Talking to Strangers - discussion questions

1. Malcolm believes that people are NOT easy to read. Do you agree with him?  
2. In “Talking to Strangers” Malcolm points out that we are terrible at identifying liars. Have you ever been deceived by someone before? 
3. Throughout the book, Malcolm shares several stories about the impact strangers can have on us. Did any of the stories change the way you see strangers? 

At Doreen's in February 2020

Discussion questions for Beautiful Ruins

“Beautiful Ruins”  by Jess Walter

1. What does the title, Beautiful Ruins, refer to and how does it capture the essence of the novel?

2. At the beginning of the story, Pasquale Tursi is waiting “for life to come and find him.” Is Dee Moray the “life” he was waiting for? Do you think most people wait for life—like a movie—to begin? Why?

3. Most of the novel’s characters—Alvis Bender, Dee Moray, Shane Wheeler, Claire Silver, Pat Bender, even Richard Burton—have dreams. What would life be like if we didn’t have dreams? What happens when they don’t come true?

4. Americans pride themselves on the “American dream.” What does this term mean to you?

5. How would you characterize Michael Deane?  When we meet him, Michael Deane seems like a parody of a Hollywood producer. What are the driving forces that propel his actions and how do they confound our expectations?

6. In Hollywood, everything happens because of the pitch. Have we become a nation of individuals pitching to each other? How would you pitch your life story to someone?

7. In the present day, the elderly Pasquale shares the story of his first meeting with Dee, describing it as “the moment that lasts forever.” Why is this so for Pasquale?

8. Years later, Alvin tells Dee, “All we have is the story we tell. Everything we do, every decision we make, our strength, weakness, motivation, history and character—what we believe—none of it is real; it’s all part of the story we tell. But here’s the thing: It’s our goddamned story!” What about life—your own or someone you know—is real? How much do we control in our lives? What happens when we let other people tell our story for us?

Link to questions for Educated

See link to discussion questions about "Educated"

Discussion Questions

At Kathy's December 2019

At Jackie's October 2019

In my Father's House -discussion questions

1. Which member of Bogle family started the crime tradition?
2. How do poverty and crime amplify each other?
3. How are Bogle kids introduced and conditioned to criminal lifestyle?
4. How does lack of education contribute to criminality?
5. How does an unstable household make things worse for kids?