Lisa Izabal
asked
Joe Siple:
Hello Mr. Siple, Hope all is well. The first time I wrote you, I had not finished the book. The ending took me by surprise!!! What I great read. Im hoping to can respond soon as my book club meets on Monday 11/6/23? Have a great evening.
Joe Siple
Hi Lisa,
Sorry I missed your first message. If you're looking for book club questions, here are some ideas to get the conversation going.
Theme:
-Death is not only the main antagonistic force in the story, but also a main theme. My intent was to deal with death seriously and honestly, while still leaving the reader feeling a sense of redemption. Was this accomplished? Why or why not?
-Regret is another major theme, especially for Murray. Is it possible to live a life free of regret? If it is, do we risk missing out on opportunities to learn and grow? Can regret be a good thing?
-"Second chances" is another theme. This is where redemption comes from. Which characters in the book are given a second chance?
Characters:
-Murray is 100 years-old. Obviously, some of the things he does stretch what's possible for a person of that age. Were you able to find "suspension of disbelief" while reading? Would it have been a better story if Murray had been 80, or is there something to being 100 that adds to the story?
-Jason is pretty obnoxious. He's able to get away with more than a normal character because of his illness, but does it ever go too far? Did you ever find yourself not liking him?
-Tiegan is meant to be a "perfect" character, free of the flaws that most characters need in order to be interesting. Does this work for her? Why or why not?
Plot:
-There is no "good guy" and "bad guy" to keep the plot moving in the way of most traditional, commercial fiction. The risk here is that the pacing will slow. Did you feel bored at any point?
The Ending:
-The most powerful, but potentially the most frustrating, part of the story. Did it work for you? The goal was to give the reader a powerful emotional experience without making her feel like her feelings were being manipulated (i.e. trying to make her cry for no particular reason). Did you feel manipulated by the ending? What are the reasons it had to end that way? Is there a different ending you would have preferred?
The "Extras":
-SBK, the baseball card, Tiegan's list, mutual understanding with Chance...what other parts of the book stood out to you?
Thanks again, and I hope you have a great discussion!
Sorry I missed your first message. If you're looking for book club questions, here are some ideas to get the conversation going.
Theme:
-Death is not only the main antagonistic force in the story, but also a main theme. My intent was to deal with death seriously and honestly, while still leaving the reader feeling a sense of redemption. Was this accomplished? Why or why not?
-Regret is another major theme, especially for Murray. Is it possible to live a life free of regret? If it is, do we risk missing out on opportunities to learn and grow? Can regret be a good thing?
-"Second chances" is another theme. This is where redemption comes from. Which characters in the book are given a second chance?
Characters:
-Murray is 100 years-old. Obviously, some of the things he does stretch what's possible for a person of that age. Were you able to find "suspension of disbelief" while reading? Would it have been a better story if Murray had been 80, or is there something to being 100 that adds to the story?
-Jason is pretty obnoxious. He's able to get away with more than a normal character because of his illness, but does it ever go too far? Did you ever find yourself not liking him?
-Tiegan is meant to be a "perfect" character, free of the flaws that most characters need in order to be interesting. Does this work for her? Why or why not?
Plot:
-There is no "good guy" and "bad guy" to keep the plot moving in the way of most traditional, commercial fiction. The risk here is that the pacing will slow. Did you feel bored at any point?
The Ending:
-The most powerful, but potentially the most frustrating, part of the story. Did it work for you? The goal was to give the reader a powerful emotional experience without making her feel like her feelings were being manipulated (i.e. trying to make her cry for no particular reason). Did you feel manipulated by the ending? What are the reasons it had to end that way? Is there a different ending you would have preferred?
The "Extras":
-SBK, the baseball card, Tiegan's list, mutual understanding with Chance...what other parts of the book stood out to you?
Thanks again, and I hope you have a great discussion!
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