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?
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