Discussion Questions for “The Life We Bury”

The All Good Books group will discuss Allen Eskens’ novel The Life We Bury this Thursday, September 17, 2020 at 7 PM on Zoom.

Possible discussion questions follow:

1. How would you summarize “The Life We Bury” to a friend without giving away the ending or other important events?
2. Would you have interviewed a murderer as Joe Talbert did? Why or why not?
3. How would you describe the main characters in the book? Joe Talbert, Carl Iverson, L. Nash, Jeremy Naylor, Kathy Nelson, Mary Lorngren, Grandpa Bill, Crystal Hagen, Dan Lockwood, Doug Lockwood, Max Rupert, Andy Fisher.
4. As you read the novel, did you find the characters unique or stereotypes? Believable or implausible? Was the plot believable, predictable, unexpected, or implausible?
5. Were there concepts, ideas, people or events in the book that you researched further beyond what was indicated in the novel? Did you look up any of the following? The Innocence Project, Pascal’s gambit, Occam’s razor, Dying declaration, Jeffrey Dahmer, the Donner party, Romanesque Revival, or BOLO?
6. In a conversation between Joe Talbert and Carl Iverson the question of “killing” vs. “murdering“ is raised. Is there a difference?
7. What did you think the novel’s title indicated about the story and its characters? Whose was the life that was buried and what was buried?
8. Was there an event or happening in the novel that “stuck with you” or was particularly memorable?
9. Is guilt a character in the novel? Explain your response.
10. Why do you think Carl Iverson watched the girl next door so closely? Is his motivation ever explained in the novel?
11. What is Hillview Manor? How is it described? Does that description match your experiences?
12. Would you read another murder mystery by Allen Eskens? Explain.

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Two Book Discussion for the Price of One

The All Good Books group will meet tonight (Thursday, November 9, 2017) to discuss both “The Westing Game” by Ellen Raskin and “The Obsession” by Nora Roberts. We’ll meet in the Church Library at the Community of Christ Mission Road Congregation (7842 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS) at 7:00 PM. Everyone is welcome!

Possible discussion questions for “The Westing Game” are posted online at https://allbooksclub.wordpress.com/2017/10/18/the-westing-game-discussion-questions/

Possible discussion questions for “The Obsession” are listed below:

1. At the age of almost 12 years old, could you have done what Naomi did?
2. Wayne, the Sheriff’s Deputy, gives Naomi some juicy fruit gum (page 18) “And she would always, from that morning on, associate the gum with simple kindness.” Is there a smell or product that reassures you or brings to mind an event in your life, either pleasant or unpleasant?
3. What’s your impression of Naomi’s Mom, Susan? Are you sympathetic or disgusted by her reactions to her husband’s crime (page 26)? Do you understand her reactions or are they incomprehensible?
4. On page 140, Naomi says to Xander, “People don’t always know people close to them the way they think they do.” Do you believe the family of a criminal, like Thomas David Bowes, can truly be unaware of his crimes? Do you believe his wife, friends and fellow church members were unaware?
5. There often seems to be, in popular literature and film, a character who is deeply, radically religious and has a dark, secret life that is anything but “Christian.” Do you believe that characterization is fair? Or realistic? Or possible?
6. Do you believe a “killer gene” exists? Are some people wired from birth to be cruel, sadistic and/or murderers?
7. There seems to be a theme throughout the novel, that people (society) never consider or are sympathetic to the plight of a criminal’s family. Is that accurate or justified? Have you ever considered the criminal’s family and if so, in what light?
8. On page 52, the author describes Naomi this way: “She loved movies, and truth be told she liked movies like Spider-Man and The Lord of the Rings more than the love stories her girlfriends sighed over. She liked movies where people had to do something, overcome something. Even if it meant getting bitten by a radioactive spider to do and overcome.” What kind of movies do you enjoy and seek out?
9. On page 54-57, Mason and Naomi are discussing their father. How would you describe Thomas David Bowes?
10. On page 58, the author states, “Living with Susan was like carrying around something delicate. You watched every step so you didn’t stumble, drop the delicate so it shattered.” Have you ever met someone like that? Why do you think Susan was so “fragile?”
11. When talking about Susan’s secret visits to her husband in jail, Harry ( in conversation with Naomi) says “We’re going to stop lying to each other. I knew your mother was lying about going to the prison, about keeping in contact. I knew, and I kept it from Seth. I didn’t tell him because it would upset him. And that’s a lie. Omission is a lie.” Do you believe honesty is the best policy, always? Is an omission a lie?
12. On page 79, a quote from Robert Frost states “Ends and beginnings—there are no such things. There are only middles.” What does that mean?
13. On page 233, is a quote by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe: “Where there is a great deal of light, the shadows are deeper.” What does that mean?
14. Naomi states on page 240, “I’d say the person in the original image knows what’s true and what’s manipulated. That’s the thing about words and images. Once the words are on the page, the image printed, it becomes what’s true.” What does that mean? Do you agree?
15. Was there a time during your reading of “The Obsession” that you considered various characters as Naomi’s stalker and the murder/rapist? Xander? Mason? Kevin? Sam Winston, the local Sheriff? John James Mooney (realtor) Anyone else?
16. What was your favorite part of the book? Did you view it as a thriller? A romance novel? A murder mystery? Something else?
17. There’s a great deal of focus in the novel on Naomi fixing up the old house. Any thoughts on the inclusion of so much remodeling and refinishing in the novel?
18. Were you surprised by the ending of the novel? Was it satisfying? Too abrupt? Unexpected? Predictable?
19. What is “The Obsession” of the novel’s title?

All Good Books REMINDER: We Meet Tonight (7/13/2017)

The All Good Books group will meet tonight at 7:00 PM in the Community of Christ Church Library (7842 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS) to discuss The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware.

There are suggested discussion questions in an earlier post (see https://goo.gl/Hc7K6u).

 

We’ll have coffee ready, so come and enjoy the book club chat!

“The Woman in Cabin 10” Discussion Questions

The All Good Books group will meet on Thursday, July 13, 2017 in the Community of Christ Church Library (7842 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS) at 7:00 PM to discuss The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware. You’re invited!

Here are some possible discussion questions:

1. How would you describe the book? A roller coaster ride? Predictable mystery? Careful attention to detail? Just a fun read? Unexpected twists and turns? Not what I expected? Kept me reading and on the edge of my seat?
2. Did you find Lo (Laura) a likable, believable character? Why or why not?
3. What was the connection between the burglary at Lo’s apartment and the events on the ship?
4. Which characters aroused your suspicions during the story? Who did you think was the woman in Cabin 10? Why? Did that change?
5. What is Stockholm Syndrome and do you think that effected Lo and Carrie’s relationship?
6. How effective were the email messages in moving the story forward? Were they necessary? Irrelevant. Red herrings?
7. What was the connection between the dark haired girl in a Pink Floyd t-shirt on Archer’s phone and the woman in cabin 10? Was that photo relevant to the mystery or a red herring?
8. Was Carrie a victim, co-conspirator or primary conspirator in the crime on the high seas?
9. Why did Lo have a change of heart at the end of the novel and decide to move to New York? Did that seem like a normal response?
10. What happened to the main characters by the end of the book? Lo, Judah, Richard, Anne, Ben, Carrie, and Johann? Others?
11. How was the mystery resolved and were you satisfied with the ending of the story? Why or why not?
12. Were there unanswered questions in the plot? If so, what wasn’t covered or finalized in the ending?