Our next TPTBC Meeting will fall on the autumn evening of November 8th. Our Tuesday meeting will begin at 6pm and will be held at Ms. Sheri Wilkin's home. The featured book of the evening is; Biloxi, written by author Mary Miller. Ms. Sheri Wilkins will also be the book host of the evening.
Discussion Questions for
The INCREDIBLE WINSTON BROWNE
(Questions composed
by Nicole Thomas)
1.
p. 3, 130, 138, 251 Winston believed the Dodgers
were going to change the world. How did
the Dodger change the world? How did
someone favoring the Dodgers make them all right with Winston?
2.
p. 4, 233, 273 Winston was moved by how the
world was moving too fast. Many of us come
to that realization often. How often was
Winston reminded of this in the story?
Give some examples. Winston
claims “nothing stays the same” while he was contemplating his life. What sort of things in your life would you
like to see stay the same?
3.
p. 6 “Baseball can make a man young.” What are
some other things in life that can make one feel young?
4.
p. 10, 33, 109, 112, 127-8, 198 Very early on in
the novel, Sister Johanna revealed to Jessie that the Bischoff wanted to have
her killed. What were you speculating at
the time about this threatening concept?
Discuss this radical religion and what was justified and unjustified
within it.
5.
p. 198 Sister Maria claimed that the child had
no right to perpetuate the blood trait of the prophet and implied that she must
be killed. Though inconceivable, explain
how might this be possible within a religion in the US during the 1950s?
6.
p. 96, 211, 224 Winston shared the same language
(German) that Jessie spoke. What
significance did this commonality play?
7.
p. 113, 160, 297 Though Moab was a fictional
town set in the 1950s. The author chose
to describe Moab much like Mayberry including all its social graces and
simplicities. Dietrich implemented
landmarks to contribute realistic attributes like the panhandle and the
Escambia River. How did the setting
resonate with you? Believable? Comforting?
How did its contrast to Jessie’s background contribute to the story?
8.
p. 114 Dietrich (the author) when explaining why
the townsfolk would come and watch the baseball team practice, explains that
Moab contains “bored, small-town people”.
What might he mean by this?
Uncultured? Dumb? Ignorant? What
qualities do small town people possess (good and bad)?
9.
p. 17, 27, 42, 92 Buz lost his grandpa to a
drowning. His Grandpa was known as the
town drunk. Sadly, drunks were the
closest thing to town legends, Buz describes.
In his midst of sorrow, Buz also possessed such distaste for him yet
missed him so much. Talk about how Buz’s relationship with his grandpa was a
good thing and how it also could be considered a bad thing.
10.
p. 23 A man's character may be learned from
the adjectives which he habitually uses in conversation. Winston quoted this quote from Mark Twain
while playing Scrabble with Jimmy after he used a cuss word. How might this quote be applied to other
circumstances?
11.
p. 44 Winston confided in the red dog, admitting
that he was dying. Why would one find
consolation in a dog? Why would it be
easier to talk to a dog than confiding in a human friend for Winston?
12.
p. 76, 77-81 Death was mentioned often from
Winston’s perspective. After Adam (Buz’s
grandpa) died, Winston reflected on how final death really was. Adam’s death coincided with Winston’s own
personal battle of dying. Compare and
discuss how different the story conveyed the two of them.
13.
p. 123, 146 Winston and Jimmy had been on the
outs after Winston and Eleanor establish a more personal relationship. However, Winston didn’t feel guilty about how
his relationship with Jimmy was strained.
He felt that the knowledge of death changed the way a man handled
guilt. He said, “some things a dying man
quits feeling bad about”. Discuss how
might nearing the end of one’s life would affect perspectives and approaches to
everyday life. Do you agree with him and
how he was treating Jimmy? Winston believed
that “all that matters is heart”. What
do you suppose he meant by this?
14.
P. 185 He later states that one could have fancy
things but without heart that all they were just fancy. When does one need to have
heart?
15.
p. 150 “Dying was sort of an illogical
thing.” When one might think that death
brought total misery, mournfulness, and self-pity, Winston often experienced
appreciation and pure joy. Attempt to
recall these moments Winston experienced.
16.
p. 82 After losing his grandpa, Buz mourns and
resigns himself to believing, “a dodger’s fan doesn’t always get what he wants
in this world.” Talk about all the
dodger fans that played a part in this book.
