob’s adventure with the circus? How would the novel be different if Gruen had only written about the younger Jacob, keeping the story linear and never describing Jacob’s life as an old man?
2. How does the novel's epigraph, the quote from Dr. Seuss's Horton Hatches the Egg, apply to the novel? What are the roles and importance of faithfulness and loyalty in Water for Elephants? In what ways does Gruen contrast the antagonisms and cruelties of circus life with the equally impressive loyalties and instances of caring?
3. Who did you, upon reading the prologue, think murdered August? What effect did that opening scene of chaos and murder have on your reception of the story that follows?
4. In the Author’s Note, Gruen writes that many of the details in the story are factual or come from circus workers’ anecdotes. These true stories include the hippo pickled in formaldehyde, the deceased fat lady being paraded through town and an elephant who repeatedly pulled out her stake and stole lemonade. Gruen did extensive research before writing Water for Elephants. Was her story believable?
5. In what ways is Water for Elephants a survival story? A love story? An adventure?
6. Are you satisfied with the end?
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Water For Elephants - Resource Material
The winter Morris book club selection is Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.
Peter Bremer, Briggs Library staff, has provided some resource materials to make your reading more enjoyable. Discussion questions will be coming in approximately one month.
Good reading!
Trunk Show [New York Times book review of Water Foe Elephants]
Sara Gruen Chats About Water For Elephants [from saragruen.com]
Step Right Up! [History Magazine]
Asian Elephant [National Geographic]
The Truth Behind Elephant Brainpower [BBC News]
Peter Bremer, Briggs Library staff, has provided some resource materials to make your reading more enjoyable. Discussion questions will be coming in approximately one month.
Good reading!
Trunk Show [New York Times book review of Water Foe Elephants]
Sara Gruen Chats About Water For Elephants [from saragruen.com]
Step Right Up! [History Magazine]
Asian Elephant [National Geographic]
The Truth Behind Elephant Brainpower [BBC News]
Monday, January 24, 2011
The winter book club selection is Water for Elephants
The January book selection is the award winning Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen. Discussion questions will be posted here by January 28.
It you do not wish to use the blog format, but would like to contribute to the Morris book club, discussion replies and questions can be sent via email and will be posted online for the group to read on your behalf. Or, just simply read along!
Additional information regarding Water for Elephants will be provided by the Briggs Library Staff. Look for it in an email and below when available.
Happy Reading!
It you do not wish to use the blog format, but would like to contribute to the Morris book club, discussion replies and questions can be sent via email and will be posted online for the group to read on your behalf. Or, just simply read along!
Additional information regarding Water for Elephants will be provided by the Briggs Library Staff. Look for it in an email and below when available.
Happy Reading!
Monday, January 10, 2011
Award Winning Titles
The winter season is upon us and what a great time to read a book with other Morris alumni and friends! Hopefully the holidays have treated you well and you have time for reading and discussion with the Morris book club to help pass the wintry cold.
The January book selection will be “award winning” titles. A few titles are listed below to help select from or suggest your own ideas if you have them! Please vote for or submit your book selection by January 21, 2011. At that point, reading will begin with discussion online to follow.
Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
The January book selection will be “award winning” titles. A few titles are listed below to help select from or suggest your own ideas if you have them! Please vote for or submit your book selection by January 21, 2011. At that point, reading will begin with discussion online to follow.
Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Monday, October 25, 2010
Work of Wolves - Fall Book Club Discussion Questions
Five discussion questions for the Fall book club reading (issued by Redmond Regional Library) can be found below. Respond to one or all of them, depending on what appeals to you the most. It is sure to capture great dialogue while discussing the work of Morris alumnus, Kent Meyers '77, and with UMM backgrounds in the group!
1. Kent Meyers opens his novel with a scene in which we are introduced to the teenage Carson Fielding and the wealthy rancher, Magnus Yarborough. What key elements of the novel are revealed to us in these opening pages?
2. Discuss the idea of Goat Man.
3. Which of the four characters—Carson, Earl, Willi, or Ted—do you think has the most to gain by rescuing the horses? Why?
4. In what way does this novel explore the concept of family and the ways in which families impact the individual?
5. What is the significance of the title, and how does that concept transcend the boundaries of this specific narrative?
1. Kent Meyers opens his novel with a scene in which we are introduced to the teenage Carson Fielding and the wealthy rancher, Magnus Yarborough. What key elements of the novel are revealed to us in these opening pages?
2. Discuss the idea of Goat Man.
3. Which of the four characters—Carson, Earl, Willi, or Ted—do you think has the most to gain by rescuing the horses? Why?
4. In what way does this novel explore the concept of family and the ways in which families impact the individual?
5. What is the significance of the title, and how does that concept transcend the boundaries of this specific narrative?
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