Next Meeting: Monday Dec. 5th

I closed the poll and the next meeting is Monday December 5th.  The book is 32 Candles by Ernessa T Carter.  I will send Nicole's address and directions after Thanksgiving. 

Next Meeting Poll (32 Candles by Ernessa T Carter)

Here is the poll for the next meeting date.  I have emailed it to all of you but I posted online here and on FB to make it easy to find.  Please answer by Tuesday Nov. 1st.  Thanks!

Coming up for December!

Thanks again to Kris for hosting and for the excellent selection.  Also thanks to everyone who brought something to eat or drink.  It was all delicious.  Nicole will be hosting the next meeting in late November/early December so we should have dates soon and a poll to settle on the best time for everyone.  The next book is 32 Candles by Ernessa T. Carter.  I checked Lake Villa Library and it is available there (I didn't check it out yet - I have to read Zeitoun and maybe Night Circus first).  

It occurred to me that I should let the host lead the discussion since they are the one who is picking the book.  Sorry for my thoughtlessness - I don't know why it took three meetings to figure this out.  So, Nicole can lead the discussion on her night.  This also helps in case I can't be there, we always have a host to lead the discussion.  If someone doesn't want to lead it, I will do it.  I am also happy to print out questions that the host wants to discuss (and post to the blog) so I am here to help!  

If anyone has suggestions about how to run the meeting or ideas they would like to try, please email me (or post to the comments section or FB - whatever works).  Like all of you, I am very busy and sometimes go on autopilot and do what I did before.  I think our group is fun but we can always try out new things to liven up the format!!!

The Hunger Games Trilogy Discussion Questions

Questions for our Discussion:

1. How quickly did you read The Hunger Games?
2. Why do you think the courage of a teenager can/cannot make an impact on society?
3. Did your perception of Peeta change over the course of The Hunger Games?
4. Why do you think fire is an appropriate symbol for Katniss?
5. Do you think the glamorization of the Games and the treatments of its stars before they are sent off to die is a reflection of anything in our modern society?
6. What was the most tension-filled moment for you to read in The Hunger Games? Catching Fire?  Mockingjay?
7. What do you think the title Mockingjay foreshadows for the final book in the trilogy?
8. When does Katniss first realize that Peeta does care for her and is trying to keep her alive? When does she realize her own feelings for him? Did Haymitch think all along that he could keep them both alive by stressing the love story? Are they actually in love?
9. What do you think is the cruelest part of the Hunger Games? What kind of people would devise this spectacle for the entertainment of their populace? Can you see parallels between these Games and the society that condones them, and other related events and cultures in the history of the world?
10. Reality TV has been a part of the entertainment world since the early days of television (with shows such as Candid Camera and the Miss America Pageant), but in the 21st century there has been a tremendous growth of competitive shows and survival shows. Discuss this phenomenon with respect to The Hunger Games. What other aspects of our popular culture do you see reflected in this story?
11. Of the three books, which one was your favorite and why?
12. Do you feel the use of Katniss for the war was any different than how Panem used the teenagers in The Hunger Games?
13. Who, in the end, suffered the most? Why?
14. Was the ending of Mockingjay satisfying?

Hunger Games T-Shirts

Etsy is not the only place to find these...but I like to support folks on Etsy....

Next Meeting is October 25th

Some of you have finished the whole series.... we can talk about the other two at the end for those who want to.... maybe we'll split up if necessary so as not to spoil it for those who don't read all three books....

Update on the Next Meeting Date

Hi - a few of you have not done the doodle poll yet.  Currently Tues Oct 25th has the most votes.  There are enough that have not voted that could change that outcome so....If that day is bad for you and you haven't voted, please do so by tomorrow as I am closing the poll tomorrow.  Thanks....

Also, it sounds like from our Facebook page no one made to the movie on Tuesday.  I saw stirrings of giving it another try.  The movie was an extra "book club" event so if you didn't make it, no big deal.  It was a nice to have kind of thing in my opinion.  If you still want to see the movie and want to go with someone from book club, go ahead and talk it on the FB page.  I'm sure someone is game to go...

One more thing, about the FB page.... if you don't like getting emails when people post to it, you can turn that off by going to the Book Club page > Edit Settings.  I think you can allow it to be in your FB feed without emailing you ten times a day. 

Hope everyone is enjoying The Hunger Games.  I think I will be done with the whole series by the time we all meet again!  May the odds be ever in your favor!