Discuss how a dodger’s fan may or may not be a typical average person.
17.
p. 83-4, 116, 167, 260, 338 “Grey cat” and “red
dog” were two animals that played a supportive role in the story. Discuss the importance/unimportance of their
roles. What is your
opinion regarding Adam’s opinion, “nobody could own a life” and that “pet
ownership was an artificial manmade construct invented by society to subdue the
species and gain superiority” versus Winston’s opinion in that “it’s
rude not to give a dog a name”?
18.
p. 107 Winston chose to read a passage from Mark
Twain’s novel at Adam’s funeral because there was no bible on hand (the book of
Mark). “Now when I had mastered the language of this water, and had come to
know every trifling feature that bordered the great river as familiarly as I
knew the letters of the alphabet, I had made a valuable acquisition. But I had
lost something, too. I had lost something which could never be restored me while
I lived. All the grace, the beauty, the poetry, had gone out of the majestic
river!” This was the same passage
Jimmy read to Winston during his last moments of life. Discuss the metaphoric comparison between
Winston and the river in the quote.
19.
p. 122, 123 Discuss the complexities of Winston
and Jimmy’s friendship.
20.
p. 123 Discuss the complexities of the
relationship between Winston and Eleanor and Eleanor and Jimmy.
21.
p. 124, 181-2, 207 Discuss Eleanor’s
transformation in the story. She felt
that Winston Browne had changed her outlook.
Why was it so important that the author include her thoughts and
personal changes? She claims that “old
age was not a number”. What do you
think? What was incredible about
Eleanor?
22.
p. 123 After pointing out Winston’s positive
qualities, Eleanor laughs and comments, “The Incredible Winston Browne!” What was so incredible about Winston
Browne?
23.
p. 148 Winston was determined to carry Hooty, a
player with a broken ankle, while trick o treating. Winston himself was compromised. During Winston’s last days, he still
possessed a sense of humor accusing Jimmy of not being able to read. Discuss Winston’s character and reasons why
he might’ve been so determined to follow through. Does Winston remind you of anyone in your own
life?
24.
p. 168 Buz was described by Winston as a “good
kid but the last one to know it”. What
was your take on Buz?
25.
p. 171-2, 240, 262, 293 Ada was mentioned
sporadically throughout the book. The
mentions often included descriptions of her numerous escapes and her warnings. Why did the author make it important for Ada
to continue to escape and stay alive?
What lessons did she provide the story?
Was Ada a good mother?
26.
p. 128, 208-210 There was a sort of “cat and
mouse” suspense feel to this story.
Describe the contrasts between the peaceful town of Moab and the dark
radical religion that chased Jessie.
27.
p. 37, 188, 272 Winston’s first love, Katie, was
threaded throughout the story, often she was recalled when Winston reflected on
love and his past. He later wanted to
make things right with her by apologizing to her for “not understanding her,
for being young, and for being so stupid”.
How do you think he handled the situation? Was it necessary? Did it surprise you how she had influenced
him enough to feel the need to tie up loose ends before he dies?
28.
p. 202 Winston’s “being in love” analogy was
comparing trusting someone holding a crystal vase. “When they leave you for another, they throw
your vase against the floor. Vases are never vases after that. They can be reglued, but they won’t hold
water.” How accurate is his analogy?
29.
p. 213 – Rumors – they spread like
wildfire. How did Jimmy let his friend
down with a “rumor”? How might rumors be
like a toxin especially in a small town?
How might they assist?
30.
p. 221 It was mentioned that the weather was
referred to as typical Panhandle Florida weather. What other typical factors does the Panhandle
own and did you recognize any of these factors woven into the story?
31.
Pgs. 202-203 Winston had a thoughtful discussion
with the waitress at Ray’s Diner. He
asked her if there was anything you’ve always wanted to do before she left this
world. Is there anything you’ve always wanted to do
before you leave this world?
32.
p. 231-232 “…men hated most was seeing a woman
cry” – Why?
33.
p. 232 When insistently asked if there was
anything anyone could do, Winston finally responds; “…don’t forget me when I’m gone.” How did they “not forget him when he was
gone”?
34.
p. 235, 238 While sitting in a medical room,
Winston met a young man who came from the same town as Samuel Clemens. The small world analogy could’ve been
applied. Winston described it as “the
heavens were teasing him”. Anyone
recollect one of those moments where “the universe was crashing into itself”?
