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?
