Mrs. Mike Discussion Questions

Hey everyone!!! I hope everyone had an awesome Thanksgiving weekend and you were able to enjoy all the turkey and pumpkin pie you wanted. I know I did. A little too much.

Anyway, it's time for the discussion of Mrs. Mike by Benedict & Nancy Freeman. I looked online to see if there were any reading guides for this book, and struck out. Nothing. So, I grabbed some generic questions and I'm hoping you can just adapt the questions to the book as best as you are able. (I'm lousy thinking up questions myself.) Anyway, I'm going to post the questions now, and come back with my own answers later on tonight. Two of my four kids have been sick today, so I'll come back after they are in bed to answer.

• What was unique about the setting of the book and how did it enhance or take away from the story?
  
• What specific themes did the author emphasize throughout the novel? What do you think he or she is trying to get across to the reader?
• Do the characters seem real and believable? Can you relate to their predicaments? To what extent do they remind you of yourself or someone you know?
• How do characters change or evolve throughout the course of the story? What events trigger such changes?
• Did certain parts of the book make you uncomfortable? If so, why did you feel that way? Did this lead to a new understanding or awareness of some aspect of your life you might not have thought about before? 
• What was your favorite part of the story? Least favorite?
  

Okay, there you go everyone. Sorry I am so late in posting this, and I will be back with my answers later tonight. I am excited to see what you all thought of this book!

Any takers?

I'm just getting organized for the next few months and giving us all a headstart on books, especially for those whose library systems aren't very fast. So do I have any takers for January, February and March? Thanks for those who have been participating. It's so fun to have so many comments!

A Turkey Day Poem for Your Thanksgiving Day

Oh I'm glad I'm not a turkey, a turkey, a turkey.
Oh I'm glad I'm not a turkey on Thanksgiving Day.
They stuff you and bake you and then they all taste you.
Oh I'm glad I'm not a turkey on Thanksgiving Day!
(from my daughter's kindergarten poetry folder!)

Happy Thanksgiving! Don't forget our discussion for Mrs. Mike!

Okay, the book for this month is Mrs. Mike, by Benedict & Nancy Freedman. Thanks all for helping me choose... I'm excited to see what you think of this book.

For the book discussion at the end, I will probably post questions on the 30th of November unless there is a reason not to... I just know the weekend before is Thanksgiving weekend, and the days preceding that are going to busy for most of us, so let me know how Monday, the 30th sounds for you. If there are no objections then we'll just keep it to that day.

November Book

Sorry I have taken so long to post this ... but I have two books that I thought might be fun to read for our November book. The first is Rose Daughter by Robin McKinley. I know that we have already read two out of her books so far, so maybe it's a little much to read another, but it looked good and I have never read it before.




The other is Mrs. Mike by Benedict & Nancy Freedman. I haven't read this book in years, but it was one of the first that I read growing up, and has continued to hold a special place in my heart. I would love to read it again, but thought I would see how you all felt about either book. So, leave a comment, let me know what you think about which book you would rather read... I would love to read both, so I am good with either one. :)

The Scarlet Letter discussion....

Sorry this is a day late, had an unexpected childcare calling last night. It was fun, but was too tired to post when I got home. Anyways, I hope everyone enjoyed the book and had a wonderful month. Let's jump in...

1. For first time readers, what was your overall impression of the book? Was it what you expected or different somehow? For those reading this book again, did your opinion of the book change any? Was it more enjoyable or less this go around?

2. Can you identify with Hester at all? Do you condone her choices or condemn her?

3. What is your opinion on Hester's ability to forgive herself and society's ability to forgive?

4. Would you personally have named Pearl's father? Do you admire or admonish Hester for not giving the name?

5. What are you feelings on Hester's estranged husband Roger Chillingworth? How does that opinion change from the beginning/middle/end or does it stay the same for you?

6. Any final thoughts or your own question here?


I really enjoy the complexities in this book and will post my answers around lunch when all the kids go down for their nap.

October book is....

I haven't read this book since high school and at that time I had to, so I always enjoy revisiting books at different periods in my life. I enjoyed it back then and hope I can really delve into this time. I hope everyone is able to read this one and I look forward to the discussion at the end of the month. Let's shoot for Wednesday the 28th, that way we have a couple days for people to get their answers up.

October...

So, I've been out of the loop for about 6 months, but I think I'm back. I completely forgot I had even volunteered for anything. So if October is still open I'll do it, if that's ok with everyone? If that works we can either read The Scarlett Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne or The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. Let me know and we'll go from there.

Finally! Q & A for Tom Sawyer!

I really loved this book! There are so many questions I could ask, but I thought I'd keep is short and sweet and give you an opportunity to add to the discussion with your ideas. I also asked Liam to help me with some of the questions so you get the mind of an eight year old helping out. Thanks for reading~ And Kyla will lead our October discussion and Michelle will lead out November. Thanks ladies!

1. Why do you think Tom and Huck are friends? (Liam's question)

2. Were you able to relate to the characters in the story? To whom did you feel you could relate most?

3. Twain is sometimes called a "realist" writer. Are Tom, Huck, and Becky accurate portraits of young people? Did you enjoy his writing style?

4.If you could eavesdrop on your own funeral, what would you like to hear?

5.Do you feel like there is any symbolism to the whitewash fence, the caves or the missouri river/jackson's island? If so what?

Bonus question* What astronomical occurance brought Mark Twain into the world and occured again the year he died?
~ Please feel free to add your own questions as well~

Discussion planned!

Hey! I'm really excited to discuss this book. I've been reading it with my son and really enjoying it! I'm setting the discussion date for the 26th of September. It's coming up. I would like to set up the next two months as well. Is there anyone who is interested in hosting October or November. We'll take off December as everyone is super busy around the holidays. Let me know if you're interested in hosting a month's discussion. Thanks!