35.
p. 133, 237, 322, 395 At the beginning of the
story, Winston observes himself as being lonely. Later, he believes that Eleanor might be his
saving grace. However, Jessie and Buz
also become important to him. And in the
end, Jimmy became an even closer friend.
He wonders if he was so lonely for so long because he was waiting for
Buz Guilford. But, also claimed to have
adopted Jessie “a long time ago”.
Discuss how these people needed Winston as much as he needed them.
36.
p. 257 Eleanor is left feeling torn between
Jimmy and Winston as she had love for both differently. She reasons that “the soul knows nothing of
logic”. Explain.
37.
p. 324 Winston insists that he doesn’t want
Jimmy to feel sorry for him. However,
after Winston falls asleep, Jimmy says, “How could I ever feel sorry for
you? You were beautiful.” What did he mean by this?
38.
p. 330-333 The chapter titled, “Two Ways of
Seeing a River” describes Winston’s thoughts and experiences during his
death. Did you find yourself
appreciating this descriptive chapter or did you find yourself resisting
it? Was it fitting? How would you have included his death
differently?
39.
p. 333 Winston comes to the revelation that his
life was simply but wondrously a gift given to him by On High. How might one’s life compare to a river?
Worth Noting:
·
p. 264 “a man watching his own body fail”
·
p. 273 “Summer was on the move. Life was coming
back to normal. He was going to miss it”
·
p. 311 “Pain made a man do unusual things”
(Tommy trying to get the bird out of the courthouse).
·
p. 314 “How little the outside world mattered.”
·
Pgs. 318-9 Buz danced (Winston taught) and then
later quoted Winston to Becky.
·
p. 322 …a few things sweeter than hugs from a
little girl. (Will you adopt me too?)
There were key points left out in the story and sometimes
more questions than answers.
·
Child abduction attempts – not mentioned in the
Moab Social Graces.
·
A long pause before Jessie’s past was mentioned
again (p. 255)
·
What happened to the grey cat? Buz’s mom seemed to disappear and then
reappeared when convenient.
·
p. 198 How was Jessie so easily located – hard
to believe it was pure chance?!
·
Lack of persistence to find out Jessie’s past
(they just let it lie).
·
The radical religion wasn’t explained or
titled.
·
Why was there very little interaction between
Buz and Jessie when they had to have been around each other consistently
throughout the story?
THERE'S A HOLE IN MY BUCKET
Authored by Royd Tolkien
Please find the assembled discussion questions for our monthly meeting. Oct. 11th at 6pm. We'll be meeting at our fellow member Sheri's home. Mrs. Barb Shimek will be our delightful host.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
for the novel; THERE’S A HOLE IN MY BUCKET
Authored by Royd Tolkien
(Questions by Nicole Thomas)
1. (p. 5) Royd believed the point of the bucket list was that he thought Mike wanted him “to
surrender to the lack of control and really live.” Do you think this was the just of what Mike
wanted? Do you believe there were other important lessons that could be learned or should’ve
been included with Mike’s wishes?
2. (p. 261) Royd asks himself; “Why do I keep doing these stupid things!?” Why does he continue
to do these stupid things? Mike’s bucket list for Royd included swimming with dolphins to
skydiving. Can you think of any additional tasks that should’ve been included? How about any
tasks that were on the list that shouldn’t have been included?
3. Consider the title and its significance to the story. What are your thoughts, do you believe it’s a
fitting title?
4. (p. 11-12, 64) Mandy, Royd and Mike had a fair childhood. They grew up in a rural area, went to
a Catholic school, were close to each other as siblings. Royd reflects; “I’m grateful for growing
up and not knowing many people, for going to the sh** school, and for Mandy becoming an
adult before we did. Because what I got instead was a brother.” Though Mike had a bout with
meningitis as a child, and Royd had a fear of spiders, they were well-rounded adults. Talk about
how childhood experiences can positively and negatively affect us as adults. Discuss healthy and
unhealthy ways we deal with our childhood experiences later in life.
5. (p. 30, 165) Mike’s snowboard constantly leant up against the wall in his house. Royd believed it
gave him hope right up until the day he passed away. Discuss the theme of “hope” in the story.
6. (p. 42) Why do you suppose Mike wanted Royd accomplishing the bucket list filmed?
