I just finished The Red Garden! I downloaded it from Audible.com and listened to it while I commuted back and forth to work. One of my fave things was that it was read by Nancy Travis - the cute actress that played Mike Meyer's girlfriend/wife in "So I Married An Axe Murderer" - who did a great job narrating.
But my intent is not to rush you (Sally :-)), I thought I would post questions now, and then come back next Tuesday and we'll "discuss." And I picked the next book (kinda threw that voting thing out the window, sorry): The Ninth Wife by Amy Stolls. It takes place in Washington DC, and got good reviews from the Washington Post, even though they generally don't bother with popular/chick lit fiction.
Here are the Red Garden questions, my thanks to LitLovers whom I borrowed them from:
1. What is the symbolic significance of the red garden at the center of this collection of stories? And why red?
2. Consider the town of Blackwell as a character. How does it change over time?
3. What are some of the themes that tie these stories together. Consider, say, love and loss, or connection of the present with the past. How are those—and other—ideas developed?
4. Follow-up to Question 3: What is the idea behind the bear?
5. Many of the stories are concerned with the human connection to the natural world. How does it change over time in this book? Or does it change?
6. What about Hoffman's blending of fictional characters with real historical figures—the appearance of Emily Dickenson and Johnny Appleseed. Why might she have incorporated them into her story? For what purpose?
7. Of the 14 stories, which story do you like most? Which do you find most intriguing ... or magical ... or moving? Do any disappoint you?
8. What passages of particular beauty, or keen insight, struck you as you read this book?
Don't you just love audible.com! I've not done a book club before, I guess because I read mostly non-fiction. But looks like you guys are having fun!
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