7. (p. 75, 241) Royd claimed he was always outdone by Mike. Discuss examples. Why do you
suppose Royd was so good natured about the competitiveness? What were some of their
similarities and differences?
8. (p. 208, 216, 257) Do you think Royd was modest or honest about his reluctancies of being
adventurous and outgoing when compared to his brother?
9. (p. 87, 294) “Loss does that to a family.” Discuss loss and how it affected Mike’s family. Discuss
loss and the different ways it affects families.
10. (p. 89, 187) “I love hugs.” How did a simple hug (in addition to the importance of touch) mean
so much to both Mike and Royd?
11. (p. 95, 295) Included in the one of the task directions from Mike to Royd, Mike expresses;
“Thank you for loving me and looking after me the way you did…” Gratitude was expressed
both ways by Mike and by Royd throughout the story. Analyze how gratitude was such a central
part in their relationship.
12. (p. 319) Royd played a major voice in advocating for his brother’s medical care. Discuss the
frustrations he endured and overcame. Discuss how medical care, such a vital dependency,
could be improved upon, not only in Mike’s case.
13. (p. 126) Each time Royd was faced with intense fear moments before a task was completed, he
describes himself focusing on why he was doing it. Take a moment to consider what or who
could get you through such comparable feats.
14. (p. 157, 165, 314) Royd had an intense phobia of spiders. Mike dealt with the fear of lumbar
punctures. Discuss phobias and how a phobia played a full circle in their story more than once.
15. (p. 170) Despite Mike’s diagnosis and challenges, he remained hopeful and motivated. He even
developed a website resource for MND. Talk about Mike’s exceptional character and
perseverance.
16. (p. 189, 194) Royd is encouraged by Mike to perform random acts of kindness periodically
during the bucket list. Later, Royd describes kindness; “Kindness is painful. That’s why we are
sometimes happy to keep other people at arms’ length, why we might shun the comfort of
strangers, why we don’t reach out and try to make a difference to other people often enough.”
What lessons can be learned through the painful acts of kindness?
17. (p. 264, 267, 298) HUMOR – There was continual banter between Mike and Royd. Discuss the
role of humor. Was there a certain instance where humor was incorporated that you
appreciated in the story?
18. (p. 282) Christchurch, a small town long recovering from an earthquake, is described by Royd as
having an “element of defiance”. He continues; “…a will to persevere in the face of the harshest
odds, a refusal to be moved on or beaten by the cruel power of nature. I am reminded of
humanity’s desire to survive.” How might the traits of this town compare to his brother, Mike?
19. (P. 278) Toward the end of the bucket list journey, Royd comments; “I don’t want the list to
end.” Why might Royd feel this way? When another man, named Michael, also with MND
passes away, Royd grieves. He describes the moments after losing Mike as “It’s the gnawing
nothingness of having your very being ripped from you…It’s the gap that is left behind when you
no longer that that person to care for, day in and day out. Reflect on the comparisons between
feelings Royd endures during the end of the list and during the end of Mike’s life.
20. (p. 323) Was the brotherly love Royd and Mike had for each other typical in your mind? How
might they be considered exceptional?
June 14th
Book: Black Autumn
A BIG LITTLE LIFE
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS by Nicole Thomas
1.
Koontz blamed Trixie, “The dog did it.”, when
the rubber Kong toy smashed into and split an oil canvas painting. Have you ever let a pet (or a human) take the
blame for something when it was convenient?
What are some other things pets come in handy for?
2. “The desire to remember words (listening
attentively, for words they recognize), Koontz encourages us to consider his
theory, “the conclusion that the dog also yearns to speak.” Do you think dogs yearn to speak or communicate
with us?
3.
(p. 6-7) Trixie reacted “spooky” when Dean
revealed her as an “angel”. Distancing
herself, her behavior was extremely unusual for her. What did you make out of this incident? (Paranormal?
Complex? Paper thin theories?). Later,
the grandfather had said to Dean while out for a walk with Trixie; “You
have been given stewardship of what you in your faith might call a holy soul.” Having read the entire story, would you agree
with him?
4.
(p. 8) “If we allow ourselves to be enchanted by
the beauty of the ordinary, we begin to see that all things are
extraordinary.” Your thoughts?
5.
(p. 10-11, 12, 15, 146, 147) Why do you think
Koontz decided on including his history with his family within this novel? What did these revelations contribute to the
story?
6.
(p. 16, 186, 218, 220) Koontz often included
sarcasm while conveying stories.
(“something at the end of your nose”, “everyone believed Hitler too”) Do
you think most readers appreciate this satire he applied to himself?
7.
(p.20, 211, 212) Koontz spoke fond of his dog,
Trixie. He also spoke fondly of his
wife, Gerda. Compare the similarities
and examples he shares with the readers.
8.
(p. 22) Koontz talks about during the last hour
of our life. He names two best places
where one could be taken and refers to it being discussed within the Bible. The two places are while one is in prayer and
the other is while we are engaged in work.
Talk about why you agree or disagree with this.
9.
(p. 23) Is there a perfect circumstance to
getting a dog? Deana and Gerta finally,
after 30 years of marriage, finally decide it is the “right” time. Discuss the pros and cons of
overthinking/underthinking about getting a dog/pet.
10.
(p. 22, 26, 27) The Koontz’ become very involved
with the organization, Canine Companions for Independence (CCI). Discuss this organization as well as other
animal related organizations that have accomplished great things for animals
and humans alike.
11.
(p. 33, 147-150) Koontz wrote many books with
dogs featured as characters: Midnight, Beloved, Watchers, Dragon Tears. Discuss how getting Trixie might’ve
influenced how he approached writing.
12.
(p. 35) Koontz states that the most important
quality anyone can possess is character.
Do you agree with this? How does
this trait correlate with our story?
13.
(p.36) The Koontz’ friend, Mike insists that
bringing a dog into their life will make their life more normal as opposed to
the abnormal life they had been living.
Discuss the concepts of normal versus abnormal living.
14.
(p. 37, 72-3) When they first acquired Trixie,
Gerda and Dean were told by Judy, the director of CCI, that “if this dog does
something wrong, the fault will be yours, not hers.” What further events occurred that were
directly related to this advice? How
could this be a good philosophy to apply to our lives?
15.
There were sweet examples of what dogs do and
what we, as their “owners” get to witness and appreciate. One example within the story is during the
first night of Trixie’s arrival, Dean awoke to find that Trixie was staring at
him while he had been sleeping.
Contented after an assured pet, Trixie went to go lay down as if her
analysis of her new family and home was sufficient. Another example was while
at their beach house, Dean had been walking Trixie and saw that she took in
life with constant amazement, which made inspired him to look at things from a
new perspective. Discuss sweet examples you’ve either heard about or you yourself
have experienced with your dog?
16.
(p. 45) Trixie, at just the ideal moment, triggered
the cowboy doll to begin to sing. Do you
suppose Trixie had any knowledge about the topic of conversation? Why do you think Trixie took such measures to
focus in on this object in the house?
17.
(p.50, 51) G.K. Chesterton, an author wrote
about the importance of laughter in a well-lived life. He said, “A man and a woman cannot live
together without having against each other a kind of everlasting joke. Each has
discovered that the other is not only a fool, but a great fool.” Dean explains that dogs love to play the fool
and as part of the family they’re quite capable of recognizing the fool in
us. He also insists that they’re capable
of celebrating this recognition with a joke now and then. Trixie seemed to be laughing at Dean while he
was setting up mouse traps in his house.
She even backed away from him, insinuating that his tactics were not to
be trusted. Have you ever been laughed
at by a dog?
18.
(p. 57, 59, 210, 226, 235) Consider Trixie’s
“pottying territory preference” even while enduring tummy trouble and insisting
to go on the neighbor’s lawn and not her own.
(p. 70) Dean also proposed that when Trixie left the chicken at the
restaurant, that was tossed to her by another customer, that Trixie seemed to
take pride at having done the right thing. Later, in the book, Koontz discusses
that he believed there “was something unique and significant about Trixie”
after the incident with the grandfather who told him “A wonderful truth about
your dog”. Remember how Trixie seemed “transfixed”
while watching a movie? Or when Trixie uncanny posing skills? Was Trixie exceptional? Or do we tend to see
the exceptional traits only in our own pets that many are unable to see? Or do many of us fail to recognize these
special characteristics?
19.
(p. 64, 90, 72, 87) Being humble about himself
was often seen when Koontz talked about himself. (Examples include bad at throwing, not
mechanically inclined, poor conduct, Christmas present giving) Considering his
accomplishments, do you think Koontz is exceptional?
20.
(p.78) Koontz proposes that the primary purpose
of dogs might be restoring our sense of wonder and to help us maintain it, to
make us consider that we should trust our intuition as they theirs, and to help
us realize that a thing known intuitively can be as real as anything known by
material experience. What do you think a
dog’s primary purpose is?
21.
(p. 81, 176) Koontz is adamant that much of what
we think we know about dog emotion is underestimated. Arguing that these so-called specialists are
handicapped by their education that drives them into ignorance,
dismissing common sense that these creatures have emotions very much like our
own. He discusses this just after Trixie
displayed an obvious realization that the Koontz home was her forever home and before
the story of Trixie clearly depicting (while riding on Gerda’s lap in the car)
that she genuinely felt “this is where I belong”. Discuss animal (dog) emotion and when you’ve
personally witnessed its display.
22.
(p. 98) Koontz, during some pretty intense ball
play with Trixie, was accidently snagged by Trixie’s tooth. After a trip to the ER and many defensive explanations
later, he pleaded with the doctor NOT to file a report for a “dog bite” with
authorities. After Koontz had made his desperate
plea, do you think the doctor filed the report?
23.
(p. 41-2, 103) After a sleepless Fourth of
July night with Trixie, Gerda commented that she “wouldn’t trade the
experience for the world”. Explain what
you think she meant by this. Can you
relate?
24.
(p. 107-9) Dean and Gerda were awakened during
the night by Trixie who had raced down the hall attentive to someone they
couldn’t see. She sat peering up, seemingly
wagging her tail at nothing. The moment
was described as; “…meaningful revealing a special quality that cannot be
easily defined but that was central to this dog’s uniqueness.” Agree?
What is your theory as to why Trixie behaved in such a manner? Was she “enchanted” as they assumed, by something?
25.
(p.112, 113) Creepy “X” seemed to have possessed
some ulterior motives when it came to him having a relationship with the Koontz’s. Trixie, apparently, had him all figured out
in very beginning. Dean claims dogs
study us. Do you believe
dogs have a better judge of character of us than human beings of each other?
26.
(p.132, 134, 140, 143, 145, 146, 150-4, 205) JOY,
WONDER, and GRATITUDE was a central theme in Dean’s story of his dog
Trixie. He believed dogs didn’t necessarily
know the meaning of life, but they were an important step toward the discovery
of the meaning of joy. Even finding joy
in something as simple as a plate of nachos.
He further describes her earnest joyful trick on the pool float, the joy
she found in tennis balls even to the point of possibly learning to “say” the
word, “baw”, the sense of wonder while discovering the world above her in the
sky as well as the world below in the sea.
He believed that this inner joy dogs must experience from their innocence
of such a soul, must be the most exhilarating feeling ever. Koontz considers his time with Trixie as life
changing, awakening a sense of wonder and inspiration. Describe a JOYful experience that inspired
you to make changes within your life.
27.
(p. 146) Koontz claims that “wisdom without
wonder is not true wisdom at all, but only a set of practical skills married to
tactical shrewdness of one degree or another.
Wonder inspires curiosity, and curiosity keeps the mind from becoming sick
with irrational ideologies and stultified with dogma.” He further explains that one’s sense of
wonder is reliant on the “beautiful machine of natural law” that is often dispirited
by perception of the world. Can you
possess WISDOM/WONDER without the other?
28.
(p. 224)” …any dog is remarkably grateful for
each kindness it receives; Gerda and I were grateful for every day this joyous
creature graced our lives. The only wisdom
is humility, which engenders gratitude, and humility is the condition of the
heart essential for us to know peace.” Koontz describes “the remarkable and
constant gratitude that dogs express for what we give them.” Discuss GRATITUDE being a theme.
29.
(p. 152) Do you believe you are a different
person today in having a dog as opposed to if you never have had the
experience?
30.
(p. 153, 156, 158, 165, 176) Dean has often been
accused of anthropomorphizing in his novels about dogs. Does he give excess affection for these creatures? Does God’s grace extend to these
animals? Though dogs’ minds are
different than ours, they possess individuality, self-awareness, and can reason
cause and effect. So, why do we resist the
possibility that they have intuition, experience emotion, and possess intelligence?
31.
(p.178, 183, 205) Dean explains we’re all born
with a TAO, a code of virtuous conduct, a soul. If dogs are aware of mortality, then some
might argue that this would demonstrate intuition. Intuition, in turn could indicate differentiating
between right/wrong, possessing a sense of pride, risking life for another, etc. How much credit should we give them? Do you
believe God has given animals souls? Dean doesn’t talk much about the area of
dog aggression other than tracing all dogs’ faults on humans. How would you further explain dog problems?
32.
(p. 190, 246, 253) GRIEF was also a gentle theme
included in Koontz story about Trixie. He states grief is “…a reminder to
cherish what you love while you have it, so that when it passes, you will have
memories of joy to sustain you.” When
faced with the possibility of Trixie’s biopsy coming back positive for cancer,
Dean prays that if “she must leave us, we be given the strength to cope with
out grief, because her perfect innocence and loyalty and gift for affection constituted
an immeasurable loss.’ After Trixie’s
passing, he writes, “Love and loss are inextricably entwined because we are
mortal and can know love only under the condition that what we love will inevitably
be lost. Discuss GRIEF and its role in the story.
33.
(p. 222) “When we have the deepest of affection
for a dog, we do not possess that love but are possessed by it, and sometimes
it takes us by surprise, overwhelms us.
As quick and agile and strong as a dog may be, as in harmony with nature
and as sure of its place in the vertical of sacred order as it may be a dog is
vulnerable to all the afflictions and misfortunes of this world. When we take a dog into our lives, we ask for
its trust, and the trust is freely given.
We promise, I will always love you and bring you through troubled
times. This promise is sincerely, solemnly
made. But in the dog’s life as in our
own, there come those moments when we are not in control, when we are forced to
acknowledge our essential helplessness.”
Koontz quotes T.S. Elliot; “The only wisdom we can hope to acquire /
Is the wisdom of humility.” Talk about
what this means to you.
34.
(p. 103) “I will always love you and bring
you safely through troubled times.” Koontz
is reminded of his promise to Trixie during the traumatic night of fireworks
and again when Trixie is facing surgery.
Talk about the promises we make to our animals. Are these promises any different to promises
we make to people?
35.
Dean Koontz claimed to have learned many things
from his dog, Trixie. What have you
learned from Trixie?
p. 180 great paragraph about the joy a dog brings
p. 190 paragraph regarding the greatest gift from dogs is
the tenderness they evoke in us…
p. 241 philosophical T.S. Eliot regarding the destiny of one’s
soul
p. 263 Dean’s response to those who comment; “She was only a
dog.”
p. 267-269 ******closing words by author*****
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
FOR WHITE LIKE HER by Gail Lukasik
(Questions by Nicole Thomas)
1) (p. 145) Lukasik refers many times to her
mother’s “grief” in the context of her mother’s secrets. She calls her mom “...a woman who’d prided
herself on her beauty, who used her beauty to her advantage, was she mourning
her loss of romantic love or was she mourning what she traded for love?”. What
did the author mean by this? To what
extent do you think her mother truly endured grief as Gail was oblivious to
this “grief” for most of her life? (p.249)
Were there any instances where you feel Lukasik may have jumped to conclusions
regarding her mother’s feelings and attitudes?
2)
Do you believe that owning a mixed racial
heritage is important today?
3)
How do you feel about the importance of
racial identity? Do you believe it
is important? How do you believe one can
benefit by making it important? How do
you think it might assert the opposite of what the author might believe?
4)
(p. 32) Should your ethnic identity take
precedence over your racial identity?
When, if ever, are these relevant?
5)
(p. 41-43, 50) Was Gail honoring or dishonoring her
mother by revealing her secrets publicly? Are we obligated as parents to reveal
our entire past to our children? Did
Gail have anything to lose? Did Gail
have anything to gain during this journey?
6)
(p.81, 141) Lukasik took on a persona that she
was a shy, quiet person, yet was very motivated to apply for the televised
show. She continued to claim she didn’t
like all the attention and was uncomfortable with revealing her family’s
secrets publicly. She later writes a
book about the whole experience, goes on televised interviews, and accepts
public speaking events with little hesitations. What does this say about her
validity of her stances?
7)
Do you believe there were double standards held
within “White Like Her”? For instance,
would there be a different accountability held for a black woman to pass as a
white woman versus a white woman passing as a black woman. There’s another example that the author’s
mother broke the pattern of endogamous marriages even though there the opposite
occurred less than 100 years before (p. 165).
8)
(p. 33) Define your “authentic self”. Would you ever base this on your skin color?
Your culture, family, religion, character?
9)
(p. 39, 55) Lukasik described her mother as not
affectionate and often would “…find fault in me.” She goes further in her
concern of being like her mother; “content to live in the convenience and ease
of half-truths”. What is your take on
Lukasik’s insecurities and how her childhood experiences may have affected her
adulthood?
10)
(p.43) Gail expresses that she “never truly knew
her as a person” while discussing her mom.
Do we ever truly know people?
11)
(p.63) Gail’s mother was obsessed with her
appearance. Wearing make-up to bed,
avoiding the sun, etc. Gail often would refer to her mother as having to lose
her family over her skin color. Her
mother also was not truthful about her Aunt Laura’s disappearance. Consider the possibility of her mother being
on the “outs” with her family/ dysfunctional roots and that being the reason
why she sought refuge – in CA (p. 138) and then later with marriage.
12)
(p. 95) The author claims her mother might’ve
been following the familial pattern that had been established so early in her
life. “Family slipping in and out, not to be relied upon or sought after, the
rejection too deep to matter, better to let them go, consider them dead.” Do
you believe with the author’s assessment of her mother’s attitude regarding
family? Discuss the role of family in
this book.
13)
Let’s discuss the following opinionated
statement; By creating an underclass, another group stands to profit
financially and in other ways. How might this attribute to history
and current times? How could using this
approach contribute to Marxism (the oppressor and the oppressed), BLM, WOKE,
anti-cop agendas? (p. 248, 253)
14)
(p. 80) Gail’s mother begs her not to reveal her
racial secret until she passed away. Why
do YOU think her mother was so adamant, even in such modern times as the late
1980s?
15)
Do you believe systemic racism exists in our
country?
16)
(p. 179) The author accuses her own
working-class town of Parma, of being born of cultural racism. She believes they were fostered in the tight
ethic Cleveland communities, where many of them grew up. In the same paragraph she calls her own
father a racist. (p. 182) She later
describes that her dad was racist because of him being vocal using bigotry
words such as jig-a-boo, spear chucker, and coon. How do you feel about her accusation of her
father? (p. 224) Describe Gail’s relationship with her father.
17)
(p. 84-5, 96) Ula, her aunt, who was white enough
to pass for white, made conscious choices to socialize with the black
community. She turned down an
opportunity for a job and a college education because she didn’t want to live
totally as white. Alvera, also chose to not
associate with “Aunt Laura” for a reason that wasn’t revealed. Laura and Edward
chose to live as white. Using “choice”
as the theme, do you believe turning their backs on their family’s was part of
their choice? Do you believe they
regretted their decision? Do you believe
the decision to escape/or not to escape their black heritage and capitalize on
their white appearance was/would’ve been worth it?
18)
(p. 191-2) Gail is hard on her friend when her
friend made a bad tasting joke regarding “cracking the whip”. She became very defensive of her “African
heritage” and felt her friend saw her differently and in turn she saw her
friend differently. What is your take on
how she reacted?
19)
Consider if we had no Ancestry.com. Consider there was no Genealogy Roadshow
or Who Do You Think You Are television series. Imagine the lack of knowledge we would have
about our ancestral history. When do you
feel it is important for us to know our own history? What factors seem unimportant?
20)
How would you personally feel if you found you
had a black heritage in your family line?
Why do you think it was so important to Gail Lukasik?
21)
(p. 192, 209, 219) Lukasik was determined to
find evidence of a slave within her family line, and finally her enslaved
ancestor, Marta. (p. 192) Before, when
facing dead ends, she was concerned she would “have no slave story to tell”. (p. 195) She comments; “I’m left with a
dilemma many genealogists face when the records don’t support their
suppositions and often their desires.
Who finds her statement disturbing?
22)
(p. 219) What do you think was Gail’s reason for
writing this book?
23)
(p. 240) Gail uses the term “color line” when
discussing her mother’s choice of passing for white or black. What sort of problems would you anticipate
when individuals within a society began dividing citizens based upon color?
24)
(p. 253, 258) Lukasik is offended when a member
of the audience during one of her presentations about race and her mother’s
story. The lady asks, “What are
you?” Why do you suppose Gail became so
ruffled? Was she justified? She later states that she’s offended by
people’s need to dissect her past. What
do you think about her stance?
